SCH needs help

[technole]

If by 'best' you mean the one that can dish out the highest theoretical HPS over the whole fight, then yes.
By many other metrics (like efficiency) it is not.

And damn, you're right, math is hard. Hard to believe people think CU (0p DPS opportunity cost) could ever be better than SS (150p DPS opportunity cost).
After all, 0p > 150p.

...wait /s

There is no opportunity cost if there is no Astrologian in the party.

[Volkaj]

There is no opportunity cost if there is no Astrologian in the party.

When an option is chosen from alternatives, the opportunity cost is the "cost" incurred by not enjoying the benefit associated with the best alternative choice. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines it as "the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_cost

If you use one AF on Sacred Soil, you lose on using Energy Drain (150p). Having an AST around doesn't change this.

[Lilseph]

If you use one AF on Sacred Soil, you lose on using Energy Drain (150p).

Ok sorry but, genuinely curious again. If the 150 potency loss is that significant, wouldn't it be better to just not use it and let your co-healer use their mitigation tool instead? Genuinely don't understand why this is an issue.

[Volkaj]

Ok sorry but, genuinely curious again. If the 150 potency loss is that significant, wouldn't it be better to just not use it and let your co-healer use their mitigation tool instead? Genuinely don't understand why this is an issue.

Assuming your cohealer's mitigation tool is available, does not need to be held for a later mechanic and more efficient, then yes you're better off not using SS, and let your cohealer use theirs.
Use the most efficient skills first.

This is essentially an optimization issue; you want to use the most effective healing/mitigation skill given the situation to maximize your party contribution.
But I was mainly replying to those saying that SS is the "best" healing/mitigation tool available. It is very good, but not without its costs.

In my opinion the best healing tool in the game is AST's Earthly Star (low-ish cooldown, huge heal, DPS gain without overshadowing the heal), and the best mitigation tool is Reprisal (low-ish cooldown, costs nothing to use, solid 10%).