Noob SMN soloing question

[RotoLoto]

I took a hiatus from early HW til now. I was playing DRG but I wanted to try something different so I started working on SMN/SCH. I'm currently at 60 SMN and trying to do at-level overworld content, and I'm face tanking everything to a sliver of my life. I remember Titan-egi used to actually tank, but I guess that was removed for a minor shield effect? Seems to me SMN soloability is kind of broken without an actual pet tank. Don't even get me started on the SB level 60 class quest, which is super broken without pet tanking.

How are other SMN doing their questing at this and at higher levels? Are you just not doing overworld content with this class? I don't want to just give up on the class or just relegate it to group content only, but right now it seems unplayable.

[Exodus-E]

Seems to me SMN soloability is kind of broken without an actual pet tank.

Not really.
It's not any more/less broken for "soloability" than any other DPS-focused job (BLM in particular).
And you can still rely on your companion chocobo for healing up in the "overworld".

In any case, Summon II is still good for solo'ing, Just in a different way.
What you call a "minor shield effect" is actually pretty potent (absorbs the equivalent of 30% of your MAX HP).
Plus, it has 2 charges.

So yeah, better start (ab)using the hell out of it when going solo.

[DPZ2]

That 30% adds up ... and is on a 30-second refresh, so it can be up almost all the time. You start getting more interesting spells after 60 to blow up overworld enemies as well -- just don't spend a lot of time fighting multiple mobs. Once you get the basics down, handling things in the overworld becomes a lot simpler.

Also, getting your chocobo to level 10 as a healer will assist you greatly. Call it up every time you're in the overworld. From 70-80 you'll find much more power ('cuz you can summon demi-Bahamut) -- enough that you'll be soloing mini-boss FATEs in Il Mheg with your trusty Chocobo and no worries.

Gear, of course, is key. Take the HQ rewards from MSQ quests and wear them.

[Stepjam]

Summoner was unique in originally being the only class that had something that could distract away from it. That may be gone but that hardly means SMN is unplayable. It's just in the same position as everyone else. And the Titan Egi still has a survival ability to it, I believe it gives you a shield?

[RotoLoto]

I tried again today after this thread. Thanks all. I'm making better use of the Titan-egi shield, and making much better progress.

[Ariel_Valmont]

Titans shield is op, it sounds to me like your gear is sub par.

SMN literally melts open world mobs faster than about any other job imo.