DT Benchmark Action Analysis

[ty_taurus]

Just wanted to do a quick rundown of what new actions we saw from the benchmark that just dropped and some possible theories as to what they are, if applicable. I'll be skipping over Viper and Pictomancer because everything about them is new and there's no way to gauge how what we see will factor into their playstyle until we see the job actions trailer. Going in order:

GNB: New AOE attack; makes the ground explode around them. Seems to be a cooldown or cartridge spender perhaps.

DRG: AOE that summons Nidhogg's head; has similar visual effects to Stardiver.

SGE: New ranged AOE attack. Seems like a new action rather than an animation upgrade.

BLM: New AOE Thunder spell of some sort.

SMN: Thunder attack, meaning Ramuh is very likely finally summonable in some capacity.

MNK: New attack with a really stylistic, graphic particle effect. It looks beautiful IMO. My gut reaction is to say it's an upgrade of Forbidden Chakra, but not sure.

DNC: Ranged AOE with particle effects reminiscent of the slashes from LB3. Not sure if it's an upgrade of Saber Dance or something new.

PLD: New Cone AOE, reminds me a little of Requiescat with a more holy visual effect. Maybe an AOE upgrade?

RDM: New ranged AOE with visual effects similar to Resolution. Not sure if that means it's yet another finisher in RDM's long series of finisher attacks.

SAM: Looks like a new Cone AOE that has no cast time. It's reminding me of what Tenka Goken used to look like before it was turned into a circle.

MCH: An even bigger Chainsaw being fired at the target. Very similar to Drill's animation, so possibly an upgrade.

AST: AOE buff I think. It's giving sin eater? Weird choice in animation. AST's rework is a complete enigma to me so no idea how that will play into whatever's being done with the job.

NIN: Hellfrog but now wearing armor and breathing blue fire.

WHM: EDIT: Casted AOE heal that uses the Medica casting animation. Based on some of the conversation happening below, this is looking pretty damning that it's just "Medica III" as an upgrade of Medica or Medica II.

DRK: Single target attack that strikes with a dark cross shape. It looks like it's probably an upgrade of one of their 1-2-3 combo actions to me, but I'm not familiar enough with DRK to feel confident in that.

SCH: New ranged attack that looks AOE, but it might just be circling the larger enemy. The visual effects are very similar to Broil spells, so it's possibly just their basic attack upgrade. Also, maybe this is just me reading into things that aren't there, but it kinda looks like Eos is hovering within proximity of SCH as if a visual effect rather than a separate pet...

RPR: New AOE attack during Enshroud.

BRD: New AOE attack. Very green and windy looking.

WAR: New Defense ability used on another party member; presumably can be used on yourself as well. Feels very in line with things like Oblation. It's also purple? Since when does WAR have purple animations? Feels more DRK than WAR.

That's all I picked up on for now.

[Eraden]

Is all Mao will get is new Thunder spell? BORINGS! Mao wanted DRAGON SLAVE (tactical nuke).

[Enkidoh]

Take what you see in the Benchmark with a grain of salt, its not usually representative of what the actual gameplay will end up (remember the old ARR benchmark with the party fighting Ifrit open world? Or the EW benchmark with fighting Zenos in the Tower of Zot? Or a massive battle against Chi among the ruins of Garlemald?

Remember, it's a benchmark, it's just to push the graphical engine to it's limits and that means throwing in lots of flashy effects and animations that never actually appear in the game itself. It's not a teaser of actual events/gameplay to come (they usually have other actual trailers for that sort of thing).

[Supersnow845]

The actual battles are irrelevant but they always show off one new skill per class in the benchmark so the skills are valid

Nobody is expecting big open battles like that look like a solo instance but with other players

[rawker]

It just irks me to see that WAR might steal PLD's Cover, this time around

[Eraden]

Take what you see in the Benchmark with a grain of salt, its not usually representative of what the actual gameplay will end up (remember the old ARR benchmark with the party fighting Ifrit open world? Or the EW benchmark with fighting Zenos in the Tower of Zot? Or a massive battle against Chi among the ruins of Garlemald?

Remember, it's a benchmark, it's just to push the graphical engine to it's limits and that means throwing in lots of flashy effects and animations that never actually appear in the game itself. It's not a teaser of actual events/gameplay to come (they usually have other actual trailers for that sort of thing).

Oks. Mao will takes Enkidoh words into thinkings and nots get too worried.

[ty_taurus]

Take what you see in the Benchmark with a grain of salt, its not usually representative of what the actual gameplay will end up (remember the old ARR benchmark with the party fighting Ifrit open world? Or the EW benchmark with fighting Zenos in the Tower of Zot? Or a massive battle against Chi among the ruins of Garlemald?

The benchmark has always teased a new animation on each job. Those animations are at this point locked into the game, but what they do or how they work is something we have little information about. What I described are inferences based on context clues. For example, Summoner having a lightning aspected attack is very indicative of Ramuh now being a part of the rotation in some way. And I could be very wrong on some of them. Other people might notice things I didn't and may have much more accurate ideas of what those actions will do. Which is, I think, a fun discussion to have, hence the thread.

[ty_taurus]

It just irks me to see that WAR might steal PLD's Cover, this time around

Wait a sec, I missed WAR's new animation. Where is it? I'm not noticing it in the trailer...

Nvm, I found it. Added it to the OP.

[Turtledeluxe]

BLM shafted with a dated looking effect as always.

[Rongway]

RDM: New ranged AOE with visual effects similar to Resolution. Not sure if that means it's yet another finisher in RDM's long series of finisher attacks.

Immediately before it, the RDM uses Embolden. It could be a one-off action unlocked by Embolden.

Update: Oh, but before THAT, you can see them doing E.Zwerchhau into E.Redoublement. So maybe replacing Verholy/Verflare or Scorch.

Wait a sec, I missed WAR's new animation. Where is it? I'm not noticing it in the trailer...

During the full party battle, the WAR produces two three hex shields and moves to the VPR to guard them while they wind up the LB.

SCH: [...] Also, maybe this is just me reading into things that aren't there, but it kinda looks like Eos is hovering within proximity of SCH as if a visual effect rather than a separate pet...

As much as I would love for Eos to be just a visual effect that floats behind the SCH's shoulder so that we don't have to deal with the bad pet coding eating certain actions under certain conditions, I don't think this is the case. As the SCH starts running forward to a new position, the faerie lags slightly before following, so I think they're just a SCH who hasn't taken the time to Place their faerie.