Best DPS class in the game?

[Kalvarien]

I can't speak for end-game class balance as of yet. Errors, and work have kept me from level racing like I usually do. However, through parsing mid-level dungeons between guildies who I've known to be good mmo players for a long time, I've observed that most of the dps classes are right in line with each other. For the most part my DRG will win on a short fight because of burst CD's. However, on a long fight my friends and I would often be 2-3 hundred damage apart on a boss, for overall damage.

The only class so far I have noticed lacking a bit is summoner (of course including the pet dps)

[Kyp]

I find that DPS is more often the problem than tanks,
not following marked targets (or even bothing to mark targets if the tank doesnt know how)
not watching the agro indicator, its very obvious, and it shows you the mob your looking at, if your climbing up slow down your dps

[Thotor]

For parsing a few runs at 50 with class quest gear, BRD is uncontested in DPS between DRG and BLM.
BLM was ahead of DRG but this might be coming from having a better weapon and also getting high benefits from BRD Requiem. I would rate them as equal.

BRD is ahead for many reason :
- only class that can deal damage while moving. BLM must cast and DRG need to avoid aoe by running away from melee range.
- Songs are supposed to lower DPS by 20%. If a BRD does not use them, his dps is higher. If he must use them, he will fall behind other dps

I dunno much about other class but BRD have a very high need of critical to unlock their full potential. I believe their DPS will grow a lot more than other class due to proc being dependants on critical hits.

[Salaster]

BRD is ahead for many reason :
- only class that can deal damage while moving. BLM must cast and DRG need to avoid aoe by running away from melee range.
- Songs are supposed to lower DPS by 20%. If a BRD does not use them, his dps is higher. If he must use them, he will fall behind other dps

Yes, basically in a practical fight (Which means adds, disapearing boss, movement needed etc) it is :

BRD > BLM > DRG > SMN > MNK

Which is sad because the utility they all bring is like :

BRD (Songs) > BLM (Resist CD + Transcendance) > SMN (REZ + Virus) > MNK (Mantra + 10% INT debuff) > DRG (5% Mantra)

So basically the best dps also brings the best utility. The perfect raid is like :

1 PLD
1 WAR
1 WHM
1 SCH
1 SMN
1 BRD
1 BLM
1 MNK

No point in having a Dragoon.

[Nyel]

I think Summoner could be quite a good DPS if they would rework Ruin. The spell is just horrible. Minimal damage, maximal casting time - not good.

What about Fester? This spell is nice to read. Potency of 300 that makes this spell one of the strongest ( the strongest? ) in the game - anybody got experience with that?

[mirth12]

From my not lvl 50 testing with a few FC members I have found BRD to be the best DPS at our lvls (37) will do more testing this weekend after we cap and get some gear but it seems with the right gear BRD can do significant dmg with 10%elemental song and lost of +crit

[roflcaust]

As it currently stands, I don't see how BLM will not be topping the DPS chart.

There is a huge and inherent benefit from being ranged right now and it's crippling DRGs and MNKs very significantly.

As a MNK, if Shoulder Tackle (MNK'S Charge skill) is not up and I'm not within 10 yards to activate it, I have no abilities or spells to close onto the target but only Fists of Wind which add a very minor and significantly difficult to notice run-speed "boost." By the time I'm able to my first ability on the target, a BLM might be on their third cast of Fire II/Fire III spells especially if they proc the buff that enables them to reduce their casting time from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds. A BRD, optimally, might be on their fourth GCD attack if you include their skill that's off the GCD in their rotation.

A L40 BLM can crit Fire III for over 300 damage by simply standing there and pressing one button. I have to constantly be moving from back to flank and if I miss one (just one) attack in my rotation, I can't compete against a BLM that's dishing out his/her optimal rotation. BLM is an unbelievably simply designed but extremely efficient class and they're the best at single-target DPS and AoE DPS. I'm not sure how it's supposed to be balanced out but BLMs, BRDs, and SMNs are currently kings in dungeons and dominate/hold a monopoly on Fates EXP gain as AoE attacks reign supreme.

This needs to be seriously looked at and remedied accordingly as it's simply not fair for melee classes to have this inherent handicap as compared to ranged classes who don't seem to have any drawbacks besides being a bit squisher than melee classes in terms of dishing out DPS.

[Zoot]

As it currently stands, I don't see how BLM will not be topping the DPS chart.

There is a huge and inherent benefit from being ranged right now and it's crippling DRGs and MNKs very significantly.

.........

This needs to be seriously looked at and remedied accordingly as it's simply not fair for melee classes to have this inherent handicap as compared to ranged classes who don't seem to have any drawbacks besides being a bit squisher than melee classes in terms of dishing out DPS.

Agreed. Melee should have higher Base Damage to off set the positional requirements.

Utility should also be factored in. Either every DPS class has to bring equal Utility (boring IMO) or there needs to be an inverse ratio between DPS and Utility.
A lot of this comes from the odd decision to change Bard to a DPS class. I'm still unsure why Bard wasn't kept as Utility and Ranger wasn't added as the DPS Job for Archer.

[TheWitcher]

Archers are overpowered as hell and way to easy and boring to play as, i guess if you enjoy puting half your rotation on one macro and spamming that and calling it fun more power to you, monk is alot harder but the PUG's rotation is much more satisfying if you know how to do it

Another problem i have is with how caster weapons and melee weapons are balanced, casters get full ability damage whill physical weapons are half ability damage half auto attack, auto attacks are useless in a game thats all about spaming abilities non stop, plus all the casters get 50% more ability damage on top of this, it makes playing as a melee DPS unrewarding when you hit for so low on your attacks

[Spythe]

Archers are overpowered as hell and way to easy and boring to play as, i guess if you enjoy puting half your rotation on one macro and spamming that and calling it fun more power to you, monk is alot harder but the PUG's rotation is much more satisfying if you know how to do it

Yup agree 100% with the BRD comment, when I first started I want to be a BRD but after the first instance I changed my mind quickly. Its just sooooo boring to play compared to other classes but it makes sense why they are number 1 in terms of damage.

How are people judging damage btw? There are no mods to truly say and I highly doubt people are switching out DPS to run instances then checking how fast it takes.