Best DPS class in the game?

[Giaus-Wheeler]

i tanked in phase 3 and 4.. but in both phases Archer by far pulled the most hate.. especially above 30

[Burlman]

i tanked in phase 3 and 4.. but in both phases Archer by far pulled the most hate.. especially above 30

Yep during Beta 2-4, I was able to lvl my MNK, DRG, and ARC to at least lvl 15 and ARC's Burst DPS is higher than MNK, DRG. Also, when I was playing my GLD Archers by far pulled the most hate as Giaus mentioned. Now I haven't tried an ACN/SMN but from what I've seen their DoT is really good!

[Lillpapps]

BRD was the highest DPS class throughout beta. Can't really see it change for live.

[Regis]

I am going Dragoon but I don't think there is a "best" DPS class. There isn't one that will ALWAYS do higher DPS than the others.

[ZyloSladek]

The dps class played by a competent person.

[DomoNeeko]

The dps class played by a competent person.

i don't like answers like this. correction. any answer that doesn't relate to the question. apparently, some need to analyze the question longer than others to answer it properly. with all else being equal (same skill, same internet connection latency, same PC performance), the highest potential is THM which will eventually become a BLM in this update of the game.

Some of the definitive sounding answers I see from people are really interesting lol.

it's really not definitive because they changed damage equations for p4 versus p3 from what i've heard so it hasn't been tested by the community at max level. my answer was more from known trends and personal experience.

[SilverRhythm]

The dps class played by a competent person.

The true fact XD

[GYX]

Funny how the BRD bashing began and stopped----> dead tread until someone necroed...

Yes, BRD seemed like an OP class, but once the serious game began:

single target:
1.MNK
2.BLM
3.BRD or SMN
4.DRG

Not too many brave enough to put this up, or test it, but I have witnessed some experiments with MRD that could challenge spots 2 or 3 for single target damage, given the fight doesn't take too long (huge burst with cds popped, strings of 1200+ crits, 4-5 in a row, may do for a great pvp dps spec) that's with DRG/MNK ilvl60 gear and Titan's axe.

AOE:
1.BLM or SMN
2.BRD
the rest fall on bonus damage for 1 and 2.

[EasymodeX]

single target:
1.MNK
2.BLM
3.BRD or SMN
4.DRG

AOE:
1.BLM or SMN
2.BRD
the rest fall on bonus damage for 1 and 2.

Both wrong, although the ST list is less wrong.

[Fire-Dragon-DoL]

Both wrong, although the ST list is less wrong.

GYX is heavily wrong, first the BLM on single target do less (or the same) damage as a summoner, sure the summoner won't do less damage. Second, on aoe the BLM outdamages SMN, but only if there are more than 4 targets.