Best DPS class in the game?

[Reika]

Until people see 50 smn in action, BLM. Pugilist would be a close second tho.

I see mostly answers from low level people in this thread, and wonder if any high levels did any lvl50 testing as I did.

As a 50, I can say @ 50 it will be blm, mnk, brd, drg. Currently unknown where to place smn, but it might be before or after mnk. you will not see the power of thm before lvl40, and the true power at lvl 46 when you have all your highest damage spells available. before 40, it only has a measly 10% damage increase, can only get up to 2 stacks of astral fire, and fire III is a waste of MP and not worth casting for its cast time and MP cost, even when under umbral ice, UNTIL you can have umbral ice III, @lvl40. It deceives you into believing it is a weak class and other classes are better or close to it, but you need to level it up to see the truth.

Misconceptions also constantly arise about how BLM does its damage. it is NOT a burst dps. Its main attack can be used at the same speed as any melee dps, 2.5 seconds in between 400+ damage fire I's @50. IF and only IF they change it so that recast time starts after the spell actually gets cast, then they will become burst DPS. It also has the easiest rotation that does not even need cooldowns or require applications of damage increasing buffs to do this damage, and the buffs from its astral fire stack on top of its maim and mend traits making fire do extreme damage for the intervals between fire I's you can do, including the instant manaless fire III chances.

[Giaus-Wheeler]

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

[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.

[Abrasumente]

To put it in the simplest terms from my experience from playing MMOs, usually the weakest defensively, will be the strongest offensively. By that definition, Black Mage will be the highest DPS or DD (however you say it) in the game.

This is a comment that wasn't well thought out or even warranted as a response. You've stated a few obvious things such as "how you play your class" and "equipment" being thrown around loosely for the sanctity of the responses and the topic. To say that another class is better than one is a bold statement in considering that one class will always balance out another.

My entire point is that there is going to be balance between every DPS class, along with tank classes. What one might be lacking, another will pick up for. It's just simple mechanics found in any MMO. Defensive stats on the character sheet have nothing to do with your damage output.

[Reika]

This is a comment that wasn't well thought out or even warranted as a response. You've stated a few obvious things such as "how you play your class" and "equipment" being thrown around loosely for the sanctity of the responses and the topic. To say that another class is better than one is a bold statement in considering that one class will always balance out another.

My entire point is that there is going to be balance between every DPS class, along with tank classes. What one might be lacking, another will pick up for. It's just simple mechanics found in any MMO. Defensive stats on the character sheet have nothing to do with your damage output.

I just want to point at that the title of the thread is "Best DPS class in the game", followed by the OP asking what the TOP dps will be in ARR. That happens to be what we are here to discuss, not the balance of things.

And he was right, BLM. SE can't balance classes to save their lives, don't expect it so soon in the game.

[ZyloSladek]

The dps class played by a competent person.

[Joshyuchiha]

Black Mage ftw!

[Eddo]

Seems relevant to ask; is skill speed going to be as important as haste was in 11? or is a STR build going to be the way to go?

[ShaoLynn]

There is no "Best DPS".... All classes/jobs have their pro's and cons, and there are other factors that play a role too. If people were to say that for example Black Mage is the "best dps" class but put it into the hands of an incapable person, where is that "Best dps" then?
The "best dps" would be the class/job you feel most comfortable with and thats that.

What you probably meant to ask is, which DPS class has the highest dmg numbers and stuff like that is irrelevent if you don't master that class anyway, it's just for epeen purposes...