I am on the edge with changing Contagion to being a Garuda-egi-specific ability to being an ability specifically attributed to the SMN.

On the one hand if garuda loses Contagion and we the SMNs gain it, it will be much easier to balance and the other pets with each other; but loses a synergistic property that, i believe, SE wants with our pets.

On the other hand if garuda keeps Contagion, it will be more difficult/impossible to balance and add new pets that will either be more powerful than garuda(and thusly becoming the new go-to pet) or be utterly useless (due to not being bringing something as good as contagion to the table i.e. Ifrit).

I have put forth ideas of how to implement this, I leave SE to the balancing of the abilities if they do this, and I think they are quite useful and keeps the synergy with SMNs and their pets. I'll just repost them because people seem to have overlooked them/skipped to last page

Ifrit:

Instead of Radiant Shield(dps pet should not get hit) should be an attack that either adds a dot based off the SMNs magic stats OR an attack that reduces the defense of the target hit (I prefer this one myself, as it also helps the DPS of everyone else as well).

Garuda:

I actually hate her knock back, it causes more harm than help. Instead, she should have a party movement speed boost that can be used in combat, lasts 10 seconds with 30-60sec cd(probably 1min)

Ideas for added pets:

Ability that adds potency to all applied dots(shiva maybe?)

Ability that does more damage with more applied dots to the target(similar to fester but all dots not just bio/bio2/miasma, Ramuh maybe?)

these are just ideas that synergize with us, the SMNs. I still think that seeing as how our pets are more supportive in this game, that they should also do things that help support the party as well

Supportive Ideas:

maybe titan should grant a barrier that blocks a certain amount of damage to all party members(60sec-180sec cd? depending on how much is blocked).

I could see Shiva grant additional magic potency, or just potency in general, to all party members for a limited amount of time.

Ramuh could grant additional critical rating to everyone.

I'm uncertain as to what Leviathan would do in this game, but I can see him inducing vulnerability status(similar to virus).

Again, these ideas are if Garuda keeps her contagion. I personally want to see more synergy with the pets as well as them fulfilling the supportive role they've been given(at least that's how I see them).