SMN - knowing the class (part 1)

[Kevee]

I have done about 10 keep runs and 5 Ifrit runs and have parsed on the training dummies. One mistake a lot of people are making is that everyone uses the Garuda pet. It does 10 DPS less than Ifrit (yet everybody uses it). The only benefit of Garuda is that it will refresh your dots every 3 cycles. This does not give you 10 DPS more from Ruin in your free casts (instead it would be about 3). So you're losing 7 DPS from even using Garuda.

On every single fight I have parsed between 110 and 140 DPS depending on how much movement is involved. This isn't even counting the 30-50 extra DPS I should be parsing. That would mean I'm doing on average 165 DPS. I also only have three pieces of Darklight so I have a lot more potential DPS to gain. I have the belt, bracers, and a weapon.

Contagion + Raging Strikes > Ifrit

Contagion + Bane > Ifrit, too, even with the bug. Now just try to do Contagion + Raging Strikes + Bane. LOL