Dragoons: A Rotation Reborn

[LupusLazuli]

stuff

While I would also suggest dropping Fracture, if you insist on keeping it you can try jumping after CT rather than Disembowel. CT can animation cancel into Jump just a hair of a second earlier than Disembowel, and it might be the difference that lets you get off your last FT in time.

[Ellyidol]

While I would also suggest dropping Fracture, if you insist on keeping it you can try jumping after CT rather than Disembowel. CT can animation cancel into Jump just a hair of a second earlier than Disembowel, and it might be the difference that lets you get off your last FT in time.

Good point, will try it out. Thank you!

[Ayvar]

Hello. First of all, thank you to Ayvar for the overwhelming (in a good way) first post.

I've been following (or trying to) this rotation that you pointed out:

"HT-IR-Fr-BFB-Ph-Sweep-ID-PS-Dis-Jump-CT-TT-VT-LS-FT-HT-Fr-Sweep-Ph-TT-VT-FT-ID-Dis-CT-HT-Sweep-Fr-Ph-Jump-TT-VT-FT-TT-VT-FT-Sweep"

Specifically, I'm having trouble in the initial section of this rotation, mainly:

"HT-IR-Fr-BFB-Ph-Sweep-ID-PS-Dis-Jump-CT-TT-VT-LS-FT"

It seems that no matter how tight I squeeze these skills into the rotation, I never seem to be able to get off that last LS + FT with my BFB and HT buffs. It seems HT falls off a split second to a second before I can get that last FT off.
From observation, the delay seems to come from Jump animation transitioning into CT. I've been told to consider dropping Fracture all together, but part of me just wants to be able to complete this actual rotation. Any help or insight would be great!

Don't feel like you must execute the first rotation from the guide. It's designed as a tool for new Dragoons to learn how to correctly cycle their buffs/debuffs while maximizing their dps as much as possible. I do not think it is a suboptimal rotation, the dps is very close between all of the rotations, and I think its "simplicity" of execution and ease of remembrance more than make up for anything it lacks. I've certainly lost dps due to losing my place in a more complicated rotation more than once. However, you should not feel that this rotation is required.

Ditching Fracture is certainly a fine option, there are two suggested rotations in the guide that don't have it, one of which I use myself (for the fights that warrant it). However, if you really want to keep it you have two options: 1) Adjust your rotation. If you're comfortable, you can place Phlebotomize and Fracture anywhere in your rotation that needs a gap filler. Your DoTs get applied slower, and you'll give yourself a more complicated moveset to attempt to execute, but it is a viable option. For example:

HT-Fr-ID-Dis-CT-TT-VT-FT-Ph-HT-Fr-TT-VT-FT-ID-Dis-CT-Ph-HT-Fr-TT-VT-FT-TT-VT-FT-Ph

Again the DoTs are up slower, and the rotation is harder, but you have the option to adjust to ensure your FT always hits with HT+BFB.

2) There may actually be something wrong with the execution, this can happen for a number of reasons, so lets check on the main ones:

i) Are you moving to the back before it's time to apply ID? This may seem dumb, but I used to do this all the time when I was starting out. I'd sit on the flank after HT and wouldn't move to the back until it was ID time, which cost me half a second. Since the DoTs have no positional requirement, you can move to the back right after applying HT.

ii) Try using Jump after CT instead of Dis. I find no difference between them, but some people find the CT animation easier to interrupt which might save you some Jump animation time.

iii) Make sure Jump is the only oGCD ability that is overriding the global cooldown. If you're not spamming the buttons the others may end up overlapping very slightly.

iv) Lastly, make sure you're actually missing the HT buff in the first place. Full Thrust has a long-ass animation, but HT only needs to be active when you hit the ability. It does not need to be up when the animation actually goes off. Due to the snapshot method of damage, as long as the buff was active when the ability was used, it will still apply when the ability "connects"

Good luck!

[Ellyidol]

Good luck!

Perfect info, thank you very much

[Ricauer]

I have 2,40s GCD and I have no troubles executing "HT-IR-Fr-BFB-Ph-Sweep-ID-PS-Dis-Jump-CT-TT-VT-LS-FT". I currently have 8/12 pieces of ilvl90 gear, that may have something to do with my high skill speed. I prefer it over accuracy(I have 479 accuracy with Buttons in a Blanket food).

[EasymodeX]

One note on jumping subtlety: Disembowel is a fast move to use jump after. However, doing so delays the CT slightly, increasing the likelihood you'll clip the following CT. This only matters when you're currently in BFB mode though. Generally it's better to default to jumping after the CT. However, if BFB is not up then it doesn't matter. DE, CT, PH, TT, and FT all seem to be acceptably fast animations. I've only noticed ID and VT to be notably poor for jumps.

[KidSerge]

On dummies any of the main rotations discussed will parse very similarly, you should end up at ~260 (with DL/+1). For actual fights the current parsers are still too unreliable. I've had both LogRep2 and FFXIVAPP give me completely stupid numbers, but they're under constant development so we'll see what happens.

using your main rotation mixed with the cool downs, ive gotten up to 260 max but have been told it averages around 215. i am really trying to get this up, i have 2 pieces of allagan and 1 myth, and i have a feeling i should be doing better than this.

[EasymodeX]

On dummies any of the main rotations discussed will parse very similarly, you should end up at ~260 (with DL/+1).
[...]
have been told it averages around 215. i am really trying to get this up, i have 2 pieces of allagan and 1 myth, and i have a feeling i should be doing better than this.

You're doing fine. People tend to overrate their DPS or what they tell other people they "should" be doing, whether due to parsing errors (sometimes), or scenario errors / skews (often).

Edit: On a static single target "real" fight in the game with little to no mechanics (ADS1, Cad), I'd expect a maximum average DRG DPS with your gear around ... 230 maybe.

[zeth07]

With the change to WP people are obviously running that now instead of just AK, so my question is what is the best way of dealing with the trash mobs when the group is running and pulling a bunch at once?

Should it just be Ring of Thorns spam then Invigorate when TP gets low (besides using buffs)?

Or should DRGs still focus on doing some form of the rotations on a single mob depending on how fast the mobs are actually being killed?

When I'm doing Ring of Thorns it feels like I'm not doing any damage even though it is hitting a ton of mobs at once which I guess adds up as "total damage", but I don't know if that is actually more "effective" which is why I'm asking. Would like a little more statistical insight into what would be better in this case.

[Vodomir]

I usually get my Heavy Thrust up, then Blood for Blood -> Ring of Thorns -> Dragonfire Dive -> get into position and spam Doom Spike. I use Off-GCD skills to boost DPS (e.g. I will jump and leg sweep, even if those only hit one target, as it doesn't cost a GCD). Please note that this is pretty TP intensive.