HQ staves for BLM? - Final Fantasy XI :: Dreams in Vana'diel :: Community

Mog · 12-11-2007, 11:59 AM

A question to any seasoned black mages out there. What HQ staff should I work on next? So far I have the Aquilo's and Jupiter staves. I kinda sorta narrowed it down:

Terra's Staff (Added defense between nukes)
Auster's Staff (Gravity potency and Kirin)
Vulcan's Staff (For the one time that I solo and cast Fire IV)
Pluto's Staff ( Drain and aspir potency )

Seems to me like the least useful of them are:

Neptune's Staff
Apollo's Staff

Opinions?

edit: Crap, I thought Jupiter Staff was Fire. x.x Can a mod edit Jupiter Staff to be Vulcan Staff?

Mhurron · 12-11-2007, 12:07 PM

What do you cast the most? That was what I used to select what order I bought the NQ Staves, and what I'll use for choosing HQ's.

Though you might want to think of Pluto for Sleep. That would probably be my next choice given what you already have though again, I don't know how often you have to cast sleep.

Mog · 12-11-2007, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Mhurron

What do you cast the most? That was what I used to select what order I bought the NQ Staves, and what I'll use for choosing HQ's.

Though you might want to think of Pluto for Sleep. That would probably be my next choice given what you already have though again, I don't know how often you have to cast sleep.

I cast sleep really often. More often than gravity anyways. Maybe Pluto's Staff should be my next choice.

Neomage · 12-11-2007, 01:15 PM

I would say Pluto's. It was my firts HQ staff, though I did eventually sell it for Aquilo's, I do rememebr my powerful sleeps and drains.

Possibly due to the fact that there is no soft cap for drain, I was noticing instead of just a 5% increace over Dark Staff, I was finding my Drains and Aspairs to pull 25-30% more. Thats alot, much more then a 5% boost on Fire IV or better chance at landing Gravity.

Sabaron · 12-11-2007, 01:33 PM

If you were a RDM, I'd say Auster's, but since you're BLM, it's go to be Pluto, the Dark arts staff. Not only does it go with your outfit, it really complements one of your primary functions: Sleeping. Now the Auster's for Stunning is also useful, but it's more situational than Sleeping which is most definitely a BLM staple both in end-game and run-of-the-mill activities.

Mog · 12-11-2007, 01:58 PM

Looks like Pluto's Staff is the definitive choice. Thank you guys ^^

hongman · 12-18-2007, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by Sabaron

Now the Auster's for Stunning is also useful

Sorry if this is necro posting but Auster's for Stun? Or am I missing something.

Taskmage · 12-18-2007, 06:07 AM

A week late, edited Jupiter's to Vulcan's in the poll.

I agree with Pluto's, especially if you do dynamis. Sleep, Drain, Aspir, good stuff all around. Btw, Terra's doesn't give any more defense over Earth afaik other than the +1 VIT difference.

Originally Posted by hongman

Sorry if this is necro posting but Auster's for Stun? Or am I missing something.

Probably just a mistype. Jupiter's is for Stun.

hongman · 12-18-2007, 06:09 AM

Yeah just making sure I hadnt missed a large point. Thanks.

NicasinXS · 12-19-2007, 01:20 PM

Pluto's then Auster's Vulcan later on to boost your fire spells, not as important as Pluto or Auster. HQing water, light, earth adds almost nothing to my blm.

You will need both very much for solo xp at 72+, put Pluto's in your sleep macro or have a macro for it to cast dark magic. Never cast gravity without atleast a wind staff equiped, better yet an Auster's.

Olorin401 · 12-20-2007, 09:22 AM

Without question you should get Pluto's.. actually if I had to be honest I'd say this should be the FIRST one you get as soon as you get your first mage job to level 50. The hMP effect aside - it gives a major accuracy boost to your Sleep, Drain, Aspir, AND Bio effects, and gives you +2 INT (along with +2 everything else). After that you can get Aquilo's and Jupiter's and you'll be pretty good for a while.

After the main three, I'll agree with Nicasin and say Auster's for Gravity.

hongman · 12-21-2007, 02:15 AM

Sorry sir, Dark/Pluto's does nothing for Bio apart from maybe the initial damage. But I wouldnt call that "effect".

Cotners · 12-21-2007, 05:30 AM

Order i got them in... Jupiter's, Aquilo's, Pluto's, Auster's... the other hq's don't add much to blm since you rarely cast the corresponding spells... Oh and get a Kirin's pole also if you can.

Olorin401 · 12-21-2007, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by hongman

Sorry sir, Dark/Pluto's does nothing for Bio apart from maybe the initial damage. But I wouldnt call that "effect".

You're correct - when it comes to the Attack Down effect and DoT it makes no difference.

Being able to pull off a consistent 70+ damage Bio 2 is nice if you need to slice off the last few HP to kill a mob.. I've been edging close to 100 lately with my dark magic build.

Mog · 12-21-2007, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Cotners

Order i got them in... Jupiter's, Aquilo's, Pluto's, Auster's... the other hq's don't add much to blm since you rarely cast the corresponding spells... Oh and get a Kirin's pole also if you can.

Just out of curiousity, what is the Kirin's pole good for? The +10 intelligence it adds?