[Olorin401]

I'll start by saying this: the Calculating Magic Damage page used by Wikia and BG-Wiki (both use the same sources and text) is absolutely horrible. If there is something easier to understand, please let me know.

Now back to my main topic.. I'm trying to figure out how to squeeze the most damage out of my BLM. Here's an idea where I am now:

Current Merits: 2 MP, 3 Elemental Magic, 4 Thunder Potency, 3 Ice Potency, Burst 2, Freeze 2

I'm planning to go 8/8 on Elemental and 5/5 on Thunder & Ice Potency, along with at least 5/8 in MP and 3-5 in INT. The only thing I'm hung up on is Group 2 - I can either max out Burst 2 and Freeze 2, or get the other four AM2 spells.


Gear: Here's a list of what I use. If you have any ideas where I could make changes let me know - and keep in mind that I'm on a budget so stuff like Sorcerer's Ring is out. And for the record, I have no Yigit gear at all.

Nuking: AF+1 Hat, Igqira Weskit, Zenith Mitts, Errant Slops, Sorcerer's Sabots, Elemental Torque, Penitent's Rope, Rainbow Cape, Moldy Earring, Abyssal Earring, Snow Ring, Tamas Ring, HQ Staff (set), Bugard Strap +1

Enfeeb: Swap in Errant Houp., Rostrum Pumps, and occassionally Nashira Turban.

Resting: Swap in Errant Houp., Beak Necklace +1, Hierarch Belt, and Pluto's Staff.

Drain/Aspir/Sleep: Swap in Errant Houp., Pluto's Staff, Relic Gloves and AF Pants.


Food: Melon +1 all the way, though for exp/limit parties I've been using Rolanberry for the extra MP to save some money.

[Callisto]

Heya Olo, I did a rundown on INT vs. MAB for my RDM guide, showing the math done on there may make it a bit easier to see how both affect damage, I did a copypasta of that section to here. and you know where to find it on the Fraggle's site...

Anyways for BLM you'd basically want 2 approaches, one for max damage on manaburn-ish mobs where you're not as likely to get resisted, and one for higher mobs where resists may be an issue. I'll take a look at what you have here and give my thoughts on what a good mix for each would be in a few...

Merits: For group 2's do max Burst/Freeze, hands down. With almost everything you'll fight, especially in TAL, if it isn't weak to Thunder it's weak to Ice, and you'll probably be MBing Light or Darkness.

Max Damage: For max damage your set looks good, although 2 pieces I'd highly recommend getting are the Yigit boots and Goliard Cuffs(if TAL does Nyzul, if not try to hop into Rais's group), you lose 1 MAB on the gloves compared to Zenith but get some extra Acc, and Yigit feet are the best all-around piece you're going to get.

Debuffs: Use your AF1 body for enfeebling! And nab a Spider Torque at the least, it's not that expensive. If I see you on your RDM w/ no Enfeebling+ neckpiece you're in trouble! Also, the Igqira pants and head have a big Enfeebling+ boost as well, and I'm betting that they're stupid cheap.

Dark: I'd use the Nashira head on Dark Magic too since you have it, and Dark Torques are cheap as hell. Also, Sleep is Enfeebling, not Dark, use your debuff setup for it rather than your Dark Magic one.

For things that you are likely to resist on, the AF+1 gloves are pretty nice and I know they wouldn't be too hard for you to get.

[Mog]

Almost everything looks good, but a few changes I would make:

Neck) For regular burning, try for an intelligence torque. This is assuming that you have enough elemental magic skill from merits and possibly other gear. When you hit 50% (or for full time) try to pick up an uggalipih pendant. This will significantly boost your damage output.

Legs) Try for the Mahatma Slops, but that's obvious.

Feet) Yigit man! You will love these feet, as they give you the same +3 intelligence and +2 MaB, which is really useful for that extra boost.

Rings) If and only if you have enough -HP gear from zenith, pick up a sorcerer's ring. This ring means certain death sometimes, so {take care}

Originally Posted by Olorin401

Enfeeb: Swap in Errant Houp., Rostrum Pumps, and occassionally Nashira Turban.

Did I read that right? You want to swap in your Wizard's Body for enfeebles for the enfeebling magic skill. Other nice pieces to have are the altruistic cape, if you can get, the locquacious ring for fast cast, and a decent enfeebling torque.

Originally Posted by Olorin401

Resting: Swap in Errant Houp., Beak Necklace +1, Hierarch Belt, and Pluto's Staff.

I noticed you mentioned the +1 hat. It's also good for healing your mp, so you probably want to macro that in. Some other good pieces to have are the arborist nails, yigit seraweels, invigorating cape, etc..

Originally Posted by Olorin401

Drain/Aspir/Sleep: Swap in Errant Houp., Pluto's Staff, Relic Gloves and AF Pants.

You want to macro in enfeebling gear for sleep, not dark magic skill. While yes, it's dark-based, it's an enfeeble that's directly effected by your enfeebling skill.

That's all I can think of. Hope that helped.

[NicasinXS]

Dude.... you are doing great already, your ideas of what you want to lvl are on key. Then only thing im doing different with my blm is the AM2. I'm maxing one (Freeze) which I currently have at lvl2 and have the 3 light based AM2s (flare2-tornado2-burst2)

If you want to maximize a little more get a Demon Helm +1 in your nuke over that AF+1 hat that is pretty darn good already. Get yourself some Mahatma or Jet /equip leg for nuking on off days per element. The assault for the Yigit Krackows is terribly easy for a blm, all you gotta do is dot a wall or 2 to death. The one for the hat all you gotta do is dispel these dudes that get charmed everynow and then while they do the fighting for you.

Even after all that your nukes are going to do a small amount of damage more then yours probably already do when it goes to gear. Your going to get alot out of what you will do with your merits as you have planned.

[Mog]

Originally Posted by NicasinXS

If you want to maximize a little more get a Demon Helm +1 in your nuke over that AF+1 hat that is pretty darn good already.

IMO, I would rather take the 30 MP and the -4 enmity that Wizard's Petasos +1 offers, opposed to 1 extra intelligence that can be gotten from other ways. Plus it looks nicer too. <.>

[Olorin401]

Originally Posted by Mog

IMO, I would rather take the 30 MP and the -4 enmity that Wizard's Petasos +1 offers, opposed to 1 extra intelligence that can be gotten from other ways. Plus it looks nicer too. <.>

It does look nicer.. especially on an elf!

Anyways an update - I've now upgraded to AF+1 hands and use those for nuking on harder fights or mobs with high INT (for regular stuff I stick with Zenith Mitts), and I switched to Mahatma Slops. Been trying to get a Prism Cape but the price shot up about 50k in the past week and I don't have enough gil.

I desperately need to work on finishing up my BLM and magic merits so I can get started on padding my INT and MND.. playing around with the experimental taru has been getting a bit much of my time lately.

[Necropolis]

Like others have set your gear seems pretty right on for what you're doing.

The only main suggestion I'd make is putting atleast 1 point in Tornado II if you ever plan on doing Kirin the non-TP burn style or Ouryu runs. Between Aero IV, Aeroga III and maybe an Aero III from time to time you're cooldowns are usually still up by the time you're ready to cast again. Those mobs in particular are resistant to anything else but air based in my experience. Having Tornado II to MB and then the rest of that school to cast before the next skill chain is nice.

Your enfeebling set looks nice, I'd add at least a spider torque for some more skill. The additional cost of enfeebling torque is not really needed unless maybe you're going up to tiamat, Khimara, or sleeping fafnir/nidhogg.

Of course HQing any particular set is, and getting some Yigit pieces are advised. Meriting all the AM2 spells would only allow you to AM on JoL no matter what stage he's in, but really having 2 or 3 of them is sufficient. Sorc ring should be something to plan for down the road. Perhaps try the BCNM a few times and you'll get lucky. But for most things it's not overly needed.