[SSJGotenx268]

So I've been on and off with this game (thanks, WoW...) and I really want to come back and give it another go. Every time I look at a fan page or a video I just get more and more eager to come back. Also, with the announcement of FFXIV it just makes me want to prepare more for its release!

So enough with the introduction: Let's get down to business.

I was sitting on my couch browsing FFXI websites to see what job I wanted to try out next and BLU came into mind. Now, I hear it's super tedious, but worth it all. I also heard it's good for soloing (which I am a fan of if I'm bored). Plus, they can dual wield swords, which i found awesome.

Some things on mind:
1. Can you solo a good portion of leveling to 75?
2. Will it be easy to get PTs? Even if I have to heal?
3. Certain/specific gear I should be using while leveling up?
4. Subbing /NIN, when can you wield 2 weapons?

I'm currently still reading guides on BLU so I'm learning as I'm reading, but I figured I'd make this post to make my life easier


Thanks!

[cidbahamut]

I think the dual wielding comes from subbing Ninja. Other than that I can't really speak on the merits of Blue Mage as I haven't played it.

[IfritnoItazura]

"Even if I have to heal"? You make playing healer sound like a bad thing.

Anyway, you can solo for the most part, except for getting some spells (or getting CoP access in order to get to some spells). Party invite is unlikely to be great; BLU is about as welcomed as THF. (Still ahead of PUP, SMN, and BLM in normal parties.)

When soloing, use whatever gear you find working for you. When partying, DD gear--probably accuracy gear the important. Mage gear wise, I think you'll want a Dark Staff eventually for hMP time, and a Light Staff if focused exclusively on curing. (Most BLUs refuse to use Light Staff, of course.) MP gear would be good for certain situations; check those guides.

/NIN gives you Dual Wield starting at Lv.20 on main job. Whether you'd want to do that or use another support job would depend on the situation.

[SSJGotenx268]

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

"Even if I have to heal"? You make playing healer sound like a bad thing.

Anyway, you can solo for the most part, except for getting some spells (or getting CoP access in order to get to some spells). Party invite is unlikely to be great; BLU is about as welcomed as THF. (Still ahead of PUP, SMN, and BLM in normal parties.)

When soloing, use whatever gear you find working for you. When partying, DD gear--probably accuracy gear the important. Mage gear wise, I think you'll want a Dark Staff eventually for hMP time, and a Light Staff if focused exclusively on curing. (Most BLUs refuse to use Light Staff, of course.) MP gear would be good for certain situations; check those guides.

/NIN gives you Dual Wield starting at Lv.20 on main job. Whether you'd want to do that or use another support job would depend on the situation.

Would I have to get /NIN to 20 or do you mean when I get 20 as /BLU? I'm going to have to level /NIN first so I just want to be sure.

[IfritnoItazura]

Dual Wield is a Lv.10 Job Trait for Ninja, so hit BLU20/NIN10 and you'd have it.

[Takelli]

Most people sub nin for the Utsusemi though, not for the dual Wield. The Dual Wield increases delay between attacks, which isnt always a good thing. You deal more damage per round, but you might lower your DPS though.

[Armando]

The Dual Wield increases delay between attacks, which isnt always a good thing. You deal more damage per round, but you might lower your DPS though.

No no no no no no no no no NO.

Dual Wield makes you hit twice at a time instead of once at a time but it always lowers the Delay of your weapons, which means it always increases your DPS. And it gives you an extra hit in your physical WS.

Also use Feather Storm, people are stupid and pass up on that great spell because they're so fixated on zomgBludgeon. That's not to say you can't use Bludgeon too, of course.

[Takelli]

Originally Posted by Armando

Dual Wield makes you hit twice at a time instead of once at a time but it always lowers the Delay of your weapons, which means it always increases your DPS. And it gives you an extra hit in your physical WS.

The delay of your weapons are added together as well and it lowers it by how ever much the dual wield level is. Having that with high delay weapons is bad IMO. Sometime swinging fast can help bring the monster down faster rather than having two swings in one round.

[Armando]

Delay on its own means nothing. A high Delay weapon is still the best option if it has the best DPS and stats. Two of them are even better still.

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by Takelli

The Dual Wield increases delay between attacks, which isnt always a good thing

Takelli, if you have no idea what Dual Wield does, just say so.

From FFXiclopedia:

Dual Wield I

• Obtained: Ninja Level 10
• Delay Reduction: 10%

You swing faster over time. Single weapon of say, 180, takes 1 swing every 3 seconds, or 0.33 swing/sec. Dual Wield that, and it becomes 2 swings every 5.4 seconds, or 0.37 swing/sec on average over time.

Swings more. Increases damage output. Dual Wield is a DD trait.