Why is BLM/SMN such a bad idea?

[Tiamath]

I'm probably kicking myself in the ass by saying this, but why is this such a bad idea? Lets face it, a BLM/SMN combination would have some *HIGH* Mp... I've read that it offers the most MP in the game. Couple that with auto-refresh... Thats a good combo, no? Granted, if your party only has one WHM and you have the ability to go SMN/WHM (and have decent experience in both) you should, back up healers are always appreciated and its damn near impossible for one WHM to do ALL the healing. But if you have enough, is BLM/SMN really such a bad choice? Sure the Summon's power is halved, but they're not that powerful to begin with, and it seems that no one really uses them for their meek offensive capabilities, just great effects they have (Blinkga, Hastega)... And if I'm not mistaken those are both achieved in low-mid thirties? (if i'm incorrect, please feel free to correct me... I've been doing reading here and there, I'm not sure whose points are valid) So that makes well for BLM, being able to dish out some massive damage, sustaining considerable MP and the occaisional summon effect.

I fail to see how this is a bad combination. Maybe I just need to play it and then get smacked around, but I could weigh the opposing sides over and over again, and by the looks of it, its a good combo.

I'm not looking to tear anyone's heads off. I want valid reasons, not an altercation with veterans. If I'm incorrect, please remedy it -- But lets avoid verbal/online arguments. They're quite silly.

Thanks :)

[jasmill]

Screw you!~














































Just kidding. I don't think anyone is going to say it is a horrible idea. It's just that a backup healer looks so good when people are chosing between a blm/smn and a blm/whm. Blm/whm for pure utility, or a blm/smn for massive damage potential.

[Tiamath]

Yeah, I don't understand though... Blah. It seems like all the veterans are telling me its a horrible combo, and I can't figure out why... It seems like it'd be a friggin great combo. Thats just me, though.

[Icemage]

BLM/SMN is fine, but it really doesn't become useful until you get to BLM50/SMN25. One of the reasons a lot of people do BLM/WHM is because the /WHM sub starts becoming useful from level 1.


Icemage

[Tiamath]

Oh... I see. Well I dunno, I think it'd be easier to level in the beginning with the black magic and such. I dunno, I don't think I'm going to shoot for SMN anyway until they make some changes to it and beef them up a bit...

[Oddin]

Summoner doesnt make a good sub usually. If you want to go Summoner anything, make summoner your main. This is because when its your sub, everything is halved. Summons included. Thats why everyone says its not that great.

[FFXITsukasa]

But summons aren't very strong in the first place.

[Tiamath]

yeah, but wouldn't a BLM/SMN use Summons solely for the purpose of the status effects? Their damage is useless, really.

[Maxim]

When you sub SMN on a BLM you are going for stats over abilities. When you sub WHM on a BLM you are going for abilities over stats. In most cases, abilities take precedence over stats.

Subbing SMN will probably give you 50 more MP than subbing WHM, which is just about enough to cast one or two black magic spells. Being able to do that isn't going to save you and your party in most life or death situations, and if it does it's a fluke. At level 25 you get AutoRefresh, which benefits you when your black mage is level 50.

However, at level 25 as a WHM you get to use Raise, which doesn't necessarily benefit you but benefits the other five people in the party. Suppose the WHM dies and didn't cast Reraise earlier. It is then the BLM's job to raise the WHM assuming there are no other parties around or any other mages, but if the BLM subbed SMN then that isn't going to be happening. I suppose the BLM can stand there and have his MP regen while the WHM whines on the floor.

Also, keep in mind that BLMs have a pretty large MP tank as it is. They get so much to the point where you won't use all of it during one battle in level up parties, and with the extra MP you can help the WHM out by healing. That way you save the WHM's MP and you get to use your surplus MP effectively, allowing you to go without healing longer, chain more, and get more EXP.

[Oddin]

Summons arent that powerful in the beginning. They gain power as you lvl.

[Icemage]

...unfortunately, the monsters get powerful at a faster rate than your summons. None of the summons currently available is what I could call "battle-worthy." Their special abilities are very nice, but they cost a king's ransom in MP, and are on a fairly long timer, as well.


Icemage

[Awntawn]

Regarding MP, now that white and black mages have the "Clear Mind" passive, which lets you heal much more MP at a time when sitting, subbing WHM is actually more useful for your MP pool than subbing SMN.

[caramelmania]

Well,BLM/SMN is chooseable idea.I think.

But now,SMN in not suit for attack (nuke?how can I say.Except 70 lvl SUM as main job).
SMN as sub job used increaseing MP or using summons's
backup.(for example Garuda's Blink for all PT member)
So,I saw many WHM/SUM,and no BLM/SUM...

As far as having MP,We Mage expected as backup (or sometimes main)healer.summon's strength will depends on SMN's level,
at BLM50/SMN25,..Very difficult to work.

Yeah,we need choices,I'll try to up my SMN lvl after I reach lvl cap as a BLM.

[Koy]

you get cures with whm, you dont with smn. thats the bare basics. then u can cure status and raise, eventually teleport with the next level cap

[Dbossmon]

Who cares what people think. play what you feel is the best and how you see your character as... If you do this and it turned out better then everyone here says then prove them wrong... you can alway get out of it if you dont like it....