how do i magic burst with blue??

[Kerio]

I feel dumb for asking this.. but i totally couldn't find it in any of the forums? I just turned 25 in blue, so how do i magic burst? Do i use an elemental magic blue spell? Does it have to be magic-based? Or can i use a physical based spell?

Either send a link or just flat out tell me cuz i'm totally lost ><

[LyonheartLakshmi]

I believe you need to use the job ability Burst Affinity (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Burst_Affinity) to MB. Keep in mind that it's not a job trait, which kicks in automatically.

[Kerio]

yeah i know that >< but i don't know which magic abilities i should use for which skill chain... like.. an ice spell, which blue ability do i use? One with ice magic on it? Or...what?

[Silent Howler]

For that, I suggest taking a look at Magic Burst (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Magic_Burst) to see what element match with what skillchain.

[Kerio]

oook.. i should probably ask for a chart that actually generates magic bursts first.. i keep doing all these small scale skill chains and can't seem to find a good way to start one.

[IfritnoItazura]

Let's make sure we have the terms straight, first:

Skillchain (SC) is performed when the right Weapon Skills are performed in the right sequence, with proper timing. Skillchains have elemental properties associated with them. Lv.1 SC has 1 element, Lv.2 SC has two elements, while Lv.3 SC has 4 elements.

Magic Burst (MB) doesn't automatically happen; it only happens when the right spells goes off at the right time. In order to Magic Burst, the spell's elemental affinity must match the SC's. For example, Distortion is Water and Ice. In order to MB on Distortion, the spells used must be either Water or Ice type.

Blue Mage can help form Skillchain with either a weapon or a physical Blue Magic spell (when using Chain Affinity). In fact, Blue Mage Lv.40+ can perform an SC by himself.

Blue Mage can also Magic Burst using the right magical Blue Magic spell (and Burst Affinity).

* * *

Now, what is your question, exactly?

Are you asking how to perform SC?
Are you asking which SC to perform?
Are you asking how to MB?
Are you asking which spells to MB with, for a given SC?Or is your question about something else?

[Hypnotic]

Yes. You have to use a magical blu spell of the corresponding skillchain element WITH Burst Affinity in order to magic burst.

So, if your party performs a Reverberation, you can use Burst Affinity + Cursed Sphere in order to magic burst.

Physical spells such as Bludgeon cannot be used to magic burst.

[Celeal]

In the screen where you set/equip the blue magic, each spell is identified with the type: either Physical or Magical. The physical ones can be use to make Skillchain (just like WS), and the magical ones can perform Magic Burst (MB).

For example, Blue Magic - Bomb Toss (obtain from Goblins), is Fire base, can MB in SC like Fusion, Light, etc. The macro is like:

(before time for MB...)

/ja "Burst Affinity" <me>

(then a moment later, at correct timing...)

/ma "Bomb Toss" <t>

[Kerio]

Let's make sure we have the terms straight, first:

Skillchain (SC) is performed when the right Weapon Skills are performed in the right sequence, with proper timing. Skillchains have elemental properties associated with them. Lv.1 SC has 1 element, Lv.2 SC has two elements, while Lv.3 SC has 4 elements.

Magic Burst (MB) doesn't automatically happen; it only happens when the right spells goes off at the right time. In order to Magic Burst, the spell's elemental affinity must match the SC's. For example, Distortion is Water and Ice. In order to MB on Distortion, the spells used must be either Water or Ice type.

Blue Mage can help form Skillchain with either a weapon or a physical Blue Magic spell (when using Chain Affinity). In fact, Blue Mage Lv.40+ can perform an SC by himself.

Blue Mage can also Magic Burst using the right magical Blue Magic spell (and Burst Affinity).

* * *

Now, what is your question, exactly?
Are you asking how to perform SC?
Are you asking which SC to perform?
Are you asking how to MB?
Are you asking which spells to MB with, for a given SC?Or is your question about something else?

I guess i'm asking which skill chains can create the ability for me to actually magic burst and what graphic i should look for on my screen to tell me when to cast the spell. I thank the people under your post for clarifying which spells i can use and can't, like i can't use bludgeon for magic bursts.
Since i understand that... i guess i'm confused on this example -
i partied last night and was pulling off Scision skill chains and Fusion Skill chains with i think Red Lotus Blade and Flat or Fast blade. When i did that a graphic occurred and it said i did a skill chain, but i didn't see any sign that i could magic burst! I usually see this little green vortex thingy... but in this instance i didn't. So... which skill chains, or just right usage of spells, can allow me to magic burst??
So...
What do i look for?
and
Which skill chains allow me to use a magic burst at the end?

I'm only lvl 27 blue so i can't use chain affinity yet, so please, stick to the magic burst side... i'll ask the other one when i get there ><

[Armando]

All skillchains can be bursted.

Sometimes, when the player performing the skillchain disappears because of switching equipment, the SC animation also disappears. Regardless, you can still Magic Burst.

Just cast a spell of the appropriate element so that it lands 2-6 seconds or so after the second person started his WS.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

The Green Vortex thingy you've seen in the past is probably from a Distortion skill chain. Each SC looks different. Scission looks like an invisible blade just cut through the mob. Fusion looks like a fireball surrounding the mob.

To make the Magic Burst occur, you want to finish performing your spell around the time that the skill chain graphic finishes. If you want to MB with a relatively fast casting spell, then you can probably trigger Burst Affinity and start casting when you see the SC graphic. However, for bursting using longer casting spells, you'll have to trigger BA and start casting earlier based on when you think the SC will finish.

So when should you start casting a spell? That's something you have to learn through experience.

If you're closing the SC yourself, then you're probably limited to bursting with a relatively quick spell anyway. In that case, you can probably mash your macros in sequence starting with your WS macro and get the MB to work out.

[Callisto]

I guess i'm asking which skill chains can create the ability for me to actually magic burst and what graphic i should look for on my screen to tell me when to cast the spell. I thank the people under your post for clarifying which spells i can use and can't, like i can't use bludgeon for magic bursts.
Since i understand that... i guess i'm confused on this example -
i partied last night and was pulling off Scision skill chains and Fusion Skill chains with i think Red Lotus Blade and Flat or Fast blade. When i did that a graphic occurred and it said i did a skill chain, but i didn't see any sign that i could magic burst! I usually see this little green vortex thingy... but in this instance i didn't. So... which skill chains, or just right usage of spells, can allow me to magic burst??
So...
What do i look for?
and
Which skill chains allow me to use a magic burst at the end?

I'm only lvl 27 blue so i can't use chain affinity yet, so please, stick to the magic burst side... i'll ask the other one when i get there ><

The greenish vortex would have been the Skillchain Distortion. Basically when you see the Skillchain animation(the green/blue Distortion, or the fireball action for Liquefication), use Burst Affinity, then start casting a magical Blue spell that matches the Skillchain element, as described above it would be ice and/or water for Distortion, and Fire for Liquefication or Fire and/or Light for Fusion. You want the spell to actually fire about 3-4 seconds after the skillchain animation is displayed(I think 6 might be a stretch Armando, I've been getting robbed on alot of MBs lately that I'm sure couldn't have taken 6+ seconds to cast.

There will be no special animation to show the burst, however your chat log will read something along the lines of:
Kerio casts Bomb Toss.
Magic Burst! The Goblin Whatever takes ### points of damage.

Aside from the chat log, the added damage is really the only way you can tell if you actually hit the MB.

[Kerio]

woah, so that's how it all works! I was starting to think you could only magic burst in long skill chains or something. This info really cleared things up. I can pull from this now how to skill chain on myself when i get to lvl 40. I just have to remember which spells are magic-type and which spells are physical-type.

I totally get it! Thanks! Now i need to go after a few spells i've been missing that are magical type... blast bomb isn't fun to get...
------------------------------------------
totally forgot to ask... how does Sneak Attack fit into a skill chain?? I need to know when i use blu/thief for a party

[Losrase]

I just have to remember which spells are magic-type and which spells are physical-type.

If you need a quick reference, all magic spells will have a solid color icon in the blue mage spell menu. The phyical ones will be (please someone correct me if I am wrong) solid black with a brown border.

totally forgot to ask... how does Sneak Attack fit into a skill chain?? I need to know when i use blu/thief for a party

Blu/Thf works when you are self-skillchaining or a part of a skill chain. You use sneak attack before you use one of your physical blue mage spells. This will cause your physical blue mage spell to automatically crit.

Self-skillchain:
(I use)
use chain affinity
(get behind your target)
a weaponskill
Sneak attack
use a physical blue mage spell
(I strongly suggest creating macros to do this)

Part of a Skillchain:
(I use)
chain affinity
(get behind your target)
sneak attack
use a physical blue mage spell
(Macros will make this easier but not needed)

[Kerio]

does chainspell mean that my next physical blue spell acts like a weapon skill then?
I need to practice more with the whole Sneak attack weapon skill thing... is there a macro for that?

[Yellow Mage]

does chain affinity mean that my next physical blue spell acts like a weapon skill then?
I need to practice more with the whole Sneak attack weapon skill thing... is there a macro for that?

Fixed that for you: "Chainspell" is completely different from "Chain Affinity." ;)

Also, yes, you can make a macro for SAWS; I think it goes something like this:

/ja "Sneak Attack" <me>
/wait 1
/ws "Weapon Skill" <stnpc> (put the name of your Weapon Skill where the words Weapon Skill are)

Of course, if you're auto-attacking something, you could use <t> in place of <stnpc>, and I'm pretty sure there's plenty of other stuff that works.

Take note though, that Sneak Attack will only work if you're not within the mob's line of sight; this is usually accomplished with standing behind the mob.

[Kerio]

what does <stnpc> mean?

And i still don't get how sneak attack can be used in a skill chain, is it considered a "weapon skill" to activate the skill chain? How do i use it in unison with other weapon skills or spells for blue (with chain affinity)?

[Celeal]

<stnpc> means select target (NPC), which allow you to select/target the mob or any non-playable character.

For Sneak Attack will make your next physical attack a Critical Hit (when /THF). A lot of WS (and physical blue magic) can stack with Sneak Attack.

--- You mush be standing behind the mob in order to use Sneak Attack, otherwise Sneak Attack as no effect.

There is more that one way for a BLU/THF to do a Skill-chain: You have the option to self SC, or SC with a partner. You also have the option to use Sneak Attack as part of SC, or not using Sneak Attack at all.

P.S. : When you level up your THF, it should be clear.

[Kerio]

i know HOW to do sneak attack >< i have thief at lvl 30. I'm asking if Sneak Attack acts like a WS somehow in a skill chain, and can it be used in a skill chain to start it or something. It doesn't sound likely, but i still want to know. Or do people just use it for Sneak Attack + WS to create a powerful attack?

[LilithAngel]

The Job Ability Sneak Attack itself doesn't act like a Weapon Skill because it isn't an attack, per se, but just forces your next attack, whatever it may be (a straight physical attack, a Weapon Skill, or a Physical Blue Magic), to be a critical hit. Sneak Attack is combined with one of those attacks to make a really powerful attack.

You can activate Chain Affinity, and then Sneak Attack, and then perform a Physical Blue Magic to produce an exceptionally powerful attack that can be part of a Skill Chain. That is accomplished by either using the ability, and having another party member follow it with whatever Weapon Skills they have to form a Skill Chain, or you can self Skill Chain by using a Weapon Skill yourself first, then follow up with a Chain Affinity (which allows the Physical Blue Magic to behave like a Weapon Skill), Sneak Attack (to force it to become a critical hit), Physical Blue Magic (the actual attack) combo, thus performing a "second" Weapon Skill.

A CASA (Chain Affinity/Sneak Attack) Physical Blue Magic can be used either before a Weapon Skill or after, but if you use it before a Weapon Skill, be aware that the CASA magic will eat your TP as if it were an actual Weapon Skill, so you will need a partner to finish the Skill Chain.

[Kerio]

woaah waoh woah... this is intriguing...

So if i use CASA it will use my TP huh? I get that... but what about the part where i use my weapon skill first, use CA and SA, then use my blue spell... if I used my WS first won't that mean the monster is aggroed and thus facing me?? Does that mean using Sneak Attack still holds it's effect if i'm facing the monster while using a Blue Spell to hit it? Or did i misread?

If i did, i can still understand (for self skillchain) using my SA then WS first together, then CA, then blue spell to create my own skill chain. Heck, i could use my Burst Affinity to MB off that too right?

Did i get everything right so far?

Might as well ask...

Does anyone know of a good element sheet to show me the elemental weakness of each race and type of monster?

[IfritnoItazura]

Elemental weakness for race? Don't know about that.

For monsters, go to www.ffixclopedia.org and type the name of the critter in the search box. Just about every monster's weakness is listed, though you may have to check the family for some.

[LilithAngel]

If you're solo, then you more than likely won't be /THF, so you won't have to worry about the SA part (you'll just go without). If you're in a party, then, if your tank is good enough, you won't have to worry about your initial WS turning the mob for the SA part to be valid. And yes, you can Magic Burst with Burst Affinity off of your own self SC. That part is a matter of timing.

Of course, all this just comes with experience. Get out there and do it. :thumbsup: