[Rain_Blade]

Hello FFXI fans. I have a curious question on my mind. I've researched a lot of things about summoner in Ballista and found some strategies and other stuff for them. One of the strategies include poisoning the avatar so that it can awake after being slept, but a team member can't use offensive spells or attacks to each other so a team member can't poison my avatar. The opposite team would have to poison my avatar. I'm thinking of another plan on how to get your avatar poisoned without the opposite team's "help." Redmages and whitemages often used Diaga on the opposite team, so if my avatar gets caught in the Diaga, it can't be slept; however, I don't know why redmages and whitemages cast Diaga on the opposite team. I forgot the reason. I was thinking on tricking the redmages or whitemages into using Diaga or blackmages to use Poisonga if I were to cast Regen on my teammates, but I won't actually underestimate them and expect them to be stupid so I need a new idea.

The main question is how do I poison my avatar without the opposite team's help? Is it possible?

[Medalink]

Nothing can be cast on your avatar by you or your team-mates.

Medalink

[KoukiRyu]

I've never used smn myself, but can you de-summon your avatar when it's asleep? I'm guessing not, but if you can, de-summon and just re-summon if it's possible >_>

[Rain_Blade]

Well, I know you can de-summon and re-summon it, but there are cons to that.

1. When you start to re-summon, you start getting attacked and your spell is interrupted.

2. They can simply sleep it again as soon as you recast it.

3. They can silence me so that I will not be able to summon an avatar.

[Maju]

Originally Posted by Rain_Blade

Redmages and whitemages often used Diaga on the opposite team, so if my avatar gets caught in the Diaga, it can't be slept; however, I don't know why redmages and whitemages cast Diaga on the opposite team. I forgot the reason. I was thinking on tricking the redmages or whitemages into using Diaga or blackmages to use Poisonga if I were to cast Regen on my teammates, but I won't actually underestimate them and expect them to be stupid so I need a new idea.

The main question is how do I poison my avatar without the opposite team's help? Is it possible?

They cast Diaga and Poisonga to wipe Utsusemi shadows quickly.

[KoukiRyu]

Ah, well most of the smns I've seen are constantly running in PvP, so I'd assume you could quickly desummon as you're running, and if no one is following you, you could just re-summon and head back...and as far as sleeping your avatar goes, anyone that can sleep, is going to constantly sleep, and without having others poison your avatar, de-summoning seems like the best plan of attack

[Enghorr]

Base on my experience (Ifrit) I always see SMN wearing -physical% and use avatars to do the mass damage which is very effective IMO especially in team fights. Solo Im not sure

[Rain_Blade]

Here's what I try to do in PvP (not solo):
Note: I know there are tips for lvl 70 Ballista and using Diabolos, but I'm lvl 62 and I don't have Diabolos yet, even though I'm trying to get him.

1. Try not to go out on my own throughout the fight.
2. Try to stay with a job that can really duo'ed with.
3. Try decide what role I will do in PvP:

Healer: Heal people
Buffer: Use Blood Pact: Wards
Damage Dealer: Use Blood Pact: Rages
Support: In terms of summoner, I'd say "Support" is doing all of the 3 roles above. Although, doing the Support role gets complicated in PvP. You'd really have to know exactly what you're doing.

Back to the countdown...

4. Use poison potions on myself to prevent sleep effect.
5. Cast Baraero, Barsilence, and Blink to decrease chances of being silenced.
Note: Self-poison + Blink will not cancel the Blink.
6. Go for the mage jobs if possible. They like to stay around their team as well so if you see a mage around it's team and you plan to attack him/her, either don't go near their team or walk with your whole team, get the whole opposing team distracted, and attack the mage.
7. As soon as you see a mage start casting a spell on you, DO NOT MOVE. If they are in range to cast a spell on you, then you are too. So, HURRY AND CAST A SILENCE SPELL WHILE THEY ARE CASTING! Example: *sees blm cast bind* *you see it fast and cast silence while he casts bind* *he lands a bind on you, but your silence was casting while he was casting, so he didn't get a chance to run while you casted a spell so your silence spell landed on him. Note: Red mages have fast cast. Their spell will be done casting while yours still has a FEW more seconds left and the redmages will most likely run during those last few seconds of casting.
8. Never do a 1 on 1 with a melee.
9. Never fight a ranger or jobs that use status arrows/bolts.
10. As a summoner, YOU NEED SPRINT! Do not hold a Petra U-N-L-E-S-S you're really really sure you're going to score. Most of the time, you should let your strong teammates take care of the scoring.
11. Never use assault non-mages. They will gain TP from each hit from your avatar and the hits are usually weak.
12. If you're planning to use a BP: Rage on someone, make sure your pet isn't Assaulting anyone. If you use assault and use a BP:Rage while the victim is running, the avatar will stop and start casting the BP. You want the avatar to run after the victim while casting the BP: Rage. So, make sure your pet isn't assaulting anyone if you're about to use a BP: Rage.
13. Make use of your 2 hour. I recommend using Garuda. She has Aerial Armor so that means she'll have a better chance of not getting sleeped. Use Aerial Armor, use Astral Flow, move in for the kill, use Aerial Blast.
14. USE EARTH STAFF! It decreases physical damage! ^^
15. If you're subbing whm or rdm, use the invisible spell. Although, you'll find out that this trick is old.
16. Rainbow Thread is an item that makes you invisible and non-targetable. I've never used it in PvP, but it sure seems useful. Although, I heard it doesn't last long.

Well, that's the tips I use. I hope it helps. I think I have more, but I don't remember.

[UnnamedGalka]

Originally Posted by Rain_Blade

Redmages and whitemages often used Diaga on the opposite team, so if my avatar gets caught in the Diaga, it can't be slept; however, I don't know why redmages and whitemages cast Diaga on the opposite team. I forgot the reason.

Diaga is a quick and MP efficient way of wiping shadows and interrupting multiple opponents attempting to score.

And no...there is no way for you or a friendly to DOT your avatar. SMN have it tough in Ballista, especially if the enemy team has a BRD.