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Well, I'm here to let you guys know my experience with the so called godly DRG/SAM combo at level 60+ exp groups and why it's not all it's cracked up to be.
Disclaimer: I want everyone to know that I don't think Samurai is a *BAD* subjob above level 60, it's just that there are more desirable options in an optimal exp PT. Also I want to let everyone know that BCNM hunts are totally different and that is where the Samurai subjob really shines.
It seems every post that asks for advice on subjob gets the following reply.
Level 1-60, Warrior or Thief
Level 60+ Samurai
Why is this? There seems to be this idea that because you can meditate (and this is the ONLY, again I stress ONLY, reason that you would subjob a Samurai) you can crank out an insane amount of WS (namely Penta Thrust).
Why isn't this a good idea? Because no one besides a fully refreshed + balladed PLD can keep hate off you (and even then it's sometimes sketchy). What happens if you have a Ninja Tank? What about a Warrior Tank? Already I hear people saying "You have High Jump and Super Jump though right?" Here's the truth:
Even though you have better hate mitigation than the DRK (or any other damage dealing class for that matter), you still CAN'T do it every single battle unless you're in one of those 1000 exp an hour type groups. When you're in those 5000 exp+ per hour type groups, you're going to be pulling in mobs so fast that your normal Jump timer won't have refreshed by the time the next mob comes in. How are you going to be using Super Jump and High Jump consistently? Answer: You can't.
Some of you may say, but you also get the Store TP ability! That's godly! Right? Right?
Fact: You gain 12 TP per hit with a lance. With the Store TP ability at level 30, you get around 2 more TP per hit. Every full strike Penta Thrust will only net you 69% TP as opposed to 60% TP. 9% TP isn't going to make or break a Dragoon with the ability to get 12% TP per hit along with your two Jumps.
Now, what do you lose by subbing a Samurai in your exp group?
In my humble opinion there is only 1 real optimal subjob above level 60 for the good exp groups. That is the Warrior:
Berserk: Huge gains in ATK, the ability to do consistent damage while still letting your tank maintain hate. This also ups your average WS damage.
Provoke: Great utility. In the event your tank DOES lose control, you have the ability to provoke and save your casters. Note that this is a Last Resort (Lookie I made a funny).
It can also be used in a party of DRG THF NIN as the front liners so that the DRG can provoke while the THF uses Fuidama on the NIN to ensure hate for the rest of the battle.
Double Attack: Another consistent damage tool. This can also help your Penta Thrust because it does (albeit rarely) add an extra attack to make your Penta Thrust hit 6x (if all connected).
In the end, you sacrafice WS burst damage for more consistent damage and utility making you that much more valuable to your group. So kids, don't jump onto the Samurai subjob bandwagon, it just ain't so hot
Added: The Wyvern
Ah yes, forgot to mention the added damage from the wyvern for all the WS you do with samurai sub. The painful truth is, if by some luck your wyvern is at 100% HP (very rare) and by the same luck that your wyvern selects the correct element that the mob is weak to (Such as Frost Breath on Pugils) then you will get an additional 150+ish damage (with AF3 helm).
On the other hand, when your Wyvern decides to drown a pugil with its Hydro breath, you're going to get the ownage 20 damage added. All I can say is, when you average it all out, the 1-2 extra renkeis you did as a samurai will add negligible damage to your total damage output. Rather sad really, the single defining feature of the Dragoon, negligible
P.S I'm sure I missed some relevant facts but this is all I could think of at this time >_< So sue me ^_^;;
P.P.S Did I mention I really hate levelling up Warrior? I hate levelling Warrior!
Disclaimer: I want everyone to know that I don't think Samurai is a *BAD* subjob above level 60, it's just that there are more desirable options in an optimal exp PT. Also I want to let everyone know that BCNM hunts are totally different and that is where the Samurai subjob really shines.
It seems every post that asks for advice on subjob gets the following reply.
Level 1-60, Warrior or Thief
Level 60+ Samurai
Why is this? There seems to be this idea that because you can meditate (and this is the ONLY, again I stress ONLY, reason that you would subjob a Samurai) you can crank out an insane amount of WS (namely Penta Thrust).
Why isn't this a good idea? Because no one besides a fully refreshed + balladed PLD can keep hate off you (and even then it's sometimes sketchy). What happens if you have a Ninja Tank? What about a Warrior Tank? Already I hear people saying "You have High Jump and Super Jump though right?" Here's the truth:
Even though you have better hate mitigation than the DRK (or any other damage dealing class for that matter), you still CAN'T do it every single battle unless you're in one of those 1000 exp an hour type groups. When you're in those 5000 exp+ per hour type groups, you're going to be pulling in mobs so fast that your normal Jump timer won't have refreshed by the time the next mob comes in. How are you going to be using Super Jump and High Jump consistently? Answer: You can't.
Some of you may say, but you also get the Store TP ability! That's godly! Right? Right?
Fact: You gain 12 TP per hit with a lance. With the Store TP ability at level 30, you get around 2 more TP per hit. Every full strike Penta Thrust will only net you 69% TP as opposed to 60% TP. 9% TP isn't going to make or break a Dragoon with the ability to get 12% TP per hit along with your two Jumps.
Now, what do you lose by subbing a Samurai in your exp group?
In my humble opinion there is only 1 real optimal subjob above level 60 for the good exp groups. That is the Warrior:
Berserk: Huge gains in ATK, the ability to do consistent damage while still letting your tank maintain hate. This also ups your average WS damage.
Provoke: Great utility. In the event your tank DOES lose control, you have the ability to provoke and save your casters. Note that this is a Last Resort (Lookie I made a funny).
It can also be used in a party of DRG THF NIN as the front liners so that the DRG can provoke while the THF uses Fuidama on the NIN to ensure hate for the rest of the battle.
Double Attack: Another consistent damage tool. This can also help your Penta Thrust because it does (albeit rarely) add an extra attack to make your Penta Thrust hit 6x (if all connected).
In the end, you sacrafice WS burst damage for more consistent damage and utility making you that much more valuable to your group. So kids, don't jump onto the Samurai subjob bandwagon, it just ain't so hot
Added: The Wyvern
Ah yes, forgot to mention the added damage from the wyvern for all the WS you do with samurai sub. The painful truth is, if by some luck your wyvern is at 100% HP (very rare) and by the same luck that your wyvern selects the correct element that the mob is weak to (Such as Frost Breath on Pugils) then you will get an additional 150+ish damage (with AF3 helm).
On the other hand, when your Wyvern decides to drown a pugil with its Hydro breath, you're going to get the ownage 20 damage added. All I can say is, when you average it all out, the 1-2 extra renkeis you did as a samurai will add negligible damage to your total damage output. Rather sad really, the single defining feature of the Dragoon, negligible
P.S I'm sure I missed some relevant facts but this is all I could think of at this time >_< So sue me ^_^;;
P.P.S Did I mention I really hate levelling up Warrior? I hate levelling Warrior!
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