Started with an BlackMage

[Nitrius]

Hello fellow blackmage players, i've just started playing as an blackmage, and i wondered if any here maybe have some tips for me? like any tactics or something?

And if you could list the pros and cons of the blackamge? what you like and don't like.


Thanks in advance =)



Edit: 2 more things, what is the main role of the blackmage in groups? and is blackmages wanted for groups?

[Jei]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Damage on demand, or burst damage.

BLM can deal huge amount of damage in a very short amount of time. But due to their limitted MP, low defense and high hate gained from spells, they can't keep nuking all they want. That is why they need to smart about when and where to land their spells. Hence the role Damage on Demand. You need to know when and where damage is needed. IE: when you think you need to finish off the monsters quickly. This is more true at higher levels when you gain access to very powerful top tier spells.

Pro
- popular choice for exp PT. You shouldn't have too much problem getting into groups.
- No need to buy overly expensive gears to be efficient. You can play fairly cheap and still be good.
- Amazing things groups of BLMs can do at end game. Army of BLMs are very very powerful.
- Warp to send yourself back to homepoint, Warp 2 to send friends to their homepoint.

Cons
- low defense, fairly weak melee, very low HP. You'll die, a lot, if you don't control your nukes.
- Some spells can be VERY expensive. But over all still cheaper than melee gears...
- Not very useful in the new Aht Urghan zones.

[Nitrius]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

- Not very useful in the new Aht Urghan zones.

By that you mean? like we aren't welcome into groups which are heading to Aht Urghan? or?


Anyway thanks for the answere =)

[Pawkeshup]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Nitrius, welcome to the dark side... MUAHAHAHAHAHAaaaaaaaaaa!

*ahem*

Seriously, BLM is a pretty great job. I actually went to endgame with mine. In a party, BLM is mainly a magical DD. As the only job that can deal damage when it wants to in decent chunks, you need to pace yourself not to draw too much hate. We can also debuff the mob with standard debuffs (Poison and such, and whm/rdm debuffs if you have them as sub), but really RDMs outshine us there. However, elemental debuffs you receive later can become invaluable.

Your sub, like with most jobs, makes the world of difference:
/whm - Support-style BLM. More well rounded, best general choice as sub

/rdm - Offensive BLM. Losing the ability to cure status ailments and toss party-wide bar spells, you eventually gain more enfeebling from this choice, as well Fast Cast later on. Also a great solo helper choice at high levels due to Stoneskin/Phalanx

/nin - True offence BLM. I would not recommend this until really high levels, but it works. Definitely not a party sub though, more for soloing NMs and assisting people

/smn - MP pool increase. For the non-taru, this choice can increase your MP pool but leaves you with greatly reduced abilities. This can also be used to pull in heavy link areas, though really RDM/SMN can do that so much better than us.

/blu - I toss this in because I'm leveling it now. When I get to 37 I really want to see if we can tack on job abilities. Imagine boosting INT or clear mind or any other stats.... mmmmm

Now for pro's and con's, my list is a little different:

Pro's
- Popular party choice in early and mid game scenarios
- Popular endgame job, due to on-demand damage
- Ability to form Manaburn parties and gain EXP without traditional setup
- Warp and Warp II
- Escape too, saved many parties with that one
- Relatively easy AF quests compared to some
- Ability to solo some pretty rough mobs if you're good
- Relatively easy paper-rock-scissors job mentality

Cons
- Boring. After 50+ levels of casting the same spells, it can be boring.
- You're weak. Mobs like to tear you to shreds if you're not careful, and they do so easily
- Farming stinks. It takes a long time to be able to farm areas, and even then a long time to farm them. Only upside is that you can cure yourself.
- Promies are not your thing. Nukes effect empty very little, bosses not at all.
- You are the abused endgame job. BLMs get dragged to EVERYTHING.
- The job is EXPENSIVE. Yes, you can skimp on gear, but you won't want to. Plus unlike melees, our most expensive stuff, our scrolls, is non-refundable. To be a really good BLM, by 51 you'll need all but one elemental staff. Start by pricing that and you'll see what I mean. Also, look at the Igqira set for BLM @ endgame....
- Space eater. For BLM, I carry all the ele staves, my AF, my Igqira (what I can afford of it) and my Errant.... Ugh....

Pretty much that's the view from here. Best of luck on your BLM career!

[Neomage]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Yeah, the "no aht urgan zones" has taken a real big hit on my EXP. I can't even get into a party anymore, I have to make my own... not that it's a problem but...

[Icemage]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Black mages do OK in Aht Urhgan zones, but generally do best in manaburn parties (BRD + 4xBLM + either BLM, RDM, SMN, BLU, COR or WHM).

They seem to really struggle in other parties in Aht Urhgan, as resting time is minimal due to fast kill rates.


Icemage

[Kutu]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Ive hit chain 15 in a normal set up party in bahflu thickets or whatever you spell it, we were at chain 15 twice, and chain 11 several times more. I was mainly becoming sleep puller while competing against the other party. IF you do exp in Aht urghan areas, sanction+refresh = godly, couple with a bard or rdm and black cloak later you can keep pulling/low nuking the mobs for ages( They really dont have much HP anyway)

[Matera]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

I'm going to have to disagree with the majority.

Black Mages are plenty usefull anywhere. Simply use your two best spells that the monster is weak to, and burst with your strongest non-Ancient Magic spell possible.

In two Aht Urghan parties so far, I rarely felt myself being low on MP. These were 4-5k/hour pickup parties, so that's fairly good. I used 2 elemental enfeebles, drain, and the types of spells I mentioned earlier. I went from 60-63 in two days that way. It seemed like if nuked any more, I would pull hate. The parties were Wootzshells at 60-61 and Defoliators/Adeeywa Diremites (Forgot the name) 61-63.

As for the OP:

Black Mage focuses on damage. Damage, damage, damage. Black mages are extremely sought after because of this. With a good tank, our effectiveness becomes even more noticable.

Tips/Tactics:

- Don't get hate, moderate nukes. If you do get hate, wait for the voke, don't move. Generally, monsters can hit you regardless if you're moving or not.

- Start slow, finish strong. Usually start nuking after the Magic Burst, but do your enfeebling first. Don't chain nuke, however. If the monster looks your way, lay off for a while. Eventually you get a feeling of how much you can do without getting yourself creamed. As well, moderation saves Mp for your next battle.

- Try to get a party as soon as you hit level 10.

- Update spells, then armor, then weaponry, until level 51. Buy at the VERY least Ice and Dark Staves. Farm if you can't get those two. I would then go in this other. Dark > Ice > Lightning > Water > Wind > Fire > Light > Earth.

My reasoning:

Dark : You won't be able to keep up with your party otherwise.
Ice : +Int and + Elemental Magic makes this all-around good for a Blm.
Lightning - Wind : Monsters you will soon be fighting are weak to those kinds of spells. Lightning : Crabs, Water : Raptors, Wind : Antican.
Light/Earth : Not the most useful of the staves... But still important.

Get gear with +Int, and depending on your race, RSE gear can be a great help. While in Dunes, try to buy as many spells in advance before you head out.

- Personally, I would level Whm to 18 first, and when you get your sub, get Blm/Whm going. Whm generally allows for more error in the Dunes, as well is easier to solo to ten with.

- Don't beg.

- Lots of small experience is better than one big chunk of experience. From 1-6, you can kill level 0 mobs outside your city easily and quickly.

- Ask questions.

I hope I helped.

[Mog]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Get gear with +Int, and depending on your race, RSE gear can be a great help.

I would like to add that Elemental magic skill becomes a lot more important than intelligence in the higher levels. You will want this so that the resist rates of spells is considerably less.

[Atma]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

IMHO, I'd add this:

Con: There are a LOT of people levelling this job because of how good it is at 75.

I wouldn't say BLM has an easy time getting into parties. I've been trying to level blm as a sub for my rdm for a while now, and it has been bloody MURDER trying to get into parties.

[Nitrius]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

The only thing i've heard here which is bugging me, is that we are not liked in groups in Aht Urghan..

So now i stopped playing with my blm and started on a monk(new character ofc)
But i'am not sure, really like the using magic, but that we are not "welcome" in Aht Urghan for grouping is bugging me.. thats what holding me back for not continueing.

[Hamlet]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Monk has a hard time getting parties throughout the game. Generally, up until 70, I always like having a blm in party. At 70+, it seems that a melee in the blm slot makes the pt go faster and easier. But that doesn't mean they "aren't welcome". It just means that invite rates drop to what melees have to deal with for the entire game. Most of my pts in the new areas have had a blm in them (one even had 2!), so definately don't base your main job choice on that.

Besides, you're not going to be 60 or 70 for a very long time.

[Nitrius]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

Monk has a hard time getting parties throughout the game. Generally, up until 70, I always like having a blm in party. At 70+, it seems that a melee in the blm slot makes the pt go faster and easier. But that doesn't mean they "aren't welcome". It just means that invite rates drop to what melees have to deal with for the entire game. Most of my pts in the new areas have had a blm in them (one even had 2!), so definately don't base your main job choice on that.

Besides, you're not going to be 60 or 70 for a very long time.

Hehe thats true, i'll try to stop thinking like that.

Anyway i think the blm is going to stay as my main, maybe try out something else later on.

Need some advice on subjobs, so if you have any please let me know, heard whm is nice, but i'am not quite sure yet..

[Matera]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

I would like to add that Elemental magic skill becomes a lot more important than intelligence in the higher levels. You will want this so that the resist rates of spells is considerably less.

For now, Int is fine, Elemental Magic skill boosts don't come up for a long time. I was speaking more or less in early game. Thank you for pointing that out though.

The only thing i've heard here which is bugging me, is that we are not liked in groups in Aht Urghan..

So now i stopped playing with my blm and started on a monk(new character ofc)
But i'am not sure, really like the using magic, but that we are not "welcome" in Aht Urghan for grouping is bugging me.. thats what holding me back for not continueing.

You should just play the job you want to play. There's a place for every job in the game. You bought the game to have fun, right? Just do what you like doing, and you'll find that you do it better than anything. The great thing about this is that playing well can boost your reputation as a player, which does a LOT for you.

As for TAU partying, like I said: Aht Urghan parties are fine with Blms.

I'd assume that the reason people say Blms aren't useful in Aht Urghan is because adventurous people tend to make extremely effective melee-burn parties, which kill fast. Adventurous people also tend to try new campsites. There could be a connection, but there could not. I figured I'd just put it out there. As well, playing weaknesses is a huge part of being Blm, and seeing as the TAU areas are fairly new, not much is known about the weaknesses of the new monsters.

With every job, there's going to be parties you're welcome to, and parties you aren't welcome to (With exceptions) because you just don't fit the bill of what they need.

As a Blm, you're not likely going to be in an axeburn, but as a Warrior, you're not going to fit into a Manaburn all that well.

I've found getting parties in Aht Urghan happens fairly quickly.


Edit: I'd also like to add that 58+ is Aht Urghan time, not much is exactly weaker than that. Look at everybodies' levels in their sigs or whatnot, and decide from that who would have the most experience partying in Aht Urghan as a Blm.


The bottom line if you didn't read all of that:

Taking pride in your job reflects upon how you play. Taking pride is easier if you enjoy playing BLM. If people see you're a good player, you'll get repeat invites, regardless if the party plans to level in Aht Urghan or not. Also, read BLM guides. They'll help you more than anything. Multiple opinions and sources for information = win.

[Nitrius]

Re: Started with an BlackMage

For now, Int is fine, Elemental Magic skill boosts don't come up for a long time. I was speaking more or less in early game. Thank you for pointing that out though.



You should just play the job you want to play. There's a place for every job in the game. You bought the game to have fun, right? Just do what you like doing, and you'll find that you do it better than anything. The great thing about this is that playing well can boost your reputation as a player, which does a LOT for you.

As for TAU partying, like I said: Aht Urghan parties are fine with Blms.

I'd assume that the reason people say Blms aren't useful in Aht Urghan is because adventurous people tend to make extremely effective melee-burn parties, which kill fast. Adventurous people also tend to try new campsites. There could be a connection, but there could not. I figured I'd just put it out there. As well, playing weaknesses is a huge part of being Blm, and seeing as the TAU areas are fairly new, not much is known about the weaknesses of the new monsters.

With every job, there's going to be parties you're welcome to, and parties you aren't welcome to (With exceptions) because you just don't fit the bill of what they need.

As a Blm, you're not likely going to be in an axeburn, but as a Warrior, you're not going to fit into a Manaburn all that well.

I've found getting parties in Aht Urghan happens fairly quickly.


Edit: I'd also like to add that 58+ is Aht Urghan time, not much is exactly weaker than that. Look at everybodies' levels in their sigs or whatnot, and decide from that who would have the most experience partying in Aht Urghan as a Blm.


The bottom line if you didn't read all of that:

Taking pride in your job reflects upon how you play. Taking pride is easier if you enjoy playing BLM. If people see you're a good player, you'll get repeat invites, regardless if the party plans to level in Aht Urghan or not. Also, read BLM guides. They'll help you more than anything. Multiple opinions and sources for information = win.

Thanks a lot, very good reply you made there, shall remember what you have said =)

And again, could still need some tips on what is good as an subjob, or if there is an post about this allready feel free to link me to it =)