Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

[Sepa]

Does this happen to all BlackMage's;
everytime I cast a, "II" spell, I get hate.

Like last night, I was in CN with my 34BlackMage;
as soon as I cast Aero II on the mob, I get Hate
is that the way it always is?
Or am I just casting to strong of a spell on the Mob?

I'm not casting spell after spell,
I give space in between each spell.

Do you have to wait until the RedMage starts to Enfeeb the Mob before you start Nuking away?

I noticed that when I started to cast Bio, Blind and Bind on the Mob, I wouldn't get Hate
as often.
Is that just because the RedMage Enfeeb it first, not because of what I cast?

[Murphie]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

It's because the tank has had more time to establish hate. You can't just bust out with a tier II spell right off. Allow the tank to gain hate while you toss out some elemental enfeebles. Then feel free to unload.

[Ellipses]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

In case my opinion on the matter isn't clear from other threads, lay off the Bio unless you've discussed it with the party. (Unless you're casting Bio I and someone else is casting Dia II; feel free to waste that MP for dark skill-ups all you like in that case.)

In general, I'd say start off with whatever triad of elemental enfeebles you're using, and bind and blind if no one else is casting those. By that time the tank should have had a chance to build enough hate for you to start nuking at a controlled pace.

[Sepa]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Yeah, the only reason I'm casting Bio I
is to skill up my Dark skill.

But I have a question,
why should someone cast Bio on a mob?

[Murphie]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Bio lowers the attack power of the mob. Dia lowers it's defense. I prefer to have Dia cast on the mob rather than bio. Also, since Bio overwrites Dia, if you cast it, then that means that it can't be replaced with Dia. Unless the WHM uses Dia II.

Bio II > Dia II > Bio > Dia

Drain and Aspir should be enough to raise your Dark Magic.

[supersimian]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Aelathir quote:

It's because the tank has had more time to establish hate. You can't just bust out with a tier II spell right off. Allow the tank to gain hate while you toss out some elemental enfeebles. Then feel free to unload.

Exactly..





Bio is a very good spell to lvl your dark magic very quikly on, just like dia is for lvling enfeebling. If there is a red mage you may piss it off by casting it alot. I used bio to lvl up my dark when I needed to and learned the hardway about red mages qualms with that, so I would just ask if anybody minds if i do just to cap dark and peeps didnt seem to mind. Most of the time they would just want certain particular mobs left alone of bio, mostly the ones that must be diad.

[TheMidg]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

You're better off using drain to level your dark magic, it's pretty much your best spell Bio is okay i guess if you have someone else stacking Dia II on it :O

[Icemage]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Bio sucks for levelling dark magic. Uses up MP for not much return. Stun, Drain, and Aspir are much better when used correctly.


Icemage

[Murphie]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Bio sucks for levelling dark magic. Uses up MP for not much return. Stun, Drain, and Aspir are much better when used correctly.

Definitely. I'd much rather skill my dark magic on something that is going to give me back some MP or HP while possibly hurting the mob in the process. And the benefits of stun can't be overlooked either.

Not that Bio sucks, per se. It's that as Icemage says, you're better off spending your MP on something else.

[UnnamedGalka]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Bio sucks for levelling dark magic. Uses up MP for not much return. Stun, Drain, and Aspir are much better when used correctly.

I totally agree.

Those three spells were responsible for the vast majority of my Dark Magic skill ups.

[Olorin401]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

You're better off using drain to level your dark magic, it's pretty much your best spell Bio is okay i guess if you have someone else stacking Dia II on it :O

I'm really glad someone mentioned Drain, which is, by far, the most underrated spell a BLM has.

That said, here's a gameplay tip. At the beginning of your fights, go ahead, cast your enfeebs. Then, if your mob is weak to Darkness, cast Bio/Bio2. If not, throw an elemental bomb. Expect to get hit at least once - but welcome it because it's your opportunity to now cast Drain and get everything you lost back again. If you know the mob has MP (like robber crabs or beastmen), you can even get away with Aspir to regain all that MP you just used on enfeebs.

If you don't get hit, that's fine. Save Drain for when you do. Toss a couple bombs in there after letting the tank grab some hate, get the mob to hit you once, and then cast it.

[Feba]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

off topic, but yes, be sure to keep dark magic skilled.



Drain will be your most valuable spell. You have no idea how wonderful well over 200 damage for only 21 MP is.

Double Post Edited:
to the person above; if you aren't getting hate every fight, or you don't think you'll get hate that fight (have to rest back MP for most of the fight), cast drain, for the reason above. It's better for the damage, even if it's not healing. The healing is pure gravy.

[greydaze]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Also, the thing about aero2 is that it's your most powerful spell at the moment. Unless MBing, I try to stay away from casting aero2 until the mob has near 30% life. For an average fight, this is what I do:

Frost + Rasp
Blind
Dia (if whm/rdm isn't)
Paralyze (if whm/rdm isn't)
Aspir/Drain (for skill)

Only after the mob has 50-60% life do I start casting any nukes. And mainly, those are Bliz and Water2 unless MB or if mob is under 30%. My tanks haven't been too good lately, either. T.T

[Murphie]

Re: Does this happen to all BlackMage's?

Expect to get hit at least once - but welcome it because it's your opportunity to now cast Drain and get everything you lost back again. If you know the mob has MP (like robber crabs or beastmen), you can even get away with Aspir to regain all that MP you just used on enfeebs.

If you don't get hit, that's fine. Save Drain for when you do. Toss a couple bombs in there after letting the tank grab some hate, get the mob to hit you once, and then cast it.

I'm sure you know this, but you don't have to have an HP deficit to drain HP from the mob. Ideally as a BLM I would never take any damage in a party, but still be able to drain HP from the mob, thus leveling my dark magic, hurting the mob, and preparing the spell for those times in the future when I might not have a tank keeping the hate off of me.