Honestly, a dd?

[skot23]

Hey there,
I'm currently a lvl 45 blue mage. Every time that I've gotten a party invite, it's as a dd. When it comes to learning spells that I'm going to use in the average pt situation, I've chosen to stay with mainly the physical magic spells (ie, sickle slash and the like). With the exception of head butt, it's all that I really ever see blu use in a fight.

Eventually, I'll go back and learn the ones that I haven't got yet. But I'm talking about the staples to kill stuff. Tips?

Related question:
When does bludgeon become stupid to use. The low MP cost and the ok damage that it does makes it seem as though it'd be good into at least the mid-50s. After that, what would you guys suggest as staple dd spells?

Thanks

[Dranzia]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

Well, I prefer to keep my spell list fully current for my level....but to each their own I suppose (as long as it isn't seriously hurting you in some fashion...). On that note, don't forget to acquire the spells that will give you nice JTs; Attk bonus is fun to play with, and AutoRefresh has its place, although debateable when you can first attain it (58).

As for the "DD Standard" spells, I'd be sure to have (for your lvl and up to 65):

Mandibular Bite
Sickle Slash
Refueling (DD in that it enhances how fast you swing your sword lol)
Death Scissors
Dimensional Death
Spinal Cleave
Frenetic Rip

Ya, so that's basically all the Physical spells from 44-65

Other spells are good to get too; don't forget Sandspin is nice to help out, and Frightful Roar can also be a good boost. Creating a self SC and MB'ing it can also potentially do great dmg, so don't leave out those "non-DD" spells just because you don't see them used "all the time." Experiment, try things out, and learn to be the best you can be.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

If you're a mage of any sort, its quite important to keep up with your spells. Yes, BLU is seen purely as a DD, but the fact remains that you have support and enfeebling magic as well and you can help a PT go even more smoothly by learning these spells as well. Any mage that puts levelling ahead of learning spells isn't of much use to anyone.

Additionally, you're not going to gain the benefit of many job traits and stat boosts that BLU can gain from set Spells - such as Auto-Regen, Auto-Refresh, Killer Traits, Magic Attack Bonus, Clear Mind I-III and so on - if you don't persue the additional magic. Even if BLU is invited for DD and some spells aren't used at all, doesn't mean they can't benefit you another way.

Rushing BLU to 75 is especially damaging if you don't have Sea access, where many of the best damage spells are.

[DakAttack]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

The eye spell, that silences the target, is also nice. I believe you learn it from slimes or the beaks.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

The eye spell, that silences the target, is also nice. I believe you learn it from slimes or the beaks.

Chaotic Eye is learned from Courels.
Sound Blast is learned from Cockatrice-type mobs.
Digest is learned from Slimes.

[DakAttack]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

Ha ha! I don't even remember fighting Courels.

I have nothing of use to add to this thread!

[skot23]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

Me again,
I actually have all of the spells up to 48, however As I'm leveling I've been finding the spells harder to get.

Specifically refueling as I haven't done the promies.

[Dranzia]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

If you have high lvl friends (Most likely 1-2 75's depending on job) you could convince them (blackmail, beg, etc etc) to help you learn that in Mt. Zhayolm. If your BLU magic skill is capped it should make it easier, although by no means easy...

Paying someone might be an option too, although I've never done that personally. From experience, a 75 BST, 75 RDM, 75 NIN, 75 SMN, or 75 BLU can all solo those clusters near the Lebros Cavern exit. Some others might be able to as well, I'm just not sure which.

[Pteryx]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

Me again,
I actually have all of the spells up to 48, however As I'm leveling I've been finding the spells harder to get.

Specifically refueling as I haven't done the promies.

If you don't have access to either Riverne, the easiest way to get Refueling is to... er, get a couple of 75s to beat up a cluster in Mount Zhayolm for you and hide over in that corner and watch. The clusters in Lufaise and Misereaux only pop during fog -- and fog is rare, and weather checkers don't predict it. -- Pteryx

EDIT: Damn, beaten to it.

[Selphiie The Enchantress]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

Also remember (although im probably telling you something you already know), to set your spells based on monster correlation, gotta BURN that monster chart into your head, and make sure you ask the party leader where you are going and what you are fighting so you know what spells to set. Although sometimes it may not affect the "staple" spells, the spells your just always going to have equipped nomatter what, sometimes its best to swap some spells in and our depending on mob/situation where you need to make a Vermin killer combo or something, I love how versatile Blue Mage is.

I'm glad there is a BLU who actually cares ^^

Unlike one of the Blue Mages in a party i had yesterday who only had headbutt (lvl 45) and didn't know how to do chain/burst affinity >.>;

Its not just spamming spells (or one spell) and using up all your MP and resting the next 2-3 fights... /sigh...

[VZX]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

There isn't much to remember for beast correlation

Frenetic Rip on Puk (demon > dragon)
AF Turban when MP Drainkissing colibri (amorph > bird)

I think that's about it

[Icemage]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

There isn't much to remember for beast correlation

Frenetic Rip on Puk (demon > dragon)
AF Turban when MP Drainkissing colibri (amorph > bird)

I think that's about it

There's also the quite-wonderful interaction of Bludgeon on Skeletons. Not that anyone ever XPs on Skeletons any more, but it comes up once in a blue moon in other situations (Rank 5-1 for instance). Arcana > Undead, and it's blunt damage for the extra bonus.


Icemage

[VZX]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

Ahhh right. Bludgeon on Skeleton is one of the nicest bonus.
I remember using it to solo T skeleton on Eldieme.

[LilithAngel]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

I did manage to convince a party to go to The Eldieme Necropolis to xp on skellies one time (long ago). The party was about 50% Blue Mages, so the xp was flying as we literally Bludgeoned everything to death. People were kinda hesitant at first, but once I showed them how easily the things went down to Bludgeon, it was all "zOMG!!" and "Damn this is easy xp."

We (the BLUs, that is) all equipped Undead Killer, so the mobs also had that problem to deal with. That party wouldn't have been possible if all the BLUs didn't do their part before hand and farmed their spells, so I'd highly suggest that you try to do the same. It *is* possible to farm spells past 50 solo, it's just more difficult than it used to be 1-49.

It was also about this time that I swapped over to partying more often to get my levels, as farming spells no longer provided the kind of xp needed to level effectively. This was due mainly from the combined facts that the level gaps between mobs were starting to get too large, and from the fact that I was learning the spells faster due to higher Blue Magic skill, so I wasn't getting as much xp from each spell as I was before. Your mileage may vary, but at least put forth the effort to try to research some possible targets for Blue Magic farming. We're capable of taking down monsters stronger than ourselves a lot more reliably than most jobs; don't sell yourself short just because that big mean monster looks nasty.

Trust me, on the food chain, a Blue Mage is pretty damn high up on the list, and is one of the more dangerous things roaming around. Do your best to make sure the monsters know that.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Honestly, a dd?

It's not a race; your Moogle won't give you a prize for getting to BLU75 this month instead of two months from now.

Just grab spells as you get to/near the level.