The 6th Ministry's Secret: A Summoner's Guide

This was posted on BG:

Smn Staff:
A: MP 60 Avatar Atk +15 Avatar Acc +15
B: MP +60 Avatar MAC +15 Avatar MAB +15
C: Avatar Atk +15 Avatar MAB +15 PDT -5%

So maxxed rank B path has Avatar MAB+115/MAcc+15. 5 fewer MAB for 15 more MAcc. That would be worthwhile against some content, at least for me.

How does the pet stand up to their beatdown though? Or do you just kill the worms using Garuda?

But something to keep in mind, on Fodder/things that are weak to certain damage type stuff stuff, Convorker might end up being better. Cause like with the old Affinity Vs MAB thing, at low damage the static boost is better, but when you're busting out higher numbers the % boost will do more damage in the end

like @ 1,000 damage, a +200 Damage boost will get you 1,200 damage and a 5% boost will get you 1,050 damage. But at 10,000 damage, a 200 damage boost will do 10,200 damage, while a 5% boost will do 10,500 damage.

Which is why the old ToM Affinity Staffs still kick *** on Tier 4-5 nukes.

Moral of the story, get both, that is, if you're serious about being a SMN.

Might want to try the Acuexs, I can do like 60% damage a Heavenly Strike of them, just if you try that, bring a method of Reraise, if something goes wrong *and it will* you will die, and violently.

Worms are a much easier thing though, I take it to 2 shot them you need Wind Blade though? cause I'm able to kill with 3 Heavenly Strikes, cause I don't have Wind Blade anymore.

Just recently got my Uffrat and +1 it. I won't bother ever +2'ing it because wailing stones are more expensive than verdigris and the augment I want is obtainable at +1(-5 prep). I did manage to roll -5 prep on mine in like 6 tries with +1 stones which I recommend since its way cheaper in the long run. Also managed to get -5 prep on hagondos gloves too.

I got lucky on the gloves with my first +2 stone but I've been trying for MAB.

Now I wanted to ask anyone here if they have done any of the AA fights on smn? I want to know how your BPs faired with each difficulty.

Right now I'm trying to convince my LS that taking a smn on the AA Elvaan would be helpful to avoid being one shot with earthen armor and to provide damage and heals. I was hoping someone here could give some insight on those fights as summoner.

Only Elvaan on VD needs a Summoner, maybe D. You are basically using night terror because the dmg doesnt get resisted + levi att down/ shiva eva down. Any other AA summoner is kind of a wasted slot.

Elvaan VD doesn't need a summoner(for EA) as long as your PLD has Aegis and capped MDT. Arrogance doesn't do more than ~1000 to my Taru, which is less than half my HP

None of the AAs need a SMN... cause no content NEEDs a SMN...

But I've found that AATT during his last 1/4 HP is really good for Astral Conduiting... And further throughout the fight with him, he seems to build a resistance to phys and magic at inverse times... so thanks to the phys reworking a little while ago... 14k phys BPs happens a good deal of the time.

As for AAEV... don't even need Earthen Armor... Earthen Ward has been MUCH more useful. (and IMO always has been... "why reduce massive damage, when you can just negate a large chunk of it?" and all that.)
Really, the best part of it is the fact that it's another body, so the AoE damage is reduced. (further making Ward even better.)

And thanks to Cait Sith... even though she's currently so gimpy... her TP reset is actually pretty damn consistent... so AC'ing Eerie Eye during the last 1/4 of Delve MBs has actually been really worthwhile.

SMN sure has come a LONG way since perp was a thing and Alexander was the only reason for existing...

Sure if you're using PLD/RNG strat, but for a straight forward melee setup for her, SMN for EA is a must for VD. We used NINx2 THF SMN BRD WHM, with fights being anywhere from 8min to 15min.

MDT doesn't work on arrogance, though I do like swapping aegis i for banishga/holy

Its great that 2x NIN + THF can kill the AAs on VD providing an alternative to RNG/PLD strat, but lets not pretend that finding 3 good NIN/THF is any more straightforward than finding an ochain pld and a couple of eminent~ rngs.

Most people will be using PLD/RNG strats and its definitely true that you don't need a smn to be 100% safe (therefore bears more relevance as general advice), your pld just needs to gear slightly differently depending on their current baseline.

I tried SMN on the TT AA normal and it was crap. Missed all physical BP's and Heavenly strike did 1200 consistantly. Using sparks sachet and have about 475 skill. Seems you need sepharicaller just to do the AA fights :/

this is true, i'm just stating that using this strategy requires a smn for ea is all. i agree you need top tier nin/thfs/support for this to be a viable option. just stating that it can be done, in 1/2 the time pld/rng take. Kaparu said smn is not needed for AA, and i provided an example is all.

I know we're going off topic but when you compare a top tier nin/thf strat, a top tier rng/pld strat involves 3 rng and no whm. You can definitely get HM EV and MR all comfortably under 10mins with 3 good rng. GK I don't count because you can use real melee DD and they do it faster than rng or nin anyway.

Not sure where this came from, as I was told the same thing when I first began tanking her, but it absolutely does. If anything, it should be considered a needles attack. I went from ~50% survival on it with Ochain and normal PDT sets to it hardly ever taking half of my HP with Aegis and MDT

Without scherzo, etc.

Edit: it's also absorbed by anything that absorbed magic, so there's that

Buhbye Uffrat.

5m is Very expensive?

When you don't have 5 mil, sure.

Wait a second... you can perp -5 AND a mab augment? I threw alot of +2 stones at Uffrat +2 and never saw anything except other stuff that didnt matter.

Why bother with 98 MAB on Uffrat, when you can get 114 from the eminence pole?

I built a Nirvana and yes, 5 million is expensive, especially when THAT is what you're getting.

That being said, I did some "Difficult" AA's last night and Ifrit's damage was crap, like UTTER crap. and missed A LOT, Night Terror was spanking Crushes damage, went from like 2-3k crushes to 500ish, when he wasn't missing.

Has anyone else noticed this? is it a glitch? Stealth update? Or was Ifrit just having an appallingly bad night?

I haven't tried AA yet, but I noticed last night in Kamihr delve his acc was horrible and I was thinking the same. Hopefully it is just a glitch/fluke...

why bother with either when you could also get balsam staff.

why bother with any SMN weapon when you can use Chant staff!

but seriously, even you're talking down the item Alist, you know it's crap XD

That staff is only crap/sidegrade if you didn't already invest time in uffrat or Nirvana. Otherwise its a solid improvement for the time and effort spent getting it compared to every other option.

I invested in uffrat before this existed hence why I won't get it while working on Nirvana. 5M is like 2% of my shiny!

The new staff is like the best weapon for physical BP's and idle piece.

Also everyone should be using eminent pole or basalm staff for MAB and not shitty uffrat with inferior amounts of MAB even with augments.

Well not really the bbeeesssttt now is it :3

Which staff are you talking about? Is it the one from Delve2? If yes, which Path do you think is best?

I thinks its the new smn jse weapon.