Thoughts On The December Update Notes:

Another update with plenty of whining and moaning about which jobs *didn't* get an uber upgrade. Boo-hoo. Wah-waaaah.

People, Red Mage isn't going to replace Paladin as an expert in damage mitigation and enmity control ... ever. Nor is Scholar going to "replace" Red Mage as a master of Enfeebling Magic ... ever. Disappointed that Thief didn't get insane melee buffs? Oh, I guess you missed the part where Thief isn't a real melee damage-dealer ... it's only been that way forever.

The only thing that will really "die" in this update is DRK subjob for mages, since Stun becomes available to BLM @ level 45. Another potentially-overlooked subjob feature is that NIN subjob will be able to cast Kurayami: Ni (lvl 44). Kurayami: Ni is (currently) the only Ninja spell that triggers yellow !! Abyssea weakness that can not be used by NIN sj.
Also, should we be shocked that WAR got a fairly nice new JA? No, we shouldn't. All the other 2-hand melee classes will now have the ability to use Aggressor (WAR lvl 45) with WAR sj. Only fair that WAR main-job gets a little boost, right?
As a "career" BLM, I admit to being jealous/peeved about Scholar receiving native Stoneskin/Blink, but to be honest, S-E probably should have given those spells to SCH from the beginning. It remains to be seen if Light Arts will be required to access Stoneskin/Blink for SCH. Elemental Celerity and Enmity Douse look promising, and we all know BLMs have been pining for Blizzard V!
I'm a little disappointed that Store TP V isn't making an appearance for SAM, but it still may happen en route to lvl 99.

The only job/group that probably was legitimately treated unfairly in this update is Dark Knight. They'll just have to take solace in Aggressor @ lvl 90, and/or maybe actually learn how to use Sekkanoki (last update) with SAM sj. And don't forget this, and this, and we've yet to see DRK AF3 hands stats.

And who doesn't love the idea of a "TH" shot for Ranger?
Also, COR/RNG can soon look forward to Velocity Shot (RNG lvl 45), which could be very useful.

Can't wait to see if MNK subjob becomes more viable (Subtle Blow III and Counterstance are MNK lvl 45), especially in Abyssea when combined with Atmas of the Gnarled Horn and Strangling Wind.

Overall, awesome-looking update.

RDM has always been better at damage mitigation and until the tanking nerf, was better at enmity control. Nowadays in Abyssea you could argue RDM is ahead again, due to infinite mp/power of nukes etc.


Yeah, completely justified that DNC should outDD it.


Why would 2handers use that over /sam? WAR has NO reason to receive a boost. If anything, it needs a hefty nerf.


DRK is an utterly worthless job.


I think RNGs would much prefer their damage output gets fixed.

Did i miss something or is Pup excluded from this update?

Not war or mnk, doesn't matter.

Wow i feel really bad for those who bought Raise 3 thinking us schs got it this time around lol

Lmao. Kinda like PUP getting A-rating H2H and suddenly B+.

they'd be stupid at the cost of the spell to do so.

Well i mean ppl have been buying it up, was like 5k and now its around 400k on Sylph. To bad these ppl didnt have marthas "insider" to avoid that mess lol

Pretty much my face when i saw the SAM JA.

At least they didn't give me a buff to parry and lower my parry skill to E (loldrk derp).

Dear SE, my warrior has put you on the Christmas card mailing list again. Sorry after sam onry you can't join our nyzul run or w/e, i'm enjoying all my new toys ^^. Carry on SE, and please feel free to stop by the mead hall for some spirits with the battle hardened warriors.

sch got buffed like crazy

Dear SE
DRKs need new ***. thank you.

strangling wind?

So like it /sch still going to be good for WHM? Or do I finally have to level RDM for a sub?

Dear SE, PLD is dead, I feel alone.

I love PLD, was my one and only for a year. Then leveled WAR for meripos and other events. Eventually choose WHM to level as a mage job. Playing on WAR and WHM for so long, I miss PLD.

Bring it back!

Red Mage Lv.87 Shield Mastery.

Lol SE

<---Insert troll face here.

all i have to say is DRG!!!!

Imagine if SCH gets Gravity. SCH/NIN would be king.

Nah, they'd need Haste too along with several other spells to out RDM a RDM.

If a pld had a decent DD build I wouldn't mind low manning with them. Just having them hit for 10 damage a swing with 200 damage ws doesn't sit with me. In abyssea I'd imagine VB not being too shabby. It's just that, most plds don't realize that they can do damage somewhat and rely on JAs and spells for hate.

Yeah hopefully at 85-90 now I can finally low man a climb to floor 100 for atonement.

Come to bahamut >_> I've been wanting to make a 3-4 man static to get nyzul 100.

Could it be SE will let RDM tank again?

wtF at no cure5 for rdms.........................

What PLD's do you know, they are not great DD's but they do more than 10 points of damage.

I don't care about them being great. I just don't want them to be detrimental.

Only plds I've seen have been in exp pts (and a few past ls), and they blow. With RR and an ah VB build they should be doing decent numbers. Most people in pickup pts don't even gear swap, though. So I suppose that's not a good display of the job.

COR getting skillchain damage+ roll instead of weaponskill damage+ roll is lame.