The Beast Within -- A Guide To Blue Mage

Yeah I figured, but I really don't want to purchase 40 flame geodes and do this stupid trial lol thanks though ^^

A sword with some crit damage and stuff might be a decent candidate if it came with the right substats, but other than that... not much that will ever beat the str magian.

Well we say this, now watch there be some str+20 sword with 64 dmg or some ***that's got the delay of the perdu hanger lol

With regards to Magian paths, it's highly unlikely that future changes in gearing paradigms would ever usurp the Shikargar's status as the optimal Magian offhand. As such, pending future weaponry it remains the best overall offhand for lack of competitive non-Magian alternatives. I'm sure it'll happen eventually, and we do have a highly situational alternative in Sanus Ensis (superior for Requiescat spam if and only if you're Ratio capped even during WS), but we haven't gotten any swords of remote interest in a while and there weren't any new swords in this update at all anyway.

I wasn't sure if there were any this update. I just got back from my few month break, didn't see any in the notes, but that doesn't mean I didn't miss any, ya know? :) Just wanted to be sure. Thanks guys

A hanger or kilij with +10% crit damage and some DEX, ACC, STR, and/or attack would be the only thing remotely feasible for being competitive with shikargar really. DA/TA/QA would be interesting if given in a proper amount (mostly TA or QA) and without sacrificing D and delay, but it's unlikely for that to occur. OAT would be worthless no matter what unless it's something dumb like 100% proc OA3!

Right on. Guess I'll have to finally suck it up then lol. Been trying to get my blu/pup/sam/drg back up to snuff and never did a STR sword (my swords have always sucked, but I never really used blu for anything serious except lolprocs on VW).

grow dem flame geodes son

That does sound tempting, but I'm not quite sure how. Also whenever I get a geode, I always have massive inner turmoil. My goldsmithing is 95+2+3 furnishings ( have all but the fool's gold), and the reward for making gems is astronomical. It's just super risky and you typically lose a lot >_< lol

it's like, cactus stems + fire crystals or something. dont know the exact pattern

I'm still working on leveling my blu (not aby burned, leveling by GoV+learning spells as I go) is it ever worth setting a slow spell and using it? Its really hard to gauge if they are effective or not so far.

Is there one in particular that has a good land rate+duration for it to be worthwhile at the moment/future?

Almost level 65 at the moment so the recommended sets assuming someone is 99 and has all spells aren't too helpful. I'm trying to figure out a leveling path+spells to learn (as well as set) as I go along and level.
Any recommendations are appreciated.

I guess this is sort of 'lost knowledge' 75cap era stuff im asking for since noone really levels like this anymore, but i'm kinda enjoying the journey.

I find filamented hold is pretty good

Filamented Hold is ok, Sprout Smack isn't bad as a very MP efficient slow either. 15% for 3 minutes and almost no MP cost.

So I just got Almace 85 yesterday got a few questions about gear for it, the TP set, and Amorphic spikes.

For CdC gear:
Where does Thaumas coat and kecks stand?
Also what are some belt replacements?

TP Gear:
What are some glove replacements?

Amorphic Spikes gear:
Is there a specific set for it that isn't the same as the physical set on the front page?
Just wondering cause my damage with it is doing horrible when compared to Quad.

Body is never really applicable, lowest you should be using it Loki's kaftan. Legs are neck and neck with Athos if you're wearing thaumas feet as well.



Cuchulain's belt


Dusk gloves +1, Thaumas gloves



Not really. The modifiers are too far gone to be saved, inventory is too constraining to worry about it. Should only be using it as part of a CDC skillchain or TH trait

Alright. Thats what i need to know thanks a lot for the fast response.

I use my str/vit set for amorphic spikes! $$

For CDC body you can go with one of the ocelomeh harnesses (either NQ or +1) to be cheap until you get Toci's.

Oh. If you got Loki's, then nvm.

For debuffs, this is what I normally set, although I'm sure I'm not doing it right. (This is for level 99 so not really applicable to the above poster, however, please critique me if you're feeling bored)

Slow - Cimicine Discharge (maybe I should use Sprout Smack?)
Blind - Sandspray (maybe I should use auroral drape or light of penance?)
Acc down - Barbed Crescent
Paralyze - Mind Blast (maybe I should use Sub-Zero?)
Lower Atk - Demoralizing Roar

I pretty much only set this stuff if I'm blu/nin and trying to solo seals for people, although Fuath still kicked my *** so I know I need to improve a LOT when it comes to survival on my BLU. I've mainly only used BLU for neo nyzul and dynamis so I'm a noob, I admit it.

Cimicine is fairly pointless. Less haste than filamented for only a few less MP. Sprout Smack or Filamented are your best bet for Slow.

Auroral Drape's over double the -acc for only a few extra MP, nearly the same duration.

Only ACC down spell that currently works properly is SPiral Spin, which isn't worth it.

Sub-zero smash is more time and MP efficient, but Mind Blast is superior strength.

Attack down isn't worth the time or MP cost.

Getting into voidwatch recently, what would be the best atmacites to work on maxing out?

Also, is it actually possible to land spells like Bad Breath or Light of Penance on voidwatch mobs? It feels like a lost cause any time a non-damage spell comes up as a proc.

I use valiant, deluges, and coercion. Iirc tropics is also a good one to have.

Bad breath does damage, so even if the add effects don't land, it still procs. Light of penance however is a gaze, so if you're not in a the mob's face, you can not land it. Stand behind the best DD(s) and pray other people don't take hate and turn the thing.

p.s. I have capped skill and merits. As well as a m.acc set for spells that have to land debuffs like slow and stun. Use blu skill+ gear like af body and af3 pants, and whatever other m.acc gear that gives a decent bonus.

I never knew this ._.

Gaze spells are best to land during a proc stun. Otherwise, there's too much mob spinning.

For the higher tier stuff I use Shrewd, Curses and Dark Designs.
For lower tier stuff, I generally just stick with the standard DD atmacites

Hi! I'm on the process of unlocking and start leveling BLU, and I have a couple of questions.

1) How bad would it hurt if I don't have Blue Magic merits? I play actively as mage -SCH, WHM, BLM- (in fact, BLU would be my first melee) and I have Enhancing, Enfeebling and Elemental merited. I've debated and if it comes to it, I might lower Enfeebling. Thoughts?

2) Should I focus on learning all the spells or just the ones for the sets you have listed on the guide? I will most likely be leveling from FoV until the 70 so I assume should at least get the basic ones.

Thanks for answering and thanks for a great guide!

I don't think there's really any reason whatsoever to merit Enfeebling or Elemental Magic.

Blue magic skill is kinda like H2H skill and Enhancing skill in that it provides something that can't be easily made up for with other stats (if at all), so dropping enfeebling or elemental would probably be a good choice.

Since you're going to actually level the old-fashioned way, I would recommend getting some of the relevant spells to that like Wild Carrot, Bludgeon, Mandibular Bite, Sickle Slash etc.

Blue magic skill adds a lot of bonuses. The higher it is the more potent your defensive spells are, your enfeebles land easier and of course the higher your skill the quicker you can learn spells.

I'm old school in the sense that I think any BLU that doesn't at least try to get every spell isn't taking the job seriously, but I will admit some spells are pretty useless. If you wanna do a lot of stuff with BLU like tanking, dyna, CW burns etc, its good to have all the spells so you can set any trait you need in that situation - one of the true skills of BLU is being "an empty vessel" that you can shape in anyway you want depending on whats needed, and having all possible traits really adds to this.

If you don't have 99 Almace, you're not taking the job seriously.

Skipping Terror Touch doesn't means you don't take the job seriously.

2006~, it was really common to be told to and to try and obtain all spells, but I honestly don't see the point now, unless you are doing it for completion alone. If something is useless, absolutely useless, why bother going out of your way to get it?

If you're not going to be doing a ton of Blitzkrieg's or ACP Mandy BC's, you can probably live without Frypan and Body Slam. Flying Hip Press, Feather Barrier, Dimensional Death, Spinal Cleave(my god spinal cleave...), Tail Slap, there are millions(Millions!) of spells that are either junk on their own, provide no useful set bonuses(worth their cost) or create traits you'll most likely never need.

I can't think of many things I haven't done as Blu at this point, but I've never needed to set Defense bonus(If I was going to take physical damage, I'd be /War or /Pld at worst, so pointless).

I've absolutely never needed to set Rapid Shot. Just doesn't seem like a good idea to suggest you need them all anymore.

We had a lot more downtime back then as well(Being absolutely unwanted for most everything), I did at least. Lot of the spells I obtained that were pretty pointless happened while I was seeking for days at a time.

Lol, he does :p