SCH Vs. BLM

Not only is that mathematically impossible (considering 250 exp is the cap for exp per mob, and respawn time is 1 minute, 30 seconds, equating to roughly 11,250 exp per hour MAX if you never had to heal and if mobs were never in awkward positions (Of course, this isn't accounting for chains which give roughly a 15% bonus to exp over time)), but even if you DO take BLM to 75, you get stuck with Mount Zhayolm manaburns which are NEVER over 10k per hour.

Here is the honest facts.

BLM's pros:
Higher damaged nukes (BLM T4 compared to a SCH T4 with that 20% potency stratagem on).
Access to AMIIs
Access to Blind/Bind/SleepII/Sleepga/SleepgaII without subjobs or JAs.
Access to the 6 Elemental debuffs without subjobs to worry about it.
Access to stronger gear based on INT and nuking (i.e. Macc+, MAB, INT+)

SCH's pros:
Ability to go from DD to healer in an instant
Access to debuff -ga spells
Access to buff -ga spells
Access to weather effects (i.e. full time obis)
Access to weather debuffs
Stratagems and Sublimation.

Now, you can absorb the pros of one job into another job, but out of the two, BLM absorbs the most pros.

For Example, take the bolded statements of this quote:


Ok, some of the bolded statements are a weaker version (i.e. only 2 charges on Stratagems instead of 4, so the timer would be once ever 2 minutes, and RR 1 instead of RR 2) but you got to admit, some of the pros outlined can be absorbed by a BLM/SCH.

BLM/SCH is the best nuker. There is no questions asked, because its got the major pros of a SCH added into the major pros of a BLM. The only problem about a BLM/SCH is that there is no SS/Blink anymore. That can be remedied by a SCH/RDM in the party, who's job is to SS-ga the BLMs every now and then.

So, to answer your question, a BLM is better than a SCH if used right. If you are going pure damage, BLM/Any. If you are going pure Damage/MP, BLM/SCH. If you are going by usefulness, SCH/Any. Thats it.

You don't see people shouting because most BLMs are too stubborn to finally admit there's competition as a nuking job (Aka all the BLMs on this thread), and others just seem to think SCH is just a different version of RDM, and still others that don't realize that SCH requires the use of your BRAIN, unlike BLM which is just a glass cannon.

Honestly think of pudding camps you can run around JAing aggroing everything there to still do less dmg...

Most halfway decent blms can nuke in almost full dmg gear and just throw on af hands or something

You don't see people shouting because most BLMs are too stubborn to finally admit there's competition as a nuking job (Aka all the BLMs on this thread), and others just seem to think SCH is just a different version of RDM, and still others that don't realize that SCH requires the use of your BRAIN, unlike BLM which is just a glass cannon.

You are wrong there. Ebullience makes a Bliz IV from a decent SCH do over 1600. Can any normal BLM do that? I doubt it.

You don't see people shouting because most BLMs are too stubborn to finally admit there's competition as a nuking job (Aka all the BLMs on this thread), and others just seem to think SCH is just a different version of RDM, and still others that don't realize that SCH requires the use of your BRAIN, unlike BLM which is just a glass cannon.

Here is the honest facts.

BLM's pros:
Higher damaged nukes (BLM T4 compared to a SCH T4 with that 20% potency stratagem on).
Access to AMIIs
Access to Blind/Bind/SleepII/Sleepga/SleepgaII without subjobs or JAs.
Access to the 6 Elemental debuffs without subjobs to worry about it.
Access to stronger gear based on INT and nuking (i.e. Macc+, MAB, INT+)

BLM's pros:
Higher damaged nukes (BLM T4 compared to a SCH T4 with that 20% potency stratagem on).
Access to AMIIs
Access to Blind/Bind/SleepII/Sleepga/SleepgaII without subjobs or JAs.
Access to the 6 Elemental debuffs without subjobs to worry about it.
Access to stronger gear based on INT and nuking (i.e. Macc+, MAB, INT+)

SCH's pros:
Ability to go from DD to healer in an instant
Access to debuff -ga spells
Access to buff -ga spells
Access to weather effects (i.e. full time obis)
Access to weather debuffs
Stratagems and Sublimation.

Sch and Blm Tier IV are about the same, as my Sch I outnuke quite well geared Blms(can check my Sch gear sets ^.^). As far as access to spells w/ sj, sch should almost always be /rdm giving them access to anything crucial such as bind, grav so that shouldn't even be an issue.

With full Helix merits on SCH, my Ionohelix does anywhere from 250~300 damage base. That means about ~2200 damage total if you're lucky with an additional 7th tic. That's damage that's eating away at a mob's HP while you're kiting, or while nuking. Seeing as how it only costs 87 MP, and takes a whopping 3 seconds to cast as opposed to 10 seconds for AMII, and only gives you enmity for the initial 300ish damage, a Helix spell, pound-for-pound, will alone do more than an AMII spell, for 1/3 the MP and 1/3 the cast time.

And SCH only has 5 less skill and 2 less INT at 75 than a BLM so there's no reason to write it off for having weak nukes just because you're a really good BLM.

Obis count ONLY if you use the MP for the spell, that means you have to change to Light Arts, cast your weather spell, change to Dark Arts, then nuke. By that time, a BLM would have already nuked 1 time and in the middle of nuking another time.

Weskit (with INT+3 augumented) gives INT+3, MAB+6, MAcc+5, and Conserve MP+2 (yes, that counts) than a SCH can wear.
Z.Mitts gives MAB+5 and 50 MP more
Stole gives INT+3, although Prudance Torque would be the same either job.
Witch Sash give INT+5, MAcc+2, and M.Crit+2, but SCHs should always fulltime all 8 obis. I got 2 obis for days, but I also have Relic pants too
Ixion Cape gives INT+5, Enmity -2 (thats important too) and 20 MP
Sorc Ring gives MAB+10, and I know there isn't anything a SCH can wear ringwise that would even come close to matching this.

Korpg, For a good set on Scholar nuking for high resists, take a look at the item set I have in place, and compare it to what you just mentioned.

The AF body has a hidden thing of +15 MAB.

Would never say SCH isnt good, but SCH in my eyes is (seeing on engame use) a better Whm then a BLM. A Support Job. I love to have SCH in BLM PT's for the int+7 he can give with ice weather, but thats NOT JUST SCH only. from this a BLM can benefit too.

SCH Pwned to BLM, is my word!!!

Honestly, comparing a BLM's M.ACC to a SCH's M.ACC is like comparing a DRG's ACC to a THF's ACC. It's a very minor difference and won't be a deciding factor on whether or not you're useful in your group.

That being said, keep in mind I had stated from the start that yes, a good BLM will almost ALWAYS have better nuke damage than a good SCH. My point was, that same SCH will be able to nuke at full power, more frequently and for less MP, all the while supporting his party with (Among other things) Klimaform, which gives a rather large M.ACC bonus to the current nuke you're casting, and Storm spells, like Hailstorm giving all the BLMs INT+7 while still giving potency+10%.

I guess you could say SCH is to mages what BRD is to melees. But it also nukes very well and heals very well by itself, all the while maintaining more average MP than a WHM or BLM .

Honestly, comparing a BLM's M.ACC to a SCH's M.ACC is like comparing a DRG's ACC to a THF's ACC. It's a very minor difference and won't be a deciding factor on whether or not you're useful in your group.

That being said, keep in mind I had stated from the start that yes, a good BLM will almost ALWAYS have better nuke damage than a good SCH. My point was, that same SCH will be able to nuke at full power, more frequently and for less MP, all the while supporting his party with (Among other things) Klimaform, which gives a rather large M.ACC bonus to the current nuke you're casting, and Storm spells, like Hailstorm giving all the BLMs INT+7 while still giving potency+10%.

I guess you could say SCH is to mages what BRD is to melees. But it also nukes very well and heals very well by itself, all the while maintaining more average MP than a WHM or BLM .

I just want to add something that's sorta related, this graph, by Kanican/Kaeko (You may know him as the best BLM who ever lived, who now condones SCH over BLM) shows just what I mean when I say SCH is the most efficient nuking job.