1. Use kardia on yourself period. If you get jumped it's a game changer. 2. Try to use pneuma early in fights after applying toxicon to a target. The shield you give to teammates helps. 3. You can quickly secure kills by being appropriately aggressive. After pneuma if target is sub 50%, dash in and double phlegma for easy kills. 4. Have your heal and sprint on easily accessible buttons. Alternate between heal and sprint when needing to escape. 5. Don't just dive into enemy back lines to deal dmg or secure kills. You are squishy and will likely die if barrier is not available. Target what you can and stay safe putting out consistent dmg. 6. Use limit break on nodes to push or defend. I'm only 300 into crystal
They're all solid tips! All of those carry into Crystal as well, though being aggressive is *definitely* riskier there, as everyone's gonna be eyeballing your low max hp. (Added an extra 2 cents about the Kardia thing below) Unfortunately, because Sage's max hp has them basically at killshot levels at all times, you'll mostly be keeping Kardia on yourself, *especially* if you're getting focused. Though it is fine to switch Kardia to other targets if you're deciding to stay further back. But if you're engaging in close-quarters-combat or standing on the point, keeping Kardia on yourself is unfortunately the best (and probably only) decision you can do (I say unfortunately because I want to heal my team at least a little bit too outside of a 30s cd dangit). Though, Kardia-ing anyone other than yourself is 100% a situational play based entirely around situational and positional awareness, so it's definitely a risky play that can be rewarded when done right (I've actually managed to save a few people with a last-minute shield this way while they were running back for an Elixir cast), but can also be horribly punished when miscalculated (I have also been horrendously ravaged the moment I've Kardia'd someone other than myself in several games).
I pushed from gold to crystal exclusively with Sage. It is really good at semi controlling an engagement with Pneuma shields and debuffs, but managing Kardia between allies is for the most part moot because you are targeted way more frequently due to the green coloration of your icon, so i mostly ONLY use kardia on myself since you receive the 8k shield given by eukrasian dosis. The LB sucks for the most part. It is not that high of damaging and while it is nice to occasionally block a WHM lb or MCH lb, it is rather lackluster compared to other healers, and at a 120 second cooldown, it does not hold up as a "gamebreaking" lb that you'd expect from the other 120's (PLD, BRD, AST). Chain CC's are the easiest way to kill a Sage since they have a low HP pool and self shields from ED and Pneuma require a cast time or Eukrasia into ED, so their survivability takes some time to get going. Ultimately, this class needs a buff in the survivability and limit break department. It's damage is high but mostly requires the sage to be in melee range (which sucks) and to be taking damage to proc Toxicon 2 (which invites CC chains and therefore sucks). They gave dancer increased health just cause the class is in melee range more, however they forgot to apply that logic to sage and instead made WHM the highest healer base HP, where staying in melee range is completely optional for them.
I wholeheartedly agree with almost everything you've said. I've noticed that I've needed Kardia on myself like 90% of the time due to me being seen as the easy kill target, and you need all the defense you can get since DRGs, SAMs, and RDMs are just about everywhere in Crystal. Not to mention that if two of them happen to hit their strongest non-LB hit at the same time, you're one OGCD away from death in less than a second. And the fact that the strongest burst combo they have is linked to melee whilst also having the smallest max hp in the game is just... a baffling design decision. *Especially* since they don't have any CC immunes or any CC to apply in general to cover themselves (Like SAM, WAR, and WHM does (I have many qualms about WHM in particular, but I might save that rant for later)). I do think the LB is very fine from a design standpoint. My problem with it primarily comes from the fact that its competition is so much stronger by comparison. WHM's LB is such a powerful game-changer of an ability, while also being incredibly loaded with multiple effects, the fact that *that* LB is considered to be a 60s-worthy regen speed instead of a 2m one like Mesotes is honestly infuriating to me from a design standpoint. There's very little counter to it, especially when paired with WHM's polymorph ability (which, according to the designs of Reaper and Dancer, is an LB level of power in and of itself). Sage, however, is an LB that you can bypass with extra defenses on you, or you could simply disengage from that particular point and regroup with your team and counter with an LB combo. I think, personally, Sage's LB design is great, and I feel more LBs should be on a similar level. Game-changing when utilized effectively, but can be humiliatingly wasted when used improperly. But, if we're stuck with it being the way it is and multiple jobs having free ez-win LBs, I would like Sage's LB regen to at *least* be classified as a 60s LB instead of a 2m one. Yes, it can be game-changing, but it can be countered and/or bypassed. And in terms of survivability: if Sage is the _only "healer"_ that requires to be in melee range for its biggest hits, then I agree that it should have the highest max hp of the healers. The only other alternative where I'd be fine with it having its current max hp is by giving it a CC-immunity window or a CC it can apply to >a< target (not multiple; group-wide AoEs with 0 presence of a Diminishing Return system is too powerful and should be reserved for LBs imo (lookin' at you, WARs)). Though even then, it's a bit iffy considering the damage some jobs just casually toss out. (This general argument also applies to BLM to _some_ extent; though they may have a Crowd Control via Deep Freeze that they can apply to their targets, they engage with their Burst while basically naked until that ability is cast, so they can be one-shot between the Aetherial Manipulation and the Burst cast) Sorry, I went on a bit of a rant anyway, but yeah; I feel you with those concerns with Sage. Also high-five to a fellow Sage main! o/ lol
Another really cool, really fun video! At first I was gonna make a joke about Step 1 of the guide being to play White Mage instead but you really sold me on the value of Sage.
I've been using Mesotes as an extra DoT, since outside of CC it's use is pretty limited, so i've found it's ability to kill unsuspecting enemies, thinking it's a safe zone is beautiful
I've been maining DNC for the backline charm teamkills but this also looks fun. Thanks for the guide! Update: Sage carried me to Gold. TY based Lucron!
I’m in love with this series of videos on the new FFXIV PvP mode! I love Lucron’s sense of humour. 🥰 Accurate information + lols 😂 It’s a wining combination. 😁 This might just be the time to have fun with Sage and learn to love it. Looking forward for the rest of the job collection. 😃 Thank you Lucron. Stay safe. ❤️
Sage is super fun and deadly in the right hands. Opponents never see it coming when they try to escape a Sage with icarus jumps and phlegmas on them when they already suffered debuff and dots
0:36 you have it correct I n your macro, but I think it's worth emphasizing - in pvp, you want to use "/pvpac" rather than "/ac", since pvp skills are technically different actions than their pve counterparts
Also type out in full pvpaction after the skill name for micon, that will give you the pvp icon and not the pve icon(especially when the skill is pvp only like bishop autoturret)
Huh... at first I was like 'No shields at all... pass.' But I never realized the dot was THAT big! And overall damage was that solid. Might have to give it a second spin.
I've found that putting Kardia on myself has made people come to just completely ignore me. Once a SAM tries to LB combo you, and you live with 8k-10k HP and you recuperate > Eukrasia > recuperate > E-Dosis back to 48k EHP, they stop trying. Constantly having actually around 56k-66k HP at any moment is enough to keep me alive on the point more than any other player in the game, and that's in crystal rank. Very rarely do I ever actually kill someone, so people don't think much of me, and usually eventually swap to "higher priority targets" but similarly, very rarely do I ever have below 90% kill participation, even in games where the enemy team dies more than 40 times collectively, while staying at or near the top of the damage charts. Toxikon should have nearly constant uptime between itself and Addersting procs, and Haima shields are up 10s out of every 26-ish, so you're removing 9% of the opponent's HP while adding 18%-20%-ish max HP to your team in pretty much every engagement. Considering that Shields don't seem to count for either damage taken, or healing done, Sage's overall stats seem to be entirely DPS focused, but it's actually providing an unholy amount of power to the team overall while being nearly unkillable.
I think sage needs a small rework so, when Kardia is not applied to someone, your heals and shields target the weakest ally in range, kinda like a SCHs fairy
Their design in PvE/PvP is intended to be a bit more involved and proactive-decision oriented than most other healers, so I assume they want the job to retain that level of necessary action/decision-making. Would be neat QoL! But might also undermine their intended play pattern or difficulty/learning curve.
I want to love SGE, but I love healing too much. SGE was the first Healer I tried after the revamp and I was honestly angry that whole Frontline because I thought they had removed healing from healers entirely. Then I hopped on WHM and all was well. Then on SCH, which I like more (in PvE and PvP as a buff and debuff sort of Synergist/Sabateur, to use FF13 terms), and scratched my head at why SGE feels both so weak and so unable to heal. Would it kill them to have Taurochole or something the way WHM has Cure 2 and SCH has Adlo?
Yeahhh, the current version of SGE feels _way_ more like a dps than a healer, and many of my matches in Crystal have ended up with me being in the lower half of the "Healing Done" charts. Shoot, I'd wager "Reaper" does better group healing/sustain than SGE, as they apparently can casually dish out around a million healing per Crystal Conflict match. The damage output seems to be entirely SGE's specialty though, as I tend to also score rather high--if not top--on the damage charts as SGE. But, that's also assuming I'm given at least *some* room to breathe, since SGEs tend to be one of those "ez kill" targets due to their lower max hp, which also means a large majority of my healing goes to myself due to how Kardia works. So, yeah: just about any other of the "healer" roles will feel _way_ more beneficial in the healing department than SGE. They may not be able to deal _as_ much damage as SGE, but they can at least provide rather solid support tools by comparison. - WHM for the almighty "Miracle of Nature" as well as heals and damage mitigation (and fast LB (which stuns in an aoe and puts a regen on the team)), - AST for the LB regen card (MP regen and damage buff is also great, but imo the LB regen card is the strongest, especially earlier in the fight), as well as slows/roots and solid healing/shielding capabilities (insta-cast and dual cast superboosts these), with an LB that can instantly turn the numbers in your favor. - SCH for constant numbers advantage with the damage debuff on the enemy team and damage buff for your team, as well as constant rot pressure via Biolysis (LB is a solid restorative tool as well). And then SGE, which mostly lives for lasers and pewpew. I do share your wishes when it comes to asking for better direct healing for SGEs, but it seems their design direction is leaning harshly towards "aggression", so as much as I'd like for some actual healing capabilities outside of Dosis kardia, I don't know if we'll get a whole lot more than that. I'd _love_ to have Taurachole, or even Druochole though. (...Though I'd like to have at _least_ Phlegma to also heal the Kardia target for 2k as well. It still isn't much, but at least it's something, like c'mon man)
@@Lucron Well, that's why I specifically said Taurachole. I know it has a heal, but I was more thinking the damage mitigation component. But yeah, it's funny to men that SCHOLAR is actually the most potent on-demand healing (Seraph), though WHM has the highest overall healing because you just radiate heals when you use the already borderling OP LB that WHM has. I haven't played AST (it breaks my brain hard enough in PvE, lol), but reading their abilities, it looks like the Job has the power to completely change the flow of battle like some kind of Epic Battle Meditation Jedi in Star Wars (like Bastila or Yoda, if you're at all a Star Warsy nerd) ...then there's Sage. The LB sounds cool on paper, but in reality is really small and takes forever to be available. It can be nice in some Frontlines (e.g. use it to protect your party for Big Ices or for the center drones, etc), but the CD is so long as to make it iffy and you have to save it for specific situations (contrast WHM, where I feel I can blow it basically anytime I want and it's always up again when I feel I need it) How does it not have Physis, one of its main PvE tools? Or Kerichole, probably the Addersgall spender that you use the most in PvE? I get they want to lean heavily into Kardia, but considering how much babysitting you have to do with that ability and that it requires a target for it to work, why is it SOOOO weak? It has Panhamia, but it's kind of clunky. WHM gets Protect (Seraph Strike), Medica 2 (LB), Holy (LB), Cure 2 (and Cure 3 with Seraph Strike), Temperance (with...LB or Seraph, I always forget), and a Polymorph. SGE gets...Kardia. And I guess Pneuma, but it's kind of a nerfed version that gives Panhamia but doesn't bring the cure. Which is weird since WHM gets an AOE heal from Purgation or from Cure 3. Like...give SGE's LB an Assylum/Sacred Soil regen or something? I dunno, it just feels all wrong to me somehow. It's like a simplified DPS that needs to be in melee range but has no crowd control and is hyper-squishy. I'm not sure what they're going for with it, to be honest. If it wasn't so squishy and had some crowd control (other than its LB, which is a form of "soft" CC), that might make sense. Conversely, if it was made to avoid melee (which Icurus could help a lot with), that would make sense. CONVERSELY again, if it was made as a mitigation/buff/debuffer (like SCH), THAT would make sense. But where it is right now just boggles my mind a bit.
@@SubduedRadical Hoho, I've actually said those same things when talking about SGE's position in PvP! _Including_ the "battle meditation" reference when regarding AST (which I find a funny coincidence lol). But yes: the fact the SGE needs to be in melee range to dish out its most potent non-LB ability--the double-Phlegma--while also having the smallest hp pool in the game, and having no CC defense, and needing to go through 2 full animation locks before being able to adequately defend themselves if Kardia is not on them already makes me scratch my head a bit when regarding the design decisions for the job (like there not being a crowd control protection, which SAMs have to let them get their Midare cast off for "free"). The best benefits of SGE is that the damage it deals is actually rather immense, and can rival normal assassin-type DPS's with their burst (Toxikon + Pneuma + Icarus + Phlegma + Toxikon II + Phlegma is around a 46k damage combo, not including the Eukrasian Dosis DoT), with the LB actually providing solid point control. So, basically, it performs more like a DPS than anything, and even when you shield people with Eukrasian Dosis, it's mostly to boost your own damage with the Toxikon II. Now, regarding the LB: I will say it is very strong when it's in play in the middle of a team fight. _However_, it also means the SGE needs to keep >themselves< up as the highest heal priority way more than before, because if they die after putting it down, then the LB dies with them. Shoot, it makes me nervous to put it down when I'm already being focused, because the animation lock of putting it down could be enough of a delay from my Recuperate spams to get me killed, and have the LB wasted entirely. I will repeat that I do believe it's quite strong, but I'll add that I also don't think it's strong enough to warrant a 2min recharge time, which is the longest LB regen time in the game. Having it be 2mins long of a cd means it's seen to be on par with PLD's invuln LB and SAM's Zantetsuken LB, which--personally--I don't agree with. It's easily denied by simply bursting onto the SGE once it's down (or even before). If we're going to compare with WHM, their LB is a powerful, wide beam attack that stuns everyone hit, gives the WHM a damage buff, and gives them and their team a 4k-per-tick regen. It's super strong and can be used at just about any time and still yield a fair amount of effectiveness. Yet despite this strength, it has a 1 minute recharge time, which was formerly the fastest-generating LB in the game (it is now 2nd fastest, since RPR now has a 45s LB recharge time when they use Plentiful Harvest). WHMs also have the highest hp pool out of all the healers in the game, and I believe the reason is because one of the abilities--Seraph Strike--forces the WHM to charge into the enemy. Well, that same ability also applies a 10% damage taken reduction buff to themselves and their team, while also unlocking an AoE 12k potency heal, and the ability itself is an OGCD and activates immediately when pressed (and is very quick to deliver its effects). Compare that with SGE, who has Icarus--which has a slower transition time than Seraph Strike--but does literally nothing else. Afterwards, the SGE most likely wants to combo with a Phlegma, which is a GCD, and the SGE still has one more Phlegma they're going to want to dump if they're on max stacks. Going through that whole chain leaves the SGE super wide open, as their only defense then is the default Guard or Icarus back to a distance if a teammate is hopefully positioned in a good spot in your backline. I say only those two, because if Kardia is not already on you, you'd have to go through that chain of animation locks before being able to get an 8k shield on you (and shields seem to have the last priority when the numbers are registered through the net code, so all the damage thrown at you at that exact moment will hit first, _then_ the shield will apply), and if you're going through animation locks to get the Eukrasian Diagnosis set, then you're also not using Recuperate during that time, meaning you are getting slammed for free by the enemy while you're fumbling through your tools. But yeah, I have some gripes with its design as well, and I share quite a bit of them with you. It still works well in CC, but it doesn't really scratch the "support healer" itch. In fact, it really does feel more like a DPS than anything else, and I think that's what the intention was for its design. Yet, at the same time, focusing _too_ hard on offense will just get the SGE killed, since, y'know, smallest max hp pool. And unfortunately, the best way to negate that weakness is to keep Kardia on yourself, meaning you're more encouraged to selfishly give yourself most of the shields if you're wanting to have a field presence with Phlegma. Yet despite all these complaints, it's still my main job when climbing rating. I went from silver to crystal by only playing SGE, and it's a job I don't get bored with since I feel like there will _always_ be more room for self improvement when playing it. I tend to be a bit "erratic" when I play in pvp, so having Kardia be as clunky and swap-heavy as it is does help more of my keypresses to have more meaning to them (rather than strafe-spamming or moving solely for the sake of moving). It's a personal thing. As it stands right now, it definitely sucks with healing; a RPR or even DNC will do more team healing than a SGE. Its team sustain is 100% focused on the shields or killing the target before they kill you/your allies. (Sorry for the wall of text; I'm a bit passionate regarding this type of stuff)
@@Lucron No, I love it! In depth conversation and explanation. My only gripe with your post is that I agree with so much of it, I really have nothing left to add/say. XD EDIT: Narrator: Turns out he did, in fact, have something left to add/say. :ENDEDIT I think what you said towards the end is accurate: It doesn't really support the support healer itch. And I play healers because I actually LIKE healing, and when not healing, I love buffing (and to a lesser extent, debuffing). WHM does a crap ton of healing, but it's honestly too offensively focused to me (Seraph is awesome, and as noted, WAY better than Icarus, but does require you to get into melee...though you can then LB stun and/or Polymorph as well as get off a free Cure 3) I need to sit down and really try AST, but I honestly am loving SCH right now. I can't kill people outright much (though I got 3 KOs from across a Frontline earlier - I guess when I spread my Adlos/Bios, they collectively did enough to give me credit for kills even as I was riding my mount to the opposite side of the field to go for a big ice, lol), but I like the feel of spreading Adlos and using Expedient and even Seraph. I feel like I'm actually turning the tide of battle and helping my team overcome entrenched enemy positions by reducing the damage my allies take from enemy attacks while also boosting my allies' attacks and even their speed. WHM is fun, but SCH just really scratches that support healer/buffer/debuffer itch and I really love how they cleverly made Deployment Tactics both offensive and defensive. My ONE gripe is I wish Mumification worked like Toxicon (not having a II version, but rather being ranged) since SCH has no other melee related things in its entire kit so having to get in close for that ability - and ONLY that ability - seems really weird. It's powerful, so I get it, but I rarely use it because I tend to try not being so close to the enemy in the first place. XD Granted, I haven't played Crystal Conflict and just do Frontlines, so my view is probably a bit tilted in that direction...but it's still PvP, so still counts. :) . But yeah, I agree with...pretty much everything you said. Sage needs some more defensive/CC/close range options OR needs to be made more of a ranged fighter, and is more of a DPS and a weaker healer than a lot of the NON-healers (would it kill them to do something like "Pneuma makes your Kardia effect an AOE heal pulse for the next 5-10 sec" or something?), which is just...weird.
Currently, the only two macros linked to any abilities I use for SGE are these two: -Kardia: /micon "Kardia" /pvpac "Kardia" -Icarus: /micon "Icarus" /pvpac "Icarus" I have them as well as the normal abilities. I don't mix the Kardia one with an additional "/pvpac "Kardia" " line because, from my experience, it tends to be finnicky and can end up just throwing the Kardia on myself instead of my target. The same can be said with "Icarus", except in its case, sometimes it would throw me to the enemy I'm targeting instead of the ally I'm using the mouseover for. In general, I'm trying to limit my use of macros in regards to ability useage, as they don't seem to be super reliant and can end up ignoring inputs, which has led me to some very confused deaths as to why a certain thing didn't work. Currently, having separate keybinds for these dedicated "mouseover" macros seem to be giving me the most consistent benefits. However, I've found "Attacking Target" macros, as well as a countdown timer to go along with it, to be rather powerful when utilized correctly (and, well, if your team decides to even care to listen to those callouts). So if anything, I'd recommend gearing a good chunk of your actual macros towards more accurate communication. (You could also theoretically have a "mouseover" macro for all of your abilities to have it where anyone targeting you can't actually tell who you're attacking if you're using your target as a bait reaction. I.e., you're going to tunnel the White Mage, so you focus all of your attacks on them by keeping your mouse over them or their healthbar on the enemy team list, but when anyone targets you, it looks like you're trying to kill the Bard since they'd be what you're currently targeting. This can yield to a rather stacked action bar though, so beware of that possibility.)
Never touched sage, but finally I get to undertant that weird lb wall thingy, I wouldn't understand what it was before, great quick guide :D Also gratz on Crystal rank? :O
Np for the guide, and thanks for the grats! Yeah, that wall is super strong if the enemy team isn't aware of what it does. It can be brute-forced through though, so it mostly comes down to a war of attrition with the odds in your favor when the enemy is still divebombing you inside the Mesotes'd point. Also! Try to prioritize keeping yourself alive, or else that LB dies with you. And another thing! White Mages! Hate 'em! Their "Miracle of Nature" (the polymorph/imp/pig ability thing) deletes your LB when you get hit by that ability! Not sure if it's intended or not, but it's a thing that exists atm, so be very cautious with enemy WHMs!
... wait... does this mean you like PVP in FF14 now? Cuz I recall you mentioning that you enjoy PVP back in WoW.... if so GREAT! Glad you have your niche restored!
too bad sage does not actually heal in pvp... I love the job in pve tho. Scholar, on the other hand, is fun in pvp but has 50 button, clunky rotation in pve. Btw, are you coming back to wow dragonflight if they implement solo que rated arena ?
I want to like this as I enjoy sage in pve but I really find sage lacking in pvp and it can’t even be called a support in there with no skills to help hinder targets outside of a lack lustre lb on a 2min cd
I play on PS4 was having so much fun in pvp until cheaters killed it for me tbh i stopped at gold tier don't think I'll do pvp anymore yet i would love a macro for *Mesotes* please.
Line 1-13: /pvpac Mesotes Line 14: /pvpac Mesotes gtoff Line 15: /micon Mesotes pvpaction Deploys Mesotes at location of current target. If no target, instantly places where your ground target cursor was last. Last line is just for the icon. Remove the gtoff if you actually care to access the ground target cursor. Though if you set up your cursor in advance to a nice default position you might prefer to keep gtoff
Sage is strong but I still feel weird playing it. I still think they need to drop Kardia or Eukrasia from the PvP Kit. You can't have two separate buttons in the PvP kit that literally do nothing on their own. Make Kardia have 2 charges like Eukrasia is now with a cooldown, apply the shield when you apply Kardia. Drop Eukrasia and put something else there there.
Kardia juggling is the one thing keeping me from playing sage in PvP. Much like how I don't play dancer in PvP because of my partners are always running off to Narnia.
@@Kasaaz I personally didn't find it clunky, and played the job enough to main it to Crystal as well. Without the use of user macros or add-ons, no less.
Because in PvE it's important that you be able to clear all content with any reasonable comp. In PvP this is less important since you're fighting other players and not scripted encounters.
1. Use kardia on yourself period. If you get jumped it's a game changer. 2. Try to use pneuma early in fights after applying toxicon to a target. The shield you give to teammates helps.
3. You can quickly secure kills by being appropriately aggressive. After pneuma if target is sub 50%, dash in and double phlegma for easy kills.
4. Have your heal and sprint on easily accessible buttons. Alternate between heal and sprint when needing to escape.
5. Don't just dive into enemy back lines to deal dmg or secure kills. You are squishy and will likely die if barrier is not available. Target what you can and stay safe putting out consistent dmg.
6. Use limit break on nodes to push or defend.
I'm only 300 into crystal
They're all solid tips! All of those carry into Crystal as well, though being aggressive is *definitely* riskier there, as everyone's gonna be eyeballing your low max hp.
(Added an extra 2 cents about the Kardia thing below)
Unfortunately, because Sage's max hp has them basically at killshot levels at all times, you'll mostly be keeping Kardia on yourself, *especially* if you're getting focused. Though it is fine to switch Kardia to other targets if you're deciding to stay further back. But if you're engaging in close-quarters-combat or standing on the point, keeping Kardia on yourself is unfortunately the best (and probably only) decision you can do (I say unfortunately because I want to heal my team at least a little bit too outside of a 30s cd dangit). Though, Kardia-ing anyone other than yourself is 100% a situational play based entirely around situational and positional awareness, so it's definitely a risky play that can be rewarded when done right (I've actually managed to save a few people with a last-minute shield this way while they were running back for an Elixir cast), but can also be horribly punished when miscalculated (I have also been horrendously ravaged the moment I've Kardia'd someone other than myself in several games).
I pushed from gold to crystal exclusively with Sage. It is really good at semi controlling an engagement with Pneuma shields and debuffs, but managing Kardia between allies is for the most part moot because you are targeted way more frequently due to the green coloration of your icon, so i mostly ONLY use kardia on myself since you receive the 8k shield given by eukrasian dosis. The LB sucks for the most part. It is not that high of damaging and while it is nice to occasionally block a WHM lb or MCH lb, it is rather lackluster compared to other healers, and at a 120 second cooldown, it does not hold up as a "gamebreaking" lb that you'd expect from the other 120's (PLD, BRD, AST). Chain CC's are the easiest way to kill a Sage since they have a low HP pool and self shields from ED and Pneuma require a cast time or Eukrasia into ED, so their survivability takes some time to get going.
Ultimately, this class needs a buff in the survivability and limit break department. It's damage is high but mostly requires the sage to be in melee range (which sucks) and to be taking damage to proc Toxicon 2 (which invites CC chains and therefore sucks). They gave dancer increased health just cause the class is in melee range more, however they forgot to apply that logic to sage and instead made WHM the highest healer base HP, where staying in melee range is completely optional for them.
I wholeheartedly agree with almost everything you've said. I've noticed that I've needed Kardia on myself like 90% of the time due to me being seen as the easy kill target, and you need all the defense you can get since DRGs, SAMs, and RDMs are just about everywhere in Crystal. Not to mention that if two of them happen to hit their strongest non-LB hit at the same time, you're one OGCD away from death in less than a second. And the fact that the strongest burst combo they have is linked to melee whilst also having the smallest max hp in the game is just... a baffling design decision. *Especially* since they don't have any CC immunes or any CC to apply in general to cover themselves (Like SAM, WAR, and WHM does (I have many qualms about WHM in particular, but I might save that rant for later)).
I do think the LB is very fine from a design standpoint. My problem with it primarily comes from the fact that its competition is so much stronger by comparison. WHM's LB is such a powerful game-changer of an ability, while also being incredibly loaded with multiple effects, the fact that *that* LB is considered to be a 60s-worthy regen speed instead of a 2m one like Mesotes is honestly infuriating to me from a design standpoint. There's very little counter to it, especially when paired with WHM's polymorph ability (which, according to the designs of Reaper and Dancer, is an LB level of power in and of itself). Sage, however, is an LB that you can bypass with extra defenses on you, or you could simply disengage from that particular point and regroup with your team and counter with an LB combo. I think, personally, Sage's LB design is great, and I feel more LBs should be on a similar level. Game-changing when utilized effectively, but can be humiliatingly wasted when used improperly.
But, if we're stuck with it being the way it is and multiple jobs having free ez-win LBs, I would like Sage's LB regen to at *least* be classified as a 60s LB instead of a 2m one. Yes, it can be game-changing, but it can be countered and/or bypassed.
And in terms of survivability: if Sage is the _only "healer"_ that requires to be in melee range for its biggest hits, then I agree that it should have the highest max hp of the healers. The only other alternative where I'd be fine with it having its current max hp is by giving it a CC-immunity window or a CC it can apply to >a< target (not multiple; group-wide AoEs with 0 presence of a Diminishing Return system is too powerful and should be reserved for LBs imo (lookin' at you, WARs)). Though even then, it's a bit iffy considering the damage some jobs just casually toss out. (This general argument also applies to BLM to _some_ extent; though they may have a Crowd Control via Deep Freeze that they can apply to their targets, they engage with their Burst while basically naked until that ability is cast, so they can be one-shot between the Aetherial Manipulation and the Burst cast)
Sorry, I went on a bit of a rant anyway, but yeah; I feel you with those concerns with Sage. Also high-five to a fellow Sage main! o/ lol
Another really cool, really fun video! At first I was gonna make a joke about Step 1 of the guide being to play White Mage instead but you really sold me on the value of Sage.
love the red alert music for the first bit lol
I've been using Mesotes as an extra DoT, since outside of CC it's use is pretty limited, so i've found it's ability to kill unsuspecting enemies, thinking it's a safe zone is beautiful
I've been maining DNC for the backline charm teamkills but this also looks fun. Thanks for the guide!
Update: Sage carried me to Gold. TY based Lucron!
I've only played whm in pvp so far but now I'm kinda curious about trying sge. great guide!
I’m in love with this series of videos on the new FFXIV PvP mode! I love Lucron’s sense of humour. 🥰 Accurate information + lols 😂 It’s a wining combination. 😁 This might just be the time to have fun with Sage and learn to love it. Looking forward for the rest of the job collection. 😃 Thank you Lucron. Stay safe. ❤️
This series is so good.
i can't see myself playing sage much in pvp, but this was still a fun guide nonetheless!!
I on the other hand cannot imagine myself playing anything other than Sage😂.
Sage is super fun and deadly in the right hands. Opponents never see it coming when they try to escape a Sage with icarus jumps and phlegmas on them when they already suffered debuff and dots
"You know who I shouldn't appreciate? YOU the watcher!"
Haven't heard RA3 music in a long time. Still good as always.
Mfw I expect a simple healer guide but I end up back in Algebra, Geometry, and Chemistry class. O_o
0:36 you have it correct I n your macro, but I think it's worth emphasizing - in pvp, you want to use "/pvpac" rather than "/ac", since pvp skills are technically different actions than their pve counterparts
Also type out in full pvpaction after the skill name for micon, that will give you the pvp icon and not the pve icon(especially when the skill is pvp only like bishop autoturret)
Huh... at first I was like 'No shields at all... pass.'
But I never realized the dot was THAT big! And overall damage was that solid.
Might have to give it a second spin.
I'm a healer, but...
I've found that putting Kardia on myself has made people come to just
completely ignore me.
Once a SAM tries to LB combo you, and you live with 8k-10k HP and you recuperate > Eukrasia > recuperate > E-Dosis back to 48k EHP, they stop trying.
Constantly having actually around 56k-66k HP at any moment is enough to keep me alive on the point more than any other player in the game, and that's in crystal rank.
Very rarely do I ever actually kill someone, so people don't think much of me, and usually eventually swap to "higher priority targets"
but similarly, very rarely do I ever have below 90% kill participation, even in games where the enemy team dies more than 40 times collectively, while staying at or near the top of the damage charts.
Toxikon should have nearly constant uptime between itself and Addersting procs, and Haima shields are up 10s out of every 26-ish, so you're removing 9% of the opponent's HP while adding 18%-20%-ish max HP to your team in pretty much every engagement.
Considering that Shields don't seem to count for either damage taken, or healing done, Sage's overall stats seem to be entirely DPS focused, but it's actually providing an unholy amount of power to the team overall while being nearly unkillable.
was happy to hear Hell March 3 (even if its not as gud as the other 2)
now i know what that weird wall thingy is.
I keep wanting to use PvP to level other jobs but Sage in CC is just too much fun!
What's that SGE glamour you're using? I can't remember seeing this chestpiece anywhere in the game 🤔
The chestpiece glamour I use here is called the "Proto Ultima Mesh".
@@Lucron Thank you!
I think sage needs a small rework so, when Kardia is not applied to someone, your heals and shields target the weakest ally in range, kinda like a SCHs fairy
Their design in PvE/PvP is intended to be a bit more involved and proactive-decision oriented than most other healers, so I assume they want the job to retain that level of necessary action/decision-making.
Would be neat QoL! But might also undermine their intended play pattern or difficulty/learning curve.
I may have to give sage a go now on some casual matches 😉
I want to love SGE, but I love healing too much. SGE was the first Healer I tried after the revamp and I was honestly angry that whole Frontline because I thought they had removed healing from healers entirely. Then I hopped on WHM and all was well. Then on SCH, which I like more (in PvE and PvP as a buff and debuff sort of Synergist/Sabateur, to use FF13 terms), and scratched my head at why SGE feels both so weak and so unable to heal. Would it kill them to have Taurochole or something the way WHM has Cure 2 and SCH has Adlo?
Yeahhh, the current version of SGE feels _way_ more like a dps than a healer, and many of my matches in Crystal have ended up with me being in the lower half of the "Healing Done" charts. Shoot, I'd wager "Reaper" does better group healing/sustain than SGE, as they apparently can casually dish out around a million healing per Crystal Conflict match.
The damage output seems to be entirely SGE's specialty though, as I tend to also score rather high--if not top--on the damage charts as SGE. But, that's also assuming I'm given at least *some* room to breathe, since SGEs tend to be one of those "ez kill" targets due to their lower max hp, which also means a large majority of my healing goes to myself due to how Kardia works. So, yeah: just about any other of the "healer" roles will feel _way_ more beneficial in the healing department than SGE. They may not be able to deal _as_ much damage as SGE, but they can at least provide rather solid support tools by comparison.
- WHM for the almighty "Miracle of Nature" as well as heals and damage mitigation (and fast LB (which stuns in an aoe and puts a regen on the team)),
- AST for the LB regen card (MP regen and damage buff is also great, but imo the LB regen card is the strongest, especially earlier in the fight), as well as slows/roots and solid healing/shielding capabilities (insta-cast and dual cast superboosts these), with an LB that can instantly turn the numbers in your favor.
- SCH for constant numbers advantage with the damage debuff on the enemy team and damage buff for your team, as well as constant rot pressure via Biolysis (LB is a solid restorative tool as well).
And then SGE, which mostly lives for lasers and pewpew. I do share your wishes when it comes to asking for better direct healing for SGEs, but it seems their design direction is leaning harshly towards "aggression", so as much as I'd like for some actual healing capabilities outside of Dosis kardia, I don't know if we'll get a whole lot more than that. I'd _love_ to have Taurachole, or even Druochole though.
(...Though I'd like to have at _least_ Phlegma to also heal the Kardia target for 2k as well. It still isn't much, but at least it's something, like c'mon man)
@@Lucron Well, that's why I specifically said Taurachole. I know it has a heal, but I was more thinking the damage mitigation component.
But yeah, it's funny to men that SCHOLAR is actually the most potent on-demand healing (Seraph), though WHM has the highest overall healing because you just radiate heals when you use the already borderling OP LB that WHM has. I haven't played AST (it breaks my brain hard enough in PvE, lol), but reading their abilities, it looks like the Job has the power to completely change the flow of battle like some kind of Epic Battle Meditation Jedi in Star Wars (like Bastila or Yoda, if you're at all a Star Warsy nerd)
...then there's Sage.
The LB sounds cool on paper, but in reality is really small and takes forever to be available. It can be nice in some Frontlines (e.g. use it to protect your party for Big Ices or for the center drones, etc), but the CD is so long as to make it iffy and you have to save it for specific situations (contrast WHM, where I feel I can blow it basically anytime I want and it's always up again when I feel I need it)
How does it not have Physis, one of its main PvE tools? Or Kerichole, probably the Addersgall spender that you use the most in PvE? I get they want to lean heavily into Kardia, but considering how much babysitting you have to do with that ability and that it requires a target for it to work, why is it SOOOO weak? It has Panhamia, but it's kind of clunky.
WHM gets Protect (Seraph Strike), Medica 2 (LB), Holy (LB), Cure 2 (and Cure 3 with Seraph Strike), Temperance (with...LB or Seraph, I always forget), and a Polymorph.
SGE gets...Kardia. And I guess Pneuma, but it's kind of a nerfed version that gives Panhamia but doesn't bring the cure. Which is weird since WHM gets an AOE heal from Purgation or from Cure 3.
Like...give SGE's LB an Assylum/Sacred Soil regen or something?
I dunno, it just feels all wrong to me somehow. It's like a simplified DPS that needs to be in melee range but has no crowd control and is hyper-squishy. I'm not sure what they're going for with it, to be honest.
If it wasn't so squishy and had some crowd control (other than its LB, which is a form of "soft" CC), that might make sense. Conversely, if it was made to avoid melee (which Icurus could help a lot with), that would make sense. CONVERSELY again, if it was made as a mitigation/buff/debuffer (like SCH), THAT would make sense.
But where it is right now just boggles my mind a bit.
@@SubduedRadical Hoho, I've actually said those same things when talking about SGE's position in PvP! _Including_ the "battle meditation" reference when regarding AST (which I find a funny coincidence lol). But yes: the fact the SGE needs to be in melee range to dish out its most potent non-LB ability--the double-Phlegma--while also having the smallest hp pool in the game, and having no CC defense, and needing to go through 2 full animation locks before being able to adequately defend themselves if Kardia is not on them already makes me scratch my head a bit when regarding the design decisions for the job (like there not being a crowd control protection, which SAMs have to let them get their Midare cast off for "free").
The best benefits of SGE is that the damage it deals is actually rather immense, and can rival normal assassin-type DPS's with their burst (Toxikon + Pneuma + Icarus + Phlegma + Toxikon II + Phlegma is around a 46k damage combo, not including the Eukrasian Dosis DoT), with the LB actually providing solid point control. So, basically, it performs more like a DPS than anything, and even when you shield people with Eukrasian Dosis, it's mostly to boost your own damage with the Toxikon II.
Now, regarding the LB: I will say it is very strong when it's in play in the middle of a team fight. _However_, it also means the SGE needs to keep >themselves< up as the highest heal priority way more than before, because if they die after putting it down, then the LB dies with them. Shoot, it makes me nervous to put it down when I'm already being focused, because the animation lock of putting it down could be enough of a delay from my Recuperate spams to get me killed, and have the LB wasted entirely.
I will repeat that I do believe it's quite strong, but I'll add that I also don't think it's strong enough to warrant a 2min recharge time, which is the longest LB regen time in the game. Having it be 2mins long of a cd means it's seen to be on par with PLD's invuln LB and SAM's Zantetsuken LB, which--personally--I don't agree with. It's easily denied by simply bursting onto the SGE once it's down (or even before).
If we're going to compare with WHM, their LB is a powerful, wide beam attack that stuns everyone hit, gives the WHM a damage buff, and gives them and their team a 4k-per-tick regen. It's super strong and can be used at just about any time and still yield a fair amount of effectiveness. Yet despite this strength, it has a 1 minute recharge time, which was formerly the fastest-generating LB in the game (it is now 2nd fastest, since RPR now has a 45s LB recharge time when they use Plentiful Harvest). WHMs also have the highest hp pool out of all the healers in the game, and I believe the reason is because one of the abilities--Seraph Strike--forces the WHM to charge into the enemy.
Well, that same ability also applies a 10% damage taken reduction buff to themselves and their team, while also unlocking an AoE 12k potency heal, and the ability itself is an OGCD and activates immediately when pressed (and is very quick to deliver its effects). Compare that with SGE, who has Icarus--which has a slower transition time than Seraph Strike--but does literally nothing else.
Afterwards, the SGE most likely wants to combo with a Phlegma, which is a GCD, and the SGE still has one more Phlegma they're going to want to dump if they're on max stacks. Going through that whole chain leaves the SGE super wide open, as their only defense then is the default Guard or Icarus back to a distance if a teammate is hopefully positioned in a good spot in your backline. I say only those two, because if Kardia is not already on you, you'd have to go through that chain of animation locks before being able to get an 8k shield on you (and shields seem to have the last priority when the numbers are registered through the net code, so all the damage thrown at you at that exact moment will hit first, _then_ the shield will apply), and if you're going through animation locks to get the Eukrasian Diagnosis set, then you're also not using Recuperate during that time, meaning you are getting slammed for free by the enemy while you're fumbling through your tools.
But yeah, I have some gripes with its design as well, and I share quite a bit of them with you. It still works well in CC, but it doesn't really scratch the "support healer" itch. In fact, it really does feel more like a DPS than anything else, and I think that's what the intention was for its design. Yet, at the same time, focusing _too_ hard on offense will just get the SGE killed, since, y'know, smallest max hp pool. And unfortunately, the best way to negate that weakness is to keep Kardia on yourself, meaning you're more encouraged to selfishly give yourself most of the shields if you're wanting to have a field presence with Phlegma.
Yet despite all these complaints, it's still my main job when climbing rating. I went from silver to crystal by only playing SGE, and it's a job I don't get bored with since I feel like there will _always_ be more room for self improvement when playing it. I tend to be a bit "erratic" when I play in pvp, so having Kardia be as clunky and swap-heavy as it is does help more of my keypresses to have more meaning to them (rather than strafe-spamming or moving solely for the sake of moving). It's a personal thing.
As it stands right now, it definitely sucks with healing; a RPR or even DNC will do more team healing than a SGE. Its team sustain is 100% focused on the shields or killing the target before they kill you/your allies.
(Sorry for the wall of text; I'm a bit passionate regarding this type of stuff)
@@Lucron No, I love it! In depth conversation and explanation. My only gripe with your post is that I agree with so much of it, I really have nothing left to add/say. XD
EDIT: Narrator: Turns out he did, in fact, have something left to add/say. :ENDEDIT
I think what you said towards the end is accurate: It doesn't really support the support healer itch.
And I play healers because I actually LIKE healing, and when not healing, I love buffing (and to a lesser extent, debuffing). WHM does a crap ton of healing, but it's honestly too offensively focused to me (Seraph is awesome, and as noted, WAY better than Icarus, but does require you to get into melee...though you can then LB stun and/or Polymorph as well as get off a free Cure 3)
I need to sit down and really try AST, but I honestly am loving SCH right now. I can't kill people outright much (though I got 3 KOs from across a Frontline earlier - I guess when I spread my Adlos/Bios, they collectively did enough to give me credit for kills even as I was riding my mount to the opposite side of the field to go for a big ice, lol), but I like the feel of spreading Adlos and using Expedient and even Seraph. I feel like I'm actually turning the tide of battle and helping my team overcome entrenched enemy positions by reducing the damage my allies take from enemy attacks while also boosting my allies' attacks and even their speed.
WHM is fun, but SCH just really scratches that support healer/buffer/debuffer itch and I really love how they cleverly made Deployment Tactics both offensive and defensive. My ONE gripe is I wish Mumification worked like Toxicon (not having a II version, but rather being ranged) since SCH has no other melee related things in its entire kit so having to get in close for that ability - and ONLY that ability - seems really weird. It's powerful, so I get it, but I rarely use it because I tend to try not being so close to the enemy in the first place. XD
Granted, I haven't played Crystal Conflict and just do Frontlines, so my view is probably a bit tilted in that direction...but it's still PvP, so still counts. :)
.
But yeah, I agree with...pretty much everything you said. Sage needs some more defensive/CC/close range options OR needs to be made more of a ranged fighter, and is more of a DPS and a weaker healer than a lot of the NON-healers (would it kill them to do something like "Pneuma makes your Kardia effect an AOE heal pulse for the next 5-10 sec" or something?), which is just...weird.
Im tryin to get into the habit of using macros any advice on which to use besides kardia?
Currently, the only two macros linked to any abilities I use for SGE are these two:
-Kardia:
/micon "Kardia"
/pvpac "Kardia"
-Icarus:
/micon "Icarus"
/pvpac "Icarus"
I have them as well as the normal abilities. I don't mix the Kardia one with an additional "/pvpac "Kardia" " line because, from my experience, it tends to be finnicky and can end up just throwing the Kardia on myself instead of my target. The same can be said with "Icarus", except in its case, sometimes it would throw me to the enemy I'm targeting instead of the ally I'm using the mouseover for.
In general, I'm trying to limit my use of macros in regards to ability useage, as they don't seem to be super reliant and can end up ignoring inputs, which has led me to some very confused deaths as to why a certain thing didn't work. Currently, having separate keybinds for these dedicated "mouseover" macros seem to be giving me the most consistent benefits.
However, I've found "Attacking Target" macros, as well as a countdown timer to go along with it, to be rather powerful when utilized correctly (and, well, if your team decides to even care to listen to those callouts). So if anything, I'd recommend gearing a good chunk of your actual macros towards more accurate communication.
(You could also theoretically have a "mouseover" macro for all of your abilities to have it where anyone targeting you can't actually tell who you're attacking if you're using your target as a bait reaction. I.e., you're going to tunnel the White Mage, so you focus all of your attacks on them by keeping your mouse over them or their healthbar on the enemy team list, but when anyone targets you, it looks like you're trying to kill the Bard since they'd be what you're currently targeting. This can yield to a rather stacked action bar though, so beware of that possibility.)
Never touched sage, but finally I get to undertant that weird lb wall thingy, I wouldn't understand what it was before, great quick guide :D
Also gratz on Crystal rank? :O
Np for the guide, and thanks for the grats!
Yeah, that wall is super strong if the enemy team isn't aware of what it does. It can be brute-forced through though, so it mostly comes down to a war of attrition with the odds in your favor when the enemy is still divebombing you inside the Mesotes'd point. Also! Try to prioritize keeping yourself alive, or else that LB dies with you. And another thing! White Mages! Hate 'em! Their "Miracle of Nature" (the polymorph/imp/pig ability thing) deletes your LB when you get hit by that ability! Not sure if it's intended or not, but it's a thing that exists atm, so be very cautious with enemy WHMs!
@@Lucron oh don't get me started on the Imp debuff from WHM!
I once lost a whole Bahamut lb as SMN cause they hit it at the perfect time >:(
... wait... does this mean you like PVP in FF14 now? Cuz I recall you mentioning that you enjoy PVP back in WoW....
if so GREAT! Glad you have your niche restored!
too bad sage does not actually heal in pvp... I love the job in pve tho. Scholar, on the other hand, is fun in pvp but has 50 button, clunky rotation in pve. Btw, are you coming back to wow dragonflight if they implement solo que rated arena ?
Congratulations on Crystal rank :)
hello yes moar pls ty :3
I want to like this as I enjoy sage in pve but I really find sage lacking in pvp and it can’t even be called a support in there with no skills to help hinder targets outside of a lack lustre lb on a 2min cd
Lol I just got back into 14 after a couple years, went in to try Sage pvp and I was like "where the fuck are my heals?"
Phlegma balls lmao
Love how he saying about damage etc and there's me 0 kills 0 assist 4 deaths
I always forget this game is on pc until a player says mouse macro.
I play on PS4 was having so much fun in pvp until cheaters killed it for me tbh i stopped at gold tier don't think I'll do pvp anymore yet i would love a macro for *Mesotes* please.
Line 1-13: /pvpac Mesotes
Line 14: /pvpac Mesotes gtoff
Line 15: /micon Mesotes pvpaction
Deploys Mesotes at location of current target. If no target, instantly places where your ground target cursor was last. Last line is just for the icon.
Remove the gtoff if you actually care to access the ground target cursor. Though if you set up your cursor in advance to a nice default position you might prefer to keep gtoff
@@zerosuitfalcon much appreciated ^_^
And you can enjoy losing your LB by getting imped!
I really hope that's a bug and not a feature.
@@Lucron Seems like a lot of jobs have hard counters. I derive entirely too much entertainment from binding a dragoon.
Sage is strong but I still feel weird playing it. I still think they need to drop Kardia or Eukrasia from the PvP Kit. You can't have two separate buttons in the PvP kit that literally do nothing on their own. Make Kardia have 2 charges like Eukrasia is now with a cooldown, apply the shield when you apply Kardia. Drop Eukrasia and put something else there there.
Kardia juggling is the one thing keeping me from playing sage in PvP. Much like how I don't play dancer in PvP because of my partners are always running off to Narnia.
@@KianaWolf The worst with Kardia can be that when it drops because your Kardia target dies, it drops off you too.
Kardia juggling is one of the most unique and engaging parts of SGE's kit in PvP, IMO. Definitely keeps me and many others playing the job.
@@Kaeiand Then drop Eukrasia for PvP. It's clunky as hell in that fast paced environment.
@@Kasaaz I personally didn't find it clunky, and played the job enough to main it to Crystal as well. Without the use of user macros or add-ons, no less.
after 3000 hours of heal best tip don't play healer in ff14.
Sage is the trash tier of PvP they're a free kill that does nothing on FL.
It's hilarious how class identity is really only a thing in PVP. Whilst in PVE many jobs are homogenized.
Because in PvE it's important that you be able to clear all content with any reasonable comp. In PvP this is less important since you're fighting other players and not scripted encounters.
Nice bait 😂