Resident Samurai

[Valhallodin]

Well, to the best of my knowledge, I am the highest level Samurai on the LS (currently idle at 40 while i fish and do whatever else to get gil) and it's pretty much the only job I have any desire to play right now. It's not as simple as a lot of people would tell you, you will usually have an important role in a party, if you can find. That's another issue. A lot of SAMs are not very good at their jobs, and it makes getting invites a trying process. But if anybody has any questions about what a Samurai is/does/should do, feel free to ask, I am all about Samurai so if I don't know, I will find out.

Edit: I am now at level 45, and plan on focusing on nothing but level until 50.

[Striveldt]

so val, what SHOULD a sam do? and what do they do that makes them less useful?

[Valhallodin]

Well, a Samurai IS a Damage Dealer, but they go about it in a somewhat different way. The entire reason that a Samurai exists is to the set up Skillchains and Magic Bursts.

However, the biggest problem with SAM is that while they will usually be the first to 100 TP, they do not truly excel at gaining TP until level 30 when they get Meditate. Meditate is a job ability that gives 20 TP every 2 seconds for 10 seconds (for 100 TP, it goes to 140 with the AF Kabuto I believe). It can be used every 3 minutes.

The best way for a Samurai to work in a party is to gain 100TP without using Meditate, then skillchain with a party member. Then, use Meditate and 10 seconds later, be ready to skillchain again.

The problem with a lot of SAMs is that they seem to think they can be efficient damage dealers without setting up skillchains and magic bursts. A SAM will NOT be nearly as effective at dealing damage without these skillchains. The idea isn't for the SAM to crank out a ton of damage with standard melee attacks. Instead, we do decent damage with our melees, and then hit hard w/ our Weapon Skills and allow everyone else to do more damage through skill chaining and magic bursting.

Another thing they do wrong is spam Meditate. Just because Meditate is available doesn't mean you have to use it right away. If you have 85% TP, and use Meditate, it is a waste because two more swings, and you are ready to skillchain twice, instead of just once.

But really, the main problem with SAM is that in order to be effective, you must be able to skillchain, which most people (including most SAMs) cannot do very well at all. So basically, your effectiveness hinges on the skillchaining capabilities of your party.

[Striveldt]

sounds like you know your job pretty well. What is your favorite WS with your great katana thus far? How often do you open/close skillchains? Is it convenient to have different WS's macroed?

[Valhallodin]

My favorite weapon skill thus far is Tachi: Kagero, because it just looks so damn cool. However, Tachi: Enpi reigns supreme in terms of utility and effectiveness. Tachi: Enpi can either open or close a Distortion skillchain. This is nice because it gives me freedom to go first or second, and I can alternate based on what other job I am skillchaining with.

So far, the most successful skillchain I have been able to set up is Tachi: Enpi >> SATA Viper Bite, double magic burst with Water II and Blizzard II. We were doing this out in Altepa for about 1300 damage or so on Beetles. We even managed to toss One Inch Punch in front of me a few times to take on a little bit extra.

As for macros, I have all of my Weapon Skills macroed, as if I were starting the skillchain. My standard is a call to start, then a 3 second delay, then the weapon skill. This 3 second delay gives other people time to get ready, and also allows me to use the macro even when I am finishing the skillchain. However, standard practice is as soon as they call their weapon skill, I will select mine and have it ready so all I have to do is select the target and it will go. This is the easiest way to ensure the timing is done right.

Whether I open it or close it really depends on who I am partying with, and whether or not their Weapon Skill is an opener or a closer. For example, DRG will open with Double Thrust, and I will follow with Tachi: Enpi. However, THF can't open, they only close, with a SATA Viper Bite, so I will be starting in that situation.

It is always better to let the stronger weapon skill close if they are interchangeable. This will increase the damage from the skillchain and also the magic bursts, if there are any.

[Ikonic]

Whenever possible have the strongest weapon skill go last as the skill chain will create more damage this way.

Here's a couple links from my "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about FFXI" thread that should give a SAM a better idea and possibly some help in doing his/her job well.

Renkei – Every SAM and BLM should have a copy of this printed out.
www.adennak.com/renkei.html

DranoK's Skillchain Calculator
ffxi.liquid-x.net/renkei/

A SAMs guide to skillchains for the newbie BLM
ffxi.allakhazam.com/db/jobs.html?fjob=3&mid=1093987772583512691&thread=27

[Wills]

Nicely done Val, I shall use this knowledge of SC's to better the status of Samurai. One question: would you say it's better to use spear or GK, or both? I personally love the sound of the GK, and it just looks fuggin savage! Oh and keep one eye looking over your shoulder, I might just start to like this job to much.

[Valhallodin]

A polearm is a Samurai's 2nd best weapon. However, in my opinion and from my experience, a Samurai should pretty much never use anything but a Great Katana. The Great Katana is definitely more versatile in terms of skill chaining, and that is the entire purpose of a Samurai.

There are several stretches in levels where there is kind of a 'dead zone' in Great Katanas. You might be tempted to use a Polearm at this time, but I would recommend sticking with a Great Katana. In general, your parties will be expecting you to be using the Great Katana, and using anything less than you A+ weapon compromises your effectiveness. In contrast, Polearm is the 2nd best weapon for Samurai but is still rated as B-.

Since you have leveled your Dragoon so high, your Polearm is obviously going to be capped for your Samurai career. I have seen more than one Samurai wearing a Polearm, but for the most part, true Samurais will always use a Great Katana for parties. If you ever get Samurai to a level where Penta Thrust becomes an option, then Meditate and Penta Thrust become a formidable farming tool. However, that is quite a ways away, as I think Penta Thrust becomes available to Samurai at level 51.

To sum it up, I have always used a Great Katana, and up through level 45, I have never found myself wishing I was using anything else. Especially because in my opinion, they are easily the most badass looking weapons in the game.

You may also want to consider keeping a longbow on you. While most of the time you won't be pulling, the request may come up from time to time. Samurai are the second most competent archers in the game.

[Wills]

Question for you Val. It would seem the armor range for sam is quite limited. I have at this time FED. Tekko, FED. GI, Kingdom Trousers, FED. Kyahan. The added effects of this armor are awesome but the def is low. Would you recommend at 30 to use Centurions or stick with what I have now? Centurions has better def stats but has crappy effects compared to my above stated armor. As a Sam I do not tank, so the defense shouldn't be an issue. Its just will I be frowned apon for having lvl 25 armour at lvl 30? I want to lvl as fast as I can as I will be using sam as a sub very soon. Or if you don't mind could you recommend armor till lvl 37, money is no issue. Thanks! Laters!

P.S. My centurions is on one of my mules and I really do not want to have to log on send, log off, log in and pick up and send another armor set to the mule. I know lazy but it really is a hassle.

[Valhallodin]

Hey Wills, sorry I didn't see this earlier. I tend to miss important posts on the '10 most recent' section because it is so full of you and Stri flirting.

I would say you will be just fine using the level 25 stuff for a while. When I leveled my SAM, I did use the Centurion's set, but just because I had it left over from my WAR. One thing to consider, however, is that at 30, THFs will have access to TA, not just SA, and you will oftentimes be expected to be a SATA partner, and also the first provoke in the fight. This means that having the extra defense would be a nice thing. Also, this is a silly question, but you are subbing WAR, correct?

There are some pieces of the Centurion's set that are actually pretty good for SAM. The head piece I think is very nice, though not as nice as an Empy's, so if you have an Empy's, continue to wear that. I am in between classes and I have an exam next hour, so I cant really write a lot. When I get home, I will try to add in an equipment guide to this, or maybe even just make one for 0-50 on another thread.

[Wills]

Thanks Val! Yes i am subbing war. I have empys hair pin, as well as other goodies. But I am mainly concerned about armor. I was just curious if there was an alternative to centurions. No need to go through all that trouble. From what I gather I guess I am fine for now. Thanks.

P.S. I cant believe there is no GKT in between 27-32???

[Valhallodin]

It could be worse. You could be 42-51, where there is one at 44 that is no better than AF1, and the 48 and 51 GKTs costs 220k and 170k, respectively.