Rdm Merit Spells.

[Neosutra]

Just curious what you rdms suggest for my wife to merit on her new rdm. We will mostly be using it for rdm + nin duoing, but she will probably use it alot in HNM too as needed.

Is it better to spread the merits around, blind2, dia3, para2, etc. Or to focus on a few?

[Malinn]

I highly suggest maxing Slow II first, it's easily the most potent of the new spells. In addition, stacking it with Elegy makes the mob attack like molasses.

[Jeryhn]

Slow2 & Paralyze2 are must-have spells for any RDM.
Dia3 and Phalanx2 are better for HNM activity.

Blind2 is worthless.

Overall, the best spell in the entire group is Slow2 imo.

[Metah]

When I asked this question, people told me to look at what I'm doing and what other RDMs I'll be with have. That said, almost all RDMs have Slow II. So its fairly safe to pick something else.

I personally am going for 3 Phalanx II 1 Dia III 2 Paralyze II.

[Karinastar]

For duoing with a NIN, Slow 2 and Paralyze 2 would be the best. Blind 2 could be ok also, but Kurayami is pretty potent. Phalanx 2 probably wouldn't do so much in that situation, nor would Dia 3 and Bio 3 due to mp cost/duration.

So for strictly duoing I'd go 3 Slow 2, 3 Para 2. To mix some HNM in there I'd toss a merit into something like Phalanx 2 as well. Dia 3 is great for merit parties also.

[bungie]

all the new spells are really worthless for merit/xp pts... imo i think they are HNM onry. i mean para1 6 mp, para2 40+ mp, in a burn pt thats a waste of xp. and like someone else already said, if u plan to do HNM, do you plan on having other RDMs around who might have the spell your using? are they stacked with merits? if so its prolly best that they be the ones to land those spells(para and slow), in this case Phalanx II is very nice and worth lvl 3.

[Vail]

Slow2 & Paralyze2 are must-have spells for any RDM.
Dia3 and Phalanx2 are better for HNM activity.

Blind2 is worthless.

Overall, the best spell in the entire group is Slow2 imo.

not quite falling how dia III is so great for HNMs, but whatever you say, the rest of what you say is for the most part on right

para2 40+ mp

36mp

Blind 2 could be ok also, but Kurayami is pretty potent

test from when I had blind II suggest it and Kurayami: Ni are equally potent (atleast at lv1)

I don't have blind II anymore

Phalanx II is my personal favorite, it's a helva spell granting any smart equiped rdm the ability to give -21 damage a hit to any player (mainly tanks) This is pretty useful for alot of HNMs, even if your PLD are /nin they will still get hit, anything that reduces that damage not only makes it easier to stay alive, it also helps to reduce hate loss.

sidenote about phalanx II: using this on like mnks or other heavy DDs makes them nearly unstopable and able to just walk into enemy lines and get you gatebreach <3

[Jeryhn]

Slow2 & Paralyze2 are must-have spells for any RDM.
Dia3 and Phalanx2 are better for HNM activity.

Blind2 is worthless.

Overall, the best spell in the entire group is Slow2 imo.

not quite falling how dia III is so great for HNMs, but whatever you say, the rest of what you say is for the most part on right

My reasoning is because more HNMs are weak to physical attacks than magical. Dia 3 comes in really handy for fights that involve summoners as their better Bloodpacts are physical and there's not much other ways to enhance avatar damage. Also a good spell to use when zerging something like TP Burning Kirin and Soul-Krakening Bahamut.

Dia 3's MP cost is a little steep for just meriting, imo.
Realistically, it's not a fantastic spell either way.

[Crizto]

Slow 2 - maxed
Paralyze 2 - 2 merits
Dia 3 - 1 merit

About Dia3, its really great for getting more dmg out of SMN's on Tiamat/Bahamut/Kirin stuff like that. Can sometimes even sneak it in for a SC if you can find an opening. I would onlt keep it at lvl1 because having it lasting more han 30seconds can be dangerous. One of my LS's main RDM's has Dia3 meritted to lvl 2 and he really screws us when we need to sleep.

Using it burn parties I don't normally do... unless I'm stuck in a Halvung PT and the DD's need it.

[aurik]

My salvage group rdm maxed out phalanx2, it's freaking awesome for that purpose.

[Sylphet]

I do a ton of duoing with my RDM and my friend's NIN.

I have Phalanx II and Slow II fully merited and I really love it. I don't have Para II but it's also quite good and very useful for duoing.

For groupI I would definately reccomend full convert merits for small things. You guys can try some things out and see if MP gets limiting before you decide if you want to do that.

and aurick is 100% correct. I'm RDM for my Salvage team and fully merited Phalanx II REALLY helps out the melees .

[Xerlic]

Just echoing what other RDMs have said. I went 3/3 on Slow 2 and 3/3 on Phalanx 2.

Slow 2 is definitely a must if you plan to duo with a NIN. Phalanx 2 is great for small manning stuff like sky demi runs and salvage. There are times when I wished I had para 2 after seeing like 5 procs go off in a row, but I definitely don't regret the path I took with my RDM group 2s.

[Neosutra]

So far im thinking:

3 into Slow2
2 into Para2
1 into Phalanx 2 (just incase she has to replace our salvage LS's rdm for a bit).

Thx guys.

[defiant]

I never get to use my RDM much in HNM stuff but i did Slow II x3.

It gets used more in solo/duo/trio in sea on Jailers so i have Bio III x2 and most likely dropping Paralyze II for another upgrade in Bio III.

It all depends on what you want to use it for.

[Amastacia]

My RDM rarely sees the light of day these days (except for Salvage, Assaults, and Manaburn), but I have to say that Phalanx II and Slow II are the most immediately visible in terms of raw utility. Paralyze II is situationally fantastic as well. The other spells I'm not so keen on.

For what I use RDM for the best mix was:
3x Phalanx II (finished)
2x Slow II (1/2)
1x Para II (1/1)

This was in order to get the best performance from Slow II, access to Paralyze II, and max-power/duration Phalanx II for situations where it's the king for damage mitigation.

[Stellar]

Para 2 sucks from my experience.. had 2 merits on it, then dropped them both and seem to get pretty similar results with para 1 for less MP. Dia 3 is probably my favorite, with Slow 2 coming in a close second. Phalanx 2 has it's moments as well.. I personally did two dia 3, two slow 2 and two Phalanx 2.

[ghostfaced]

Para 2 sucks from my experience.. had 2 merits on it, then dropped them both and seem to get pretty similar results with para 1 for less MP.

QFT i have paralyze 2 at level 2 as well and im thinking of droping them.... i personally switched my paralyze macro to paralyze 1 because id get such shitty results especially on hnms where my paralyze2 would wear doing one maybe two procs and my paralyze1 would do 4-6 procs that spell is pure bs

[Lordwafik]

Here's why I like Paralyze 2

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4...cnaparahp7.jpg

It's got a nice stick rate too, works nicely on Salvage bosses, etc. I wish it'd proc more, I could probably get it to do that if i squeeze the shit out of my MND gear when casting it.

[Loren]

Paralyze II needs Lv3 merit to be good, but if you're main healing a merit party, then it pays for itself easily. Lots of 5-6 para streaks. I've had less MP stress in merit parties since I maxed it.

[Sylphet]

I only have Para I and no Ice acc merits and I haven't had any problem sticking para or having it proc on Bhaflau boss (unless I don't have MND or weapons) or on anything else I've tired it out on really. Most of the time I'm not even in MND gear (329 enfeebling though).

I'd love to be able to try out para II but I really like my merits as is. I'm a huge fan of Para but since I felt my Para I was pretty good as is I went with maxing out Slow II and Phalanx II.

That is pretty impressive on zip though lol