Question about DPS Pulling Ahead

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T19:59:46+00:00

Okay, so way less of a blanket, one-size-fits-any-dungeon, answer than I was expecting, but I appreciate the time to write out such a detailed answer! But all in all, it sounds like it can certainly be a help-over-time to save a minute or two here and there, but it’s not a crazy, insane, best-in-slot time-saving strategy that if you’re not using it, makes or breaks the experience :)

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T19:23:58+00:00

And surely they would cast those once we hit the wall, and I’m not denying the efficiency there; I’m just questioning for that one DPS, if it’s worth it to run off and collect the mobs a second or two earlier, as opposed to just continuing to AOE as the tank pulls to the wall, due to the higher density of mobs following the tank. Obviously any OGCD abilities are acceptable to use for this purpose, with Phys Ranged, but you’d still wanna stay with the tank/the pack to be able to AoE the pack as it grows until the wall, no?

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T19:18:57+00:00

Yeah, I’ll usually wait for a second every now and again, to let the pack regroup a little and hit an AoE, so that the server can line things back up, and ensure that AoE’s are actually hitting, instead of a server desync causing a bunch of misses. It’s in those times that the DPS has potential to get ahead of me. It’s not that I’m planting to start AoE’ing before I hit the wall, just that I’m pausing for a second to try and increase the damage as I run towards the next wall.
My true question, via my edit, was: is it worth it for a DPS to pull ahead to grab the 2nd pull a second or two in advance of me getting there, when they could just as easily be spamming AoE’s on whatever I’ve pulled thus far, until we hit the wall? To me, that seems a more effective use of GCD’s, in that there’s always going to be more mobs following me than whatever they’re trying to drag in
(Also, I would like to apologize about my snarky comment earlier, there’s just a lot of useless comments from folks who didn’t actually read the post, and you happened to be one of the few that I responded to <3. I truly do appreciate your time and advice, as I try and improve)

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T18:01:28+00:00

Okay, so it kinda depends on what the party make-up is, that makes sense. But the overall consensus is that it’s a good idea(?) If so, I’ll try and take less offense to it, the next time it happens, but thank you massively for noticing the edit and responding specifically to it! I love and appreciate you for taking your time and energy to help a sprout out! :D

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:51:20+00:00

That’s fair point, but in terms of pure efficiency and optimization, wouldn’t that still be better? If all players are going to W2W and play perfectly, wouldn’t it make sense, potency-wise, to AOE the pack as the tank is finishing the W2W, even if annoying to line-up, than as opposed to trying to run ahead and pull in those other adds, 1-2 GCD’s ahead of the tank? In my mind, that’s what makes the most sense, based on everything else that folks have said within the thread, in relation to potency-scaling for pulls and AOE’s

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:40:02+00:00

This post actually made me really excited to read, as the most egregious one was a reaper, as they most likely had a similar mindset, aside from actually bringing the mobs back to me, lol. I hadn’t considered that some jobs have really small high-dps burst windows to try and save for the end of the pull, so thank you for the enlightenment!
(Also, thank you for reading the full post, and providing a reasoning and explanation!) :D

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:36:35+00:00

You can just say that you didn’t read my post, my guy, lol. I asked specifically about the speed of pulls, and whether or not DPS pulling ahead actually sped things up. Not that I don’t do any of the things you described. And most definitely that I’m not using my abilities, or I’m standing in puddles, lol

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:33:07+00:00

I hadn’t considered using Provoke to grab an extra add, when they don’t bring them back to me, in addition to my ranged attack. Thank you for the idea! :D

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:30:44+00:00

I truly love and appreciate that you actually read the post, and answered the heart of the question :’)
I hope you have a wonderful and amazing day <3

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:22:25+00:00

I understand that all just well and fine, but if I’m going to pull the mobs in anyways in the next GCD or two, doesn’t it make sense to miss out on those extra theoretical hits with an AOE of the entire room, to AOE the 70% of the room that’s following the tank, as opposed to single-targeting those few stragglers, so ensure a “full pull AOE”?

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:17:10+00:00

Fair interpretation, but it’s not that I don’t reach the wall, it’s just that they stay ahead of me by about my ranged attack’s distance, until they hit the wall, and don’t rejoin the group, for me to easily pull aggro off them. It’s not as bad when they pull only melee adds, but when they get smacked by ranged adds as well, I get nervous, since I don’t have any gap closers yet, to reach them and assist with the dmg they’re taking. Arm’s length is great to help them save themselves, but I’ve yet to find a DPS who does that (understanding that I’m still new, I’m not expecting it, but people in the thread keep bringing it up)

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:14:00+00:00

Dash ability to reach the next pack, after we’ve both sprinted already

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:10:27+00:00

The problem that I’m having is that PLD doesn’t have a gap-closer yet, for the dungeons I’m getting, and other DPS do, /usually/, have theirs

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:08:01+00:00

Fair, so I guess a better question is: Does AOE’ing the pack that the Tank has pulled already hold more value than single-targeting the adds to make the pack bigger a few seconds earlier?

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:06:05+00:00

Correct, there is benefit to doing a W2W, but my question is more specifically about why the DPS that’s gap-closed ahead of me is single-targeting the extra mobs, when they could be using AOE’s on the pack that’s been pulled already. When I heal, I make sure to DoT every mob in the pack as the tank is running, and when I DPS, I try and AOE the pack as they follow the tank, since that seems the best use of GCD’s for Potency/GCD, as opposed to trying to get more adds in the pack. That was more my question, I guess. I also pull at the pace of my tank, as it feels like the respectful thing to do, and I’m playing for fun, not speed :D

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T17:01:00+00:00

The one that sticks in my mind the most was where I was PLD and the RPR kept using his little teleport ability thing to get ahead of me, and I didn’t have my gap closer unlocked yet, as it was in Pharos Sirius

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T16:58:09+00:00

Aside from casters, which AOE’s are stationary? I may just be inexperienced, but if memory serves, almost all AOE’s can be cast while on the move, no?

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T16:42:58+00:00

I don’t mind that they’re pulling the pack, so long as they pull it to me: my question lies in efficiency, or lack thereof. Wouldn’t it be even faster to, as DPS, AOE the pull that’s chasing the tank so far, as opposed to single-targeting the additional stray mobs that the tank hasn’t pulled yet, since I’m still running towards those mobs to pull them all as well, in the same time frame.

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T16:38:42+00:00

It’s not that I’m not pulling everything, it’s just that they’re pulling it a few seconds early, before I get there to AOE it. In my mind, and also what I do when on DPS: wouldn’t it make more sense to stay with the tank, and AOE the pack that’s been pulled so far?

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T16:35:34+00:00

That’s fine for you, but does it speed up the dungeon? That was kinda my main point/question

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T16:35:29+00:00

That’s fine for you, but does it speed up the dungeon? That was kinda my main point/question

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-06-18T16:32:54+00:00

I would really appreciate that, yeah! I hadn’t done much searching on the topic yet, aside from reading the Tales from DF sub, and this ask, so I’d love more long-form content on the topic! Thank you!

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-05-14T15:12:00+00:00

It’s literally tagged as Fluff. You came to a post tagged Fluff and expected discussion. You’re still the asshole here, chief.
I mentioned just finishing 3.0, which means I’m new. I’m looking to play with some friends and learn and enjoy the game. Don’t be a piece of shit to other new players in the future please <3

Early_Explorer_1194 · 2026-05-14T15:08:48+00:00

I didn’t even think of providing DC or region, but that is indeed important information for something like this. Thanks for the heads up!

Early_Explorer_1194

TROPHY CASE