Gear Sets
TL;DR
Get any ilvl 530 gear, meld materia, and you’ll be fine for all content. If you want to optimize, read below. You can use the BLU DPS Sim to compare sets.
Video
Sets
Because we have to cram so much stuff into our opener, having a lot of SpS makes it more comfortable. We actually got a bunch of items at level 80 with both Crit and SpS, so we can feasibly make a set that has both of those. Tanks/healers that care less about damage can actually go full SpS and get a GCD as low as 2.16 if they want. I play all three roles regularly and just use the 2.20 Crit/SpS variant.
2.20 Crit/SpS
This is the best general-purpose set and works well for all roles. It is capable of performing all variants of the Moon Flute Opener.
2.16 SpS/Det
This set is geared towards tanks and healers more since all mitigations and heals are tied to the GCD. Having a slightly faster GCD and a touch more Determination can make things feel a bit smoother. This set still does decent DPS, but it won’t be quite as high as the 2.20 Crit/SpS set.
2.49 Crit/Det (will struggle with opener)
This set has a higher theoretical damage ceiling, but is not capable of doing the DOT Moon Flute Opener. It is for people who prefer slower sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which set is best?
Any set that allows you to complete a full Moon Flute Opener will be “best.” The damage variance between each set is minimal. While 2.49 Crit/Det has a theoretically higher damage ceiling, every one of the fastest kills I’ve seen for fights has been dominated by 2.20 Crit/SpS.
Are there any “BIS” sets without Edenmorn gear?
No. That is by definition not “BIS.”
Why don’t we use Phantasmal Earring?
It’s subtle, but the way stat tiering works out means that we don’t actually gain much from Phantasmal Earring. We have the same GCD with no actual benefit. Using other earrings lets us get more of other stats, thus a small increase in overall damage.
What about level 70 and below?
Synced down level 80 gear should be fine, but consider grabbing a weapon for each level so you still get stats from the materia your weapon.
What about free trial?
If you’re a trial player and only have access to level 70, these are the sets I was recommending at level 70:
Regardless of which set you use, your group will be impacted in O12S if they are
trying to use
Revenge Blast strats. The food you have available to
you will cause a big gap in HP. If you are tanking (which you really should be
as a free trial player) then you’re fine.