Summoner DPS Rotation, Openers, and Abilities — Endwalker 6.4

This page is dedicated to providing an in-depth analysis of the Summoner rotation.

The overall rotation structure involves a static loop, consisting of a combination of several short "phases." Each distinct phase will follow in successive order, as such:

1. Summon Bahamut phase
2. Primals Phase #1
3. Summon Phoenix phase
4. Primals Phase #2

Along with a simplified rotation loop, Summoner's GCD choices are entirely binary, in that you have a designed GCD for "single-target" and "multi-target" output per each phase of your rotation.

The opening sequence for Summoner is designed to maximize damage gains in the opening raid buff window while setting the stage for your future rotation alignment.

Opening sequences are adaptable in that the alignment of oGCDs can be altered to rotation-specific or buff-specific purposes. We can first take a look at what oGCDs are expected to be used, as well as what adaptations can be made with regards to timing:

Energy Drain will generally be weaved early in the opening sequence. Without specific timeline planning, prioritizing Energy Drain early reduces the risk of losing an additional usage in regards to boss kill times or phase transitions.

Searing Light should be used following the first GCD, as it maintains a 30-second duration and will cover every other job's burst window easily.

Grade 6 Tincture of Intelligence is aligned strictly to maximize personal damage gains. This means you will typically be using your potion following your third or fourth GCD before weaving your higher potency abilities.

Fester is a core oGCD ability, available through Aetherflow Gauge from previously using Energy Drain. Fester should be aligned for all available damage buffs.

Deathflare and Enkindle Bahamut should also be prioritized for raid buff alignment.

Once your Demi-Bahamut duration has finished, the initial opener sequence is finished and you will move on to the Primals Phase section of the opener.

The opener presented below is a general-purpose opener that can be safely used for all endgame content.

Bahamut Phase

1. Precast Ruin III
2. Summon Bahamut → Searing Light
3. Astral Impulse → Grade 8 Tincture of Intelligence
4. Astral Impulse
5. Astral Impulse → Energy Drain
6. Astral Impulse → Enkindle Bahamut + Fester
7. Astral Impulse → Deathflare + Fester
8. Astral Impulse

Primals Phase

1. Summon Titan II
2. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster
3. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster
4. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster
5. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster
6. Summon Garuda II → Swiftcast
7. Emerald Rite
8. Slipstream
9. Emerald Rite
10. Emerald Rite
11. Emerald Rite

The opener presented below is an optimized opener to take advantage of party compositions that contain several 15-second raid buffs. The early Garuda timing is made to allow for a swiftcasted Slipstream to snapshot the end of the buff window.

Bahamut Phase

1. Precast Ruin III
2. Summon Bahamut → Searing Light
3. Astral Impulse → Grade 8 Tincture of Intelligence
4. Astral Impulse
5. Astral Impulse → Energy Drain
6. Astral Impulse → Enkindle Bahamut + Fester
7. Astral Impulse → Deathflare + Fester
8. Astral Impulse

Primals Phase

1. Summon Garuda II → Swiftcast
2. Slipstream
3. Emerald Rite
4. Emerald Rite
5. Emerald Rite
6. Emerald Rite
7. Summon Titan II
8. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster
9. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster
10. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster
11. Topaz Rite → Mountain Buster

Once the initial primal phase duration ends, the opening sequence will be completed, and you will move on to continue your general rotation cycle.

Including the opening sequence labeled above, Summon Bahamut will always be the first phase you execute of the overall rotation. Upon activating Summon Bahamut, you will be provided with the following effects:

• Demi-Bahamut spawns for 15 seconds
• Ruin III changes to Astral Impulse
• Tri-disaster changes to Astral Flare
• Astral Flow changes to Deathflare
• Enkindle Bahamut becomes available
• Grants Ruby Arcanum, Topaz Arcanum, and Emerald Arcanum

During the duration of your Bahamut phase, you will utilize the unique actions provided to you, with Astral Impulse used for single-target damage, while Astral Flare will be used for multi-target scenarios. You will also receive Deathflare and Enkindle Bahamut as additional oGCDs that should be weaved during each Bahamut duration.

While Demi-Bahamut is out, he will periodically cast his auto-attack Wyrmwave. Due to the Summoner rework changes in Endwalker, this interaction is now completely automatic once you initiate any attack (any GCD or oGCD) on your target.

You should be aiming to cast a total of SIX Astral GCDs during each Bahamut duration. While seven GCDs is theoretically possible, this requires a GCD of at least 2.13 seconds (or faster) to do.

You should prioritize using Summon Bahamut whenever the cooldown becomes available to you, and try to avoid drifting this cooldown at all costs. Activating Summon Bahamut will also provide you with elemental arcanum, allowing you to summon powerful primal pets after the Bahamut duration has finished.

After each demi-primal has finished, you will have elemental arcanum available corresponding to each primal pet at your disposal:

• Ruby Arcanum → Summon Ifrit II
• Topaz Arcanum → Summon Titan II
• Emerald Arcanum → Summon Garuda II

When each primal pet is summoned, the primal will cast its signature ultimate ability, while then providing you with elemental attunement stacks to be used to cast primal-specific abilities. Along with this, each primal also provides a unique buff, transforming your Astral Flow into another unique ability as well.

During each primal summon, your priority is to utilize all of their abilities as much as possible. This means you should try to consume ALL of your elemental attunement stacks, as well as each primal-specific buff that provides an additional specific action. The only exception to this priority is if your Summon Bahamut or Summon Phoenix are coming off cooldown before you can utilize all of your primal abilities, and in this scenario, you should skip the remainder of your primal(s).

Outside of the opening sequence, the use of your primals is liberal, meaning you may use your primals in ANY order. This means there is no static order that you should always follow, and in many cases, should choose based on comfort around fight-specific timings such as boss mechanics for uptime purposes.

Primals also have the freedom of being used before consuming the previous set of attunement stacks. This means you also have the option of "shortening" a primal phase if needed. This is generally only done in very specific cases, such as attempting to resolve another primal ultimate before a designated kill time.

When Ifrit-Egi is summoned, the following effects will occur:

• Ifrit-Egi will cast Inferno
• Gemshine will change to Ruby Rite
• Precious Brilliance will change to Ruby Catastrophe
• Astral Flow will change to Crimson Cyclone → Crimson Strike

Ruby Rite and Ruby Catastrophe follow the binary "single-target" and "multi-target" design model and consume your Fire attunement stacks. These GCDs have long cast times of 2.8 seconds at base spell speed value.

Crimson Cyclone and Crimson Strike act as a 1-2 melee combo, and upon use, consumes the Ifrit's Favor buff.

As Ifrit's GCDs requires you to either be in melee range, or resolve prolonged cast times, this primal phase will be your most vulnerable to disruption due to movement or boss mechanics that may make GCD uptime difficult. You should generally prioritize using Summon Ifrit II whenever you know you will have a chunk of time to resolve all of these abilities safely.

When Titan-Egi is summoned, the following effects will occur:

• Titan-Egi will cast Earthen Fury
• Gemshine will change to Topaz Rite
• Precious Brilliance will change to Topaz Catastrophe
• Astral Flow will change to Mountain Buster
• Provides you with 4x Earth Attunement stacks

Topaz Rite and Topaz Catastrophe follow the binary "single-target" and "multi-target" design model and consume your Earth attunement stacks. These GCDs are instant-cast.

Mountain Buster is an oGCD proc that is made available upon each consumed Earth attunement stack from the Titan's Favor buff. This means you will receive a proc each time you cast Topaz Rite or Topaz Catastrophe, and you should weave each proc whenever you gain one.

With Topaz GCDs being instant-cast, this primal phase should be quite simple to execute, as you will have full freedom to cast and move whenever needed. Titan is also the strongest primal phase in terms of overall potency, meaning it will generally be prioritized around raid buff windows whenever possible.

When Garuda-Egi is summoned, the following effects will occur:

• Garuda-Egi will cast Aerial Blast
• Gemshine will change to Emerald Rite
• Precious Brilliance will change to Emerald Catastrophe
• Astral Flow will change to Slipstream
• Provides you with 4x Wind Attunement stacks

Emerald Rite and Emerald Catastrophe follow the binary "single-target" and "multi-target" design model and consume your Wind attunement stacks. These GCDs are instant-cast and have shortened recast times of 1.5 seconds.

Slipstream is a unique GCD that is made available from the Garuda's Favor buff. Slipstream has a prolonged cast time of 3 seconds, with a 3.5 second recast time.

With Emerald GCDs being instant-cast, this primal phase should generally be simple to execute. However, Slipstream will enforce a similar vulnerability to Ifrit, as the prolonged cast time will require you to find a suitable time to cast for 3 seconds. These GCDs may be cast in any order.

After the duration of Summon Bahamut finishes, your Dreadwyrm Trance button will change to Firebird Trance. When Firebird Trance is activated, you will be provided with the following effects:

• Demi-Phoenix spawns for 15 seconds
• Ruin III changes to Fountain of Fire
• Tri-disaster changes to Brand of Purgatory
• Astral Flow changes to Rekindle
• Enkindle Phoenix becomes available
• Grants Ruby Arcanum, Topaz Arcanum, and Emerald Arcanum

During the duration of your Phoenix phase, you will utilize the unique actions provided to you, with Fountain of Fire used for single-target damage, while Brand of Purgatory will be used for multi-target scenarios. You will also receive Enkindle Phoenix as an additional oGCD that should be weaved during each Phoenix duration.

Demi-Phoenix also provides an interesting unique ability with Rekindle. Rekindle is an oGCD that originates from Astral Flow, applying a buff status to a targeted player. This buff status will later apply a healing-over-time effect onto the player for a considerable amount of healing. This oGCD should be used as much as possible, as it provides a free heal worth up to 1200 healing potency.

While Demi-Phoenix is out, she will periodically cast her auto-attack Scarlet Flame. Due to the Summoner rework changes in Endwalker, this interaction is now completely automatic once you initiate any attack (any GCD or oGCD) on your target.

You should be aiming to cast a total of SIX Fountain or Brand GCDs during each Phoenix duration. While seven GCDs is theoretically possible, this requires a GCD of at least 2.13 seconds (or faster) to do.

You should prioritize using Summon Phoenix whenever the cooldown becomes available to you and try to avoid drifting this cooldown at all costs. Activating Summon Phoenix will also provide you with elemental arcanum, allowing you to summon powerful primal pets after the Phoenix duration has finished.

The use of Ruin III should be minimized as much as possible, down to a minimum of one cast per rotation cycle. This is possible as the durations of your demi-primals and primal summons will make up nearly all of your total rotation loop, leaving you with only two GCDs to utilize your Ruin GCDs if executed perfectly.

Each Ruin IV proc should be used before entering your next demi-primal phase.

The timing of when you use your Ruin III and Ruin IV casts is not specific, as you can technically use these abilities during your primal summons. This means you may utilize Ruins to act as a buffer during your primals (for example, casting Ruin IV during Ifrit if you need an instant-cast GCD to move but cannot be in melee range to use your Crimson combo), or you can just wait until all of your primals are finished.

Depending on the amount of spell speed you may be playing with, you may encounter situations where you will need an additional Ruin III to weave Searing Light before your next Summon Bahamut window.

In multi-target scenarios, Summoner provides a high amount of cleave damage throughout each individual rotation phase. When fighting three or more enemies, your GCD and oGCD priorities will change as such:

Tri-disaster should be used in place of Ruin III.

Painflare should be used in place of Fester to spend your Aetherflow gauge.

• Astral Flare should be used in place of Astral Impulse
• Enkindle Bahamut and Deathflare should be aligned to maximize cleave damage output

• Brand of Purgatory should be used in place of Fountain of Fire
• Enkindle Phoenix should be aligned to maximize cleave damage output

Your Precious Brilliance GCDs ( Ruby Catastrophe, Topaz Catastrophe, and Emerald Catastrophe) should be used in place of their Gemshine actions to spend your elemental attunements stacks.