Beastmaster: Guide to Playing the Job

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Job Overview
Available after completing the quest Save my Son, these experts in monster research have trained tirelessly to communicate with, and even control the animals of Vana'diel. Based on their knowledge of beasts, Beastmasters can charm the beasts of Vana'diel to fight alongside them, call beasts to their side, and intimidate enemy beasts of Vana'diel.

Beastmasters are generally considered the best solo class in the game. Beastmasters often can be found soloing monsters or teaming up with other Beastmasters in all Beastmaster parties. Beastmasters are less frequently found in conventional parties. In a convential party, a Beastmaster will most frequently fill the roles of damage dealer and puller. A Beastmaster will perform best when partying in an area with charmable pets of a suitable level.

Strengths

 * Sick of looking for a group for hours? As a BST, you can gain experience points when it suits you and at your own pace. Areas with large numbers of charmable mobs (even aggressive ones) are easily navigable by an experienced BST. This job can be soloed all the way to level 75.
 * There is not a whole lot of expensive gear to buy -- and when it is necessary, most of a BST's equipment will last them for quite a while.
 * BSTs also excel at link control. When a pet is attacking a target, and that target links with another mob, the hate built up by your pet is shed the moment you 'Leave' the pet. For example, if a BST pet obtains hate from a linked mob, BST (at a safe distance), seeing his pet fighting two mobs, can use the 'Leave' command and charm or call a new pet to fight his original mob. The linked mob will no longer be linked.

Weaknesses

 * BSTs cannot charm beastmen or certain mob families. Attempting to charm these creatures will result in a very short 'Bind' effect on the creature, which can allow the BST to gain some distance, if being pursued.
 * BST has a steep learning curve. Learning the intricacies of hate control and using macros are an absolute must. Most beginning BSTs (and many mid- and high-level BSTs) complain of frequent (i.e. double digit deaths per level) deaths while XPing.
 * Common misconceptions exist about BST, including that they are useless in parties or rob XP points for everyone in the party.
 * BSTs sometimes suffer from bad PR concerning the ability to 'train' a group of mobs towards another player, in order to kill them (this practice is commonly called MPK). Also, because BSTs tend to solo, and sometimes solo very dangerous mobs (or even suicidal mobs, like Bombs) they sometimes end up dragging dangerous monsters nearby unsuspecting (or oblivious) parties.
 * BSTs sometimes encounter other parties who encroach on a BST's camp and tell the BST to leave, asserting that their party's right to a camp trumps that of the soloing BST. This friction between parties and BST soloists varies from server to server. So be sure you're capable and willing to deal with 'BST Haters' on your server.
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Race Selection
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Starting Stats

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Support Job Options
The choices listed here are by no means the only ones available, although they are the most common. Feel free to try out whatever combination suits your fancy. {| width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="10"
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White Mage
By far the most popular choice, WHM as a subjob gives access to a number of abilities that are crucial to a soloing BST's survival -- such as poisona, protect, sneak and invisibility. Curing oneself in the field also reduces downtime. It's okay for party use as well, if the party requires a backup healer. At BST level 50 this subjob grants Auto Regen and at 66 Reraise. As of May 2005, this combination was the 9th most popular job/subjob combination.


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Ninja
With the addition of Utsusemi, a BST subbing NIN can now act as a blink tank. Dual Wield allows the BST to use two axes at once (which is rather nifty looking) and this subjob is likely to get you a few more party invites because it improves damage output. Without cure, this subjob would limit a soloing BST's effectiveness by significantly increasing downtime. However, a BST/NIN with the proper preparations (i.e., antidote potions, sneak and invisibility powders, etc.) can solo.
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Red Mage
Another favorite, Red Mage offers the benefits of curing, albeit at a later level than with a White Mage subjob. It offers additional melee damage via en-spells (i.e. Enfire), and in later levels phalanx and dispel can be handy.


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Warrior
This is a useful subjob for BSTs who are trying to fit themselves into a party. This allows them to fill the role of a damage dealer, greater defense and offense. Without cure, this subjob would limit a soloing BST's effectiveness by significantly increasing downtime.
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