Beastmaster
Abilities
- Charm (1)
- Pet: Fight (1)
- Gauge (20)
- Pet: Heel (20)
- Reward (24)
- Pet: Stay (30)
- Call Beast (46)
- Pet: Sic (50)
- Tame (60)
- Pet: Leave (70)
Traits
- Wide Scan I (1)
- Vermin Killer (20)
- Resist Slow I (30)
- Bird Killer (40)
- Wide Scan II (40)
- Amorph Killer (60)
- Resist Slow II (70)
Pros
- Easy to get high CHR and -enmity gear on BLU
- BLU provides some of the benefits of both BST/NIN and BST/WHM
- BLU has more MP than BST/WHM and a larger natural Refresh
- Ability to sleep makes mischarms and decharms easier to handle
- Wide Scan
- Minor shield skill
- A soloing powerhouse
Cons
- Virtually useless in EXP, meriting, or endgame
- Cannot use Call Beast; Charmable mobs must be in the area to be useful
- Lack of Charm+ gear
- Your BST must be 75 in order for this combination to work
When charmable pets are readily available, a BLU/BST can perform similarly to a BST/NIN. While you’ll have to rely on Zephyr Mantle versus Utsusemi to avoid damage if your pet dies (or if you take hate), it is more than sufficient and you can always cast Magic Fruit. Sword damage and weapon skills are not as high as axes and your pet should be able to keep hate off you easily. /BST does not get Snarl, but don’t forget BLU has its own Enmity- spell: Hydro Shot. While you cannot use jug pets, pet biscuits are All Jobs and can be used on charmed mobs, allowing you to cure your pet. BLU/BST is most practical for things like NM soloing rather than EXP soloing.
Beastmaster is a viable support job starting at level 24 and remains so until level 75.
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One of my favorite subjobs (might be due to the lack to party invites…), aided me in learning spells I’ve missed, whether they’re from the too weak monsters (using the monsters in the region to counter this) or from the incredibly tough monsters that usually needs a party to kill.
Also, I think it’s a great subjob to gather good amount solo-exp using the bombs in certain areas (thanks to their self-destruct) depending on the level. Wouldn’t be surprised if it does better than Beastmasters themselves in their exp hunting ground… With their ability to cure, (de)buff, kill fast after their pet’s down, it would be hard for a BST/WHM to compete against other than the Charm+ gear and Call Beast.