Deathflare

Deathflare
(デスフレア, Desufurea?, lit. Deathflare)
Icon
Availability
Obtained	A Flare for the Dramatic
Required	Summoner 60 Dreadwyrm Trance or Summon Bahamut
Classification
Type	Ability
Skillset	Job action
Effect	Deals damage to target and nearby enemies
Element	Unaspected
Specifications
Cast time	Instant
Recast time	20 seconds (oGCD)
Range	25 yalms
Area of effect	5-yalm radius
Potency	500 to main target 200 to other enemies
Icon
Availability
Obtained	A Pup No Longer
Required	Summoner 30 Dreadwyrm Trance
Classification
Type	Ability
Skillset	Job action
Effect	Deals damage to target and nearby enemies
Element	Unaspected
Specifications
Cast time	Instant
Recast time	15 seconds (oGCD)
Range	25 yalms
Area of effect	5-yalm radius
Potency	2400

Deathflare is a Summoner ability from Final Fantasy XIV that deals heavy area of effect (AoE) damage.

Mechanics

PvE version
Base mechanics	Deals unaspected magic damage to target and nearby enemies Target is hit with a potency of 500; potency is reduced by 60% for all remaining enemies Replaces Astral Flow during Dreadwyrm Trance
Traits	Innate: Maim and Mend II increases damage by 30% Level 70: Enhanced Dreadwyrm Trance upgrades the Dreadwyrm Trance ability to Summon Bahamut, which also enables Deathflare
Formulae	Base damage formula: $Damage = \lfloor Potency * f(Intelligence_{DMG}) * f(Determination) \rfloor * f(Magic Damage) \rfloor * 1.3 \rfloor$ Where potency is 500 for main target and 200 for remaining enemies
PvP version
Base mechanics	Deals unaspected magic damage in area of effect Can only be used during Dreadwyrm Trance

Use

Deathflare deals heavy damage to a single target and splash damage to nearby enemies. While Deathflare suffers from a 60% potency dropoff after the first hit, its naturally high potency means it is still one of the most potent AoE actions in the Summoner's arsenal. This makes it a versatile option the Summoner will want to use regardless how many enemies they are facing.

Deathflare can only be used while Dreadwyrm Trance or Summon Bahamut is active. Despite its seemingly short 20 second recast, Deathflare's recast is longer than the duration of either effect it is enabled by, preventing it from being used more than once per cycle.

Deathflare is an instant cast ability that is off the global cooldown (oGCD). This allows players to weave it between global cooldowns (GCD) after using instant cast spells, and is best saved for these situations in order to maximize DPS. Of note are Astral Impulse and Astral Flare, two instant cast spells that become available during Dreadwyrm Trance/Summon Bahamut. These two spells are the ones most commonly used during Dreadwyrm Trance, and as such the ones best paired with Deathflare.

PvP

Deathflare is the Summoner's most powerful action in PvP, and one of the most powerful actions available to any discipline. It can still only be used during Dreadwyrm Trance, it recast allowing only one use per cycle.

Deathflare doesn't suffer from a damage dropoff in PvP, making it extremely effective against groups of enemies. Summoners should try to hit as many enemies as possible to get the most out of it. However, it is also the highest potency single-target attack available to Summoners, and should be used regardless of who it hits before Dreadwyrm Trance ends.

Patch history

Version	Changes
Heavensward	Added with a 30 second recast, 400 potency, and no potency dropoff Was a standalone ability that ended Dreadwyrm Trance on use
Patch 3.22	PvP potency reduced to 300
Stormblood	Recast lowered to 15 seconds Now has 10% potency dropoff for the second enemy hit, 20% for the third, 30% for the fourth, 40% for the fifth, and 50% for all remaining enemies No longer available in PvP; new PvP exclusive version added; see below for its patch history
Shadowbringers	Potency dropoff changed to 50% for all enemies past the first
Endwalker	Base potency increased to 500 Potency dropoff increased to 60% for all enemies past the first Recast time increased to 20 seconds No longer ends Dreadwyrm Trance Now replaces Astral Flow during Dreadwyrm Trance

PvP version

Version	Changes
Stormblood	Added with 2000 potency and a 30 second recast Had a 25% potency dropoff for second enemy hit, 50% for the third, and 75% for all remaining Ended Dreadwyrm Trance upon use
Shadowbringers	Potency dropoff removed Recast reduced to 15 seconds Could now only be used while Demi-Bahamut was active rather than during Dreadwyrm Trance Changed to Brand of Purgatory when Demi-Phoenix was active.
Patch 5.1	Potency increased to 2400 Once again requires Dreadwyrm Trance rather than Demi-Bahamut, but no longer ends the effect when used No longer changes to Brand of Purgatory