Found this video today:



Mostly the same strategy but more BLMs instead of DRGs lol. Seems like in 3rd phase they just ignored the adds while the tank grabbed all 3 and just killed Garuda.

I like this plan, but we'd have to have ballin' damage output. Gary was near 20% when Arial Blast popped and we're usually just 28-35% at that point.

Not to be a wet blanket, but we don't have the gear to pull this off.

vid taken down

I took another look at this video. While we would still be missing gear reqs overall, I think I was too hasty to write it off for us. It's a pretty good lazy-person's strat.

Set up is 1 Tank, 1 WHM, 2 BRD and the rest BLM. For the first phase the tank tanks Garuda a little off from the normal position, away from the "mage" rock. The frontal cone dodging is pretty sweet later in the vid if you want to watch for that. TP song is still used for both BRDs and the tank, but only once as per usual. BLMs perfom exactly as a normal run, stopping between 60-65% for the nest wave of plumes. The BRDs job is to keep 2 pillars @ full health, which means no cheesing Rain of Death on Garuda in case of lag. We tried doing this before with weaker geared BRDs a looong time ago and it didn't work, but we might be able to pull this off now if we can get a second BRD that is geared. We are out the two other people we normally have for that though. At the third jump, the Ballad BRD uses BV > Ballad on the mages. This is earlier than normal, but it makes sense to get that buff rolling while BLMs have to pull heavy damage. Which, as always, they start right after the plumes come out. BRD keeps protecting 2 pillars. Just before the 2 hour WHM SS > Stoneskin and the other BRD BVs to keep everyone alive. With 2 pillars shot to shit HP will be low after the 2 hour. From there, follow Garuda and only target/kill her while the tank tanks the other 2 clones. BLMs should kill Garuda before the minute timer is up.

Been running with an EU static, here's the strategy we've been winning with (not that different from yours):

1 PLD, 1 WHM, 2 BRD, 1 DRG, 3 BLM

First phase is pretty much the same. I've been taking the DRG duty and the 2 Bards and I have been able to take down enough of the plumes consistently, most of the time we're in very good shape after Aerial Blast. The Bards try to aim at plumes on the edges or between pillars to maximize AoE range. I usually take a single pillar and help with others once that is finished. The one thing they do differently is the BLMs don't do anything until the first jump. You just sit there and let hate settle. Apparently it allows them to nuke that much harder once you start the heavy nuke phase after the 65% stop. In like a dozen or so runs we've only missed passing 2nd phase once.

You try to skip 2nd phase obviously so it doesn't matter. Business as usual if you get caught in it.

3rd Phase has gone very well due to tanking mostly. Just follow her and stay behind. Tank gets Suparna and Garuda. If it's West winds she's in the middle, if not she goes to one of the sides. Either way positioning gets rough for Bards, making Suparna a little tough to down quickly. South Winds is a bitch but manageable, especially if those on Plume duty can take out the Satin Plumes that sleep. Run to the edge and stay between the cyclones, moving up as needed.

While I'm almost 100% sure you guys knew all of this, just thought I'd post my own experiences.