Agreed, which is why I run more with the cabby than with a chanter (though I do have one I am slowly working on for if someone needs me to bring a chanter)

 

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ML9 Jade Simulacrum is an absolute beast for survivability, it's kind of ridiculous. SM pets have much better DPS due to pet DA / haste buffs, and an SM can go 36 dark 40 summon split spec, and used a charmed L50 pet instead of the summoned SM pet. When in a zone with good pets (Dragonsworn tanks in Mainland/NF, Sally in ToA, Minotaur Warriors in Laby), those can be excellent choices. Particularly Salamanders, ml9 Sally with a focus shield is pretty OP.

That said, PBAE will rip up almost anything faster than a focus shield will (Primal Sporite Cluster and The Host excluded).

 

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