Spiral Knights - Shard Bombs

Shard Bombs

7 replies [Last post]

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 11:27

Fluffyfoxxie

Does anyone have any tips on how to use these things? I am a fairly seasoned bomber, but I find that the shard bombs are by far the least used bombs in my arsenal, and I aim to remedy that. Maybe they feel ineffective because I don't know how to use them. So, I am reaching out for help.

The shard bombs I own are Deadly Shard Bomb (norm dmg) and Deadly Crystal Bomb (ele dmg), both with CTR med UV.

What tips do you all have for bomb placement? What situations are they best at? Can they ever be more efficient or powerful than Dark Retribution or Dark Briar Barrage? (Those are my two main damage bombs)

Is it worth investing in a Splinter Bomb or one of its variations that deal statuses? (Considering its competition is the DBB...)

Is it worth investing in a Dark Matter Bomb or one of its variations that deal statuses? (Considering its competition is DR...)

I'm at a loss :) Help plz! :D

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 11:36

Bopp

this might help

I have only one shard bomb, and am hardly an expert. But a Google search for "shard bomb site:forums.spiralknights.com" turns up some non-rant threads like the following ones, which you might find useful. Cheers.
* http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/76521
* http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/81328#comment-716606
* http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/99919

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 12:03

Thagx

The shard bomb's are good in

The shard bomb's are good in damage, but are a bit diffcult to place/use. I tried the 2* one and sold it after doing one mission with it. I suggest you try other bombs like Ash Of Agni, Shivermist Buster, etc. If your good at placing them then you should upgrade them.

If you like to solo mission's, the shard bomb's might be good for you, but with a full party, it's diifcult as people keep knockbacking the enemy's, and you will feel that you are not contributing, and so will the other party member's.

No, they can't be more powerful than Dark Retribution. That is the best shadow bomb in the game. (IMO)

You should keep your two bomb's, and get some different bomb's. I feel you will regret getting all shard bomb's later on. So get something different, and if you ever get bored or think the shard bomb's arent working for you, you will have something for backup.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 13:19

Fehzor

The invincibility bug

Shard bombs are going to suck against groups of mobs that aren't large enough and when you can drop them repeatedly and hit enemies. This is because invincitinks from one shard bomb effect invincitinks on the next shard bomb-- if I drop a bomb and hit a bunch of enemies, I have to wait before I can hit more enemies with a shard bomb. This gimps their DPS to far below what you would be getting with nitronome or dark briar barrage... unless you aren't hitting repeatedly.

If you can only drop one bomb per 5 to 10 seconds the shard bombs become quite high in DPS compared to the alternatives as you're hitting with the same number of bombs. The big situation where this comes into play is devilites and somewhat beasts- they dodge in and out of bombs, and the fight is largely positioning them and then dropping a bomb when appropriate. Both of these mobs are also weak to stun, which is why scintilating sun shards is the strongest piercing bomb against them. Higher DPS than dark briar barrage if you're good enough to hit with all of it, even. That being said, dark briar barrage works fine and shuts down grievers, whereas the invincibility frames prevent you from being able to adequately fight them away.

I've done the damage calculations etc. here-

http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/105267

And Zeddy explores the bug fully here-

http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/82883

Salt bomb and Dark Retribution

Any piercing/dark item that deals shock is an anomaly as it basically deals two damage types since shock is elemental. For this reason, salt bomb is an option for situations with multiple families present. Situations where this is applicable include dreams and nightmares and pretty much no where else.

Dark retribution on the other hand is by far the best damage bomb in the game for everything except undead and kind of fiends as it can flinch devilites repeatedly as it slowly kills them. In fact, most people choose dark retribution for dreams and nightmares anyway, since it is less obtrusive and is only really slightly worse on a handful of arenas.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 13:37

Holy-Nightmare

On Shards

Basically you have to practice a lot. Shard bombs are useful and pair pretty will with Maskeraith quils. They are best for large groups as Fehzor said.

In my experience shard bombs have pretty good flinch rate and variable knockback, this knockback usually isn't much though. Shard Bombs are also good at getting behind shielded monsters, Mortafires in particular become much easier to deal with when using the Shocking Salt bomb and Ghostmane stalkers can't bug you as much either thanks to the flinch and the shock which reveals them.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 16:24

Fluffyfoxxie

Thanks for the input, y'all.

Thanks for the input, y'all. I think I will shelve the two bombs I do have and not bother with the rest, they just sound.. bad, and only really good in very specific circumstances.

Sat, 06/13/2015 - 00:02

Thagx

Yes, you should stick with

Yes, you should stick with your two Shard bomb's, and get some other two. When you become a "pro" with shard bomb's, you can try the other two.

Sat, 06/13/2015 - 02:27

Hexzyle

@Fehzor

So you're saying that the shock on Shocking Salt Bomb is useless when fighting mobs weak to Shadow that clump together like glop drops or Jelly Cubes?
Or that shock on a piercing bomb would be useless when fighting fiends even though it interrupts their attacks and dodges?

Sorry, it was my understanding that a status on a weapon is supposed to support that weapon's utility, not be the primary damage output (with the sole exceptions of AoA and VT)

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