Spiral Knights - Hybrid Gun/Sword Build

Hybrid Gun/Sword Build

8 replies [Last post]

Wed, 04/19/2017 - 08:18

Spacerobin

I've recently started out and so far I'm liking the Hybrid Gun/Sword Build (currently still at 2*). But moving forward weapon-wise, I am thinking of doing a shadow sword and elemental gun, maybe the nightblade line and the voltech alchemer line. I prefer shadow sword because of the slimes and melee gremlins; elem gun for the puppies and mecha knights.

Can I carry this plan towards the endgame?
Should I switch for an elem sword and shadow gun instead?
If you have suggestion for other weapons/armor I'd really appreciate that!

I'm running elemental hood/cloak right now by the way. Thanks!

Wed, 04/19/2017 - 12:55

Drischa

Swooping in before the Bopp auto response protocols kick in

There are a bajillion posts and guides that answer the question in your post. Here's the one that is most likely to be mentioned:
Bopp's sword guide

You can carry on your plan into the endgame, but you might feel a bit less powerful than other knights. This is because the main endgame levels are undead-themed, where your shadow sword will be almost useless, and your alchemer will be outpaced by more damaging weapons. Most people use an elemental sword, for example the elemental version of the brandish, coupled with a piercing autogun like Blitz Needle to use on the fiends and boss.

The weapons you have chosen aren't bad though. if you are enjoying them then stick with them.

If you are confident in your ability to not get hit, upgrade your elemental armour into a chaos set, which gives you huge bonuses (but has terrible defence, so requires you to dodge attacks well).
If you think you could do with more defence then I would recommend moving onto a different set such as Skolver or Vog, which give good bonuses without the weakness in defences that chaos gives. You should always try to get offensive bonuses instead of defence, as it makes combat faster and easier as long as you avoid attacks (which is usually not very difficult)

For shields, Swiftstrike Buckler is very good as it gives a great offensive bonuses, but it is only 3* so you will have to craft another shield to pass through the rank missions. Barborous thorn shield is a great alternative, as it gives almost-as-good bonuses while having full 5* defence.

I'll try to think of more but that's all I've got for now, Hope you enjoy playing, and don't hesitate to ask for help in-game

Wed, 04/19/2017 - 19:08

Bopp

yep

Thanks for doing my job for me, Drischa. I agree with almost everything that you've said there.

Maybe the only thing that I'd adjust is: Alchemers can be very damaging weapons, in the hands of an expert. And Storm Driver is one of the most useful ones. So don't be afraid to go forward with it, Cierron. That said, yes, Blitz Needle users will kill Vanaduke much faster than you do.

Sun, 04/30/2017 - 22:12

Nebrium

...

Here's a real advice from a pro.

If you want your melee shadow weapon. Get Acheron.

If you want elemental gun to pair up with it. Go Wildfire.

Acheron/Wildfire is completely viable. And can be used for the start and end. I'd ignore all the advice about alchemers. It really is a hard to master, and I am not talking about charging. It's way too slow for a novice to be consistently well off with.

I also disagree with Drischa, Acheron could blast through slags in FSC just as well if it's accompanied with the Wildfire.

One thing I don't like about when people give advice is they usually go with the safe and most traditional ways. But I've played long enough to overcome equipment balances. With proper technique and weapon pairing, you can get through anything. Just because something does less damage or is highly resistant to does not make it a poor choice and it won't work.

Maybe it does not work as well as the norm, but the gap of it isn’t too wide to make a strong difference. And if you guys seem to not think so, then you’re doing something wrong.

Mon, 05/01/2017 - 03:48

Drischa

@Nebrium

Yes, acheron would be passable in FSC. However silent nightblade would not, and they would have to use that to grind enough money to upgrade it, and then get radiants too.

Bopp and I are suggesting the safe and traditional methods because this is a new player asking for help, and and in my eyes it would better to give them a solid foundation to work on until they understand the game more and can branch out for themselves. I could tell them to scrap all their ideas and go for mad bomber eith nitronome because it's more fun and can get you through any level if you're good enough - but I won't, because that's not a wise thing to do.

Your so-called 'real advice from a pro' sounds frankly quite arrogant and dismissive. I think you should re-evaluate your tone when offering advice to new players.

Mon, 05/01/2017 - 04:17

Bopp

agree

Lots of loadouts are viable, but some are harder than others. New players asking for advice want to know the best answer first. After exploring the best gear, which is usually popular for a reason, then they can explore any other gear they want. The conclusion of my sword guide makes this "good first, interesting later" strategy explicit.

Drischa, don't let Nebrium get to you.

Sat, 05/13/2017 - 11:06

Nebrium

...

Right, and there’s no issue about it either. Just like what I suggested, nontradition will work and always work. My reason for my post is to enforce the fact that most time new players want to hear what they want to here. Otherwise they wouldn’t have developed the question.

Telling “yeah it’s “ok”, but you should make a Combuster and Blitz because it’s safer and makes life easier” isn’t good enough for me or to people who don’t even realize it. Huge mistake? So what? They can still understand the game more with that and branch out from the mistakes that were made. You guys act like mistakes are bad and toxic.

Before things go off topic based off of what gaming ethic the individual has or should have. I’ll just put this out there. Doing things “wrong” the first time can promote many things to a player besides “difficulty.” In hopes they will learn to know what to do with their problem. Make a new weapon, figure out the optimum missions/gates for what works for them, adopt better technique or strategy etc…

Call me arrogant, but I know what I am talking about too.

Sat, 05/13/2017 - 17:52

Bopp

definition of "mistake"

"Huge mistake? So what? They can still understand the game more with that and branch out from the mistakes that were made. You guys act like mistakes are bad and toxic."

Mistakes are bad. Otherwise they don't qualify as mistakes. When mistakes are good, they are instead called something like "pleasant surprises".

Yes, one can learn from mistakes. But these forums are littered with complaints about how hard it is to level equipment: the Orbs of Alchemy, the Fire Crystals, the psychological pain of failing a forging on medium chances, etc. Players quit the game when they "waste" their precious resources on equipment that is hard to use. There is no reason why new players shouldn't learn from our mistakes, before going on to develop their own opinions. Cheers.

Sun, 05/14/2017 - 21:42

Manlet

Is this a bad troll or is Nebrium on drugs? Either way, I'll bite.

First off, we both know that you of all players aren't bringing an Acheron and Wildfire to Vana. Yeah, this new dude can start with that set and go with it, but let's be real for just one second here, this kid is gonna be doing way more harm than good with Wildfire, a Pulsar weapon. Considering 95% of players in this game still can't use this weapon properly, putting it into the hands of a new kid is a recipe for disaster. You ever play any PvE run with a new guy using Pulsar? What could have been a quick run turns into you chasing around all the monsters he scattered across the entire map. Let him master some easier weapons that are actually effective in battle first, then he can graduate to the more advanced weaponry. LOL @ Acheron being effective in Vana. Now I know you're smokin some crazy shit.

Second, this dude is asking for our opinions on what the best set would be and if we would recommend his set. Usually, people are going to advise the best gear because we don't want this dude to grow up being a scrub/struggling. That said, our suggestions are merely that; suggestions. We're not telling him our words are the Words of God that you seem to be implying. I agree with you that this game is best played venturing around and learning as you go, but as you can see, this kid came to us. Obviously, we're gonna give him the best advice we can, as veterans.

Third, please don't come in here flaunting your seniority. I've been here even longer than you and am better to boot. By your criteria, you shouldn't even get to reply to me. I'm not normally this much of an asshat, but you overstepped your bounds when you thought you could force everyone here to think your word is THE word. Settle down and grow some humility.

+1 Drischa. Nice post.

Search

Hybrid Gun/Sword Build