Noob gear decisions
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 07:41
I'm fairly new to the game (week or so now) and found a lot of good advice from Choco's thread. Thus far I've got an Ascended Calibur (6), Mighty Cobalt helm (4), Great Defender (9), Solid Cobalt Armor (9), and Dusker Coat. With all that said, having read other threads and sites it seems that if I could start all over I probably would have benefited from a different initial set of armor (like Vog, for the SASI).
I've actually started working toward the Vog Cub Coat (at Dusker right now). My first question to you all is, should I really stop progressing with my cobalt set and continue working toward the Vog set? It seems like it'd be a slight waste of money (which is a big deal atm) to finish off the cobalt set and then start on the Vog set. I'm not sure that I would still use the Cobalt set after I got a Vog set.
I have a similar question for my shield. Aegis seems less useful than Grey Owlite Shield or VPS (or ...). Would it be a good idea for me to start working on a different shield?
Right now I've just been doing T1 clears, and *some* T2 runs although I definitely find it more difficult (and fraught with peril for me) depending on the stratums. During the last gate cycle, I was able to clear to IMF several times though I never made it all the way to the twins.
Lots of rambling, I guess I'd like as much advice as anyone is willing to offer on how I should proceed with gear in the short term. :)
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 10:42
#2
Vog is fine, but...
- it's
Vog is fine, but...
- it's mostly useful if you use swords !
- its elemental resistance only happens at 5*
there are other good armors, but the cobalt set is not that great indeed, you'd thus probably gain from changing (to wolver or magic or...).
You only describe one of your weapons, once again, if you're a pure swordsman the shield from snarbolax is an interesting choice [and useful for your future many Jelly King runs in T2], the owlite is also of course a fair alternative. VPS is a different style but good too, especially for FSC.
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 10:49
#3
The problem is that the
The problem is that the cobalt set doesn't offer you any protection against elemental dmg, which is increasingly common in tier2/3, and there are many other sets that offer the same level of defense, but with additional bonuses--status protection, dmg bonuses, etc. There's no reason to you would have to switch your whole set just for dmg type resistance--if you keep upgrading your cobalt helm, and get your dusker up to a vog cub, that will still give you a mix of normal, piercing and elemental defense--but you still won't have the same stack of bonuses that you would get from a different helm. Your choice. Shield, same thing--many people favor the grey owlite for the heavy elemental defense.
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 11:34
#4
To everyone, yes I'm really
To everyone, yes I'm really just a swordsman right now.
@striator
I have no answer to that question (hence why I've started toward Vog). Yeah I'm starting to get the hang of bouncing between my shield and attacking. It helps a lot if I avoid the third attack of my Calibur. There appears to be a significant delay imposed at the end of my attack chain that leaves me vulnerable and unable to shield for a second or so.
@Tipiak
Yeah, Wolver->Vog it is. I've been debating between the Barbarous Thorn Shield and the Grey Owlite Shield. Hopefully I'll decide soon.
@antipodes:
Yeah it was only after I got into the set a fair ways that I realized this (to my chagrin).
Thanks for the input/advice guys!
Tue, 07/26/2011 - 10:49
#5
Vog set in my openion
I would stop working on cobalt and work towards the vog set. its got good fire resist. When you reach the hardest tier (tier 3) you obviously will wish you had a vog set.
Btw, why are you so attached to tier 1? did snarbolax bribe you? lol
Tier 1 runs = 3k to 6k crowns
Tier 2 runs = 4k to 6k crowns (depending on which gate you choose)
Tier 3 runs = 6k to 10k crowns (if you do the FSC, you get good crowns and heat)
Tue, 07/26/2011 - 19:19
#6
Same here
Like every one that starts I also went for full cobalt and calibur lines. However, after reading and researching on the wiki I finally ended up with magic hood/wolver coat/owlite shield. But it really depends on what how you play and what you're tying to do.
Personally I'm gearing my self up for t3 runs not just vanaduke or jelly runs. So i figured that elemental would be a BIG thing that i needed. Also i like to kite alot, so the asi is a big thing for me. As for the magic set, it provides the needed elemental until i finally get vog. And at that time, with divine, it switches to elemental/shadow which I likely what ill need the most in t3.
However, if you're going to be doing jelly runs for a while, cobalt is actually really good for that. But IMO, if you can do t3, you can do t2 in less than adequate gear.
I'll be upgrading my ashtail once i finish doing jelly runs because in the meantime, my ashtail/miracle/wise owlite/calibur combo is as good as it gets. Two normal, piercing, fire, shock, freeze and low increase damage? yeah, I'd say i'm pretty much covered for all of t2.
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 13:16
#7
i got a newb question?
is it possible to upgrade my currently equiped 2 star gear? Either by adding more stars or element enhancements?
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 15:11
#8
Element enhancements?
@KittsugiGuin
Element enhancements? Never heard of those.
If your currently equiped 2 star gear has a 3 star version then you can upgrade it (you have to unequip it before crafting though).
Check this list of alchemy paths to see which item can ba ugraded and how.
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:30
#9
You are better than me XD
You are better than me XD
The question I must ask back to you is, is there any reason why you'd want to finish the cobalt/defender set at all? If you don't have an answer to that, then don't do it. Cobalt has a little more defense, but Wolver gets bonus sword damage and status resistance which is far more useful.
With 3*-4* gear, you shouldn't be bothering with t1 anymore. You won't get used to doing t2 (and t3 eventually) if all you do is cruise through the easiest tier. You'll get better and make more profit from doing t2 exclusively now, with the occasional t1 run with multiple arenas. Start paying attention to enemy attack patterns and get used to shielding. Learn when to attack, when to shield, and when to run.
You will eventually need several sets of armor and shields for t3, and it also helps in t2. While Wolver/Owlite is standard for most people working up to Vana runs you'll want to look into the other lines too at some point.