Which bombs and guns should I use if I'm primarily a sword user?
I was thinking about the Graviton and Shock Pulsar lines.
Secondary Bomb/Guns for a swordmaster?
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 17:50
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 19:10
#2
a vote for Shivermist Buster
Culture opined that Shivermist Buster works well with Levi/CIV. Let me add that it works well with every sword. The danger inherent to using swords is greatly lessened if you're always attacking from behind.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 02:09
#3
Status bombs provide great
Status bombs provide great support for just about anything, Shivermist as mentioned already is the go-to choice for swordmasters and although not quite as useful for swordmasters in particular, Ash of Agni is great for dealing wide spread damage over a large group of mobs, especially in places like arenas. The vortex bombs aren't bad, they're obviously amazing when used in conjunction with swords but even with CTR UVs you'll have difficulty consistently getting them off, they're more the sort of bomb you need someone else setting up while you charge your weapon to capatalize on.
As for guns, the Polaris and alchemer-lines are your best bet. Culture more or less covered the Polaris, alchemers are easier to use in the sense that you don't have to learn how to manipulate their knockback and they also have wide variety of status effects to choose from although they also don't have any knockback and with the exception of maybe the Nova Driver and possibly the Magma Driver all do considerably less damage than the Polaris. A Blitz Needle is also extremely nice to have for Firestorm Citadel in particular, for gunning just about anything you encounter there and most importantly Lord Vanaduke.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 09:01
#4
Just to clarify.
With the
Just to clarify.
With the Brandish series line it is not 'hard' to get off a charge attack before the 5* Vortex bombs release their victims. With any CTR UVs this feat becomes 'hard' to fail at.
If you're used to the charge times on the Brandish series then you can easily get off the charge attack before it explodes, with a level 10 Brandish for CTR medium. Even without any CTR bonuses I think you can 'just' get it off if you time to release it just as it's ready.
You should tell us what swords you're using most frequently though, as to better complement them.
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 13:29
#5
The swords I use most often
The swords I plan to use most often are the Faust and Blizzbrand. I only have a Leviathan right now.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 10:39
#6
With a Glacius I guarantee
With a Glacius I guarantee you won't be disappointed with a Vortex bomb.
Though I realize you probably don't want to get the Electron Vortex because it needs 300 coins, it is the superior Vortex bomb. However, with a Glacius you should be relatively okay using Graviton since the freeze helps to keep enemies within the Vortex.
As for the gun, I'm sure you'll enjoy Polaris, but for damage type diversification perhaps consider a Callahan, it's pretty good against those pesky annoying piercing weak enemies.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 11:33
#7
You only need 250 coins for
You only need 250 coins for the electron vortex. Just skip the 3* recipe and buy one pre-crafted off the AH or from someone who has the recipe.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 11:48
#8
I'm debating though, what
I'm debating though, what would be better?
Voltedge + Plague Needle, or Glacius with Polaris?
How useful is freezing and shock, as opposed to shock and poison?
I'm thinking the first would be better combined with a Gran Faust, it covers all damage types as well as inflicting some great conditions.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 14:21
#9
Hmm
I think you have to decide what you will use your gun for. Going with Plague Needle will give you insane DPS for Trojans/Vanaduke but limit its use against turrets. Because it is piercing it'll do poor damage to Gun Puppies and Polyps. Whereas the Polaris is still a good gun for all of FSC but it does critical damage to two of the turrets and neutral to the last. Plus the Polaris' long shot interrupts turret attacks.
There are many other differences, of course, but that's just a few things to think about. You might eventually have both and switch them out as needed :)
Voltedge vs Glacius is kind of a long discussion, which boils down to personal preference. They are both quite useful.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 17:52
#10
Well now I'm getting some
Well now I'm getting some strange opinions about what to use.
Should I start specializing for each area, or go for my first weapon set that can be useful in all areas?
At this rate, I think I'm going to end up with something like this:
Shivermist Buster
Polaris
And two swords. Not sure which ones to get at this point.
Possibly a Leviathan and a Divine Avenger? Or will I need a Shadow and Piercing sword for type coverage?
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 20:07
#11
the problem
The problem is that Divine Avenger, Polaris, and Shivermist Buster are all the most popular weapons of their type (or at least among the most popular), and they all do elemental damage. However, the damage type of Shivermist doesn't matter much --- the status is far more important.
It would not be crazy to roll with Leviathan, Polaris, and Shivermist. It would be crazy to roll with DA, Polaris, and Shivermist, unless you were sure you weren't going to encounter any gremlins or beasts.
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 22:26
#12
@Fiendishknight
I suggest going with a Divine Avenger, Polaris, Shivermist Buster, but drop the Leviathan Blade and go with a Barbarous Thorn Blade/Final Flourish.
Your DA and Polaris will do great against Undead and Constructs, which are arguably the two most encountered/fought monster families. Then they'll also do neutral damage towards Fiends and Slimes. Altogether, that's four out of six family types you've covered with those weapons, with Beasts and Gremlins being the weak spots.
The Leviathan Blade can handle every family and cover any blindspots your loadout might have, but with those specific families (Beasts and Gremlins) a Piercing sword would be more useful. I find using my Final Flourish more easy to deal with Gremlins and Beasts compared to my Leviathan Blade, especially Beasts because Piercing is strong against them.
And I don't know if you've ever experienced T3 Fiends.. lemme just tell you, it's horrific. And without a good Piercing weapon, it's going to be a nightmare.
With a Leviathan Blade and your Elementals.. You'll have critical damage against only the Undead and Construct families, and neutral to all other families.
With a Piercing sword and your Elementals.. You'll have critical damage against Undead, Constructs, Beasts, and Fiends. And neutral damage towards Slimes and Gremlins, which are two families that can be easily dealt with.. well, I don't know so much about T3 Gremmies but they're easy enough, especially with a Piercing sword.
Which sounds more appealing to you?
Critical damage to FOUR families or critical damage to just TWO families? ;)
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 13:32
#13
I realize that having an
I realize that having an Elemental and Piercing sword is essential for a virtually free increase in damage as well as type coverage, but at this point I'm having trouble deciding which Elemental Sword to use.
I'm quite confident that I'll be using the Barbarous Thorn Blade for my piercing weapon due to preference for the charge attack. Also, I hear that the Rigadoon and Flamberge sacrifice too much damage for too small of a chance of inflicting a condition.
The Elemental Sword on the other hand, I'm having trouble deciding between the Divine Avenger or the Combuster. I won't need the Glacius or Voltedge due to being able to inflict shock and freeze with my bomb and gun. However, is the fire-inflicting status on a normal-speed blade better than the functionality of a heavy-blade with a ranged Charge attack?
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 14:47
#14
shadow?
Are you talking about carrying four weapons, or just owning four weapons? Have you considered Acheron/GF, BTB, Polaris, and Shivermist? Then you would have some shadow damage in there (gremlin menders!).
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 16:06
#15
@Fiendishknight
The Divine Avenger and the Elemental Brandishes are two great weapons, and after playing more, you'll probably end up having both of them. But because of how useful the DA's charge is, I'd have to say the DA would be the more appropriate choice for your first Elemental sword.
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 18:24
#16
i'm in the same boat as you
i'm in the same boat as you (1 sword and a side arm)
my current equipment
sword(s):
(Gran) Faust
(Leviathan Blade) Ascended Calibur (this can be swapped with the CiV to counter the knockback and don't send lumbers at your team haha)
Brandish (firebust and nightblade are my current ones but going to get a iceburst in the future)
side arm(s)
(Polaris) Gigawatt Pulsar (great to take out gunpuppy's in T2/3 and keeping lumbers away from you and dealing some good damage in the process)
(WIP) shivermist buster (if it goes like i hope it will the calibur line charge is killer because all 3 hits connect)
for me this loadout works like a charm (with skolver and dark thorn your sword is killer hehe)
Polaris is a great gun. Can't go wrong there. Insane range and interruption for long shots makes them perfect for taking out pesky turrets. Plus it does shock. And it does critical damage to two of the three turret types. Also... it is great for PvP, really helps with those haze spammers, or shutting down a passage.
Anything from the Brandish series complements Graviton/Electron Vortex very nicely. Since you are a master swordsman I imagine you don't generally wield a Levi/CIV, but if so Shivermist works well with them. Dark Briar Barrage will supply the most fun ever in Wolver Dens, also useful for Gremlins and Zombies.