Spiral Knights - Optimal Equipment Investment as of Current Release

Optimal Equipment Investment as of Current Release

11 replies [Last post]

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 15:05

Chronus

So I've been thinking... exactly what type of Equipment would a player want to invest in for the best chance of success? It seems that most monsters are avoidable in small quantities, except the teleporting Wolvers, and I suppose they do Normal Damage? There is also the typical fireball barrage from Puppies MKII, but if you're really good you can dodge them, for the most part, with good agility and a shield. I'm guessing their attack would be elemental? I can't think of other monster off the top of my head, but it seems that Normal and Elemental are the best choices of defense? Perhaps, if anything, just normal, assuming you're a skilled player. For weapons, I figure that the Fire MKIII might be best because it is strong and can burn - usually the most favorable effect when one wants to simply crush enemies. And I don't think I need to say anything about the Khorovod...

So, perhaps the "end-game" set as of the current release would be as follows? You tell me:

Weapon 1: Khorovod (Slow but strong, Knocks back enemies)
Weapon 2: Firotech Alchemer MKIII (Strong and causes burn)
Helmet: Tortoise Shield (Pure Normal Def)
Armor: Heavy Plate Helm (Pure Normal Def, but decreses attack speed by Low)
Shield: Heavy Plate Mail (Pure Normal Def, but decreses attack speed by Low)
Trinket 1: The one that gives the Sword Attack Speed Increase
Trinket 2: Ditto that

What do you guys think of the so-called "best option" as of the current release? That is, disregarding any pricing issues and things unrelated to actual power of the Equipment.

Edit: Bhahahaa... that's a good typo, that it is. I'm leaving it up there just because it's so failtastic.

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 15:26

Pauling

If you don't talk to your kids about poison, who will?

There really is no single "best" option for weapons and shields- you should build your party around a combination of different status effects/ weapon strategies. For example, if my adventuring buddy is a high damage windmill of death (khorovod + firotech alchemer), I try to complement that with "support" weapons like a vile striker (sword) and voltech or cryotech alchemer (mk II) to cripple and trap my enemies. (The vile striker is also more fun to use; simple tasks like clearing brush or chopping crystals are just painful with a khorovod)

The result is that my partymate can charge in and do massive damage, while my own attacks will ensure that the target is moving slow enough to hit (and too weak to retaliate against my kamikaze friends).

Per armor, there's less reason to have a mixed party, unless you'd like to run a strategy where each person can serve as a human shield against a different damage type. (which is actually worth doing- having one person able to serve as a wall makes the rest of the party way more effective against gun puppies and devilites)

Don't just maximize your defense number, because special bonuses are often more important (try to kill your enemy before they hit you). I'm currently using virulisk armor and a chromalisk helm, which are superb options: good normal defense, a giant defense bonus against slimes, and a dash of fashion. My shield is a swiftstrike buckler, which provides enough normal defense to survive against the hits I take, while improving my sword strike time.

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 16:32

King-Tinkinzar

Lol at your armor, shield and

Lol at your armor, shield and helmet fail... Tortoise shield Armor and your Heavy Plate Mail Shield and your Heavy Plate Mail helm :D

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 16:51

Chronus

I doubt there is any setup that does not fail...

@DearthLOL: It's the best as far as Normal Defense goes, really. I doubt there is any setup that does not fail at least one category.

Another consideration:
- Tempered Calibur
- Firotech Alchemer MKIII
- Heavy Demo Helm
- Heavy Demo Suit
- Stone Tortoise
- Sword Attack Speed+
- Sword Attack Speed+

I might go for this Equipment combination considering I have yet to achieve and record any of these Equips (except the Trinket). Not only would I bet set for a good combo, I would be getting some work done as well. I got the Heavy Demo idea from Agger, I think it was. It seems to make sense because it gives Normal and Elemental Defense, with the majority being Normal, and it doesn't take off Attack Speed, unlike the Heavy Plate. It gives the relatively useless charge boost, but at least it's something... as you can see it grants a small chunk of Elemental in place of a smaller chunk of Normal, as apposed to the Heavy Plate. Heavy Demo also gives some good Fire resistance, which is probably the most useful being as Fire can often be the culprit of an untimely death.

If Normal is the most common type of damage, and really the only somewhat unavoidable type I can recall, does it not make set to set your focus on Normal Defense? I know it wouldn't matter come potential releases, but I'm talking now. It seems the only real issue is those Ash Wolvers and Gremlins in tight spots... both Normal attackers (apparently).

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 20:12

Shroom

Legacy Username

DarthLOL was just pointing

DarthLOL was just pointing out that you mixed up the categories on your shield, armor, and helm. You are apparently wearing the tortoise shield on your head, holding the armor in your hand, and somehow managed to fit the rest of your body into the helm.

I want someone to draw this.

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 21:30

Chronus

Oh wow... that seriously made me Lol.

Oh wow... that seriously made me Lol. I'm leaving it up there hahah.

Yes, someone should most definitely draw this.

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 21:44

Shoebox

Art

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 21:56

Chronus

Epic.

Buahahaha. Epic. You have outdone yourself, Shoebox. I think this guy needs an official name.

Sat, 12/04/2010 - 01:14

Evolution

Legacy Username

I agree with pauling that

I agree with pauling that there's no "best" equipment. Just choose whichever suits you best I believe. Weapon-wise that's all about how you like to attack, so that's really about opinion. (That is to say, every weapon should be equally strong when the balancing is fully completed) Armor-wise, take whichever aligns with your play-style best or whichever gives you the most defense to the types you have the most trouble with? (skeletons - shadow damage, gremlins/devilites - normal damage, gun puppies - elemental damage, etc)

Sat, 12/04/2010 - 05:07

Cien_Tao

Legacy Username

i clap for you, shoebox >_<

though i don't see him holding the armor >_<...but i'm no artist, so i will refrain from criticizing your art because i can't do better.

As for armor, i'm with the main idea that i used all these years for every game i played in my life: use what suits yourself. If you like some kind of equip, use it, and try to find more equips that you life, or prefer those more high leveled, but not necessarelly make a set that everyone will try to copy. Make yourself a name with your random armor >_< (that's why i don't use the visual equip slot, most of the time).

Sat, 12/04/2010 - 18:45

#10

Pupu

Legacy Username

Personally

Mine is similar to yours, but with a tempered calibur and charge time reduc trinkets for swords.
Since I am only attacked with charged attacks, the reduced attack speed doesn't harm me. Also, the calibur isn't slow. And you can deal 3 hits with the charged attack if the enemy is cornered. (probably a bug)
And shield is Volcanic Plate which I found in a crate.
I don't really use my gun at all.

Sat, 12/04/2010 - 23:30

#11

Chronus

I got lucky and just recently found a Volcanic Plate Shield.

I got lucky and just recently found a Volcanic Plate Shield. :D This is what I currently have now (I chose Drake because it's 3x less than 4* and gives a speed boost):

Weapon 1: Tempered Calibur
Weapon 2: Firotech Alchemer MKIII
Helmet: Drake Scale Helm
Armor: Drake Scale Mail
Shield: Volcanic Plate Shield
Trinket 1: Sword Speed+
Trinket 2: Sword Speed+

I think guns are useful for mob combat (especially fire), whereas Swords are useful for more one-on-one sort of combat. I'm not going to bother buying Weapon Slots because two Weapons is enough.

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Optimal Equipment Investment as of Current Release