Spiral Knights - Alchemer lines and UV's

Alchemer lines and UV's

14 replies [Last post]

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 06:16

RapBreon

Legacy Username

So I'm going to investing very heavily into one of the elemental alchemers at one point in the near future as a back-up gun for my Zombie/Construct killing needs. So far I'm leaning with Volt Alchemer simply because I like shock as a status and will most likely being carrying a Glacius as my sword, so I'm not in need of freeze and fire is inferior to freeze and doesn't synergise well with it, thus leaving shock, however if anybody has some good arguments as to why I should not use the Volt Alchemer I'll here it.

On to my question, assuming maximum benefits, which do you experienced Alchemer users think is a superior UV, CTR or IAS? I can so both being potentially brutal, with CTR allowing to unload the massive blast often leading to high DPS (especially with the 5 star four way split) but the IAS would be better for the whole run and gun, duck in and out, but the reload really sucks and annoys me.

Thus I put it to you, which you prefer, think is better and your arguments as to why.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 07:52

Stardrinker

Legacy Username

CTR imho. Purely from a

CTR imho. Purely from a damage standpoint because I feel the internal bouncing of a fully charged 5* alchemer is underrated. Doesn't always happen but very frequently you'll get 4-5 hits from a single charge attack on a single mob. Seems more reliable against larger enemies.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:07

Sunflash

Legacy Username

------

If you can completly rule out the chance of quicksilvers in a level, then Volt would work well with your described situation.

In my experience, the Charge attacks are stupid on the alchemer line. From a pure DPS standpoint, you can do about 1.5-2x damage in the time it takes you to charge a shot. Further, the bounce effects seem to either A) glitch and all hit the same one(you have to pay the proper sacrifices to the lag gods first), or B) they always reflect to the back left and back right of your character's facing at the time. Not too bad, /assuming/ you can get the group of mobs to part just right for you to get that charged shot in the middle of them. Otherwise, you're basically throwing the shot away since (unless A happens), the reflects will just bounce away.

So with that in mind, I'd have to vote for the IAS. (I have a Prisma Driver with IAS-HIgh. Combined with my sunset duster/stetson, it is very very nice.)

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 08:46

Kaybol

Legacy Username

@Sunflash

A Prisma Driver? Wow, way to go against the flow... how's that working out for ya?

P.S. Not to hijack this thread, I'll refer you to some useful information:
http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/5286

Don't be intimidated by the wall of text, there's many gems in there.

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 09:24

Sunflash

Legacy Username

@Kaybol

My Very-High Attack Speed Prisma Driver and my good self are doing wonderful! Thanks for asking! :)

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 19:33

RapBreon

Legacy Username

@Kaybol

Mmm, I've seen that thread while Fossa does an amazing break-down of the types of alchemers, he doesn't go into much depth about UV's other than he prefers IAS, I'm kind of wanting to collect opinions here as they both seem to be viable.

@Sunflash I'm curious as to why you chose a Prisma Driver? Especially when the other Alchemers offer something extra?

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 04:43

Sunflash

Legacy Username

@Rap

Because it was gifted to me on the first day of the headstart, and it has UV: Increased Attack Speed - Very High. Prismatech also does slightly more damage per shot than the others(i 'unno about the shadowtech line though, will have to compare), and since I use this for just about everything that isn't auto-dodge or res: elemental; it's worked out wonderfully.

I don't have the time, crowns, or energy to spend either on UV farming myself, or trying to buy one at least as good from someone in the pit that is the trade channel.

However, if I had a choice, I'd prefer it be a Cyro Driver. But, hey, gift horse, mouth, all that. :)

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 05:28

RapBreon

Legacy Username

@Sunflash

It does more damage? I've never heard anything to the contrary! This is news, can someone support?

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 05:35

Sunflash

Legacy Username

-----

That's what was repeated to me several times in various Haven chats. :)

If noone else can confirm, I can run a series of tests to see just how much more. I do know it won't be much(if noticeable. :|), and since it's still a gun, it won't come anywhere NEAR the damage of a sword. Still, every bit helps!

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 05:43

Shani

Legacy Username

Not that the bars really mean

Not that the bars really mean all that much, but the damage on the Nova Driver goes to Ele*mental while the Volt Driver only goes to E*lemental.

Makes sense, the Flourishes are the same, with the no-status line doing more damage.

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 06:18

#10

RapBreon

Legacy Username

Man, I blind.

But I looked and seen no difference, Hmmmmm this is throwing a spanner in the works! I don't like spanners in my works! Still! CTR or IAS? Leaning with IAS atm. Charging is a state of vulnerability.

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 06:22

#11

Shoebox

Better than centipedes.

Spanners? In my works?

It's more likely than you think!

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 09:58

#12

Sunflash

Legacy Username

----

I made a fresh Prismatech Alchemer, and a fresh Firotech Alchemer. Ran into a T1 Beast (the clover one?) and caught the Jelly Farm area. Shot up slimes, since they're normal against Elemental.

Per SHOT, the Prismatech won with 14 damage a shot compared to the Firotech's 11 damage a shot. Total damage the Firotech won easily, since it applies the fire status effect etc etc etc.

Regardless I can now confirm the prismatech does more damage per shot(not total) than the others. Is it worth it? Probably /not/. But still. Only thing I can't confirm right now is how the Shadowtech compares. May check later.

And as I said eariler, the charge attacks of the Alchemer series is just not worth it. Too random and prone to influence by lag. IAS ftw!

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 18:39

#13

RapBreon

Legacy Username

Legend, thanks for your advice man.

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 19:01

#14

Shani

Legacy Username

The Prismatech does have

The Prismatech does have advantages over its damage-dealing brethren though: the pyro will set off oilers and the volt will set off quicksilvers. Also, since it does its damage directly, it do more against things immune to the status effect of the respective alchemer. Just something to consider, though I doubt it's a dealbreaker for most people.

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Alchemer lines and UV's