Short answer, no, unless you're using specific gear and have either ult. Then it's just 'meh'.
Barrier, especially Backfire Barrier, is arguably the best ability in the game (as long as you're using appropriate defenses and certain weapons). Just focus on that.
But, no, I don't want Backfire. I want Scorching. Yes, I'm weird, but I'm sure of what I want. My favorite weapon is DVS, and they go together perfectly.
I use my Sprite to extend my abilities. Smack them with a double smack of my big sword, then shoot as I close the gap. With Drakon, I can have a bomb instead and use Firebolt to close the gap.
I can only see Firestorm being good because it's a bomb...but still...
@Zeddy
Thanks! That helps a lot. I think I will get Extra Crispy maxed and put a point into the other two skills, then go back to Barrier and max it. Barrier, atm, is fine for me. (I use it primarily to keep myself from taking the damage full force when I go into rage mode.)
Scorching Barrier +1
If you want to get a feel for frenzy firestorm, just throw a poison vial. And a fire vial. And imagine that every monster is poisoned. The vial's duration is pretty similar. Do remember every party member gets the buff.
It's actually pretty good for soloing... except in fsc. There's too many slags that the Barrier becomes a better option just because of the cooldown.
And holy crap is it amazing. I get so many damage numbers running around things counter-clockwise I can't even count them going through the footage in slow-motion.
It has at least all the damage of a max damage Blitz charge, but is independent of damage bonus and will let you move at 100% speed while using it while at the same time providing you with the massive defence boost.
Told ya, dog. Backfire Barrier is only worth it if Drakon is your first/only sprite. Angelic Aura and Shadow Cloak both fill the defensive niche better in levels where you can't safely use the barrier for damage, whereas nothing matches the Heat Miser insanity of Scorching Barrier.
There's no critical hits in SK, damage does a fixed number, it's not random at all.
"I hate the neologism "crit" for "dealt extra damage to". I have no intention of critting anyone, and nobody will ever crit me." - Larry Dawkins
I don't actually like the barrier because of its damage; I use it for its +70% armor bonus and Backfire's massive speed. I could care less about the orbs, since I deal more damage by using my own weapons- and I don't use bombs for close-quarters fighting unless it's a vortex, in which case it's too handicapping to circle enemies to be worth the damage.
Slapping on some good defensive stuff and using the barrier while placing yourself inside a VT just makes too much sense, though. You'll want someone to back you up with a VV, of course.
It sounds like Drakon isn't really suited for your combat style, but you refuse to pick up a more appropriate sprite, either due to money or aesthetic reasons. In that case, Backfire is fine! It's a good ability if you need something defensive and don't have or want another sprite. It's just that, for those of us with multiple sprites, Scorching Barrier takes the reason we're probably using Drakon in the first place and cranks it up to 11.
To be fair, Backfire Barrier is pretty awesome for speedrunning purposes. The only sprite ability that rivals it is Angelic Aura (ultimate doesn't really matter there) in terms of getting through a stage fast. Considering that Backfire actually makes you go faster (Angelic Aura will just help you pass through traps and such) and has a shorter cooldown, I think it's safe to say that the best sprite ultimate around for speedrunning is Backfire Barrier.
I'm getting Backfire myself as my plan with my Drakon is to make it a buffing beast. I'll naturally make sure to put Backfire Barrier to use when going fast though. I'd just need a Metal Sonic costume to go along...
I think it's safe to say that the best sprite ultimate around for speedrunning is Backfire Barrier.
If you have to fight to progress at any point in the map, Scorching may make up time by making those fights end much more quickly.
I'd be interested in seeing how Frenzied Firestorm and Deadly Cloak compare to Backfire Barrier in terms of extra ground covered for their durations.
Oh you'd better believe it is my combat style. That speedboost is way too synergetic with how I play, and what I want. Maskeraith's Quills may deal more damage for me, its cloak might give a higher damage boost. Seraphynx might have more defensive power with Aura. Neither of them give that super-fast MSI, though! Maskeraith's Deadly Cloak might give some MSI while removing any aggro on me, but I don't always want that aggro-loss.
I tend to use Backfire to dash to back-line enemies like Menders and other annoying enemies, and then whale on them with the most appropriate sword. Using Backfire and then immediately charging up a vortex helps immensely with positioning, and gives me some defense to fall back on if I happen to screw up.
One thing I will admit- even if I get massively boosted armor, I still don't like taking damage needlessly. Skirting around the edges of a vortexed mob instead of dead-center is fine with me. The damage from the barrier is too low for me to stop using most of my favorite weapons (which deal more damage overall). I might plant a vortex then hammerdash/FoV charge from the center with a barrier, but in some cases, it just isn't worth the damage I end up taking, even when it's reduced.
It gives utility nothing else does, and my own weapons deal enough damage to bench its intended purpose.
I thought the exact same, I still need about 4-6 skill points for the firestorm and the fire damage is pretty poor. I'm hoping that as you level up the sprite it's damage increases.
+1 to scorching barrier. :P
Real Drakons grow beards.
I'd love the beard if it didn't have a little model problems and didn't look like it was made of paper.
Maskeraith's Deadly Cloak might give some MSI
no, it doesn't. That running symbol is for ASI. Your MSI doesn't change at all.
@Batabii: There's no critical hits in SK, damage does a fixed number, it's not random at all.
It doesn't crit, and I'm not saying but it's super effective, but it is super effective.
I want scorching because it really would help my DVS. I think I might get Stunning Firebolt...but then Shield Bash works well for that...hmm...
Also, for Firestorm I don't know. I saw a friend use explosive, and it actually looks pretty good...like it boosts fire damage even more and makes it work on fire enemies. But then I might still get Frenzied...
I'd really like it if it was easier to try stuff without using reset stars.
I swear one of my friends moved faster when cloaked with it. Maybe I'm just blind.
I had this tested and noticed absolutely zero difference between myself with no MSI and Latisan Sklay running next to me with Deadly Cloak.
In comparison, the difference in movespeed was instantly noticable with a single piece of mercurial equipped.
If you're doing a proper speedrun, you'll stop only for forced battles and there are most often just one per stage if we're not talking boss strata. Heck, Clockwork Tunnels usually don't have them at all!
I have a Battle Sprite details topic for people just like yourself.
Maxing Extra Crispy puts the fire up at 1.5 strength vs Firebolt's 3 strength (and Fang of Vog's 4 strength.)
To understand exactly what that means, compare my status chart to enemy resistances.
For instance, using 3 strength fire against an enemy with -5 fire resistance results in 3 - (-5) = 8 strength fire, resulting in 5 ticks of 100% damage.