Looking for a plan

[Eradico]

So I leveled to 30 on a staff main and decided to reroll since I jacked my skills and didn't have a plan on which way to go for mercs. I'd like a quick critique on my formation and merc selection for pvp/pve. As a staff main:

:malehero::spt::bst:
:mnk::witc::ele:
:ora::exo::mnk:

Attempting to exploit the exorcist passive and mass AOE. Guessing its missing some stun though.

As either staff or music main or possibly cannon:

:bst::spt::vik:
:inv::jan::can:
:malehero::mnk::ora:

Thinking the oracle can seth's will and main if cannon could smoke bomb?

Just brainstorming, but viable or not?

[Locksley]

Staff main skills by lvl 120, and assuming vial of potential

- flame blow max (you'll be with scud until u finish lvl 100 upgrade quest)
- heal max (must have! duh)
- 1 guard dispel
- rest into mana shield.

*optional* 1 noble sac for the lulz.

:malehero::spt::bst:
:mnk::witc::ele:
:ora::exo::mnk:

- say hi to double HG. no stun pressure means ur opponents can happily HG all over to block ur aoes and never worry abt being stunned.

- good you know abt the missing stun pressure tho. you also cannot cancel scrolls so 1 dispel scroll + mana seal and ur opponent exo is wetting his pants over all the seals. throw in elem too and ALL ur magic is sealed by them both. puri scrolls also can remove mana seal and elem skills and warcry.

- in short, build NOT recommended.

As either staff or music main or possibly cannon:

:bst::spt::vik:
:inv::jan::can:
:malehero::mnk::ora:

Thinking the oracle can seth's will and main if cannon could smoke bomb?

- no exo = fail. and its especially bad for staffM. you will want speedcast to keep up with awakening and heals and wat not. and mana seal is still a good skill by itself.

- seth will is fail w/o druid beast soul as people can warcry and there goes ur multi-hit rate. 2 guns means anyone with princess + gun signet can drop 2/3 of ur seth will line dmg to peanuts.

- build NOT recommended too. at least it can work out in pve tho.

Try aoe+stun hybrid instead ^^

exo-spartan-vik
cannon-elem-jani
empress-monk-main

smthing like this?

[Eradico]

exo-spartan-vik
cannon-elem-jani
empress-monk-main

So what's empress? That a special merc? And does the main matter for this build? (I was guessing staff.)

Just to see if I understand:

Exo - speed cast, mana seal
Spartan - damage, Warcry
Vik - damage, Freeze Axe
Can - Smoke useful or just range dps?
Elem - debuffer
Jani - range dps
Empress - ?
Monk - GOD

What are some weaknesses I would run into with this build in pvp/pve?

Thanks for taking the time!

[RonyKing]

exo-spartan-vik
cannon-elem-jani
empress-monk-main

So what's empress? That a special merc? And does the main matter for this build? (I was guessing staff.)

Just to see if I understand:

Exo - speed cast, mana seal
Spartan - damage, Warcry
Vik - damage, Freeze Axe
Can - Smoke useful or just range dps?
Elem - debuffer
Jani - range dps
Empress - ?
Monk - GOD

What are some weaknesses I would run into with this build in pvp/pve?

Thanks for taking the time!

Empress is mainly an improved Archer with an extra HG spell.

Weakness to your build would be snipe and spike. And also war cry...

Although since you have Elem and StaffM to weaken out the melee;s, your build and spike kinda even each other out

[Eradico]

I think I got part of the idea for pvp, but won't know for sure until I get into it. As for PvE leveling, I'd like to build for speed leveling. I would think to be most effective, you need a solid mix of magic and physical dps, with the physical being divided into ranged/melee. I'd like to try and talk through what I was thinking.

Starting out:

Spear
Gun
StaffM

Lvl 10:

Spear:Spear
Gun:Gun
StaffM

Lvl 20:

Spear:Vik
Gun:Gun
StaffM:Monk

Lvl 30:

Spear:StaffM:Vik
Gun:Art:Gun
Monk

Lvl 40ish:

Beast:Spear:Vik
Gun:Arti:Gun
Monk:StaffM

Lvl 50ish:

Beast:Spear:Vik
Gun:Arti:Gun
StaffM:Monk:Witch

Lvl 63:

Beast:StaffM:Vik
Gun:Arti:Gun
Princ:Monk:Witch

Lvl 87:

Beast:StaffM:Vik
Can:Arti:Inv
Princ:Monk:Oracle

Lvl 96

Beast:StaffM:Vik
Jan:Can:Jan
Inv:Monk:Oracle

Lvl 100

Beast:Spart:Vik
Jan:Can:Jan
StaffM:Monk:Art

Questions (keep in mind this is for PvE speed leveling):

1. Using Gun's wild shot for magic damage when needed early on. Is lightning spear magic as well?
2. Should I worry about middle speciality Mercs that I will eventually replace? (Although I may just get them for the fun factor.)
3. When I replace gunners, will the Cannon and Inventor be able to make it through content as I will be losing wild shot?
4. Can a staff main tank from 60's to 100ish with just Monk heal(protect and SOP) and self healing?
5. Is the Monk essential at all? Could I omit monk and put my staffM in the back for a more useful Merc? (although I know I will want/need at least 1 for PvP)
6. Are art/cannon/jani able to do enough damage to justify them in the formation, or should I develop more towards 1 mob spike damage (like pirates/prophets)?

If you took the time to read/analyze these thoughts, you rock. And if you didn't, then you just had more important stuff to do and I understand.

Thanks!

[Locksley]

I think I got part of the idea for pvp, but won't know for sure until I get into it. As for PvE leveling, I'd like to build for speed leveling. I would think to be most effective, you need a solid mix of magic and physical dps, with the physical being divided into ranged/melee. I'd like to try and talk through what I was thinking.

For pve,

Early game -> aoe, aoe, aoe and/or physical dmg.

its about debuffing (to increase dmg by physical hits) + physical hits by late game. aoe is pansy, esp since the dmg dun really increase that much once u hit lvl 60 skill and lvl 100 upgrade, but the mobs mdef and hp will keep improving faster. at least weapons can, sorta, catch up with mob.

Starting out:

Spear
Gun
StaffM

Lvl 10:

Spear:Spear
Gun:Gun
StaffM

Lvl 20:

Spear:Vik
Gun:Gun
StaffM:Monk

Lvl 30:

Spear:StaffM:Vik
Gun:Art:Gun
Monk

Lvl 40ish:

Beast:Spear:Vik
Gun:Arti:Gun
Monk:StaffM

Lvl 50ish:

Beast:Spear:Vik
Gun:Arti:Gun
StaffM:Monk:Witch

-> put witch in middle of midline to obstruct cannon mobs.

Lvl 63:

Beast:StaffM:Vik
Gun:Arti:Gun
Princ:Monk:Witch

-> eww ditch princess. doesn't help with ur dmg much.

Lvl 87:

Beast:StaffM:Vik
Can:Arti:Inv
Princ:Monk:Oracle

-> like the above.

Lvl 96

Beast:StaffM:Vik
Jan:Can:Jan
Inv:Monk:Oracle

-> good boy. I see the princess is gone. muahaha

Lvl 100

Beast:Spart:Vik
Jan:Can:Jan
StaffM:Monk:Art

Questions (keep in mind this is for PvE speed leveling):

1. Using Gun's wild shot for magic damage when needed early on. Is lightning spear magic as well?

-> wild shot sucks. lightning spear is magic duh.

2. Should I worry about middle speciality Mercs that I will eventually replace? (Although I may just get them for the fun factor.)

-> its up to you, but not really. e.g. dun bother with inventor unless u want him in pvp, or for fun.

3. When I replace gunners, will the Cannon and Inventor be able to make it through content as I will be losing wild shot?

-> of course. cuze wild shot sucks.

4. Can a staff main tank from 60's to 100ish with just Monk heal(protect and SOP) and self healing?

-> highly dependent on your gear. but dun try tanking at lvl 100+ thats for sure. unless ur gear is at least +5 or more.

5. Is the Monk essential at all? Could I omit monk and put my staffM in the back for a more useful Merc? (although I know I will want/need at least 1 for PvP)

-> sure go ahead. just note at certain mobs, u might have to spam awaken scrolls.

6. Are art/cannon/jani able to do enough damage to justify them in the formation, or should I develop more towards 1 mob spike damage (like pirates/prophets)?

- arty for deep insight. cannoneer, jani yes. well overall they do more dmg than pirate (assuming that they can hit the max. no of targets 5 for cannon, 3 for jani), but in certain situations (e.g. ur getting ganked, or fighting boss), you will want spike to kill faster rather than doing more overall dmg.

If you took the time to read/analyze these thoughts, you rock. And if you didn't, then you just had more important stuff to do and I understand.

- Yes I rock and you know it.

[Eradico]

Princess was filler until I get to 2xJan. Better to hold onto spearman til 96 then and keep my staffM in the back?

If staffM is in back I will probably skip oracle and just hold onto witch or arti until the 2xJan as well, although I've read Seth's Will is awesome for PvE.

Past lvl 100, can this team get me higher easily?

Beast:Spart:Vik
Jan:Can:Jan
StaffM:Monk:Arti

With an idea of swapping in prophet/pirate/oracle as needed for boss fights...

Please keep in mind the idea is to PvE to 100 as fast as possible. Should I focus on different mercs early on or in the mid levels to make leveling more efficient?

Thanks again, I'm at work and so can only read hypothesize for the moment...

[Locksley]

Princess was filler until I get to 2xJan. Better to hold onto spearman til 96 then and keep my staffM in the back?

-> yes.

If staffM is in back I will probably skip oracle and just hold onto witch or arti until the 2xJan as well, although I've read Seth's Will is awesome for PvE.

-> yes seth will is good for pve. not compulsory, but still good to have.

Past lvl 100, can this team get me higher easily?

Beast:Spart:Vik
Jan:Can:Jan
StaffM:Monk:Arti

-> sure looks fine.

With an idea of swapping in prophet/pirate/oracle as needed for boss fights...