THF and AGI, and a few more questions

[Intense]

I've wondered what peoples opinions on this stat were. I am currently lv 67 THF, and I've taken the past few weeks off leveling to farm/research gear options. Up until now, I have not really built an AGI set for the times where I need to TA+WS, as my small attempts have been overshadowed by the output I see with using acc/attk.

Dagger: Cermet+1 (Chicken Knife off hand, or Strike shield)
Ammo: Some random crossbow I cant remember the name of (Bomb core when I dont have to pull)
Head: Dobsonfly Bandanna. This is my weak spot imo, but I'm holding out until I can wear O.hat again @70
Body: Raparee Harness, Scorpian harness
Back: Amemet +1, Republic Army Mantle
Neck: Chiv Chain, Spike Necklace
Hands: Hume Rse1 hands
Waist: Potent belt (No swift yet)
Ears: Spike x2, Diabolos (weather permitting), I have those AGI earrings which currently just take up space...
Rings: Rajas, Woodsman, Deft Ring (Considering another acc ring)
Legs: Bravo's Sub, AF
Feetz: Leaping Boots

I dont feel horribly gimped, but I know there are improvements that could stand being made. But what to THFs think of AGI? It feels weak to me at my current level as TA is made stronger by AGI, but Dagger WS's have DEX modifiers (lol).

At my level, I feel left without many Leg options aside from Bravos, which do nothing for WS... This isnt so much a question but a statement or annoyance.

Also, I picked up a pair of War Gloves +1, how much mileage will I get from these?

[Tradition]

If you're TA+WSing, just focus on the WS.

Get Spectacles imo, sell your Drones, and save the Rajas for WS and for when you have the merits on THF to merit (lol) dropping a Sniper's for it. Try to get your hands on relic feet when you get to 73, seeing as there isn't anything (barring Dusk or Homam) better for feet slot. I never bothered with Bravo's, I used those tiger pants (+5 attack, lawl) until I stopped being a chump and got Dusk pants. Legs/Feet are a weak spot for THF.

HQ war gloves are just fine, I myself use Tarasque in pretty much every solo situation.

(let it be noted I only bring THF out for sky farming with the LS and soloing NMs for fun, I'm a BRD now :'()

[skurlover]

War Gloves+1 are the best (I think) acc piece there is for THF out there. I used them until I got Homam and I think LW would still show he uses them.

I never really had a "TA" build just due to the sheer amount of gear that I carry. Getting the AF+1 Hands is about the only improvement I have done specifically for TA.

[Alyriel]

I went throught the same thing while I was leveling THF.
I don't know all the math, or reasoning, but I found that I got slightly better TA+WS by sticking with my SA(dex) build. I sold all my AGI gear, and haven't looked back since.

[Slott]

Aside from Skadi body, I dont think any of my gear adds any agility at all, and I only use that on dancing edge or shark bite really. Difference of having a buttload of dex for sneak attack vs 0 +agi for trick attack only comes out to about 100-200 dmg tops, in my experiences.

[Loren]

Definitely keep an AGI set. The difference between a full AGI swap and no swap can be ~150 damage on winged targets. Landing TA (or SA) in your TP gear is a major newb badge 70+. It's not an inventory or macro strain to do so, ask me for suggestions if you need them.

For WS, use your standard STR/DEX gear unless it's a high def/high eva NM where the secondary WS hits are likely to whiff or hit zero (in which case you're better off enhancing the initial forced crit).

My TA set at 75 is:
Dragon cap - P.Charm - Brutal/Suppa
Dragon harness - Rogue Armlets+1 - Breeze x2
Amemet+1 - Scouter rope - War brais+1 - Dragon leggings
(wish list: Denali jacket and Hope torque)

That takes me to 71+49 as Hume THF/NIN. With enough Minuet, TA on Colibri frequently enter the ~550 range. Not sure why any DD would want to pass up something like that.

[Vedder]

That takes me to 71+49 as Hume THF/NIN. With enough Minuet, TA on Colibri frequently enter the ~550 range. Not sure why any DD would want to pass up something like that.

Usually in merits, I stack my WS with TA, so I focus on the WS mods over AGI... and mobs die so quickly I don't have time to ready a 2nd TA before the mob is dead.

That leaves SA unstacked most of the time, so it's easier to focus on DEX for that since it's useful to both WS and SA.

I like your AGI build for unstacked TA, but my personal inventory tends to preclude me from carrying an AGI set around... so that's one reason a DD would pass up something like that.

[Intense]

I edited my OP to add a DEX ring and a backpiece lol.

Now, I didnt separete my SA/WS, SA/swing, TA/swing, TA/WS gear on my OP because I figured a THF could recognize what would go where/when lol.

[skurlover]

Definitely keep an AGI set. The difference between a full AGI swap and no swap can be ~150 damage on winged targets. Landing TA (or SA) in your TP gear is a major newb badge 70+. It's not an inventory or macro strain to do so, ask me for suggestions if you need them.

For WS, use your standard STR/DEX gear unless it's a high def/high eva NM where the secondary WS hits are likely to whiff or hit zero (in which case you're better off enhancing the initial forced crit).

My TA set at 75 is:
Dragon cap - P.Charm - Brutal/Suppa
Dragon harness - Rogue Armlets+1 - Breeze x2
Amemet+1 - Scouter rope - War brais+1 - Dragon leggings
(wish list: Denali jacket and Hope torque)

That takes me to 71+49 as Hume THF/NIN. With enough Minuet, TA on Colibri frequently enter the ~550 range. Not sure why any DD would want to pass up something like that.

Space.

[draxyl]

That takes me to 71+49 as Hume THF/NIN. With enough Minuet, TA on Colibri frequently enter the ~550 range. Not sure why any DD would want to pass up something like that.

http://kevin.izolo.com/lj/10-26-06/502TA.jpg

That's with +41 agi. Definitly worthwhile to have a TA set for pure TA damage.

For TA+WS, I usually just swap in either normal WS gear, or go to pure SA gear if I'm TA'ing Shark bite...I'm lazy tho and non optimal on my macro for TAWS.

[Loren]

Usually in merits, I stack my WS with TA

I don't remember a merit party where my less evasive comrades would appreciate me doing that. O_o;
Also, mixing modifiers like that will do less damage overall compared to splitting and optimizing each JA and WS.
Also also, JA timers and TP never sync for long so you're sitting on unused damage if you stick to any rigid routine.

TA+WS is great when someone's trying to main tank of course, but in short fights I find it's more useful to either mash whichever TP and JA is ready (merit party) or SA+WS to give myself hate spikes so tank + healer can catch their breath (instanced events).

Hence, THF should be doing lots of plain TA and gearing appropriately.

Space.

I'm always under 54/60 on THF.
Frankly, I'm kind of astonished to see people confess to no AGI set at all. What's in your inventory? I don't think 50-60 second JA qualifies as "too conditional".

[Wintermute]

I never bothered with a TA Setup for my THF because to be honest I'm pretty lazy as well as Cheap.

Having said that my THF never really sees much use outside of Farming or Duo with a friend where we bounce hate via SA+WS. Only time we use TA is when hate is pretty thin and the mob keeps breakdancing and Hide is down or innefective. Merit wise it's faster (invite wise) to flag on my RDM and then pour my merits into THF which is what I did.

Having said that, now that I'm in an LS that does Kings and other HNM where SATA/TA from behind is too dangerous, hai2u flail, I should probably invest in a +AGI TA setup. Then again the one and only time I've gone THF was when I logged on late and they didn't need/want my RDM. Although admittedly my first thought TA'ing the tanks on Faf was "I should've built a TA Gearset".

-

And on the topic of TA+WS the less evasion blessed jobs in xp, I tend to save it for the MNK, WAR or whatever, who thinks 'voking or Utsusemi use is detrimental to his place on a parser despite his less than average gearset or skill. I take a sadistic joy in killing players who refuse to play properly and/or sensibly. Or, y'know, people who just piss me off in xp.
Normally I just TA the tank at the start and then SA+WS right after to piss him off.

[Marsala]

I see that TA set is good for just plain TA. I sure it applies to HNM as well as XP mobs. What I want to know is, is a AGI build good for TA + WS on HNMs? My build is usually STR>DEX>AGI due to my Heca gear.

[Loren]

is a AGI build good for TA + WS on HNMs? My build is usually STR>DEX>AGI due to my Heca gear

It's a judgment call. If the enemy's DEF and Evasion seem reasonable, use your typical WS gear (STR/DEX). If you feel totally outclassed and are struggling to connect or hit for more than zero, then load up on AGI to optimize the guaranteed hit. A lot of this will depend on proper buffs (BRD, COR) and proper debuffs (Dia III, Angon, Feint).

[Vedder]

I'm always under 54/60 on THF.
Frankly, I'm kind of astonished to see people confess to no AGI set at all. What's in your inventory? I don't think 50-60 second JA qualifies as "too conditional".

I wouldn't say I don't have any AGI set at all... it's just, um... incomplete at the moment. Don't know about others, but I carry an accuracy set (mamools, etc), a haste set, a WS set, an evasion set, a ranged acc set, and when farming a lolSteal set.

Not arguing the benefits of an AGI set, but I get more utility out of the other sets with my playstyle... though if I merited more on THF an AGI set would be nice to have.