Penta Thrust

[Cream Soda]

I use this for penta on my sam
Ranged: Tiphia
Head: Hissho Hachimaki
Neck: Pcc (looking to get shadow gorget)
Ears: Brutal/Minuet (if no minuet on me then I go for Merman's)
Body: Haub+1
Hands: Bkote
Rings: Rajas/Toreador's
Back: Forager's
Waist: Life Belt (Looking to replace with sam AF2 Belt)
Legs: Byakko's Haidate (But every once in a while I see how I do with Usukane Hizayoroi)
Feet: Usukane Sune-Ate

[Callisto]

Oooh shit good call on the Hissho Hachimaki too, I always forget about it but it's a really sweet SAM Penta piece.

[Amele]

well, obviously I'm stating equal quantities here.

20 acc > 20 dex > 20 str. if you start running ratios it'd be close to 4dex > 3acc > 5str but I was trying to keep it simple since I didn't want this to devolve.

but you don't add dex for damage, you add it for acc. (if you're trying to actually add per hit damage, str will outperform on per hit damage for all numbers you can hit on sam without trashing your overall average ws damage numbers from missing too much).

and outside of like, b.haidate, I can't think of many slots where you *can* get a favorable dex vs. acc ratio.

[FailureMidgard]

well, obviously I'm stating equal quantities here.

20 acc > 20 dex > 20 str. if you start running ratios it'd be close to 4dex > 3acc > 5str but I was trying to keep it simple since I didn't want this to devolve.

but you don't add dex for damage, you add it for acc. (if you're trying to actually add per hit damage, str will outperform on per hit damage for all numbers you can hit on sam without trashing your overall average ws damage numbers from missing too much).

and outside of like, b.haidate, I can't think of many slots where you *can* get a favorable dex vs. acc ratio.

Warwolf Belt, AF+1 Hands, Lightning Bow+1, possibly Voyager (if you don't have Hissho). Granted these pieces have str and dex, but the dex is worth more than the str on these pieces, and with Madrigal, if you are using accuracy in all of those slots, you are likely well past cap.
With ideal gear in other slots, I think Warwolf, AF+1 hands, Lightning Bow+1, and Hissho would be the best for those slots I just listed, -not- the accuracy pieces.

Edit: Iota ring is pure win also! ;p

[Cream Soda]

Well, in regards to the last part, I do like to use rajas on my penta. At least, I think its acceptable.

[Callisto]

and outside of like, b.haidate, I can't think of many slots where you *can* get a favorable dex vs. acc ratio.

Also new Hachiryu hands I believe.

[Amele]

Also new Hachiryu hands I believe.

which might as well be considered acc+12 pieces; because that's what they really are. (again, you wouldn't wear 10dex over 10 acc. you only wear them because their total acc exceeds 10)

and I'd wear a lifebelt over warwolf. (5 dex and 5 str is 3D+4acc vs. 10acc)

even with madrigal you'll need something like 70 accuracy in gear/food to hit cap. (already included 8/8 polearm merits)

if you get madrigal *and* sushi it's a different story ofc.

[Cream Soda]

Polearm not worht using if you have to eat sushi, imo.

[Amele]

Polearm not worht using if you have to eat sushi, imo.

well versus birds you have a built in +25% damage (which kind of makes up for not having meat) so that makes up alot for the sting of not having meat food heh.

that said If you can get to 23%+ haste and still 85%+acc then go for the meat and rock out in tp mode.. just get used to only getting 3-4 hits per penta.

[FailureMidgard]

Polearm not worht using if you have to eat sushi, imo.

Agree 100%

which might as well be considered acc+12 pieces; because that's what they really are. (again, you wouldn't wear 10dex over 10 acc. you only wear them because their total acc exceeds 10)

and I'd wear a lifebelt over warwolf. (5 dex and 5 str is 3D+4acc vs. 10acc)

even with madrigal you'll need something like 70 accuracy in gear/food to hit cap. (already included 8/8 polearm merits)

if you get madrigal *and* sushi it's a different story ofc.

Legs = 15dex Byakko
Head = 8acc Hissho
Tomoe = 5acc
Ranged = 3dex Lightning+1
Neck = 10acc Gorget
Ear = 3acc Fowling (Brutal in other)
Ring = 3acc, 8 dex rajas + iota
Body = 12acc, 6dex Haub+1
Feet = 7acc Usu

So far we're at 46acc and 32dex (24 acc more). Thats 70 acc you wanted, right? And none of that gear is really that hard to get anymore (Not to mention Iota is actually less acc than toreador/sniper+1).
Warwolf and AF+1 glove is another 12 dex (9 acc) on top of that too. I agree accuracy is king...until you hit the cap, my point is it's very reasonable to be capped on your WS with Madrigal without needing to stack pure acc on every slot.

[Amele]

my point was that not everyone is going to have everything on that list (the OP certainly doesn't) so recommending warwolf belt to him over Life Belt is a mistake. I guess I need to make a point of explicitly stating that I answer questions within the reference frame of the person asking the question or something.

[FailureMidgard]

my point was that not everyone is going to have everything on that list (the OP certainly doesn't) so recommending warwolf belt to him over Life Belt is a mistake. I guess I need to make a point of explicitly stating that I answer questions within the reference frame of the person asking the question or something.

He's asking for advice on how to improve his gear. Let's call Usu Feet, Iota Ring, and Haub+1 unobtainable. (Amir Boots, Sniper Ring, and Haub are).

He gains 2 acc and loses 4 dex. Net loss of 1 accuracy.

Everything else on that list is -easily- obtainable. Furthermore, if he decides to keep his Ohat, but manages to get Amir Boots and a Sniper Ring, he will be 1 accuracy AHEAD of what I said, but out a good deal of attack.

Recommendations of upgrades for the OP:

Sniper's Ring (honestly, if you own a 5 dex ring, I'd say to use it in place of this, but no way is it worth the money just for this).
Hissho Hachimaki (lower priority item)
Shadow Gorget (must-have)
Lightning Bow+1 (If you want to save inv space and have a Tiphia, that's perfectly fine)
Amir Boots (really good item for Penta if you don't have Usu)
Anything at all in hands (AF+1 or Okote)

If for some reason he can't get 1 of those (perhaps Amir boots?), even a Potent is better than Life Belt. The OP, as well as really any Samurai that wants to be, will be at accuracy cap during WSes with Madrigal. If you want to assume no Madrigal, that's a different story, but your damage is going to suffer due to missing and swinging slower during TP mode anyway.

[Stabmegently]

With my current TP setup, I have no problems with accuracy during TPing, at all. My WS was what was suffering. I've changed my alky's to O.kotes, using O-hat at the moment, Potent belt, and ulthalams ring (Because trading 1 acc for 4 attack versus sniper ring seems fair to me, since it's free and I already have Ulth. ring). So far, my WS have improved by about 300 damage on average. Typically I hit for 1100-1200 now. Low's about 600, highs of about 1400. I'm sure usukane would help, but I don't currently belong to a salvage group. THe shadow gorget, I can get np, and the hachimaki, I'll work on. Otherwise, I think for what I have, I'm setup decently, and thanks to you guys, I'm better off than I was before. Thanks again.

Edit: I've been using Amir boots since after my original post, also.

[thalandor]

Here is my setup while using polearm ( most of the time..)

Main: Engetsuto (+2 acc)
Sub: Pole Grip
Ranged: Lighting Bow +1 (+3 Dex)
Head: Saotome Kabuto +1 (+12acc)
Neck: PCC ( +10 acc)
Ear1: Brutal
Ear3: Fowling/Bushinomimi (+3 acc)
Body: Haubergeon (+10acc, +5 Dex)
Hands: Myochin +1 ( +7 Dex)
Ring1: Ulthalam ( +4 acc)
Ring2: Rajas ( +5 Dex)
Back: Amemet+1 ( multijobs)
Belt: Saotome Koshi-Ate ( +7 acc +5 Dex)
Legs: Myochin +1
Feet: Saotome Feet ( +5 Dex) or Amir ( + 6 acc)

for a total of +~60 acc and +~30 Dex

The good thing about stacking dex, is that it helps not oly with acc, but also with crits..

Only 4 merits in Polearm, and i dont have problem eating meat most of the time ( events + merits)
Versus harder stuff Gkatana only.

[Rhealana]

likelihood of hitting all 5 hits at 90% acc = ~59%
likelihood of hitting all 5 hits at 92% acc = ~65%
likelihood of hitting all 5 hits at 95% acc = ~77%~

basically, not missing that fifth hit is worth more overall damage than any strength dex or attack you'd get instead. period.

Thus the "Accuracy, TO A CERTAIN POINT." part.

90% to 95% is around +10ACC.

Putting more than that into it is a waste, and is better to start stacking attack and STR.

[Cream Soda]

But we aren't broked drgs with the most melee acc in the game!

[Amele]

Thus the "Accuracy, TO A CERTAIN POINT." part.

90% to 95% is around +10ACC.

Putting more than that into it is a waste, and is better to start stacking attack and STR.

over 90% is not, practically speaking, 95%. until you are *at* 95% equal [useful] acc is always better than equal dex or str.

[Rhealana]

Whoosh?

Accuracy, to a certain point. You're still ignoring my first statement.

I never said "NU DUN GET ACC! GET ATK!"

Perhaps I could've worded it better where "add enough accuracy to hit 95%, then stop. Don't bother with anymore because it won't help you land 5 hits any more accurately." Happy?

[rithridan]

Only place I use polearm on SAM would be on GColibri and I love to go SAM/DRG on those with Love Halberd. I actually never heard of that Hissho Hachimaki item before and it definately looks like a great piece to use for NIN/MNK/SAM. My setup is slightly on the low side for acc+ but I pretty much only merit with a BRD throwing around Madrigal 2 so I kind of gear around that (and the +10 acc trait from /DRG). With the +dex value that I have I should get around 125dex for a good crit rate on GColibri, which is also a reason for the many +dex pieces.

Love Halberd (dex+7)
Pole Strap

Smart Grenade
Shura Zunari Kabuto (acc+5)
Love Torque (dex+5 acc+6~)
Brutal Earring
Ethereal Earring
Haubergeon +1 (dex+6 acc+12)
Myochin Kote +1 (dex+7)
Rajas Ring (dex+5)
Adroit Ring (dex+5)
Foragers Mantle
Warwolf Belt (dex+5)
Byakkos Haidate (dex+15)
Usukane Suneate (acc+7)

totals about acc+30 dex+55

I'd replace the Shura Zunari Kabuto with that Hissho Hachimaki if I'd do ZNMs, but I don't

[Cream Soda]

I'd replace the Shura Zunari Kabuto with that Hissho Hachimaki if I'd do ZNMs, but I don't

The NM you need to kill to get pop item for tier 2 Wulugaru can be done with a very small group. As for Wulugaru himself, easy solo if you want to spend a decent amount of time kiting.