BLU Gear questions

[Classikmage]

I am looking to finish my 65 BLU very soon here and was looking into gear for higher levels. Some slots still I'm not quite sure about yet. And I'd like to hear some other opinions.

What would be Optimal gear for Big 3 assuming I'm using Sole Sushi?:


Head: Mirage Keffiyah
Neck: Peacock Charm or Kubira Bead Necklace?
Earring +2 STR Rings? Or is there something better?
Body: Magus Jubbah +1
Hands: Enkidu Mittens
Rings: Flame Ring x2
Back: Cuchulain's Mantle
Waist: Warwolf Belt
Legs: Mirage Shalwar or Enkidu's Subligar?
Feet: Denali Gamashes

Now the gear I've listed is what I assume to be the best for the slots. Some of it i have already. Some of it I don't. The slots where I listed more than one item are slots where I don't know which would be better.

I'm looking for some opinions on which pieces are best so I know what to go after.

[Shadowhusky]

O-hat/w-hat, C.chain for WS/spells, life belt for spells/if you need more acc.

[Dammerung]

http://www.ffxiah.com/item_sets.php?id=39967

maat's cap is best, as well as rajas. assuming you have full merits, otherwise will need more acc probably. some people like that str ranged item, but it doesn't work all the time so I don't have one. ignore the swords on there.

[Classikmage]

I should have elaborated I won't have blu magic merits, my magic skills are glued on 8/8 elemental magic and 8/8 enfeebling magic for my BLM & RDM.

The gear I listed isn't set in stone. It's just what I'm looking at atm. So anything changeable at this stage.

[Classikmage]

- FFXIAH.com

maat's cap is best, as well as rajas. assuming you have full merits, otherwise will need more acc probably. some people like that str ranged item, but it doesn't work all the time so I don't have one.

Didn't think about Gnadbod's Helm. But would that be better than the 5 blue magic skill on the AF2 head as far as damage?

[Dammerung]

blue skill v elemental is a personal debate of hell for me as I am currently leveling blm and have sch at 75 already. no way am i going to give up enfeeble.

yes orc hat will be better for normal spell casting, I use af2+1 on cannonball though

[Marcicus]

what the shit at suppanomimi? use a second triumph instead

[Suiram]

blue skill v elemental is a personal debate of hell for me as I am currently leveling blm and have sch at 75 already. no way am i going to give up enfeeble.

yes orc hat will be better for normal spell casting, I use af2+1 on cannonball though

Not convinced on this. You don't have merits, but for someone who does, AF2 hat adds guaranteed 2 base damage to spells (assuming casting in AF/AF+1 body in both cases). Orc helm should usually also add 2 base damage, maybe occasionally 3, and possibly very rarely 1 (might not be possible, it would have to be at certain WSC cutoffs). But Blue Skill is also increasing your "attack" on non-Cannonball spells, and while +5 might not be much, it really depends on how often you're getting more than +2 from the other, better to get something more all the time, I think.

[Dammerung]

i have 8/8 blu and 8/8 enfeeble

[Suiram]

Oh sorry, I mistook your earlier remark as saying you hadn't meritted either yet.

[el_tio]

Not convinced on this. You don't have merits, but for someone who does, AF2 hat adds guaranteed 2 base damage to spells (assuming casting in AF/AF+1 body in both cases). Orc helm should usually also add 2 base damage, maybe occasionally 3, and possibly very rarely 1 (might not be possible, it would have to be at certain WSC cutoffs). But Blue Skill is also increasing your "attack" on non-Cannonball spells, and while +5 might not be much, it really depends on how often you're getting more than +2 from the other, better to get something more all the time, I think.

Honestly it would depend on non-CA vs CA right? I thought CA doubles stat mods meaning more from orc helm on CA, otherwise I'd say go with Mirage. Unless you're talking about Cannonball where Mirage obviously wins (if skill bumps a D tier).

Also, like that spellset listed, I'd go with suppa instead of a 2nd triumph, 6ish acc > 2 str IMO.

[Suiram]

Hmm, good point, if you're getting 2 base dmg from helm with 1 from fSTR and 1 from WSC, then it would increase it to 3 on CA. Although if it's 2 from fSTR and none from WSC, then CA wouldn't affect it at all since it doubles after the level correction and all the flooring.

I guess this question remains unclear until Blue Magic Skill's effect on "Blue Attack" is quantified. But that does lean it a bit more in Gnad helm's favor.

[astura]

This what i would consider the optimal multi hit spell set up for the big 3.

- FFXIAH.com

Acc +35/40 (latent on perdu) dex+31 str+41
Its a nice solid mix of acc/str/dex/skill which with sushi should have you fine for any merit level mob. (anything you wouldnt land multi hits on like gods you should be /thf anyways and using single hit spells). You'll notice i favor using PCC and optical hat over other pieces like morrigan's/chain/etc. Reason is on a per slot bases you get the least str/dex returns to acc returns compared to other slots. The only really 2 hard pieces to get out of this set would be Koggelmander (MMM drop), and Cuchulain's Mantle (Campaign ops drop). You could buy the mantle if you camped long enough though and with a steady group should be able to get the sword eventually. Though if you cant get the mantle smiloden+1 and potent's belt works as a nice filler combo (2 str gain lost 9 dex and net gain gain of 3.5 acc)
Anyways as a general rule frenetic rip and disservement are stronger/more reliable then hysteric barrage simply due to less hit (3 FR) or a acc boost under CA (disservement).
A 5 hitter with no acc boost naturally takes more work to consitant returns. Though even with capped acc (95%) youll still only connect all 5 hits 77% the time. Just like ws you should stack acc to land hits reliable then work on str/dex. (however to hit 4/5 hits with capped acc is 81% the time so essentially a 4 or 5 hit is almost the same chance meaning capped acc is the #1 way to get consitant reliable dmg) As a nice bonus disservement and i think FR have dex as mods which is another way to get a dmg boost (double dipping into mod+acc boost from dex)

(btw with the worst dex rating you can get for this (elvan 60) you get a net acc of 470 with this set up almost capping you on thf mammol ja)
As after though ideally you would use ancient torque for 4 more dex and 1 more total acc gain but i didn't think about it as its outside most players attainability.

[eva00r]

I'd suggest this for Disseverment/Frenetic Rip.

Head: Mirage Keffiyah
Neck: Ancient Torque
Earring Suppanomimi and Pixie
Body: Magus Jubbah +1
Hands: Enkidu Mittens
Rings: Flame Ring and Rajas Ring
Back: Cuchulain's Mantle
Waist: Warwolf Belt
Legs: Enkidu's Subligar
Feet: Denali Gamashes

For H.Barrage, swap out Flame Ring for Thunder Ring or you can try throw in Antica Ring if you really can find one.

[Septimus]

Unrelated question, but might as well since I didn't see it posted anywhere else.

Say you have Koggelmander, Fragarach, and Perdu Hanger- should you use Fragarach or Perdu? I am not sure if the Magic Accuracy (lol) and consistent accuracy and damage rating on the Fragarch will outshine the latents from Perdu. (Especially for events like Nyzul Isle where my BLU gets most of its use- since you will often have to hold TP since mobs die quickly most of the time.)

[Classikmage]

This what i would consider the optimal multi hit spell set up for the big 3.

- FFXIAH.com

Acc +35/40 (latent on perdu) dex+31 str+41
Its a nice solid mix of acc/str/dex/skill which with sushi should have you fine for any merit level mob. (anything you wouldnt land multi hits on like gods you should be /thf anyways and using single hit spells). You'll notice i favor using PCC and optical hat over other pieces like morrigan's/chain/etc. Reason is on a per slot bases you get the least str/dex returns to acc returns compared to other slots. The only really 2 hard pieces to get out of this set would be Koggelmander (MMM drop), and Cuchulain's Mantle (Campaign ops drop). You could buy the mantle if you camped long enough though and with a steady group should be able to get the sword eventually. Though if you cant get the mantle smiloden+1 and potent's belt works as a nice filler combo (2 str gain lost 9 dex and net gain gain of 3.5 acc)
Anyways as a general rule frenetic rip and disservement are stronger/more reliable then hysteric barrage simply due to less hit (3 FR) or a acc boost under CA (disservement).
A 5 hitter with no acc boost naturally takes more work to consitant returns. Though even with capped acc (95%) youll still only connect all 5 hits 77% the time. Just like ws you should stack acc to land hits reliable then work on str/dex. (however to hit 4/5 hits with capped acc is 81% the time so essentially a 4 or 5 hit is almost the same chance meaning capped acc is the #1 way to get consitant reliable dmg) As a nice bonus disservement and i think FR have dex as mods which is another way to get a dmg boost (double dipping into mod+acc boost from dex)

(btw with the worst dex rating you can get for this (elvan 60) you get a net acc of 470 with this set up almost capping you on thf mammol ja)
As after though ideally you would use ancient torque for 4 more dex and 1 more total acc gain but i didn't think about it as its outside most players attainability.

Kind of surprised people are opting for Optical Hat over AF2 Head. But than again I don't have BLU high enough yet to formulate fine-tuned gear opnions like that. Hence why I wasn't sure which pieces we're better, AF2 Legs vs/ Enkidu Legs or Pcc vs. Kubira Neck.

Alot of of good info in this thread I'll take to heart. As far as Koggelmander goes. I actually have a friend running me through some Taniawah's on his orb to get me one. Just need it to drop.

Another question that's been running through my head is one for TP. Suppose you had access to Morrigan's Robe and AF2 Body Which would you opt for, for TP? The +10 Acc from the AF2 Body, or would the +5 Acc, +5 Attack, +8 STR on the Morrigan's Robe better for stronger hits?

[Classikmage]

Unrelated question, but might as well since I didn't see it posted anywhere else.

Say you have Koggelmander, Fragarach, and Perdu Hanger- should you use Fragarach or Perdu? I am not sure if the Magic Accuracy (lol) and consistent accuracy and damage rating on the Fragarch will outshine the latents from Perdu. (Especially for events like Nyzul Isle where my BLU gets most of its use- since you will often have to hold TP since mobs die quickly most of the time.)

You actually bring up an interesting question that hadn't crossed my mind yet. I just decided to go for Perdu/Koggel and be done with it. But I guess the only thing I could see to do is have all three. and equip w/e is best for the current situation.

[Nevex]

A question to BLUs here who don't have Rajas Ring: do you use Flame x2, Flame/acc ring or Flame/Iota for the big three?
I'm currently using the first option but debating about getting a Iota Ring for those.
No way I'm giving up my Tamas ring, not anytime soon at least.

My current setup is:
Main: Perdu
Sub: Hofud (no Koggel yet)
Ammo: Olibanum Sachet
Head: AF2
Neck: C.Chain
Ear: Suppa/Minuet
Rings: Flame x2
Hands: Enkidu's
Body: AF+1
Back: AF2 (C.Mantle is overpriced as hell on my server)
Waist: Warwolf
Legs: AF2
Feet: Denali

27-35 acc depending on Minuet Earring and Perdu's latents, 5 sword skill(4 acc?), 36 str and 19 dex total.
8/8 sword merits and 2/8 blue magic merits so I manage to break the 300 skill tier.

Not an optimal setup, mainly due inventory space issues (67/70 when I play BLU) as well as conflicts with my other mage jobs.
SE really needs to increase the cap for magic skills merits already...

[Ultimagi]

What job won't you give up Tamas for? For any Intelligence or Mind build, there's just as much on buyable rings. If you want Enmity reduction, its available in larger quantities in other slots.

[Nevex]

WHM, BLM, RDM and SCH.
Most people go under the assumption that you use just a single stat on Tamas Ring at once, but that indeed is wrong.
INT and -enmity are used on nukes when not soloing, MND and -enmity on cures and other spells that use that stat. Marginal advantages over Snow/Aqua? Maybe, but they do add up.

Add the fact that I'm elvaan and I certainly don't dislike the 30 MP on it, so there's nothing weird about prefering Tamas over Rajas.