SMN Update Testing

[Shuichi]

I finally got my ACP final BC done, and picked -2 perp with the MAC/MAB. So far it has been fun. Garuda is like my best campaign buddy now. I'm going to redo my MAB merits to 5/5, but as far as merit BPs what are fellow summoners doing? Are you picking one to take to 5/5? If so,which one? I was thinking Heavenly Strike 5/5 myself.

[DAKPluto]

I finally got my ACP final BC done, and picked -2 perp with the MAC/MAB. So far it has been fun. Garuda is like my best campaign buddy now. I'm going to redo my MAB merits to 5/5, but as far as merit BPs what are fellow summoners doing? Are you picking one to take to 5/5? If so,which one? I was thinking Heavenly Strike 5/5 myself.

you can do 2 5/5...


At the very least you will want 1 Dark skillchain element, and 1 Light. After that it's kinda up to you. Me, I went with ones that have very usable ward BPs for after my merit BP.

[nitsuj]

I'm doing Ramuh 5/5 because I like him and he doesn't get used enough, in my opinion.

As to the other points, probably do 1/5 in all of them for variety.

[Indalecia]

Same as Nits, but Grand fall.

[Reapz]

5/5 Wind Blade, 5/5 Heavenly Strike for me

[Karbuncle]

Probably going to do 5/5 Heavenly, from there it'll just be whatever i suppose ;x

[Meian]

5/5 Grand Fall, unsure on last one...

[Spira]

i did 5/5 Thunderstorm and 1 for each of the rest just so I could use them... I guess its more beneficial to do 1 light side nuke and 1 dark side nuke.. (Heavenly Strike would be best for any dark since most BLMs would use that, and BRDs would apply threnody blabla) but the ability to do all 6 is quite nice i think..

and gotta remember Geocrush has 2ndary use... earth-based dmg + stun, which is probably useful to have in your bag of tricks whether u end up using it regularly or not

[Silenka]

I'm doing 5/5 heavenly strike, 1 in each of the other ones. I find Heavenly Strike to be most useful so far because less mobs resist it/Shiva seems to have a high magic accuracy innately. The others are fun to use though...

[Spira]

shiva seeming to have a higher innate magic accuracy rate kinda links back to the implication of celestial avatars having higher stats based on their element (ice - INT, we've also heard accounts of Ifrit with STR) and it somewhat helps to substantiate the whole +INT gives substantial Magic Acc thing.

[Acturus]

I'm surprised more people aren't doing 5/5 Geocrush.

It's got that non-lightning based Stun effect.

[Spira]

I did Garuda and Leviathan because I use those avatars more than any other. Also, I cover Distortion, Frag, Light, and Dark with them.

Garuda, Leviathan, Ramuh and Shiva would be the best choices, since the 4 of them cover Distortion and Frag, which are the most popular (AFAIK) lv2 skillchains around..
I personally stick to the ones related to elements that BLMs favor, cos if you're doing a MB with BLMs involved, anyone doing any elemental enfeebling (Threnody, lolninjutsunukes) will be catering to the BLM more than they would you.

of course, if it gets down to Lv3 skillchains, all of them work.. but some will work better.. based on how your party members support you / how they prefer to play

[Meian]

I'm surprised more people aren't doing 5/5 Geocrush.

It's got that non-lightning based Stun effect.

Gotta have the eye-candy. How long is the stun anyway normally?

[Reapz]

Fortunate enough to test SMN on JoL/AV today, forgive crappy layout I was just typing it into notepad throughout the fight, both BPs are 5/5, 1 merit in mab, pet: mab+9 augments (redingote + diamond earring) and pet: macc+8 augments (redingote + crappy 1 macc brocade obi D: )


Jailer of Love
During anything but Blizzard Phase
Heavenly Strike - Windsday

698 - 1 hit
698 - 1 hit
685 - 0 hit
685 - 0 hit
685 - 0 hit
698 - 1 hit
706 - 1 hit + hit with a spell from JoL
698 - 1 hit
361 - 2 hits, resist
698 - 1 hit
698 - 1 hit
685 - 0 hit

During Stone Phase
Wind Blade - Windsday
685 - 0 hit
794 - 3 hit, Windsday proc
Released one too early to see damage in log ;; but no resist
753 - 0 hit, Windsday proc
383 - 1 hit, resist

Absolute Virtue
Wind Blade - Windsday

306 - 0 hit
594 - Left it out a bit to eat Aeroga damage

Testing shows they are as accurate as BLMs 320 skill/120 int set and damage is equivalent to a top geared blms tier IV, pretty happy with them considering thats lacking another 8 pet mab in merits

[donnie]

this is very impressive

[Khamsin]

I'm surprised more people aren't doing 5/5 Geocrush.

It's got that non-lightning based Stun effect.

It's also got non-lightning speed, as well.

[Spira]

its still useful as a stun to throw in... maybe if u're stun locking
its just not good for specific move stunning

[Silenka]

It's awesome for kited fights.

[Acturus]

It's also got non-lightning speed, as well.

Well yeah, but you don't use Geocrush or Chaotic Strike on those "omg STUNZ moves". You use them because they offer good damage and the stun is a bonus.

*edit*
Are the forums acting up? I see a link to page 15 of this thread, but my post is on page 14, and clicking on the page 15 link just drops me back to the top of page 14.

[miokomioko]

Merit Blood Pacts being useful has divided this thread by zero, apparently.