2008-07-04, 08:09 PM
Powerstrike: Increased DPS
Slash Blast on Mobs of 6 = Greatly reduced DPS
FA would be incredible, as in a rating of 10/10 in awesome, if it's Slash Blast activation wasn't so bullshit weak on the monster at the end of the attack. Especially for WKs, who don't need to charge up orbs, when mobbing, FA is quite frankly, the worst available use of those stat points for a WK. Charging up an element, using up the charge with Charge Blow, and rebuffing is better for DPS than Charge + SB with FA, according to Seyanin from SW if I recall.
Consider this. Some Paladins go Blast first, placing their inital point at 120 into it. Reason is probably due to not having the book for ACB which only drops at Zakum. They prefer 1 blast over maxed powerstrike since it's controllable, FA doesn't randomly activate. If it's such a big deal for a single-hitting skill at that level... well, keep reading, you'll see.
Crusaders go FA for Combo Orbs. DKs neglect it (for the most part) due to having replacements for Powerstrike and Slash Blast at 3rd job. The WKs are sort of trapped in the middle. It has its moments where it can be helpful... but a moment isn't even worth a grain of sand in the flow of eternity, or in this case, a few monsters killed by FA don't amount to much in the hundreds of thousands you kill per level up. It's worth it, the majority of the time, with powerstrike, but look. What's better, a single monster worth 400 exp, or a mob of 6 worth 150 each? Slash blast is the utensil used to eat the main course of your gourmet feast of monsters, and FA weakens it.
Ranyratings:
FA for Powerstrike: 7/10
It activates at bad times an awful lot, causing you to get hit, but I can't deny that it increases damage output, when it activates at the right time and not after killing something. It's hard to say whether it helps or harms in the long run, but it's noticeable that it deals damage, and that's what matters most to most players.
FA for Slash Blast: 2/10
Sorry, but 2-digit damage at the end of a chain of monsters hit with FA doesn't cut it. In that same time, I could have done a second, normal, Slash Blast, and killed all 6 in one strike, not just the two at the head of the group, taking even longer to kill the ones behind it. Let's also not forget that it adds up to a horrible inability to make the monster flinch, which is yet another way you take more damage rather than just poorly timed activation of the skill.
Verdict on FA for WKs: Your choice. Looking cool and single targets? Mobbing? Personally, Warriors aren't sins, we're mobbers! I prefer slash blast for training, and FA screws me over big time. When I reset my points to swap weapons, I'm not adding any FA, I'll let it rot there. It's cheaper than adding it to IB which is what I'd ideally do.
If only they let you toggle it on or off, so you can choose to never see the effect if it would inconvenience you at a particular map.
Slash Blast on Mobs of 6 = Greatly reduced DPS
FA would be incredible, as in a rating of 10/10 in awesome, if it's Slash Blast activation wasn't so bullshit weak on the monster at the end of the attack. Especially for WKs, who don't need to charge up orbs, when mobbing, FA is quite frankly, the worst available use of those stat points for a WK. Charging up an element, using up the charge with Charge Blow, and rebuffing is better for DPS than Charge + SB with FA, according to Seyanin from SW if I recall.
Consider this. Some Paladins go Blast first, placing their inital point at 120 into it. Reason is probably due to not having the book for ACB which only drops at Zakum. They prefer 1 blast over maxed powerstrike since it's controllable, FA doesn't randomly activate. If it's such a big deal for a single-hitting skill at that level... well, keep reading, you'll see.
Crusaders go FA for Combo Orbs. DKs neglect it (for the most part) due to having replacements for Powerstrike and Slash Blast at 3rd job. The WKs are sort of trapped in the middle. It has its moments where it can be helpful... but a moment isn't even worth a grain of sand in the flow of eternity, or in this case, a few monsters killed by FA don't amount to much in the hundreds of thousands you kill per level up. It's worth it, the majority of the time, with powerstrike, but look. What's better, a single monster worth 400 exp, or a mob of 6 worth 150 each? Slash blast is the utensil used to eat the main course of your gourmet feast of monsters, and FA weakens it.
Ranyratings:
FA for Powerstrike: 7/10
It activates at bad times an awful lot, causing you to get hit, but I can't deny that it increases damage output, when it activates at the right time and not after killing something. It's hard to say whether it helps or harms in the long run, but it's noticeable that it deals damage, and that's what matters most to most players.
FA for Slash Blast: 2/10
Sorry, but 2-digit damage at the end of a chain of monsters hit with FA doesn't cut it. In that same time, I could have done a second, normal, Slash Blast, and killed all 6 in one strike, not just the two at the head of the group, taking even longer to kill the ones behind it. Let's also not forget that it adds up to a horrible inability to make the monster flinch, which is yet another way you take more damage rather than just poorly timed activation of the skill.
Verdict on FA for WKs: Your choice. Looking cool and single targets? Mobbing? Personally, Warriors aren't sins, we're mobbers! I prefer slash blast for training, and FA screws me over big time. When I reset my points to swap weapons, I'm not adding any FA, I'll let it rot there. It's cheaper than adding it to IB which is what I'd ideally do.
If only they let you toggle it on or off, so you can choose to never see the effect if it would inconvenience you at a particular map.