Pros/Cons of each Marauder build

I'll pass on Shockwave and go with Drain, I'll let you guys know how that turns out.

Though Shockwave might look pretty at Crimson Guardians.

Might want to go test if it works well with it's irregular platform structure before choosing.

I'm going hybrid build, by the way. 14 drain, 27 shockwave, 27 blast.

Might want to go test if it works well with it's irregular platform structure before choosing.

I'm going hybrid build, by the way. 14 drain, 27 shockwave, 27 blast.

ya that's somethin else that keeps buggin me about shockwave . There's a lot of places that aren't completely flat, that won't let u use shockwave at all. pretty annoying really

Might want to go test if it works well with it's irregular platform structure before choosing.

I'm going hybrid build, by the way. 14 drain, 27 shockwave, 27 blast.

Do you mean 17 drain? It was bugging me and I just had to check, I think your skill levels are off. It takes 160 SP to max every 3rd job skill and you get 151. That means you need to take away 9 total points so you can get drain to 17, not just 14. A similar mistake was made earlier in this thread (18 drain and 26 the other two, DrRusty). AT least that's what my math came out to at least.

Do you mean 17 drain? It was bugging me and I just had to check, I think your skill levels are off. It takes 160 SP to max every 3rd job skill and you get 151. That means you need to take away 9 total points so you can get drain to 17, not just 14. A similar mistake was made earlier in this thread (18 drain and 26 the other two, DrRusty). AT least that's what my math came out to at least.

Yeah. Meant 17.

Alrighttttt I'm convinced f3. I'm gonna save up nx and take 5 points out of drain and put em bak into shockwave. I won't d it til prbably mid 13x or 14x but I will eventually. The main reason I'm deciding to do it is because when Stransform is maxed, you can stay Stransformed half the time.

I won't be doin it now since drain is still my best single target attack. Its not like ill be losin much since points in drain don't add that much dmg

Dragon Strike doesn't have a delay. It's animation is long enough to make up for it, unlike CSB and DU and Blast, which has short animations.

Alrighttttt I'm convinced f3. I'm gonna save up nx and take 5 points out of drain and put em bak into shockwave. I won't d it til prbably mid 13x or 14x but I will eventually. The main reason I'm deciding to do it is because when Stransform is maxed, you can stay Stransformed half the time.

I won't be doin it now since drain is still my best single target attack. Its not like ill be losin much since points in drain don't add that much dmg

How come you're not taking the points out of Blast?

How come you're not taking the points out of Blast?

B/c blast isn't as easily replaced as drain. Drain is great up until when I start getting more barrage. The reason I liked it so much was because I wanted to use it in places melee classes can't reach (bosses). Since that's the only thing I wanted it for, there's no point in putting to many points in it. Its not like ill be losin much. Drains sp doesnt increase its dmg by much.

Blast is still a great skill. Its fast animation can be used for a quick finish hit on mobs, or a follow up attack after dragon strike.

If drain was a bit stronger I would keep it. Basically, drain is great for a while, but becomes obsolete later.

I think I'm gonna try something different for 4th job. I'm thinking about going for a Stransform + snatch build first. I dnt think I've heard anyone recommend it yet. I'm gonna put a point in transform and snatch when I get 11 wind booster. If the delay isn't to bad, ill get snatch to where it hits 5 monsters and max out Stransform.

As I posted on SW:

[color=green]I'm still deciding whether to max shockwave, blast, or drain.

I definitely want max in 2, and 9 less in 1.

I was originally going to get 21 shock, but I'm not sure. The 9 points seems to be a lot of difference, whereas for blast, it's not as much, and for drain it's even less. Considering I won't be using drain as a main attacking skill, but as a secondary skill, I'm thinking of only getting 11 in it.

I derno. SP's skill tables are down so I can't check to see exactly.

Okay. I'm going to assume Strategywiki isn't lying to me.

Shockwave level 21: MP - 34, 565% Damage, 6 Enemies
Shockwave level 30: MP - 38, 700% Damage, 6 Enemies

Energy Drain level 11: Damage 315%, 16% of damage converted to HP
Energy Drain level 20: Damage 360%, 20% of damage converted to HP

Energy Blast level 21: Damage 366%, 4 Enemies
Energy Blast level 30: Damage 420%, 4 Enemies

Shockwave: -135%
Drain: -45%, and -4% converted
Energy Blast: -54%

Basically, Shockwave takes the biggest damage hit.
Drain loses the least, however it does lose that converted change of 4%, which is somewhat easy to ignore.
Energy Blast loses an average amount.

In other words, I'm considering maxing Shockwave and leaving drain at 11 for this. 45% damage isn't too much, considering I won't be using drain as a main attack skill (probably in between blasts, with SSK), and it still heals a significant amount.

Hmph.

I'm still gonna go energy first, but just skip the 20 drain and get to 11 instead.

I really can't decide between Drain and Blast so I might go hybrid and take points off of both instead. Something like 14 Drain and 27 Blast....not too sure though xd. Tough choices.

stuff

Shockwave level 21: MP - 34, 565% Damage, 6 Enemies
Shockwave level 30: MP - 38, 700% Damage, 6 Enemies

Energy Drain level 11: Damage 315%, 16% of damage converted to HP
Energy Drain level 20: Damage 360%, 20% of damage converted to HP

Energy Blast level 21: Damage 366%, 4 Enemies
Energy Blast level 30: Damage 420%, 4 Enemies

Shockwave: -135%
Drain: -45%, and -4% converted
Energy Blast: -54%

moar stuff

Er. Use ratios.

Shockwave: 80.7% of max
Drain: 87.5% of max, heal 70% of max
Energy Blast: 87.1% of max

Looking at it this way, Drain and Energy Blast both take significant hits, but Shockwave takes the largest hit if you drop 9 points from it. Same thing, but this shows that Energy Blast doesn't lose a lot more than Drain.

So you guys have all shown the diff between max and a 9 point loss, what about the hybrid's? how much of a blow does it get if you only take off 3 points?

So you guys have all shown the diff between max and a 9 point loss, what about the hybrid's? how much of a blow does it get if you only take off 3 points?

*Mutters indistinctly about doing your own math*

27 Shockwave: 93.6%
17 Drain: 95.8%, heals 91% as much as maxed
27 Blast: 95.7%

I ignored stun mastery. You're basically doing about 5% less damage than a Marauder with two skills maxed. On the plus side, all three skills will be near full power.

*Mutters indistinctly about doing your own math*

27 Shockwave: 93.6%
17 Drain: 95.8%, heals 91% as much as maxed
27 Blast: 95.7%

I ignored stun mastery. You're basically doing about 5% less damage than a Marauder with two skills maxed. On the plus side, all three skills will be near full power.

I don't know how to calculate something like that either, and was going to ask if he didn't post. :/

That's really not that bad for a hybrid build. You're not as strong as one or the other in their chosen aspects, but you're much more balanced. I'm sold. :O

The only time I think i will use drain is for some boss fights (like crogs). Other than that, i'll probably be using shockwave and blast more, so drain is my lowest priority.

Just my thoughts.

I don't know how to calculate something like that either, and was going to ask if he didn't post. :/

That's really not that bad for a hybrid build. You're not as strong as one or the other in their chosen aspects, but you're much more balanced. I'm sold. :O

:f6: I divided the % damage of the skill at level X over the % damage of the skill at max level. For 17 Blast I did 402/420...

He's just calculating what percent of damage it would do compared to the max.

Wow. im convinced-

mobbing in 4th job - dragon strike + blast/shockwave

single target - barrage + DU

bosses - drain/barrage/dragon strike/DU

as of now im maxing shock + blast

EDIT: not to mention that shock + blast take the most of a hit for those 9 lost points

He's just calculating what percent of damage it would do compared to the max.

I understand what the numbers mean, just not how to get there.

:f6: I divided the % damage of the skill at level X over the % damage of the skill at max level. For 17 Blast I did 402/420...

You're talking to someone who takes CP stats his senior year.

Got it now though.

Heh.

Dusk, if everyone could and was willing to do their own math, we wouldn't need DPS comparison threads.