The Official Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Topic

Okay, so using the nifty armor generator program, with my available charms and the quests I have access to in the Port, I've been able to come up with two different G-Rank sets, and I'm torn between which one to use:

The first gives: Sharpness +1, Stamina Recovery Up, Earplugs, Evasion +1, and Current Resistance +1 (just a little extra added by a charm of mine)
The second set gives just: Sharpness +1, Evasion +2, and Marathon Runner

Now I heard that Marathon Runner makes it so that the stamina bar depletes a lot slower while you're in Demon mode as a Dual Sword-user, which is obviously a good thing, as that allows you to build up your gauge, deal more damage, etc. and Evasion +2 basically allows you to roll through anything, as long as you get the timing right, which is why I'm leaning towards the second set, but I'd like a second opinion.

Okay, so using the nifty armor generator program, with my available charms and the quests I have access to in the Port, I've been able to come up with two different G-Rank sets, and I'm torn between which one to use:

The first gives: Sharpness +1, Stamina Recovery Up, Earplugs, Evasion +1, and Current Resistance +1 (just a little extra added by a charm of mine)
The second set gives just: Sharpness +1, Evasion +2, and Marathon Runner

Now I heard that Marathon Runner makes it so that the stamina bar depletes a lot slower while you're in Demon mode as a Dual Sword-user, which is obviously a good thing, as that allows you to build up your gauge, deal more damage, etc. and Evasion +2 basically allows you to roll through anything, as long as you get the timing right, which is why I'm leaning towards the second set, but I'd like a second opinion.

Evasion +2 is not really necessary unless you intend to learn every monster's moveset down to exact timing completely. The majority of attacks can be avoided with Evasion+1, and the invulnerability time added with +2 is significantly less than +1's. Most roars and probably 90% of attacks are avoidable with Evasion+1.

FYI, even with Evasion+2, you cannot dodge Diablos' roar. You can't even panic dive it.

Marathon Runner is a very good skill for both Duals and Bow, provided you don't intend to use Dash Juice. If you have a lot of Extract or Juice sitting around, Marathon Runner becomes a pointless skill. You also have Stamina Recovery Up on the other set, which is close to the same effect. Instead of reducing how fast your Stamina decreases, it increases how fast it increases. It requires you to play slightly differently but overall it's the same advantage provided you play smart.

With those two thoughts taken into consideration, I would probably go with the first set, however I would honestly have tried for a different skill instead of Earplugs considering you can dodge roars with Evasion+1.

Evasion +2 is not really necessary unless you intend to learn every monster's moveset down to exact timing completely. The majority of attacks can be avoided with Evasion+1, and the invulnerability time added with +2 is significantly less than +1's. Most roars and probably 90% of attacks are avoidable with Evasion+1.

FYI, even with Evasion+2, you cannot dodge Diablos' roar. You can't even panic dive it.

Marathon Runner is a very good skill for both Duals and Bow, provided you don't intend to use Dash Juice. If you have a lot of Extract or Juice sitting around, Marathon Runner becomes a pointless skill. You also have Stamina Recovery Up on the other set, which is close to the same effect. Instead of reducing how fast your Stamina decreases, it increases how fast it increases. It requires you to play slightly differently but overall it's the same advantage provided you play smart.

With those two thoughts taken into consideration, I would probably go with the first set, however I would honestly have tried for a different skill instead of Earplugs considering you can dodge roars with Evasion+1.

I tried a number of other things besides Earplugs, but I just couldn't find another skill that was even worth getting in its place. The only reason I could see is because I just didn't have the Charms to do it, or my Charm Table just didn't give the Charms necessary TO do it. Honestly it's not too bad, cause even with this not being my first game in the MH series, and probably having killed all the monsters in the game at least 10-15 times each, I've only perfected dodge rolling through roars on about half of them. On the other half I'll only roll through about half the time, if at all, so I figured I'd just use Earplugs to at least guarantee me a free 5-6 seconds of attacks on monsters with Earplug-level roars.

I tried a number of other things besides Earplugs, but I just couldn't find another skill that was even worth getting in its place. The only reason I could see is because I just didn't have the Charms to do it, or my Charm Table just didn't give the Charms necessary TO do it. Honestly it's not too bad, cause even with this not being my first game in the MH series, and probably having killed all the monsters in the game at least 10-15 times each, I've only perfected dodge rolling through roars on about half of them. On the other half I'll only roll through about half the time, if at all, so I figured I'd just use Earplugs to at least guarantee me a free 5-6 seconds of attacks on monsters with Earplug-level roars.

That's true. I wasn't sure how good with Evasion you were considering you wanted it on both sets. If you don't trust your ability to reliably dodge roars, Earplugs is definitely a decent skill to get. I would go with the first set then for sure.

Does Mock Melynx's bomb attack even cause any damage to targets or is it solely used for the catnip effect? I've not once ever seen these bombs stun, flinch, break, etc -- meanwhile False Felyne mask definitely uses REAL bombs that have done everything you'd expect from bombs.

Does Mock Melynx's bomb attack even cause any damage to targets or is it solely used for the catnip effect? I've not once ever seen these bombs stun, flinch, break, etc -- meanwhile False Felyne mask definitely uses REAL bombs that have done everything you'd expect from bombs.

They probably do very little damage. The more important feature of the Mock Melynx mask is that whoever wears it can steal items on melee attack.

Does Mock Melynx's bomb attack even cause any damage to targets or is it solely used for the catnip effect? I've not once ever seen these bombs stun, flinch, break, etc -- meanwhile False Felyne mask definitely uses REAL bombs that have done everything you'd expect from bombs.

Mock Melynx's rage mode makes the Shakalaka start using Felvine Bombs, which only do a single point of damage.

Surprised no one has posted this:
[video=youtube;r9de7mRhXWk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9de7mRhXWk[/video]

Or this:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/643007-mo...4/67091365

Yet.

First is great. Second has me worried about the grindfest.

The guild quest system sounds really interesting. I won't bother with the grinding aspects since I really don't grind for charms either, but I do get what I come across naturally.

The guild quest system sounds really interesting. I won't bother with the grinding aspects since I really don't grind for charms either, but I do get what I come across naturally.

I'm completely expecting specific armor skills being only from Excavation armor, and that's what worries me.