The Beast Within -- A Guide To Blue Mage

Only did a few stones. Did try a Dark Matter but got the worst augments possible. But, a decent stop-gap before next update. Beats Nibiru easily.

On my Dark Matter try, got Mdmg +13, Resist Petrify +10, and pet int +10 lol

Dropped about 800 into my Coladas so far with pretty horendous results. These swords can be superb, but the augmenting system requiring the stars to align and all the deities to bless you simultaneously is far too much of a hassle.

First time I'll say this, but I'd suggest ignoring these swords, even though they're our current best, and instead focusing on Tizona/Almace. Their upgraded versions will be massively ahead of everything else. This is, of course, assuming you plan on building them, anyways. Otherwise, dual Coladas will be your best choices.

Yeah, going to get another Colada for Magic to replace Nibiru Clubs and offhand Almace. Need 49 Cinders to finish

Yeah, I'm in the process of converting my Coladas to magic, but even that requires luck. You need good INT and macc/MAB for them to win. However, you can get Refresh +1 on each, so that in itself could easily justify the weapons.

This augment system wasn't too terrible when dealing with armor, but when adding that fifth variable in the form of damage to the weapons, I just can't handle it. I'm okay with the grind, but I really hate RNG grinds. So, started Tizona and Almace, and look forward to hating myself for the next month while I work on them non-stop.

I did VW spam off and on when I was home this week (perfect timing with the holidays...), and I have to agree with FS: I'd have rather started a second Tizona. The grind for plates and cinders is ***; Salvage etc is downright therapeutic by comparison. Wish I could've gotten more done but I'm not sure my sanity would have permitted it regardless.

I've completely given up on trying to track optimized builds with the Reisenjima armor augments, especially with dark matter augments entering the fray. Why they thought this was a sensible approach to gearing is simply beyond me.

Refresh+2 on colada.

Thirded, I'm really sad this campaign is ending tonight.

Is this with Dark Matter, or Fern stones?

Fern, i was hoping for burst, got it twice while doing nuke sword before i switched to melee path.

Very interesting. Shame we can't get max macc/MAB with Fern, but +4 refresh is superb for pure idle/weapon swapping scenarios.

Did you manage to see Burst Damage at all? Out of the stones I threw at it, I didn't see it show up.

No burst sadly, did quite a few stones.

Saw enhancing magic duration, Cure potency, Refresh, MDMG ugh

Not a fan of these augments... I'm just putting all my effort in to finishing my Tizona now. Luckily I already got my 1500 HMP and my Almace is already 95.

XD
AMG if only we could dual wield Tizona *not just the lockstyle*


BTW: got some pretty hawt augments for herc gloves and boots.
Gloves: dex 11, acc 30, attack 4, crit hit rate 2%
Boots 1: dex 5, acc 29, attack 8, dual wield 5
Boots 2: dex 14, acc 38, attack 23, magic dmg taken -3%

Got all with taupe stones

Those 15 hours could have been spent on plates. You should be ashamed of yourself.

That's hurtful, man.

In other news, everybody pray for some good campaigns this month, because HMP farming without capped lights is suffering.

With trusts and being able to fume them like non-stop, it isn't bad

I got spoiled with the campaign. Now I have to actually do things instead of mindlessly press a CDC macro. First world problems.

I should have been farming aello for glowy swords. I always had the best luck with her on plates to.

It is suffering even with capped lights :/ At least, in salvage, you are sure you are gonna get 75 alex average from your linen pouch, plus the 100% drop singles you bother to farm, so it is basically more satisfying (although VW is potentially more profitable). VW, on the other hand, is a garbage fest.

Also, I have actually found more pouches in this campaign from Aello pops where I didn't use rubicund cells. Of course, there is no evidence to be taken from eyeballing and I do know you can't get both a pouch and an equipment drop from one chest, so I am almost sure it is only coincidence, but still... it would be nice to know if I could just skip the cell part.

They have never confirmed anything regarding how much the rubicund cells effect the hmp drop rates, have they?

Question about the Relic feet: to receive the enhanced duration on Diffusion do you need to equip them before using Diffusion, or do you need to keep them equipped (midcast) while casting the spell you want to diffuse?

90% sure you need to midcast them, cant test now.

Do it please geigei! Would really apreciate knowing for sure if they just require Precast on JA use or Midcast on spell casting.


On a side note: I'm helping a close friend who recently returned after 1-2 years of break (he quit shortly after SoA release, he only has some 110 delve pieces and 113 weapons).
Anybody mind giving me some guidance on priorities for his gear? I'm gonna carry him around to get him gear but I'm not really sure how to guide him through these first weeks (once I get him some gear I'm sure he'll be able to get the rest on his own).
Atm I let him get Eminent Scimitar and Homestead Blade so he has 2x 117 weapons.
What should I get him next?

Was thinking on a few Rawhide pieces. Body and feet mostly, maybe Legs and Head too (idle?).
Aside from Body/Feet they might not be ideal, but it's surely better than what he has now, and the good part is that I can solo all those NMs for him. I'm not sure I'd be able to solo Alluvion Yorcia or Original Yorcia. Plus quite honestly that would be way more work than killing NMs in Zi'tah.
Eventually I want to get him some Taeon/Helios pieces but I'm gonna have to ask more people to help him because I can't do that solo and it's annoying.

Another thing I could easily carry him around for are the BCs to get REM tales 1-5. Is there any mandatory/required job-enhancing piece from the AF/Relic/Empy armours?
I could spot the relic feet for their Diffusion enhancement, what else?
Please leave aside pieces which are too specific, we're so behind that we need to prioritize really important gear before thinking about fine-tuning.

I'm gonna do lots of Rem tales 1-5 for him regardless though. His other job is RDM and I want to get him a lot of those pieces, especially 5/5 Empy.

Sechs if you need any help to get your friend stuff let me know (I know most things you probably do not need help on but anything you think you might holler). Idm helping out. :)

Relic feet must be equipped on midcast for the bonus.

As for AF pieces:
Mandatory: Relic feet, Empy feet.
Highly useful: AF body, relic head, Empy body, empy hands, empy legs.
Niche uses: AF hands, AF feet, relic body, relic hands, empy head.