NIN sub and weapon

[Dwarkyzidez]

Im about to pick up WAR from 23 to at least 37. I'm hoping longer. But I have some issues on how everyone wants war.

1) What level do I use NIN as a sub? So far I have it at 20. Plan to use it for Promyvions.

2) When I sub NIN, can I still use a GAXE or am I forced to dual-wielding axes?

3) What level should I switch from GAXE to axe (if any)?

4) Whats a good place to skill up axe skill?

If you cant tell I really wanna level with a gaxe ^^

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Im about to pick up WAR from 23 to at least 37. I'm hoping longer. But I have some issues on how everyone wants war.

1) What level do I use NIN as a sub? So far I have it at 20. Plan to use it for Promyvions.
Level 56 is a no brainer (that's when you get Rampage). 50 is widely accepted (that's when Dual Wield II kicks in to give a significant DoT boost) as well as 48 (since you can use dual Viking Axes for +20 acc total).

Level 24 is acceptable given the right circumstances, namely 1) a dual WAR/NIN or NIN/WAR + WAR/NIN pt where you bounce hate with another blink tank (which is a very good setup for Promyvions), or 2) a pt with a THF where they need you to set up SATA onto the tank.

Level 20 is silly. Dual Wield at that level doesn't give enough of a DoT boost to outwiegh the benefits of GAxe.

2) When I sub NIN, can I still use a GAXE or am I forced to dual-wielding axes?
Yes, you can still use GAxe. And before level 48, GAxe will probably be better than most Axe/Axe (or even Axe/Sword) combinations. Having the Dual Wield job trait will not force you to actually dual wield single handed weapons. You can even do Axe/Shield as /NIN (useful in some tanking situations, but you likely won't face those situations with exp'ing as WAR/NIN).

3) What level should I switch from GAXE to axe (if any)?
Either 48 (for dual Vikings), 50 (for faster attack speed), or 56.

4) Whats a good place to skill up axe skill?
Any place you won't get killed. Beetles and Crabs are good skill up targets, since they don't have any really damaging TP moves, and their high defense makes them last a long time (which is a good thing when you're trying to get skill ups).

[Armando]

What Lyonheart said.

Use Great Axe, spam Shield Break (no, not Sturmwind, Shield Break) on everything and eat meat. Biggest service you can bring to your parties. Stick an Acid Bolt in there while you're at it. No need to touch Axe 'til 48 at earliest and 55 at latest.

One last thing. If you sub NIN, you'd better use your shadows. Pull hate when your shadows are up, just enough that the tank can easily take it back after you save him 3-6 hits. What makes /NIN good is that you can save the tank from plenty of hits throughout the course of the fight if you're smart about it.

[Feba]

Only use Axe if you're going to be leveling WAR long term, and it would still be a good idea to only switch to it after every level or two, then switch back to GAX for damage.

Honestly, having leveled WAR/NIN to 37 (and beyond), I wouldn't recommend it unless you really want to. Parties thinking that /NIN means you can blink tank WILL get you killed.

[Lmnop]

nitpick: Rampage is 55, not 56.

GA ftw 'til Rampage, but good luck convincing people. Thing you'll have to learn is that there's the good way (what we will preach to you on teh forumz) and there's the mob mentality way. People do not understand math -- only what others tell them. People will tell you to /nin as soon as possible, and to use dual axes any time you're /nin. They're stupid. Trust us.

[AgentBrownEye]

nitpick: Rampage is 55, not 56.
GA ftw 'til Rampage, but good luck convincing people. Thing you'll have to learn is that there's the good way (what we will preach to you on teh forumz) and there's the mob mentality way. People do not understand math -- only what others tell them. People will tell you to /nin as soon as possible, and to use dual axes any time you're /nin. They're stupid. Trust us.

trust us he says. rampage is 55. been there, done that.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Oops, for some reason, I always have 56 stuck in my head for Rampage, not 55.

Parties thinking that /NIN means you can blink tank WILL get you killed.
Parties that think you can tank exactly the same way a NIN or PLD does as WAR/NIN without knowing how will indeed get you killed... or get everyone really crappy exp while the back line complains about how they wish they could have picked up a PLD or NIN.

Parties that know how a WAR/NIN tank works, and can give the right support to pull it off, can work fine. Unfortunately, the people who understand that are few and far between. And those players are rarely the back line people who will actually make or break a WAR/NIN tank.

[Lmnop]

trust us he says. rampage is 55. been there, done that.


I have no idea if that's a joke, a jibe, a flame bait, or a simple agreement. @.@

Lyonheart does not know how to lie. What he says is 100% truth.

P.S. DRKs get Rampage @56 :P

[Malacite]

Stick to the GAX unless you're going to be a career WAR.

Shield Break hits enemies with a -40 evasion penalty for it's duration. That is so powerful even at the higher levels I don't know how to describe it. Also, since it's your A+ weapon, you'll have the most natural attack/accuracy out of it. Though you won't actually see any differences until the late 40's/early 50's it still counts ^^b


Also, if at any time you feel the need to really put the hurt on the mob, nothing, and I mean NOTHING save Eagle Eye Shot is going to touch Sneak Attack + Sturmwind from 30 and on until at least the mid 40's (41 if you're partying with a damn good MNK... Raging Fists can hit for pretty sick numbers). That said, you're liable to get yourself killed if you try this too early in a fight, especially if you're closing fragmentation.

I'd still recommend doing it at least once though just for kicks. Closing frag with SA Sturm on bats in CG for over 600 damage total is pretty disgusting.


I just wish GAX didn't suck as much as it does end game (by comparison), I really do prefer it over axe/axe =/

[IfritnoItazura]

Shield Break hits enemies with a -40 evasion penalty for it's duration. That is so powerful even at the higher levels I don't know how to describe it.
How about this: up to at least Lv.40, a player will get more accuracy from Shield Break than Sushi + Peacock Charm + Tilt Belt + Woodsman's Ring x2 + fully leveled A+ skill. Not sure when sushi + accuracy equipment will start to win over Shield Break, but it's definitely way after Lv.40.

Also, since it's your A+ weapon, you'll have the most natural attack/accuracy out of it. Though you won't actually see any differences until the late 40's/early 50's it still counts ^^b
False. :P

The +/- distinction does not come into play until Lv.61, at which point the general consensus is that WAR/NIN dual wielding axes should outperform Great Axe. (Not sure about WAR/DRG or WAR/SAM, though.)


Also, if at any time you feel the need to really put the hurt on the mob, nothing, and I mean NOTHING save Eagle Eye Shot is going to touch Sneak Attack + Sturmwind from 30
SATA + Viper Bite? Astral Flow Blood Pact?

[Malacite]

SATA + Viper Bite? Astral Flow Blood Pact?

Viper Bite is subjective to the mob type, but I have out done THF's before with it. My highest was around 900 damage (total) off a frag chain in the crawler's nest (double attack + at least 1 critical on the WS). Astral Flow can also be resisted (though it's pretty damn rare it sure as hell SUCKS when it happens > <; ...)


Unless you're fighting bats or anything else weak to piercing WAR/THF should be destroying the competition in damage. It's suicide for said WAR to go all out like that (believe me I know first hand > - >) but it's also fun to do from time to time.

[Lmnop]

stupid thing to argue, but typically a well geared THF will make bigger numbers than a well geared war/thf. The difference is the DPS inbetween... GA vs dagger hmmm.

[Tokitoki]

Club obviously... Melee WHMs are the best!

[Malacite]

stupid thing to argue, but typically a well geared THF will make bigger numbers than a well geared war/thf. The difference is the DPS inbetween... GA vs dagger hmmm.

Well, in my own experience I never met a THF I couldn't out damage, but I guess that's a skewed view.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

The thread is degenerating into a job vs job epeen debate. Don't we have enough of those already :cry:

[Lmnop]

Yes. Everything that should've been said was in the first 2 responses. Go edit your first post, Lyonheart, and you won't even need my correction anymore! (or this post! *gasp*).

[Malacite]

Agreed, this thread should be closed/locked already.