Need advice on PLD/NIN gears (offensive and defensive)

[IfritnoItazura]

PLD/NIN (DD setup)
At PLD74 (almost 75); what I have currently:
Main: Company Sword
Sub: Joyeuse
Range: <none>
Ammo: Bibiki Seashell

Head: Optical Hat
Neck: Peacock Charm
L.Ear: Spike Earring/Minuet Earring
R.Ear: Fowling Earring

Body: Haubergeon
Hands: Sipahi Dastana
L.Ring: Venerer Ring
R.Ring: Woodsman Ring

Back: Amemet Mantle
Waist: Swift Belt (Life Belt macroed for Vorpal Blade)
Legs: Royal Knight's Breeches
Feet: Fourth Division Sabatons

(DD Shields: Iron Ram Shield, Sentinel Shield)
Homam gears are theoretically possible, but not counting on them. Amir Boots are at least a few months away, since I'm still working on some Yigit pieces. Currently sitting at ~40 Ancient Beastcoins, so ABC gears aren't too realistic in the near term.

Basically, looking at Auction House obtainable pieces for the most part, for the purpose of contributing damage in exp/meripo settings.

Since I'm dirt poor, looking for advice for:
1) Cheap upgrades.
2) Good performance/price ratio items.

Willing to farm, but want to spend my effort smartly.

* * *

PLD/NIN (Defensive)

Main: Joyeuse (can never seem to catch Macuahuitl +1 on AH)
Sub: Koenig Shield, Sentinel Shield (Ice Shield also available)
Range: <none>
Ammo: Bibiki Seashell

Head: Iron Ram Sallet
Neck: Shield Torque
L.ear: Parrying Earring (For placebo effect, I guess)
R.ear: Buckler Earring

Body: Adaman Cuirass
Hands: Iron Ram Dastanas
L.Ring: Jelly Ring (Unyielding Ring for magic attack)
R.Ring: Sattva Ring (Hercules' Ring for low HP)

Back: Knightly Mantle
Waist: Swift Belt, Warwolf Belt, Jungle Belt
Legs: Adaman Cuisses
Feet: Gallant Leggings.

(Also have Bomb Queen Ring.)
Missing a lot of MDB/resist gear, but don't really want to work on that at the moment. Relic armor is very far away; still working on RDM ones. T_T

Biggest question is whether it's worthwhile to get a size 1 shield for use in in the PLD/NIN defense setup, though I'm rather hazy on the whole idea of defensive PLD/NIN in general.

* * *

Dusk Gloves and Dusk Ledelsens seem to have great applications for both offensive and defensive sets, but are so expensive I'd like to put them off. >_< Salvage and HNM gears are pretty much out, or at least not in the near term.

Overall, I'm looking for advices on AH or reasonable to obtain Rare/Ex gear, and advices on how to prioritize.

[Lmnop]

No doubt you've considered this, but I'll bring it up anyway: first thing I noticed was a lack of turban. You have a PCC, that helps a lot. W. Turban full time will get you more benefit than O hat. 9% Haste is quite effective. O hat for WS, of course.

If you don't even like the 10 lower acc, Fourth Gauntlets can help with +5 acc for hands. That'll prolly do more for you than the +4 STR gloves. Also, Fourth Gauntlets are very dirt cheap (I think I picked up my pair for 10-15k).

I don't know how much more than Ryl.Kgt. Breeches they cost, but take a look at Exorcist Hose for DD legs. STR/Acc+3 for quite cheap (I mean... they have to be. I have a pair).

I believe those changes would put you at +61 acc during WS... that should be enough to even make Mamool hate you. And while you'd only have +45 acc during TP, 9% haste would more than make up for it (doubly -- faster Flash and Utsus, of course). I expect you would probably parse around 80-85% acc on mamool with meat dishes over the course of an evening.

-----------------

For your defensive set-up, at least macro in the Haste gear for casting, of course.

Both of your earrings are more placebo than benefit (most earrings will be). I would consider trying to sell them and replace them with a cheaper placebo.

But if you think them useful, then I really don't have any suggestions.

[Armando]

Should be using Tarasque Mitts/+1 in the hand slot.

Exorcist Hose is BST/DRK/WAR only. We're pretty much screwed in the leg slot - if you can't afford Dusk at the moment then there really isn't anything else to buy.

I'm iffy on Knightly Mantle even for a defensive build - why not High Breath Mantle? Gives you double benefits and you already seem to be going for high HP. Doubt Size 1 shields will do you much good unless you rely on shield blocks for recasting Utsusemi.

I'm also iffy on your Parrying Earring. I doubt 3 Parrying Skill is going to do anything for you, and you say you're strapped for cash. Put 2 and 2 together...

And yes, you'll do better with the Turban than the O-Hat, assuming you're getting the Haste spell cast on you as well.

Otherwise, looks ok. *Envies Peacock Charm*

[Lmnop]

Oh snap! Coulda swore I loaned my hose to a PLD who was doing Maat. She must've taken them graciously and then found she couldn't equip.

One little nitpick -- how is it that Turban would only outperform O hat if you're already getting spell Haste cast on you? I think Itazura's accuracy will be high enough that even 9% haste will be better than 4% haste + 5% hit rate. Though I suppose the difference will be quite small... but less equip swapping is always good. :D (for WS only instead of every spell cast).

[Armando]

One little nitpick -- how is it that Turban would only outperform O hat if you're already getting spell Haste cast on you?Oh, I'm not saying that the Turban will ONLY outperform O-Hat with the spell. I just mean that I did the math assuming the spell was present, and what I said may or may not hold true if it's not. It was a little disclaimer. One has to be careful when making blanket statements lol.

[Lmnop]

One has to be careful when making blanket statements lol.

People who play SSB are noobs. All of them.

[Raitox]

if homam hands aren't a possibility, dusk gloves are great.

[IfritnoItazura]

Forgot to mention that Walahra Turban is in the plans; wasn't 75, yet, so couldn't use it. (I'm 300 points into Lv.75 now. Finally. x_x; ) Parrying and Buckler Earrings were from back when I was Lv.35-ish; just never upgraded them. lol. Knightly Mantle is there because currently my "defensive" setup is nothing more than "hey we're in trouble" macro set at exp/merit camp; charged items wouldn't make sense, since they wouldn't stay on me long enough to be worthwhile.


So, the upgrades I should be looking for in the near term:

Head: Walahra Turban (haste)
Hands: Fourth Gauntlets (accuracy), Tarasque Mitts +1 (attack)

Not sure if I can really use Walahra Turban at every camp; as Lv.74, only managed 87% accuracy on Mamool Ja + Puk, though I think I may have forgotten sushi for a few fights. (Capped accuracy vs. Imp at 73 on Dorado Sushi, so that's a go there.)

I'd like to get the dual purpose Merman's Earring, but the prices are being severely tampered with on Ifrit. Dusk will be added... Just not very soon.

Is there anything else I should be getting looking to get soon?

[Armando]

The break-even point for O-Hat vs Walahra, using a Swift Belt and having the Haste spell, is 76% hit rate without O-Hat. If your hit rate without O-Hat (i.e. your hit rate -5%) is higher than that, then the improvement in number of hits gained from that extra 5% hit rate will be lower than the improvement in number of hits gained from the extra 5% Haste. In other words, even with that hit rate you should still perform better with the Haste. Try both of them out and see what the actual results are.

[Raitox]

really though, don't stress yourself out over gear. the basics of DD /NIN gear have been covered -- you're working on getting better, that's enough. What you have now is fine anyway, I think.

[tuggler]

There's a couple of things regarding your defensive gear worth pointing out. One very important thing to consider when /nin tanking, if I remember this correctly, is that the order of things when a mob is attacking is miss -> shadow -> evade -> parry -> shield -> get hit. This means that the Shield Torque, Knightly Mantle, Jelly Ring, Parrying Earring and Buckler Earring are actually not doing anything for you whilst you have your shadows up. I'm not suggesting you swap it all out, but personally I only macro in my shield gear when recasting shadows (except my Gallant Leggings, which I wear full-time due to wanting to avoid blinking), plus a Knightly Earring for minus spell interruption. The things I wear in those positions are all RA/EX, except Parade Gorget and and Mermaid's Ring, so I'm not sure what AH'able gear to suggest in those slots if any though.

[Lmnop]

The order goes Miss -> Parry -> Shadow -> Shield -> Normal hit.

This is why NINs have A rank Evasion and Parrying. Shielding's still useless as long as shadows=true, but the evasion/parrying can still help.

(also, there's no difference between Miss and Evade.)

[tuggler]

The order goes Miss -> Parry -> Shadow -> Shield -> Normal hit.

This is why NINs have A rank Evasion and Parrying. Shielding's still useless as long as shadows=true, but the evasion/parrying can still help.

(also, there's no difference between Miss and Evade.)
Thanks, wasn't sure if I had it the right way round!

[Selphiie The Enchantress]

you're working on getting better, that's enough.

Unfortunately, and especially in my case, people who already have the good shit don't seem to understand that it takes time and commitment and a good LS to get that kind of stuff.

What i HATE is people who /tell me after they check my gear and tell me "Oh get this and that and this and that" Like, ok im just going to go out and lot on Homan/Valor/Koenig/Hecatomb with no regards to Linkshell point systems or Linkshell tier systems or however other Linkshells do their lotting.

People who are decked out in like Homan gear should understand that, but i guess they don't understand they we ARE working for it, its not like we can just say we want it and get it right away. It takes time.

[Sevv]

Offensive:

Main: Joy
Sub: Justice (Great sword free, you said your ls was into sea)
Ammo: Virtue stones
Head: W Turban (Ohat for ws if needed)
Neck: Pcc/Chiv Chain/Fort Torque
Ears: Suppa/Brutal
Body: Hauby
Hands: Dusk/Tarasque/Homam/ Heca (ws)
Rings: Snipers/Woodsman
Back: Amemnt +1
Waist: Swift Belt / Potent belt (ws)
Legs: Homam/Royal Squire Breechers
Feet: Dusk/Amir

Def

Sword: Malc +1
Shield: Koenig
Ranged: Lamian Kaman
Head: Iron Ram/W Turban
Neck: Harmonia's Torque/Parade Gorget/ Shield Torque (for oh shit shadows down)
Ears: Etheral Earring/Hades/Cassie Earrings
Body: Gallent +1
Hands: Homam/Iron Ram
Rings: Herc Ring/Sattva Ring/Bomb Queen
Back: Cerb Mantle/High Breath Mantle
Legs: Homam/Adaman
Feet: Gallent +1

[Sevv]

PLD/NIN (Defensive)

Main: Joyeuse (can never seem to catch Macuahuitl +1 on AH)
Sub: Koenig Shield, Sentinel Shield (Ice Shield also available)
Range: <none>
Ammo: Bibiki Seashell

Head: Iron Ram Sallet
Neck: Shield Torque
L.ear: Parrying Earring (For placebo effect, I guess)
R.ear: Buckler Earring

Body: Adaman Cuirass
Hands: Iron Ram Dastanas
L.Ring: Jelly Ring (Unyielding Ring for magic attack)
R.Ring: Sattva Ring (Hercules' Ring for low HP)

Back: Knightly Mantle
Waist: Swift Belt, Warwolf Belt, Jungle Belt
Legs: Adaman Cuisses
Feet: Gallant Leggings.

(Also have Bomb Queen Ring.)
Missing a lot of MDB/resist gear, but don't really want to work on that at the moment. Relic armor is very far away; still working on RDM ones. T_T


The bolded and underlined things are must change ASAP, Please dear god don't use a knightly mantle.

[Selphiie The Enchantress]

(Off topic)

Hey Sevv, is there a shield cap? I'm told 300 (Where im at)

But i still am yet to Obtain a Boxer's mantle, which im not sure if going 310 Shield Skill will make any difference at all, ideas?

[Sevv]

(Off topic)

Hey Sevv, is there a shield cap? I'm told 300 (Where im at)

But i still am yet to Obtain a Boxer's mantle, which im not sure if going 310 Shield Skill will make any difference at all, ideas?

To be honest I never looked into a soft cap with sheild because, I was headed for Aegis (You really can't force the proc too much higher). Supposedly Sipar is 100% block rate, rumored to never been tested, I have one I may test it out vs monk type mobs and use Utsu:Ichi. So if the Sipar is 100% there would be no cap on shield skills.

My boxer's mantle only sees action Pld/Rdm in CB's when I am working on a buffer.


** You don't really need to stack tons of shield skill + for Pld/Nin only in the oh shit macro.

[IfritnoItazura]

The bolded and underlined things are must change ASAP, Please dear god don't use a knightly mantle.

Er, not bringing my PLD to Limbus/Sky/Sea runs, yet; no need to ASAP anything. lol. I'm never selling Shield skill items; they will be macro'ed in for Utsusemi: Ichi, if nothing else.

And, Knightly Mantle is there because it's macro'ed in if an exp (and soon, merit) party is in trouble; High Breath Mantle only makes sense if worn full time. Ceberus Mantle would be good, and works for the offensive set as well, but its expense makes it a "get it later" gear.

Once I have better "defensive" gears (damage reduction, MDB, etc.), merits, and exp buffer (at ~300 right now), yes, off to Sky/Sea will go my PLD,--but not before. We already have PLDs, so it's not terribly urgent anyway, but I am looking for the "easy" upgrades first.

Not looking to do a poor job on my "endgame" PLD debut--at least, not going to blame it on gears when I screw up. :biggrin:

* * *

Why get rid of Jelly Ring? If nothing else, it's at least good for Faust. (Though, I can't recall if we use PLD/WAR or PLD/NIN for that; should've paid more attention...)

* * *

Several people mentioned Parade Gorget; I do have that, just don't find it terribly useful when I'm getting hit, and rather use Peacock Charm if I'm DD'ing instead. It's macro'ed in for my "resting for MP" set, which I didn't list. :P (Vermillion Cloak is yet to be obtained, in case anyone is wondering.)

* * *

Walahra Turban obtained; slowly farming for AH gear now. x_x; (Very slowly, since I'm supposed to be working on some RDM and SCH items.)

[Sevv]

Because when Pld/Nin your not gonna get rocked hard, the enmity will do wonders for you. Jelly ring is good for places you will get hit hard like in faust, full time tho its meh

[Selphiie The Enchantress]

I LOVE Shield blocks while recasting Utsusemi :)

[Sevv]

I LOVE Shield blocks while recasting Utsusemi :)

god does 2

[Zempten]

Oh the earring topic, Is Brutal Earring going to do better then Assault Earring? I'm interested in both the ATK food case and the Sushi food case.

[Armando]

Is Brutal Earring going to do better then Assault Earring?Yes. Definitely yes.