[Susurrus]

OK, am I the only Samurai out there that has Blade Bash? I don't think I've EVER seen another Samurai use it. It comes in real handy when the pt is about to eat Firaga III or something of the sort.

So, how often do people actually put at least 1 merit into it?

[Andrinor]

>_> I haven't.

I'm sure I'll unlock it someday, but it just isn't a high priority for me when looking at the other merits on my list...

[Tokitung]

I plan to eventually. My group 2 merits will look something like this:

Overwelm: 5/5
Shikikoyo: 1/5
Blade Bash: 1/5
Ikishoten: 3/5

[VZX]

Originally Posted by Susurrus

OK, am I the only Samurai out there that has Blade Bash? I don't think I've EVER seen another Samurai use it. It comes in real handy when the pt is about to eat Firaga III or something of the sort.

So, how often do people actually put at least 1 merit into it?

I did, and remove it for max Shikikoyo.

5 minute Shikikoyo timer provide much much more utility to me compared to Blade Bash.
For Salvage and Limbus (on some extend, mob die too fast anyway), I can give my TP at 160 TP for a Relic GSword DRK that sit at 40% TP for Kasha -> Spinning Slash Light SC. Or if my co-tank DRK use scythe, I can transfer TP to them for instant 100 TP and we'll do Guillo -> Gekko.
When I wait for people when we do ZNM/Sky, I do Shikikoyo to other DD for faster opening damage.

BB has a nice stun and plague effect, but the effect will wear off in less than 30 seconds. It's hardly useful. And the 5 minute timer (if you max BB) is not going to help either. Fully hasted DRK will have better stunning utility than full merited BB SAM.

[Susurrus]

Originally Posted by VZX

Fully hasted DRK will have better stunning utility than full merited BB SAM.

Sounds to me like you always are with a DRK. Let's not compare because we could take it even further and say DRK stun is useless because BLU gets multiple stun abilities w/ short recast time.


Though, don't get me wrong, your post is reasonable. I guess it just depends on your play style and what you get involved with. I've saved my PT many times with blade bash, but you always hang out w/ a DRK so obviously Blade Bash is no biggy, but Shikikoyo is.

[Armando]

Sounds to me like you always are with a DRK. Let's not compare because we could take it even further and say DRK stun is useless because BLU gets multiple stun abilities w/ short recast time.

But BLU's Head Butt, while it gets the job done rather well and also has a lot of utility in just slowing down the mob in general, will never be anywhere near as reliable as the actual Stun spell.

The problem with Blade Bash is that its application is so limited. With 1 merit you can only use it once every 15 minutes, and for anything serious your party/alliance will have stunners. If it's something unforseen or some random fight AND the party has no stunner, then it could come in handy, but only if you don't have TP because otherwise you could use a WS to interrupt the casting with damage/silence or Hobaku's stun.

Shikikoyo has ample applications in almost any situation and each recast reduction increases how often you can use it exponentially. I wouldn't take an upgrade out of Shikikoyo just for Blade Bash. But if you really wanted to have it, you could take one upgrade out of Overwhelm; it wouldn't affect your performance much.

[Malacite]

I've been debating this for a while now. I've been told it's worth at least 1 point if you do Salvage but other than that not so great.

And wow, someone here actually merited Ikishoten.... GARBAGE ability, sorry. Considering every DD should focus on maxing out their accuracy, and ability that relies on missing just doesn't cut it.

[VZX]

Originally Posted by Susurrus

Sounds to me like you always are with a DRK. Let's not compare because we could take it even further and say DRK stun is useless because BLU gets multiple stun abilities w/ short recast time.

Not quite.
BLU's only reliable stun is Temporal Shift. And it has far long recast timer than DRK's Stun. Head Butt has fairly low magic accuracy that it sometimes impractical against some NMs.
Even then, if the BLU got full haste, they can cast Temporal Shift 4 times as many before SAM release the 2nd Blade Bash.

Though, don't get me wrong, your post is reasonable. I guess it just depends on your play style and what you get involved with. I've saved my PT many times with blade bash, but you always hang out w/ a DRK so obviously Blade Bash is no biggy, but Shikikoyo is.

The thing is here:
Is stunning essential for the event you're doing? if yes, get DRK or /DRK for Stun.
Is high frequency stunning is essential and the monster has fairly low magic evasion? then get BLU for Head Butt.

At least, IMO, that's what should be done. SAM main purpose is DD and sometimes tanking (in Salvage). Shikikoyo enhance this purpose by sync-ing the TP generation with your co-tank or even any other DD in any situation SC is beneficial.

For Salvage Mega Boss, I always do Sekka WS -> DRK WS -> Light and Shikikoyo to DRK -> WS -> DRK WS -> Light. That will secure the initial hate very well.

[Tokitung]

Originally Posted by Malacite

And wow, someone here actually merited Ikishoten.... GARBAGE ability, sorry. Considering every DD should focus on maxing out their accuracy, and ability that relies on missing just doesn't cut it.

And that comment shows how small of a view you have. I don't "gear to miss", but I also only have 4 GK merits (split last 8 CMB merits between H2H and GK because 8 Archery on my Rng is the true DD) so I do have the instance wich Ikishoten kicks in. The TP returned can be useful.

As for Shikikoyo, it's nice to have for big events, but I mostly use it for the setup prior to the big fight, not during. I will never use it often enough to require fully meritting it (you can't manage your own TP, that's your fault.) BB is again, nice for instances, but don't really see a full time use for it to make me want to fully merit it.

My job as a Sam is to do damage and to SC. There for something that allows me to nail a WS or SC faster (oh, it's only 9 TP extra if you merit it to 3/5... oh wait, you get TP when you get HIT!) is better to me that dumping TP on someone else constantly that usually borks shit up by either 1) using wrong SC or 2) misses a lot if they really need that TP.

Don't try and bash cause others don't have the herd mentality. I'll take my Sam over 90% of the others out there any day.

[Malacite]

It's not so much that it's a bad ability, but it pales in comparison to feeding TP to other DD's.

@ max level, Ikishoten will give you another +12 or 15 TP on a swing? Essentially a free double attack. Problem is Zanshin's proc rate is already miserable, and meriting it over Meditate, Third Eye or Store TP is IMO ludicrous.

[VZX]

Sorry, I have to side with Malicite about your Ikishoten. It's a fail. Once your hit rate is 90%+, Ikishoten is waste of merit.

[Mog]

I got level 1 blade bash.

Only for the occasional "OH SHIT, HE'S CASTING FIRAGA III AND NOBODY CAN STUN" moments. I'm a taru, so I'd be a lot more useful alive during a fight than having one more Shikikoyo merit.

[Malacite]

I'd still rather have 5:00 Shiki =3

[Viciouss]

Man, all these threads are dead, i feel bad reviving them..maybe I will just do this one and see if i survive o.O

Anyways, I merited this, and to explain why, i simply ask, why not? Look at group two, 5 merits in Overwhelm is a given, so between Shiki, BB and Iki, why not toss one into BB to stop an AM or something when you need to?

Shiki is good, and once you get into true endgame stuff, 5 shiki merits will come in handy, but if SAM is your first 75, 5 Shiki merits is hardly neccessary. And its a simple task to just remove BB when the time comes.

Iki is worthless if SAM is your main. I'm sorry, but this is a waste of a merit/s. Especially if you have gotten your hands on Saotome Kote, thrown 5 merits into Medi recast, 9 into the GK, you don't need Zanshin, much less Iki. And if your using a polearm, well, you really dont need Iki. Only merit this if SAM isn't your main and you cant throw 9 merits into the GK.

1 merit into BB will not in any way hurt you. Its come in handy a few times for me, most recently the Black Halo fight.