Guard.

[Lone Dragon]

Lately I've been trying to focus my soloing time on lvling Guard
in the hopes that it might help in the Genkai 5 fight against Maat.

Unfortunately, due to my high evasion skill lvl,
it's apparent priority over Guard in the defensive skill activation formula,
and the fact that Guard will only lvl when you're in battle mode AND when it works,
it hasn't been as easy to lvl as, say H2H is.

I would like any advice you have to offer beyond
what I already know (evasion minus gear, Guard plus gear.)

I'm lvl 58, my evasion is lvl 181 (been trying my best not to cap it)and my guard is lvl 84.
Since evasion is a 'B' rank skill and Guard is an 'A' rank skill,
if I ever cap it, it should be more helpful than evasion.
Either way, I should be able to take damage a little better if I have to.

[Thark601]

i solo tons and tons doin different crap.. as i'm always waiting for pt invites... 1 days worth of solo'ing = plus 1 guard about...

i really have no idea what to do other than get a high lvl healer and train a crapton of easy preys, such as rabbits or something that attacks fast

after that just let em wail away on ya...

[sourjirou]

i actually lvl my gaurd when im in an exp party and i grab the hate,when atheif does sneak+trick on me or when the theif does sneak+trick on the pld or nin and i have to to tank for a short period of time. also i spend alot of time hunting NMs and usually raise my gaurd in the process. when u get AF3-temple hose +10 gaurd u will be gaurding alot more often. my gaurd is currently at 104

[Thark601]

when your evasions capped gaurding doesn't lvl at all in pt's....

[Griddlecake]

Of course, this is not to say both aren't good... Having a high evasion and guard skill in the end will make you a pimp character... maybe you could tank...

[Redlimit]

Guard is cute, but I would rather evade the attack alltogether.

Evade > Guard as far as I'm conerned.

[modnar]

Yes. Evade > Guard. But Guard is used after Evade fails. Guard is the second lvl of a Monk's defence. Increasing it only helps, does not hurt.

I think the defense order goes like this:

Evade >> Guard (DEF | VIT) >> (DEF | VIT).

[Lone Dragon]

Evasion is B rank for monks, guard is A rank and when you lvl it actually works regularly (I guard more in fights than I evade.)
A full miss is always better, but pound for pound, guard is more important.

Eh..you’re welcome to your opinions,
but I’d prefer it if you stick to giving me any advice you can offer on this issue (preferably educated.)
If you have none, then there really isn’t anything I want from you.

[laicram]

I sympathize. Soloing sounds tough. You're best bet might be to grab some friends and tank in a small skill-up PT. Casually target mobs that up your guard, and maybe have good drops or gil. Reliable friends can make those annoying parts in FF where you need help, much more bearable. Lone Dragon - I hope you're not "alone" =O

Another method that I keep forgetting to test when I get on, but can't you also lvl War/Mnk, use Grapples, and still have the Guard skill? You can tank in a lvl-up PT, and get some guard there maybe. GL!

[Ungerpurr]

I'd think the best bet for raising guard to around 105-108 would be Yhoator Mandragoras (thinking they're around level 34-35?). After that, I'd suggesting finding some level 40-45ish monk-type mobs in Castle Oztroja or Davoi. Monk mobs are (imho) the easiest type to raise guard on, since they attack twice per round and don't hit all that hard. Granted, this involves a lot of fighting for no gain in xp, but you could at least bring a friend along and make some decent cash (in Oztroja or Davoi, at least). Try to gimp your evasion as much as possible (spike earrings, ochiudo's kote, etc.), and use some absurdly bad weapon, like brass knuckles (4/96 if I remember correctly) to lower the damage you do.

I've pretty much got the same problem, I'm level 46 with capped evasion (135), and only 78 guard (capped for level 25). The longer you wait to work on it, the more lowbie mobs you'll have to punish for their insolence to get the skill to raise (since you'll kill them that much quicker).

Or, there's the suggestion I've read to find an archer mob and a melee mob, and target the archer and go into attack mode while the melee mob attacks you. That way you're in combat mode (so you can get guard raises), but you won't have to actually kill anything. Goblins have about the only archers I can think of offhand, maybe something like...Gustav tunnel on the valkurm end? That might work. Of course, the melee goblin you find there is going to still be pumping out pretty good damage, it would come highly recommended to bring a healer pal, wear defense armor, and eat seafood if you're planning on just standing still and getting beat on for an extended period of time.

[Thark601]

Unger thank you. I'm going to try pickin on the mandragora's as you suggest...

lvl 46 skill of 80-85 somethin like that gaurd

[TMPikachu]

This is only something I've heard, so I am not sure if it works this way

go to a place with ranged orcs


engage two orcs, one with a bow, one monk

target the bow user, while the monk attacks you. keep them in sight.

You'll just be sitting there, letting the monk punch you.


If your evasion is too high, maybe find evasion down equipment? Beetle earrings lower evasion.

[laicram]

I've read about the "target Ranger Mob - face the Monk Mob" before. I read you end up countering the Monk mob to death. Still, a good tactic.

BTW, Mnk37 with 80 Guard. Ohohohohoho! =P

[Mistress Kimba]

will guard cap out on certain creatures to the point where they wont raise the skill for you? example, if your guard is 100 will you be able to raise it on orcish grapplers and sharpshooters? Or do you have to progress your skill based on the level of the mob?

[Lone Dragon]

IIRC, any skill will lvl on a mob until it hits even match.

Meaning, it will lvl until it matches the lvl of the mob your fighting.
If you're fighting a lvl 36 mob, it should keep lvling until gets to your lvl 36 cap,
but MUCH more slowly than a VT or IT, Guard especially.

You best bet to lvl it is to fight Easy Preys
or higher Too Weaks and bust out as much evasion down gear as you can.
And have a good escape plan. ><;

I take regular trips to Davoi and equip my kote,
my spike earrings, and the cav. mantle.
That's -25 evasion and I can lvl guard at least 1 lvl
every half hour or so if I don't screw around.