Using Utsusemi: Ni

[Kirk]

Hey all!

I'm on the verge of level 37 and was wondering of some high level ninja's can give some advice on the best strategy to blink tank using Utsusemi: Ichi & Ni.

Thanks!

[Shinoro]

Start off casting Ni before the pull. Remember its on a 50 second timer, not 30 like Ichi, so you'll have to change your timing. When the pull comes in, provoke as always, but this time count 4 images instead of 3 with ichi. Now here is where personal preference/skill comes into play.

On the 3rd image, you can either start casting Ni then and possibly overwriting the 4th image, or wait til the 4th image is gone and start casting then. The latter takes timing and skill, because if you miss it, you'll get hit if you don't evade. Ni has a 2 second casting time so you cna cast between hits if you're timing is good.

After that Ni is on, your timer will probably still not be refreshed by the time it wears off, so at teh end of the 3rd image, start casting Ichi, but BEWARE. Ichi cannot overwrite Ni, and if your image doesn't fall before you're done casting Ichi, it won't stack and you will lose that timer. So pay close attention and try to find a niche, or remove the 4th image if you need to before your casting is done.

After ichi is removed, cast Ni, repeat if needed.

[Kirk]

Thanks Shinoro~

I used this method to blinktank my way from 37-midway 39 (I had to stop cause i ran out of Shihei >< ) But it was an awesome experience. Was doing crawlers so my blinking worked nicely. I must say blinktanking is a lot of fun. Well worth the gil. ^^

[Shinoro]

Glad I could help. Yep its definitely a nice change of pace. I've pretty much gotten to the point where we only need a RDM in our regular group to heal. We had a WHM last night with our RDM and she was almost always full. So I stopped blinking so much just to offset it, plus she was getting lazy, lol.

Anyhow, enjoy

[Rawdog]

Somehow I doubt that this was the way they intended Ninja to be played. Being able to tank well and still take damage like PLD sounds right, but taking no damage at ALL with blink tanking seems a bit overpowered. I am definitely gonna start playing Ninja now....I just hope they dont nerf it

[Nameless]

It costs a Ninja 10k to tank, it's free for a PLD.

[Rawdog]

It could cost 1 million gil per cast and still be overpowered (okay maybe not 1mil :D)

[Nameless]

Try playing a NIN tank and your opinion will change.

[Rawdog]

.......What's that supposed to mean? Ya, I know it's expensive, but still totally worth the gil....

[Tlanyr]

It's by no means an easy ride to blink tank. Most of your time is spent counting shadows in the log, and you have to be prepared to correct for double attacks and specials.

It's pretty draining on me to count shadows all night.

[Rawdog]

Well at least you know you are doing the most important job in the group, and effectively keeping everyone else alive.

[Tlanyr]

This is true. I also helped a Dark Knight friend complete AF2 with only 5 level 52 people. The final monster you have to kill for that quest hits for about 100 and has an extra effect that drains 100-150hp per hit. Since it didn't hit me, it didn't drain.

Recommended group for that quest was a full party of 55-58.

Although, I did die at the very end...thing casted sleepga2 which overwrote my blink shadows as soon as I casted it. Beat my booty after that. It died a few moments later, too. :/

[Kirk]

My 2 Gil.

I've become a fairly proficient blink tank now and can share these observations. A blink tank does take skill to play, which to me is part of its charm. You're not just standing there taking slams like a pld, you actually gotta DO something to avoide getting hit. Also there are times you will take damage. Maybe on a miscount of shadows, or a double attack by the mob, so in that sense I would not call it overpowered. Mind you you can go a whole fight without taking a hit, but it takes great skill/timing/luck and help. Help in the forms of slow on the enemy and haste on you. I'm interested to see how effective Hojo: Ni is on slowing the enemy. I'll let you all know once I hit 48. Also I've found the elemental ninjutsu to be quite usefull in adding to the damage count and keeping hate. You just have to not be stingy with your gil and go for it. This helps keep your ninjutsu skill high.

Anyway hope this helps

[Discordian]

Ninja has been out for quite awhile in japan and blink tanking is still there. Highly doubt they will suddenly rip it away. That would be like taking FastCast from us redmages. Blood would be spilled and people would quit.

Ranger and Ninja are made for people that have money. Constant cost of ninja spells, powder, and arrows there. Thats the trick, needing to gilfarm 5k to 10k of powder before every night you level gets to be a pain from what I hear. Of course like every job you also need to upgrade your gear. Redmage isn't cheap. I once sung Elvis songs in Jeuno for gil while waiting for a group to arrive.

[OtakuGod]

ah yes... now if i could only

A: Afford Blink

B: Get enough damn fame to dot he quest for Ichi... I'm 30 and still dont have Utsemi: Ichi..... >_<


Should i just buy Ni? and not get Ichi? or what... cause i seen Ni for pretty damn cheap in some Ah's