Shield Bash Timing

[yuukei]

Okay so I have a lvl 20 Pld and I'm having problems using Shield Bash. Ever since I got it in the dunes I haven't been able to interrupt even one mob's tp attack. Are there any pointers to help me get the timing down? Especially for gob bombs? I did a search on the forum and I've only discovered that you have to use it on attacks that have a long charge time. Like Ancient Magic. But there's got to be more to it than that. I know people stop gob bombs. Or at least they talk about it. What's the secret to the timing?

[vulcan4d]

Well I'm about the same level as you and I used shield bash effectivly a number of times on gobs. I'm not sure why you are having problems as it's quite easy. I myself take longer do it because my shield bash macro has to requip my shield because I use a great sword, otherwise it would be faster. When I got shield bash I went to a low level area to partice a little on gobs, I suggest you try that. Don't wait until you see the gob or whatever charge for the attack, just look in your chat log and you should have more time. Should say something like "The Goblin Whatever readies Bomb toss" or something similar depending on the mob.

[raedrik]

I am only lvl 16, so I do not have a lot of experience in using shield bash. I have, however, been solo-ing gobs foe a few lvls and have gotten pretty good at stopping hteir bomb. From my experience, you have about a half second window to use shield bash after the gob starts readying the bomb.

[IchiTheKiller]

Its very hard to stop charge up attacks by mob when they are IT. Even if you time it right it still wont work on harder mobs. The stun is probably too weak to stun them effectively. On easy prey the chances are much higher.

[Ziguld]

General rule of thumb, you cannot interupt mob WS. There are exceptions to this, but don't even waste your time trying to bash or flatblade things like Screwdriver or Sickleslash, it won't work.

[ZQM]

I use Shield Bash only as hate tool. If I'm not in the SC and I have the TP, I'll use Flat Blade to try and stop it, otherwise I don't really care. The curer can easily use a Curaga and the party is fully healed (well, only possible for WHM pre-32). If you're leveling with a BRD, they'll normally take care of the bomb anyway with Sleep. DRK's have Weapon Bash, Stun, and I believe they get Sleep later. BLM has Stun and Sleep. So as you see, a lot of other classes can take care of that problem.

And at lower levels, Shield Bash and Cures was all there is. If the Ranger or BLM got too much hate, Shield Bash is the quickest way to get the hate back.

[Kagi]

After 37 (I think) it no longer becomes your job to stop the mob's ws. Your TP and Shield Bash are better used for keeping hate. In turn, the drks and blm will use Stun, if it's ancient magic being casted the whm and rdm will also Silence.

[Voyager]

The H2H ws Shoulder Bash will also stop Goblin Bombs.

I can only stop them, though, if I have the skill macroed, and fire it off the instant I see "Goblin readies Goblin Bomb" in the chat window.

I believe it may also reset Hate, if it connect, but I have not been able to test this under controlled circumstances yet. (Situations where the mob's chasing the Whm who's running around like a chicken with her head cut off, while everyone and their uncle is trying to do something, anything, to get the mob off of her, do not fall under that catagory, for some reason.)

Harry Voyager

[csBahamut]

It's all in the timing. Blocking monster special attacks is just like stoping magic being cast. You can't stop it right at the end or begining. You have to make your shield bash hit around the halfway point between being readied and actually going off. It's like how you have to time your cures so they can't interrupt them. It's ok to be hit while casting if you're at a low % or high %, but not in the middle. Hope this gives you a clue.

Also, most monster special attacks are just to fast to block. Sometimes I've gotten lucky and blocked a cursed sphere, or goblin rush, but it is not going to happen most of the time. You're better off just using it as a hate tool.

[Ziguld]

to clear some things up a bit better.
Most monster abilities are really their weaponskills. These function identical to player weaponskills. Anything that would screw up one of your weaponskills will screw up theres.
Its really a rare rare occasion to land the bash to stop one and even so it doesn't kill the TP.

Bash will mainly be used as a hate grabber till 58 when you do bones in Gustav. Then again @66-75 it'll mainly be a 'oh shit thundga3 being cast' response.

[yuukei]

Thanks for all the help guys. I think I understand it more fully now.