Magic is better anyway. Just get your Vitality to 12, slap on Reflect Phys, and you're essentially immortal because your Magic Defense is so high.
So you say, but Jungo is living proof of the opposite being true. He can OHKO with one strike of Assassinate. Multi-Srike is also a much more efficient killer than even Holy Dance. The numbers just don't lie.
Now it's Elizabeth? Huh. Well, I'm pretty sure everyone knows my position on P4A now. (it's the same as my position on everything else that thinks the Persona series starts at 3)
Why does Elizabeth have Thanatos? Thanatos looks cool, but he's a terrible persona. Really bad. Way too much work to make, and even then Alice is better than him so it's not worth it.
I have one tricked out to be a physical-oriented persona because that was the only way I could really salvage him. (Almost at the end of my FeMC run, btw. This game is really long.)
Edit- I know I answered my own question but I still feel burned over the whole fusion thing.
Why does Elizabeth have Thanatos? Thanatos looks cool, but he's a terrible persona. Really bad. Way too much work to make, and even then Alice is better than him so it's not worth it.
I have one tricked out to be a physical-oriented persona because that was the only way I could really salvage him. (Almost at the end of my FeMC run, btw. This game is really long.)
Edit- I know I answered my own question but I still feel burned over the whole fusion thing.
Because he's awesome looking. That's all you really need.
Why does Elizabeth have Thanatos? Thanatos looks cool, but he's a terrible persona. Really bad. Way too much work to make, and even then Alice is better than him so it's not worth it.
I have one tricked out to be a physical-oriented persona because that was the only way I could really salvage him. (Almost at the end of my FeMC run, btw. This game is really long.)
Edit- I know I answered my own question but I still feel burned over the whole fusion thing.
Funny, I maxed all his stats super easy using those stat boost items, and since his only weakness was Light and there was a short supply of those in the extra dungeon, he was my go-to persona. Megidolaon does a TON of damage if you use a different persona for Mind Charge first.
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cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a joystick with cool Persona art.
There's been a lot of customs made, namely of Chie, posted at NeoGAF.
I'm past the fourth story fight, coming up on
Trumpeter.
Pretty sure I've broken this game by now, though I hear the final boss will still humble me, especially on AO path.
Some of the bosses can be problematic on the first run though, mostly because of their mechanics. The last boss is only really wankish in the first and last phases, because of the way the mechanics of them. The phases in between are mainly filler.
The NG+ bosses are real bastards though, if you decide to go for them. (Hint: opt to import at least one demon, and make sure you have the money stockpiled and opted to import so you can summon the rest from the compendium later)
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MaddocI'm Bobbin Threadbare, are you my mother?Registered Userregular
Magic is better anyway. Just get your Vitality to 12, slap on Reflect Phys, and you're essentially immortal because your Magic Defense is so high.
So you say, but Jungo is living proof of the opposite being true. He can OHKO with one strike of Assassinate. Multi-Srike is also a much more efficient killer than even Holy Dance. The numbers just don't lie.
Physical characters are much, much more vulnerable, though.
Magic characters can kill basically anything, and are functionally invincible.
Physical characters can kill basically anything faster, but they can be killed if they get put into a bad position.
Magic is better anyway. Just get your Vitality to 12, slap on Reflect Phys, and you're essentially immortal because your Magic Defense is so high.
So you say, but Jungo is living proof of the opposite being true. He can OHKO with one strike of Assassinate. Multi-Srike is also a much more efficient killer than even Holy Dance. The numbers just don't lie.
Physical characters are much, much more vulnerable, though.
Magic characters can kill basically anything, and are functionally invincible.
Physical characters can kill basically anything faster, but they can be killed if they get put into a bad position.
True to a certain degree. A high Vitality character can survive easier, and with Drain Hit they never have to worry about low HP.
Now a build that maxes vitality AND magic? That is unstoppable... even more so with Repel Phys, Anti-Most, Anti-Almighty, and Shield All+
All this talk of stat building has me really intrigued. I'm assuming you guys are talking about DS2, right?
I'm a total noob still, and I'm on day 1 still, but so far my point spending has been pretty haphazard. As a newcomer to the series, I don't have any idea what I want to do or how I want to build my character, so I've just been randomly dumping points here and there as I level with no real goal in mind. I'm not sure how beneficial certain stats are which makes it hard. I could really use a character building primer if anyone cares to put one together. Basically, I just want to make sure I have a successful run.
On a related topic, anyone have any suggestions for how many times per time period I should run the free battles? The very first one I ran maybe 3 times. I wasn't sure if that was too many, or too few. I really don't know how much grinding is required in this game since its my first SMT game.
All this talk of stat building has me really intrigued. I'm assuming you guys are talking about DS2, right?
I'm a total noob still, and I'm on day 1 still, but so far my point spending has been pretty haphazard. As a newcomer to the series, I don't have any idea what I want to do or how I want to build my character, so I've just been randomly dumping points here and there as I level with no real goal in mind. I'm not sure how beneficial certain stats are which makes it hard. I could really use a character building primer if anyone cares to put one together. Basically, I just want to make sure I have a successful run.
On a related topic, anyone have any suggestions for how many times per time period I should run the free battles? The very first one I ran maybe 3 times. I wasn't sure if that was too many, or too few. I really don't know how much grinding is required in this game since its my first SMT game.
Your level cap should be based on a specific build. You can either go STR-AGI for a physical build, STR-VIT for a slow absorb-retaliate build, or MAG-AGI for a caster build. Physical build should be roughly equal points str and agi(or str/vit), magic should be roughly 2 mag, 1 agi. you'll want to only put the minimum amount of points in vit to get most of the passive skills you need(depends on the build), and then start putting some overflow into it when you cap out on your primaries(a stat caps at 40 points).
A magic-heavy MC may be preferred for a first-time player since they can get away with having damage resistance passives to make up for the low vit. Phys attackers need to be speedy glass canons to be effective(using their passive slots on damage increasing abilities).
Free battles you'll want to run until it's no longer practical to do so for that day. You'll know when you start to hit severe diminishing returns as you level over the range of the mobs in the zone. (You can remove the DR in New Game+)
I guess I'm just not sure what the diminishing returns look like. The XP always seems crappy to me, even with only running it two or three times.
You have to pay attention to the numbers indicating the character's remaining to level up on the post-battle screen. It only tells you a general figure, i.e. "You gained 1,246 XP". It fractions that down based on the level difference of the participants of the battle vs the level of whatever it is you just killed. So if you group underleveled demons with an overleveled character, the demons will get closer to the full value and the character will get the reduced amount.
So if the post-battle screen says 1,246 but your character's XP remaining only drops by like...100, then it's about time to move on.
So I'm going to play through Nocturne, which should I go for - physical or magic caster?
I haven't played Nocturne(though Amazon did offer me a 21% off daily deal, I should have taken it), but in the majority of SMT games, MAG build tend to be the god builds. I doubt you can go wrong with a caster.
So I'm going to play through Nocturne, which should I go for - physical or magic caster?
I am partway through the game and I'm very happy with my physical build, though apparently the final dungeon has a lot of enemies that can repel physical attacks. This isn't too problematic (as far as I know), as the MC has enough skill slots to host a primarily physical build with some magic attacks for the occasional physical resistant enemy. Also, you have three other guys on your team and they are very mutable so you really shouldn't worry too much about it.
I also believe that one of these enemies is a boss, but I don't know how much added difficult on a handful of bosses should factor into your decision of build on a lengthy game because physical does have an advantage over magical in many other respects.
You could always go pure offense with focus on Str and Mag, though it requires a bit more of a restrictive skill set to work right.
That's why nobody uses Io. :P
Hey, I'm being serious! Give yourself a Phys attack like Mighty hit (Or go Holy Strike since no one else will need it), Mediarahan or Diarahan, Mana Aid, Anti-All, and either Wall or Shield All+, and you can make a decent unit.
Mind you you'll be slower than Jungo on a BAD day, but whatevs. It would be fun to try.
.... Oh, and Yamato and Makoto focus on offense too, not just Io.
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cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
You could always go pure offense with focus on Str and Mag, though it requires a bit more of a restrictive skill set to work right.
That's why nobody uses Io. :P
Hey, I'm being serious! Give yourself a Phys attack like Mighty hit (Or go Holy Strike since no one else will need it), Mediarahan or Diarahan, Mana Aid, Anti-All, and either Wall or Shield All+, and you can make a decent unit.
Mind you you'll be slower than Jungo on a BAD day, but whatevs. It would be fun to try.
.... Oh, and Yamato and Makoto focus on offense too, not just Io.
Nah, if you really want to do do an "I don't really care about this game anymore" build, you need to pour all STR, all AGI. Get Rage Soul, Ultimate Hit(auto-attack becomes almighty damage type), Attack All, and Double Strike. And then just use your first strike nuclear capability to mass mow down everything on the planet.
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cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
Yikes. Day 7's boss is just... layer of layer of nonsense.
Yikes. Day 7's boss is just... layer of layer of nonsense.
It's real easy once you get past the first phase, because it splits into parts, with only one part maintaining the "Pacify Humans" skill.
Edit: Bring Titania with Null/Repel Phys
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MaddocI'm Bobbin Threadbare, are you my mother?Registered Userregular
Yeah, all three Str/Mag characters are completely godawful, honestly. I was disappointed when I found out how bad Yamato is.
Also, a Mag build doesn't need to max Vit. High Magic means good magic defense, and then all it takes is a single skill to negate all physical damage. That is why Mag builds are so good. They can Max Mag and Agi and still be almost totally unkillable by anything, while still being able to do excellent damage.
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Also, second AO battle cleared. Intense. I should have a fourth person now!
You should have FIVE people now.
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And I wasn't counting Main. I have Al, Io, Daichi, and Jungo.
That's a LOT like my play-through. Next you're gonna tell me you made a phys character...
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
Tat's how I'm rolling on my current playthrough.... though I really miss whacking things.
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
So you say, but Jungo is living proof of the opposite being true. He can OHKO with one strike of Assassinate. Multi-Srike is also a much more efficient killer than even Holy Dance. The numbers just don't lie.
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
Have some P2EP screens.
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
I have one tricked out to be a physical-oriented persona because that was the only way I could really salvage him. (Almost at the end of my FeMC run, btw. This game is really long.)
Edit- I know I answered my own question but I still feel burned over the whole fusion thing.
I was pretty surprised by that too. I expected to hear about P4G and then P4A shortly thereafter.
Funny, I maxed all his stats super easy using those stat boost items, and since his only weakness was Light and there was a short supply of those in the extra dungeon, he was my go-to persona. Megidolaon does a TON of damage if you use a different persona for Mind Charge first.
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
There's been a lot of customs made, namely of Chie, posted at NeoGAF.
I'm past the fourth story fight, coming up on
Pretty sure I've broken this game by now, though I hear the final boss will still humble me, especially on AO path.
Some of the bosses can be problematic on the first run though, mostly because of their mechanics. The last boss is only really wankish in the first and last phases, because of the way the mechanics of them. The phases in between are mainly filler.
The NG+ bosses are real bastards though, if you decide to go for them. (Hint: opt to import at least one demon, and make sure you have the money stockpiled and opted to import so you can summon the rest from the compendium later)
Physical characters are much, much more vulnerable, though.
Magic characters can kill basically anything, and are functionally invincible.
Physical characters can kill basically anything faster, but they can be killed if they get put into a bad position.
True to a certain degree. A high Vitality character can survive easier, and with Drain Hit they never have to worry about low HP.
Now a build that maxes vitality AND magic? That is unstoppable... even more so with Repel Phys, Anti-Most, Anti-Almighty, and Shield All+
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
I'm a total noob still, and I'm on day 1 still, but so far my point spending has been pretty haphazard. As a newcomer to the series, I don't have any idea what I want to do or how I want to build my character, so I've just been randomly dumping points here and there as I level with no real goal in mind. I'm not sure how beneficial certain stats are which makes it hard. I could really use a character building primer if anyone cares to put one together. Basically, I just want to make sure I have a successful run.
On a related topic, anyone have any suggestions for how many times per time period I should run the free battles? The very first one I ran maybe 3 times. I wasn't sure if that was too many, or too few. I really don't know how much grinding is required in this game since its my first SMT game.
Your level cap should be based on a specific build. You can either go STR-AGI for a physical build, STR-VIT for a slow absorb-retaliate build, or MAG-AGI for a caster build. Physical build should be roughly equal points str and agi(or str/vit), magic should be roughly 2 mag, 1 agi. you'll want to only put the minimum amount of points in vit to get most of the passive skills you need(depends on the build), and then start putting some overflow into it when you cap out on your primaries(a stat caps at 40 points).
A magic-heavy MC may be preferred for a first-time player since they can get away with having damage resistance passives to make up for the low vit. Phys attackers need to be speedy glass canons to be effective(using their passive slots on damage increasing abilities).
Free battles you'll want to run until it's no longer practical to do so for that day. You'll know when you start to hit severe diminishing returns as you level over the range of the mobs in the zone. (You can remove the DR in New Game+)
You have to pay attention to the numbers indicating the character's remaining to level up on the post-battle screen. It only tells you a general figure, i.e. "You gained 1,246 XP". It fractions that down based on the level difference of the participants of the battle vs the level of whatever it is you just killed. So if you group underleveled demons with an overleveled character, the demons will get closer to the full value and the character will get the reduced amount.
So if the post-battle screen says 1,246 but your character's XP remaining only drops by like...100, then it's about time to move on.
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
That's why nobody uses Io. :P
I haven't played Nocturne(though Amazon did offer me a 21% off daily deal, I should have taken it), but in the majority of SMT games, MAG build tend to be the god builds. I doubt you can go wrong with a caster.
I am partway through the game and I'm very happy with my physical build, though apparently the final dungeon has a lot of enemies that can repel physical attacks. This isn't too problematic (as far as I know), as the MC has enough skill slots to host a primarily physical build with some magic attacks for the occasional physical resistant enemy. Also, you have three other guys on your team and they are very mutable so you really shouldn't worry too much about it.
I also believe that one of these enemies is a boss, but I don't know how much added difficult on a handful of bosses should factor into your decision of build on a lengthy game because physical does have an advantage over magical in many other respects.
Hey, I'm being serious! Give yourself a Phys attack like Mighty hit (Or go Holy Strike since no one else will need it), Mediarahan or Diarahan, Mana Aid, Anti-All, and either Wall or Shield All+, and you can make a decent unit.
Mind you you'll be slower than Jungo on a BAD day, but whatevs. It would be fun to try.
.... Oh, and Yamato and Makoto focus on offense too, not just Io.
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
At very least, if you go phys, keep at least one AOE Magic skill, like Tornado or Bolt Storm. I suggest Bolt Storm for late-game, Tornado for early.
Yeah, nothing beats fighting Girimekahla and realize you're damn near useless... that was seriously a game breaker for me.
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
Nah, if you really want to do do an "I don't really care about this game anymore" build, you need to pour all STR, all AGI. Get Rage Soul, Ultimate Hit(auto-attack becomes almighty damage type), Attack All, and Double Strike. And then just use your first strike nuclear capability to mass mow down everything on the planet.
It's real easy once you get past the first phase, because it splits into parts, with only one part maintaining the "Pacify Humans" skill.
Edit: Bring Titania with Null/Repel Phys
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
Also, a Mag build doesn't need to max Vit. High Magic means good magic defense, and then all it takes is a single skill to negate all physical damage. That is why Mag builds are so good. They can Max Mag and Agi and still be almost totally unkillable by anything, while still being able to do excellent damage.
That being said Io sucking annoys me because I wanted her in my group.