Merit Path

[Zempten]

Hey Guys

I don't want to talk about the new merits for now, I just want to get the basics down.

Recently I decided to pick my THF back up and being Meritting for it. However with so many options I'm not sure which one to approach first and how. A few things that I'm sure I'm going to be meritting is Dagger Skill, Critical Hit Rate, and Triple Attack Rate. However I'm not sure if I should put 1 Merit into Dagger and then Critical Hite Rate and then Triple Attack Rate ( so lvl 1 in all of those and then lvl 2 in all of those . . .etc) or to just focus on one before moving to another.

Also another concern of mine is wether or not merit (stat wise) STR, DEX, or AGI. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be meritting AGI, however STR and DEX is a bit tough for me. I'm static with a BRD so ATK isn't a problem and I read over at KillingIfrit.com an analogu for STR and ATK where STR acted like a bag and ATK acted like potatoes inside the bag.

As an idea of what type of gear I'm using during WS . ..

Main: Martial Knife (aimming for Blau)
Sub : Misercorde +1
Range: Lightning Bow +1
Ammo: <whatever arrows i can find>
Head: Emp Hairpin
Neck: Spike Necklace
Ear1: Minuet Earring
Ear2: Genin Earring
Body: Dragon Harness
Hands: Wood Gauntlets
Ring1: Grace Ring (I have 2 Flame Rings . . . not sure if I should use it)
Ring2: Grace Ring
Back: Anment mantle +1
Waist: Warwolf Belt
Legs: Dragon Harness
Feet: Leaping Boots

and I eat Sole Sushi for the STR and DEX.

Thanks for your time and I really appreciate your input

[Tirrock]

Re: Merit Path

Crit is a pretty big damage boost. Dagger skill would be to increase your overall accuracy/attack. If extra accuracy means you can get by with eating meat without having a terrible accuracy rate, I'd think it's worth it. Base triple attack rate is 5% I believe, so triple attack merits are awesome too...

STR vs DEX, I'd go with STR. It's a factor on WS damage and helps melee hits. But stats are probably the last thing you should merit, they have little impact.

[Zempten]

Re: Merit Path

About how far should I merit Dagger?

[Tirrock]

Re: Merit Path

Up to you. Some THF merit it all the way. Some merit evasion/marksmenship for better soloing. Or some combination of all three. If you find yourself wanting as much accuracy and attack with daggers, then merit that. If you like debuffing things with bolts, then marksmenship might be better.

I honestly have no idea what acid bolt accuracy is like with or without sushi as a level 75 THF, or if it's even worth it in burn parties with a bard pulling for you. (I've yet to experience one of those parties.)

I'm pretty much good for common knowledge only on THF. >_>

[HeLLb0rN]

Re: Merit Path

The order I went was 8 lvls of dagger, 4 lvls of evasion, 4 lvls of crit, now working on lvl 3 triple attack, once I max that at 5 I'll probably start working on str, but I'm still debating on the big question: +5str, +5dex, +2str/3dex, or +3str/2dex for the attributes.

Friend of mine was gonna go full on evasion to lvl 8, but this weekend found out that it blues out at lvl 4, however I will say from my experience that adding 8 lvls of merits into your weapon type, the damage increase is quite noticable, as well as your accuracy.

I never felt it was necessary to merit marksmanship, all I do is macro in coral rings, along with o.hat/p.charm, and I rarely miss with bolts.

So you have a few options ahead of you: merit dagger for damage/accuracy increase, triple attack for faster tp gain, or crit for... well... crit. It's just a matter of preference.

[Zempten]

Re: Merit Path

how do i know when i cna start eatting meat over sushi with dagger merits?

[Kaickul]

Re: Merit Path

how do i know when i cna start eatting meat over sushi with dagger merits?

What you are aiming for in a meat build is to be able to hit a target for more than 0 damage 80% of the time or when you check it with your ACC gear on the /check gives you a Low Evasion reading. You can also just gauge yourself by the number of times you are able to hit vs missing. Dynamis is one of those examples, where you dont get a low evasion check because everything is considered an NM, but I can go with meat build most of the time.

Sometimes it just takes engaging something and adding more ACC gear until you feel you are at that 80% hit rate.


You should cap dagger merits if you can. There is not necessary order is capping any merits... its what you want first.

Example: I capped Triple Attack first because I want to hit more. After I capped Dagger follow by crits.

[Zempten]

Re: Merit Path

So basically my WS gear should be set to where the mob check as low evasion, while keeping a DEX and STR balance, right?

I'm going to try to go with a meat atk setup, because it's the only way I can visually see getting 1.4k Dancing Edge without having all that end-game gear (Hectacomb Set)

[Kaickul]

Re: Merit Path

So basically my WS gear should be set to where the mob check as low evasion, while keeping a DEX and STR balance, right?

No... use your accuracy gear that you would melee with. Your melee gear should be a balance of ACC, STR, ATT, and Haste... the last three depending on what you want more of.

Your WS gear is what you will balance a mixture of DEX, STR, ATT depending on which WS you are using.

Example:
Dancing Edge: Some DEX, but adding as much STR & ATT as possible without gimping your DEX.

Shark Bite: Mostly DEX with Some STR & ATT
For example this is my DEX build with /NIN:

I'm going to try to go with a meat atk setup, because it's the only way I can visually see getting 1.4k Dancing Edge without having all that end-game gear (Hectacomb Set)

Then you would want to level DRK and WAR for subs.

You can break 1k damage with /NIN but the difference with /WAR & /DRK are still make them far better options for damage output than /NIN.

Example

[Zempten]

Re: Merit Path

Is there a round about number on when your DEX is gimp? Say at least 30? 40?

Mine is at +43 DEX. but there are pieces I could take off for ATK or STR

Wood Gauntlets -> Tarasque Mitts +1
Grace Ring -> Flame Ring
Lightning Bow +1 -> Bomb Core

[Kaickul]

Re: Merit Path

Is there a round about number on when your DEX is gimp? Say at least 30? 40?

Mine is at +43 DEX. but there are pieces I could take off for ATK or STR

Wood Gauntlets -> Tarasque Mitts +1
Grace Ring -> Flame Ring
Lightning Bow +1 -> Bomb Core

Again... depends on the weapon skill. If you are talking about Shark Bite... yes if your DEX is in the 30s you are not doing much for the WS. Dancing edge you can maybe lose some DEX for more STR.

The only option you can swap out that is worthwhile would be the Bomb Core for Dancing Edge, otherwise stick with what you have for Shark Bite.

[Zempten]

Re: Merit Path

Thanks Net

Another question I have is how do you know how far you can merit something? Like people tell me Dagger is maxed at lvl 8, but there is still 4 more that you could use. So how do I know where Triple Attack Rate, Critical Attake Rate maxes at?

[Kaickul]

Re: Merit Path

Thanks Net

Another question I have is how do you know how far you can merit something? Like people tell me Dagger is maxed at lvl 8, but there is still 4 more that you could use. So how do I know where Triple Attack Rate, Critical Attake Rate maxes at?

You should see the cap/max when you select that particular merit.

Example being... Triple Attack has a max of 5 merit upgrades which start with 1 merit then move on to 3 merits per upgrade for a total of 130k exp. (I think )

These are a few of mine for example.



I dont know exact numbers on each... youd have to do your own research.

[Ayrlie]

Re: Merit Path

i got 1 in dagger, 2 in marksmanship, and 1 in crit hit rate. I was able to get some of it done because I got 2 other level 75 jobs. I plan on capping marksmanship merits at a later date, then cap off critical hit rate.

marksmanship is extremely useful to have, acid bolts do wonders against those cocoon-loving crawlers and bloody bolts useful right after a mob uses an AOE (unless its a mob that resists them). there are handful of mobs that simply resist status bolts (namely flytrap type mobs). status bolts are a must when you're soloing.

[Zempten]

Re: Merit Path

Well I got Dagger 7/8 and I've started using atk food. Hedgehog Pie is what I'm playing with right now because of the STR,ATK, and Accuracy.

Right now it seems I'm getting TP a bit longer to then 1 min so I'd like to try to always have TP near or at least close to 100% so I'm planning on meriting Triple Attack Rate and then move on to Critical Hite Rate. Then I'll figure out how I want to play with those Group 2 merits.