Addendum to Basil Mercedes guides
I note that the current stickied guides on Basil are outdated. @Skyenets has announced she has intentions of updating her [url=http://www.basilmarket.com/MapleStory-Guide-Mercedes---Queen-of-the-elves-417.html]Mercedes - Queen of the elves[/url] guide. Guide making is very tedious so be patient!
For now I'll provide my comments on the changes while she works on it.
[header]Changes and comments[/header]
It's been awhile since its release and we've gone through quite a bit of tweaking and we still have a few more just around the corner.
[b]~ GMS 1.37 - Unleashed[/b]
Nothing that significantly affects the current guides in fact the 2 guides have included Hyper Skills but they haven't really catered for the changes in job advancement levels and the compressed skill build. [b]However[/b], skill priority doesn't change. Another thing to note is the importance of PDR due to the changes in Unleashed.
[b]GMS 1.42 - Dawnveil: Demons of Tynerum[/b]
First Job - Improvements but skill priority remains the same
Second Job - Improvements but skill priority remains the same
Third Job - Unicorn Spike's debuff now lasts the full 15s. I highly advise maxing Unicorn Spike over Gust Dive. Other than that skill priority remains much the same.
Fourth Job - Significant change to skill mechanics and provided that there are now easy modes for bossing, there should be a standard training build as well as a bossing build.
[b]Training build[/b]
Follow the standard build but replace "Rolling Moonsault" with "Spikes Royale". Don't even think about maxing RM until you're lvl 180 (when most of your skills are finished). It also times well with HoH, where you may want some invincibility if you're less funded than the average person.
[b]Bossing build[/b]
1. Standard 1 SP in every attack skill.
2. Ancient Warding and Mastery - by the time you max this you're probably lvl 120ish
3. RoI and Defense Break by lvl 140 - Defense break is absolutely paramount before you do any bossing. It has everything you need to be a bosser in one skill.
4. AFA
5. Spikes Royale - This skill actually puts out alof damage as a mobbing skill and you'll be using it a lot as a bosser particularly on bosses with multiple bodies (Zakum, HT). You would want this maxed before lv160. HT and Gollux yield a decent amount of EXP at least until about lv180.
6. Hero's Will
7. Everything else.
6 Comments • Newest first
@Skyenets: Would you rather me comment on here to bring it to other's attention or under your guide?
Anyway, (for now I'll post here)
pros and cons:
I have to disagree with the HP and def being low, although if we're comparing with say a warrior class.. then fine I guess we do have low hp and def. However keep in mind that we have alot of damage reduction and avoid to cater for the "low" def and HP.
Unfortunately I don't have particular interest outside my main class(although i do play other classes) so I can't be of much help in this section. I have however compiled a utility comparison between the archer class. When you have the time give it a read.. and maybe compare with the classes you played and see how Mercedes fare? http://www.basilmarket.com/forum/2690165
AP allocation:
Only add to STR. They have plans of raising the AP stat cap in KMS and AP allocated to HP cannot be undone. (Urgh... why do they do this to me)
_________
While we're at it SP allocation:
First job: I don't see a problem with your builds (doesn't really matter anyway). I personally prefer to max in the order of Movement > passive/buffs > attack skills.
Second job: Maybe I'm over-rating weapon booster but I always make it a priority for any job to get at least one minute duration of booster. Provided that you get 4-5(I'm not certain) free levels from Tot's tutorial placing 6SP early on in booster doesn't impede too much on the "damage build up as you level" feel.
A good reason to have booster early on as a Mercedes is to keep the delay on Rising rush as minimal as possible. Spamming rising rush across the map at CDs is a very efficient way of getting levels(and there are alot of maps with long flat runs particularly in early levels too).
Third job: Already commented in OP. Apart from that I personally do not use aerial barrage(plus it's less SP now) at all. Stunning Strikes has received a significant boost and it's adequate for most PQs and MPE.
Fourth job: Already commented in OP.
http://www.basilmarket.com/show/guide/417
I updated everything up to AP allocation. I still need to add some more pictures but I can't log on right now for some stupid reason. I'm mostly in need of someone to look through the pros and cons and the AP allocation to tell me if it's ok like that.
@Skyenets: If there's anything you need help with, feel free to ask around in game or here. I think the main thing that needs fixing is the compression of second and third job. It's what confuses people the most.
@ryuushinou I'll be done with this term tomorrow so if I'm not banned for that whole dupe thing, I'm probably going to waste some time on making a new mercedes to ensure that I get everything right ^^. I'll post here every now and then to get people's opinions though.
@Skyenets: That's fine and take your time. This post is just an addendum to your guide for the time being.
It's just that I've noticed a few repetitive posts by people who're lost with how to build their skills. I look forward and appreciate your efforts .
I was updating my guides one by one. Moving abroad kind of got in the way. The plan is to set up everything as followed: http://www.basilmarket.com/MapleStory-Guide-Evans-439.html but even that guide needs a slight update.
If everyone could just drop in some criticism and adjustments I need to make in my guide, I'd be happy to take them into account when I get around updating them.
Please keep in mind though, creating guides is a very tedious and unrewarding process. Especially on BasilMarket guide writers are treated ungratefully by the admin who kind of relies on people to create content for him. Just putting that out there...