Question regarding Hunters, Rangers and the "Gunsaber"

[RavenLeader]

I love the versatility of this weapon. Got lucky enough to get all the PAs (4?) for it, and I really love all of its attacks and combo ability. I've been playing as a Ranger, and the normal shots are really nice. The melee mode is a little more damaging, but the shot mode is much quicker and safer.

Well, I want to make a Gunblade build... Now I know it depends on which mode you want to use the most. But how does a Mag come into play? Is it possible to, for example, feed your Mag guns as a Hunter to create a sort of balance? I know that it would gimp me in equipping rare Hunter weapons and potential damage, but in terms of balance, how effective would it be to feed a Mag for the alternate class?

Hate to get you frantic but your missing a 2 PAs there are 6 PAs for every melee weapon, there are 2 range style pa's the laser charge shot, and the grenade throw roll back (which rocks against mobs) and then theres 4 melee (some with a single shot at the end of the PA) so you got some hunting to do

[Icecold]

Gunblades have terrible DPS as ranger or hunter, I do not see why one would use them (well I guess hunters can use it as their only gun option, but they have much better ranged attacks). All PAs are quite bad and do (very) little damage, too.

Anyway, if you are using them anyway, know that the weapon mode determines which ATK type it will use for damage, including PAs, so if you are a hunter, do not use PAs while in gun mode and vice versa.

I would have to echo the statement made by a few others here that the rolling grenade toss PA is freakin awesome. It does a ton of aoe damage making it great for cleaning up groups. It's also great in boss fights because it hits 4-5 times(not sure but someone said 4). Dropping it on a weak point does pretty great damage and usually clears out a few adds at the same time. Once I discovered this PA my opinion of gunblades went from "meh" to "heck yea"

[Claxus]

Hate to get you frantic but your missing a 2 PAs there are 6 PAs for every melee weapon, there are 2 range style pa's the laser charge shot, and the grenade throw roll back (which rocks against mobs) and then theres 4 melee (some with a single shot at the end of the PA) so you got some hunting to do

That's great, then. Still need one ranged and one melee. Just assumed I had them all because in two accounts, I've collected the same 3 (not counting the starter). I'll look forward to getting the other two. And yeah, I got the grenade PA, it's really cool (I like using it in the air for the fancy roll), but feels almost broken sometimes.

Actually, one of my favorite skills is the default, because both hits of it launch, and it has a nice range. Sometimes I use it just for the second part, like to stun flying enemies from a distance, or in ranged mode, you can start a long range juggle, it's kinda satisfying. Up close, the launch sets up for another PA, so it's really fun.

Still, I wonder if it's worth growing a Mag to balance out the two modes.

[Vylera]

Gunblades have terrible DPS as ranger or hunter

Flooring bosses solo with a common pick-up gunblade with no NPC help and no photon blast in 100 seconds is bad DPS?

It's GREAT when combined with weak bullet.

For hunter there are better options, but for rangers it's my #1 boss killer.

Don't underestimate the attack speed of the shots. PAs aren't even needed on it for a ranger to dominate with it.

If we're talking big packs and Code: Protect, then f*k the gunblade. But 1 on 1, gunblade does better than assault rifles, too.

[RavenLeader]

That's great, then. Still need one ranged and one melee. Just assumed I had them all because in two accounts, I've collected the same 3 (not counting the starter). I'll look forward to getting the other two. And yeah, I got the grenade PA, it's really cool (I like using it in the air for the fancy roll), but feels almost broken sometimes.

Actually, one of my favorite skills is the default, because both hits of it launch, and it has a nice range. Sometimes I use it just for the second part, like to stun flying enemies from a distance, or in ranged mode, you can start a long range juggle, it's kinda satisfying. Up close, the launch sets up for another PA, so it's really fun.

Still, I wonder if it's worth growing a Mag to balance out the two modes.

Yeah for my gunslash I have a exp buff, item drop buff, and burn, (so i use it quite often) my pa set up on it is for max 'stun' time and good damage, i use the starting pa which does the slash which launches and then the shot that raises them higher, and then the thousand slash PA which does the shot at the end, and to top it all off once the enemy/mob hits the ground I do the grenade throw roll back for max aoe damage, usually clears out mobs even on hard desert X) I just wish hunters could throw stun grenades :| would make things more fun X)

[TheBlackMage]

I would have to echo the statement made by a few others here that the rolling grenade toss PA is freakin awesome. It does a ton of aoe damage making it great for cleaning up groups. It's also great in boss fights because it hits 4-5 times(not sure but someone said 4). Dropping it on a weak point does pretty great damage and usually clears out a few adds at the same time. Once I discovered this PA my opinion of gunblades went from "meh" to "heck yea"

+1

I'm a FOcaseal and I am loving the gunslash, I use it probably about as much as my rod now. Granted I'll still use the rod for mass murdering things with AoE Techs but for the most part sometimes I'll just run into the fray with the other hunters and act as a combat medic.

I'm able to heal faster than if I stayed in the back since I wouldn't have to aim with a card or run in with a rod. It's much easier to keep buffs up on everyone as well as curing status abnormalities. Plus you can still cast offensive techs while attacking with the gunslash (Rabarta + gunslash grenade PA at the same time cleared up groups of mobs in the caves like there was no tomorrow.) obviously thought the tech damage is quite lower than if you were to cast it with a rod but the fast PP regen helps to make up for that. I'm curious about how this will fare once I have max lvl buffs as well as Charge PP Revival and the Tech Charge skills from the Forces skill tree.

(Oh and on a side note I am raising an ability mag about 50% will be ability while 25% would be under strike attack and 25% under tech attack so this should further enhance my "Melee Mage")

[EDIT] Btw, one of the 1st gunslashes I used has poison as one of it's specials. That destroyed the rockworm mini-boss in the caves since it would hit for 1k a tick and the gunslash attacks incredibly fast thus giving it a chance to proc more often. (this was around lvl.13 too) Would anyone happen to know of any other bosses/mini-bosses that are susceptible to poison? I just about out lvled it now but I'm considering trying to hunt for a better one with or shop for one for cases when it would destroy a mini-boss/boss faster than techs. The one I'm using now has Exp and stun on it but another one just for slaying HP sponges would be fantastic.

[mousel]

As a hunter, a gunslash saved my pathetic ass from dying MANY times in early levels. It meant I didn't die repeatedly the first times I faced Vol Dragon or Ragne, and helped me get leveled up quite a bit. Now I only use it for certain flying mobs or mobs in lava, because my melee weapons outclass it so much. But I just got what looks to be a nice red box gunslash before open beta ended - hopefully I can actually equip it with just one more level, and I'll start playing with it again more.

[RavenLeader]

+1

I'm a FOcaseal and I am loving the gunslash, I use it probably about as much as my rod now. Granted I'll still use the rod for mass murdering things with AoE Techs but for the most part sometimes I'll just run into the fray with the other hunters and act as a combat medic.

I'm able to heal faster than if I stayed in the back since I wouldn't have to aim with a card or run in with a rod. It's much easier to keep buffs up on everyone as well as curing status abnormalities. Plus you can still cast offensive techs while attacking with the gunslash (Rabarta + gunslash grenade PA at the same time cleared up groups of mobs in the caves like there was no tomorrow.) obviously thought the tech damage is quite lower than if you were to cast it with a rod but the fast PP regen helps to make up for that. I'm curious about how this will fare once I have max lvl buffs as well as Charge PP Revival and the Tech Charge skills from the Forces skill tree.

(Oh and on a side note I am raising an ability mag about 50% will be ability while 25% would be under strike attack and 25% under tech attack so this should further enhance my "Melee Mage")

[EDIT] Btw, one of the 1st gunslashes I used has poison as one of it's specials. That destroyed the rockworm mini-boss in the caves since it would hit for 1k a tick and the gunslash attacks incredibly fast thus giving it a chance to proc more often. (this was around lvl.13 too) Would anyone happen to know of any other bosses/mini-bosses that are susceptible to poison? I just about out lvled it now but I'm considering trying to hunt for a better one with or shop for one for cases when it would destroy a mini-boss/boss faster than techs. The one I'm using now has Exp and stun on it but another one just for slaying HP sponges would be fantastic.

I could make a recommendation based off my old gunslash , it was a 4 star yellow long blade, it had 35% fire with poison 2 and burn 2 it was great for bosses my suggestion is find the gunslash that is strongest that your able to equip and put on your own affixes i'd recommend burn and poison and if your feeling cocky go for another like power (increases s atk) or shoot? (increases r atk) heck go for both if your going for the 'ultimate' gunslash lol