RA/FO Guide and Discussion

[branflakes325]

RA/FO (updated 10/30)


Overview

RA/FO is a T-Atk class that capitalizes on lowering PP costs with PP Save Bullet/Phantom Bullet latent and using Weak Bullet for high single-target DPS. It is most comparable to FO/TE and FO/BR/FI, all of which boast higher overall power (without WB) and less PP sustainability (without PP Convert). RA/FO should not use Ranger PA's for damage unless you're going for some sort of hybrid build. Ranger main is required for using Bullet Keep and one of its best weapon options, ガレトショコラ (Galette Chocolat). By retaining the excellent mobbing capabilities of Fire FO/TE and inheriting Ranger's game-defining Weak Bullet, RA/FO distinguishes itself as an amazingly well-rounded class combination - arguably one of the best in the game.


Pros: (in relation to other t-atk classes)
-36% PP cost reduction of all techs (20% + 20%)
-Access to Weak Bullet with Bullet Keep - useful with Rafoie and Ilbarta
-Sharpshooter (1.2x) - works with techs
-Killing Bonus PP recovery
-Instant PP recovery w/ Stun Grenades
-First Hit (1.2x) - good for one-shotting trash mobs
-Skill points to invest in two element masteries per tree
-Relatively low cost for equipment - plus weapon attribute doesn't even matter
-Infinitely sustainable Foie and Gibarta with efficient crafts (and zonde?)

Cons:
-Frail w/ loss of Mirage Escape
-Sub-palette casting limits attacking options and makes TPS usage more difficult
-No mastery of Wind/Light/Dark
-Less T-atk than Fo/Te (~140 from class and rare mastery + lower T-Atk weapons)
-Loss of Element Conversion (1.25x)
-Loss of Elemental Weak Hit (1.2x)
-Talis is no longer a viable option
-Bullet Keep does not allow an AR bullet and launcher bullet to be loaded simultaneously. Thus, WB + tech use is either costly (no PP cost reduction) or weak with AR equipped.
-Limited and exclusive options for T-atk assault rifles (as of now)



Recommended Equipment:

Galette Chocolat ガレトショコラ - A launcher with 975 T-atk and Phantom Bullet (20% PP cost reduction while bullets are loaded). Main weapon against any enemy. Can be better against Darkers than Vibras Cannon in situations where maintaining PP is more important.
Vibras Cannon ビブラスキャノン - A launcher with 950 T-atk and Negative Hunter. Useful for the 13% damage bonus against Darkers, but tech usage is more costly than with Galette Chocolat equipped. Excellent for certain situations in TD.
Hurio Snowty ヒュリオスノーティ - An all-class assault rifle with 780 T-atk and Splendid Recovery. Unfortunately it was obtainable only in PSO2es or bought for ~30m with premium. As far as I know, this weapon can no longer be obtained. Oh well. We'll get a better one soon anyway right? >_> (Note: Fo/Ra may be a better option if you have access to this weapon, in which case you should obtain two for Fire and Ice attribute)
Racist ARs - For cheaper tech spamming on WB targets. Exchange 950-975 T-atk for 13-20% damage multiplier while keeping the benefits of PP Save Bullet. No Native/Demon Hunter ARs exist to my knowledge.

Units:
11* Saiki Set OR Folly/Heiremjees
-Focus on affixing T-atk above all else; 140-150 PP is sufficient


Best Tech Options:
I generally prefer fire techs and full fire mastery, because they have lower charge times than Ice and Lightning techs. Low charge time allows faster tech spamming, which works wonders with PP reduction latents. These are, in my opinion, the best techs for RA/FO with their respective Galette Chocolat PP costs + PP cost reduction with Shifta Drink. Decimals are an invisible value in PP.
Efficient Foie - 0 PP at maximum craft
Concentrated/Ice Fang Ilbarta - 14.4 PP
Blazing Rafoie - 11.5 PP
Concentrated Gifoie - 13.2 PP
Efficient Gibarta - 3.2 PP at maximum craft
Concentrated/Efficient/Uncrafted Ilfoie - 28.8 PP (11.8 PP at maximum efficient craft)

Lightning techs - I have not tested lightning mastery, but all lightning techs would most likely be dirt cheap. PP reduction crafts and presumably Bolt Tech PP Save are taken into account AFTER the initial 36% cost reduction from PP Save Bullet and Phantom Bullet. Ilzonde costs a nice and cheap 14.4 PP without putting any points into lightning tree


Skill Build (updated 10/9): RA/FO
Force tree must choose between Ice mastery 2 and flame mastery 2. I chose full fire build because fire techs seem better overall in most situations. Full lightning investment may be a viable option that I have not tested.


Alternative Option: FO/RA
Gains:
-Element Conversion (1.25x)
-Roughly 110 T-atk (class stats + 1 SP in Rare Mastery Force)
-More talis/rod options
Loses:
-Galette Chocolat
-Sharpshooter (1.2x)
-Bullet Keep
-6 Force SP (11 w/Talis Tech Bonus)
-Dragon and Machine Hunter ARs


Misc Comments:
-Galette Chocolat is one of the dumbest looking launchers in existence. Camo is recommended.
-Grenade throwing is now fast as of ep3 as opposed to being ridiculously slow previously.
-Gravity Bombs only recover PP sometimes and against only some enemies. Not sure why. This makes it a poor choice for PP recovery (stun grenades are usually enough anyway), but the effect sometimes helps gather enemies for a stun grenade, which is less dangerous than using zondeel.
-Launcher and assault rifle PAs are pretty much useless
-Wish list:
T-atk AR with Phantom Bullet other good latent that isn't exclusive to PSO2es or something stupid
Ability to assign techs to AR/launcher PA slots


Enjoy!