Luster Class Discussion

[Coatl]

So a good way I've been using style purge is when I have luster time ready to use. Dump gauge > style purge > dump gauge > luster time. Using luster time gives you your style back instantly and all your gauge back, without having to wait the 10s you normally would after a purge. I also have found it useful when I don't necessarily need the benefits of the style but I need the gauge, good for killing trash in free-for-alls in DQ, and phase 1/3 of PD.

Also normal gunslash feels very strong. Here's the dps modifiers based on what mainclass you pick: unknown.png
Honestly not sure what combination is strongest, but I've been leveling a lot of classes I didn't want to bother with previously and it all feels pretty strong. I'm definitely subbing luster and whipping out a gunslash for my 10 class challenge.

[Kondibon]

Also normal gunslash feels very strong. Here's the dps modifiers based on what mainclass you pick:
Honestly not sure what combination is strongest, but I've been leveling a lot of classes I didn't want to bother with previously and it all feels pretty strong. I'm definitely subbing luster and whipping out a gunslash for my 10 class challenge.

It's meant to make up for a lack of main class multipliers that affect gunslash damage.
One thing I've noticed, and saw mentioned on the s-wiki though, is that it's balanced with average stance in mind for Br, so Br/Lu has the third highest damage potential with gunslash if you don't care about utility, because of weak stance, only beat out by Hu with max war brave, which is less likely to be relevant in a boss fight than weak stance, and Fi using wise stance. Fi sounds good on paper, but because the multiplier is so low by comparison you have have to rely on basically having everything Fi has in its arsenal except maybe chase active. That's not necessarily bad, since Lu just makes a good sub for Fi in general, but if you purely want to use gunslash it's not as convenient.

Hu is probably the best general purpose main class for using gunslash, since you get Hu's suvivability and less situational multipliers to do more damage than Fi/Lu. Fi/Lu only beats out Hu/Lu for gunslash useage with wise stance while using limit break and tech arts. Again though, this is only in the context of gunslash, and even then it's not like the weapon is terrible on Fi/Lu.

Te/Lu has potential of giving Te another bossing/solo option that doesn't rely on techs with gunslash, but I haven't tried it that much.

The rest of the classes it feels like Lu isn't a good subclass for in general, or the gunslash multipliers aren't notable enough to make them worth using specifically for that, though they do still have the option I guess. Su in particular gets shafted here because of the really low pet multiplier, AND a relatively low gunslash multiplier.

[ArcaneTechs]

http://pso2.jp/players/news/26899/#ttl01

Luster got some balancing done tonight, will update the OP in a bit

Rough Translation:

-Zandi Dodge Advanced: Increased duration and Gear accumulation

-All Atk Lu: Power increase to the following (At Lv10):
Strike power: 155% → 170%
Shooting power: 135% → 150%
Tech power: 140% → 155%
Pet power: 130% → 145%

-Lu Weapon Bonus 2: Power Lowered (At Lv10) (this is done in return for All Atk buff)
Power: 170% → 155%

-Luster Gunslash Adjustment
Zandi's Style Enhanced Shoot at Lv1 charge increased in power
Reduced Charge time for Zandi Style Enhanced Shoot
Gear Increased during Quick Shoot

-Luster Step Guard
Changed so that the effects of First Blood is applied (it's not removing anything, just adding FB to it which uhh, kinda thought was already applied)

[Coatl]

It looks like very nice buffs overall. Seems like an overall damage gain overall as well? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Old damage calc was 1.1x1.05x1.35x1.7x1.7= 4.5062 or 450% damage
New calc is 1.1x1.05x1.50x1.7x1.55= 4.56513 or 457% damage

+Mag damage 130%>145%
+Quick Shoot now gives gear
+Huge huge zandi buff

[Perfect Chaos]

I wasn't expecting Zandi Dodge Advance to be buffed all the way up to 40 seconds in duration. I was expecting 20-30 seconds. But I wasn't expecting Lu buffs so quickly, either. I guess SEGA noticed the shortcomings of Zandi Style and actually did something quickly about it.

[Zephyrion]

I wasn't expecting Zandi Dodge Advance to be buffed all the way up to 40 seconds in duration. I was expecting 20-30 seconds. But I wasn't expecting Lu buffs so quickly, either. I guess SEGA noticed the shortcomings of Zandi Style and actually did something quickly about it.

Now you can either slot a good utility S4 or pursuit for damage on Zandi or actually use it with a GS that doesn't have a S4 which I think is the really nice implication of the buff, as Evasion training is no longer an absolute requirement for it to be good.(Zandi Style Stil finally not a meme bois)
Zandi imo didn't need THAT much help, it was pretty much arguably the best mobbing style, but was very lacking for bosses, and the buffs just made it so it's very marginally better at bossing, but also inarguably became the best mobbing style. I'm personally more worried about Baran here, which pretty much has always been a pre-fire bot, and otherwise being "Fomel except worse save for like 2 bosses in the entire game"

[Dimate]

It feels like the style you'd use if you want to boss/mob without having to make two gunslashes which sounds fine as a niche

That said, I tried looking for good Zandi/Baran footage but no dice, either because they're definitely lacking or because Sega only gave out one Cras and all the Japanese players decided to use it on Fomel. I'm curious if they're hopelessly far behind or more of a "can do the same if you're good" thing. I don't wanna feel like I'm leaving a ton of potential on the table when I'm not in the mood for Fomel that week

I wonder if the buffs to Zandi Dodge Advance would just make it more than just marginally better at bossing; I feel a huge advantage to Fomel is the way it can tap a PA and force Photon Cluster ticks all the way to full gear (in less than 2 seconds to boot) instead of wasting time on weaker attacks, and any buffs to gear/pp would bring the other styles closer to this ideal. The dorito doing damage over time is the cherry on top of course

[Zephyrion]

It feels like the style you'd use if you want to boss/mob without having to make two gunslashes which sounds fine as a niche

That said, I tried looking for good Zandi/Baran footage but no dice, either because they're definitely lacking or because Sega only gave out one Cras and all the Japanese players decided to use it on Fomel. I'm curious if they're hopelessly far behind or more of a "can do the same if you're good" thing. I don't wanna feel like I'm leaving a ton of potential on the table when I'm not in the mood for Fomel that week

I wonder if the buffs to Zandi Dodge Advance would just make it more than just marginally better at bossing; I feel a huge advantage to Fomel is the way it can tap a PA and force Photon Cluster ticks all the way to full gear (in less than 2 seconds to boot) instead of wasting time on weaker attacks, and any buffs to gear/pp would bring the other styles closer to this ideal. The dorito doing damage over time is the cherry on top of course

pre buff Zandi Main Endless Rondo run



the thing you gotta understand about Zandi dodge advance is that it was literally designed for mobbing. The chase effect on single targets only give you a bit of PP and gear on single target. However this effect applies to EVERY enemy hit by any of your PAs, which means large group of mobs literally make you PP and gear positive. Conversely Fomel Photon Cluster gets the most value off single targets and loses value once things start being scattered around.

As for Baran, it's kind of struggling exactly because it's basically just a worse Fomel mode unless you get lots and lots of Step Guard opening (step guard into WA quick shoot is dayum stronk)

When all is said and done, none of the style is completely useless or lagging far behind. The big thing with Fomel is not so much it's insanely stronger than the others, but it's insanely easy to play, manage and figure out while being very reliable overall, especially with Jellen and Phrase Decay pushing it a notch above everything for bosses. That being said Zandi and Baran can both mob and boss just fine. I'd guess easiest would be giving ranks to grossly simplify and make it easy to understand

Fomel : Bossing S Mobbing A
Zandi : Bossing A- Mobbing S
Baran : Bossing A Mobbing A-

[ArcaneTechs]

Fomel : Bossing S Mobbing A
Zandi : Bossing A- Mobbing S
Baran : Bossing A Mobbing A-

Honestly, this is how it really feels

[Dimate]

Is there something other than Photon Cluster that Fomel uses to mob to earn that rating? (Slug+Hollow is a given regardless of style and everything else from its kit is single target except for Enhanced Shoot maybe?) I found it's good if things are sufficiently clumped up and you could dive into them but the Baran dot field, shockwaves and extended range on PAs seem to work better on scattered enemies