Affinity Discussion

[Meteor]

Which affinities are best? While it somewhat depends on the class, here's my list:

Fire > Anima > Light > Ice = Thunder > Dark > Wind

Fire just dominates. Full offense + avoid is an amazing combination, great on everything fast (which tends to be most of your units).

Anima is more defensive, but still gives +Dmg. Spectacular.

Light also gives Dmg and goes with just about anything but Dark. Nice one to have.

Ice and Thunder are even overall, with the only difference being the choice between +Hit or +Crit. The unit's class and support list will determine the more desirable element.

Dark is great if you have high offense, and it matches 3 values with more affinities than the others do.

Wind is a poor man's Fire. Anima and Light are also both preferable. It doesn't do anything another affinity can't do better.

It's too bad there's no +Atk/Def/Crit/Avo affinity.

[Admiral "Bull" Halsey]

Fire by far is the best, no contest.

But I do like Dark affinity bonus too.

[Florete]

Mine would be similar.

Fire > Anima > Light > Thunder > Ice > Wind > Dark

It's too bad there's no +Atk/Def/Crit/Avo affinity.

Too true.

[Meteor]

But I do like Dark affinity bonus too.

It's my favorite, but it's sadly not as useful as the others.

[Tino]

Wait...

Atk, Def, and Avo < Atk and Avo?

[Florete]

Wait...

Atk, Def, and Avo < Atk and Avo?

What was that in response to?

[Meteor]

^ He's speaking of our placement of Fire above Anima.

Def/Res and CEv < Crit and Hit, and I was also considering that Fire will match +Dmg affinities better.

Edited October 22, 2008 by Meteor

[Swordsalmon]

Anima is the best affinity, followed by Fire or Light. Half Attack, Defense, and Avoid>All.

The worst is Wind or Dark.

[Meteor]

I would be willing to say Fire >= Anima, but I'm not sold on it being better.

[Reikken]

Fire > Anima > Thunder > Light > Ice > Dark > Wind

But really, it depends on the unit in question. Like Wind is actually a good affinity for Hector. Fire and Light beat it, but it's still decent.

[Admiral "Bull" Halsey]

The worst is Wind or Dark.

But doesn't it depend on who you support?

[Tino]

But doesn't it depend on who you support?

Indeed, but looking at raw bonuses, Dark and Wind are probably the worst.

[Meteor]

Since CEv is a throwaway bonus, Fire and Light are both leagues better than Wind. That also means Dark only gives 3 desired bonuses, all of which Fire has with the addition of +Dmg.

Basically the bonuses are ranked like this in order of importance:

Dmg > Def/Res > Avo > Crit > Hit >>> CEv

There may be some contest among Avo, Crit, Hit, but Dark is still giving the worst bonuses. Its only advantage over Wind is its uniqueness.

[Reikken]

I rank them as...

avo > atk > def >> crit >> hit >>>>> crit avo

Thus, dark > wind.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Reikken

[bunny: spider bitten]

I'll go different on this one.

Anima > Thunder > Fire > Light > Ice > Dark > Wind

Avoid is obvioiusly the best, but I think crit is generally overrated. Light can be pretty damn good on a Swordmaster, and it's probably the one I had the most trouble placing.

I just prefer DEF to STR.

[Meteor]

If Crit is overrated, shouldn't Ice be above Thunder?

[bunny: spider bitten]

I didn't say it was worthless. I simply said it was overrated. Crit>Hit.

[Meteor]

In that case, Reikken and I both rated it correctly. :P

[bunny: spider bitten]

But crit being overrated is why Anima>Fire.

[Reikken]

It's crit and hit vs def and crit avo, not just crit vs def.

Anyway, I don't see how crit is over rated. Assuming a double attack.. 25 crit from supports + 20 skl + S rank = 64% chance to kill something you don't have enough atk to kill in two normal hits. Add a killer weapon, and it becomes a 91% chance. That's pretty w1n.

[bunny: spider bitten]

Of course, then there's the whole how many units don't die in 2 hits bit.

And you don't need hit anymore than crit-evade.

[_____]

Of course, then there's the whole how many units don't die in 2 hits bit.

And you don't need hit anymore than crit-evade.

Axe Users beg to differ. Dart comes to mind.

[bunny: spider bitten]

Certain affinities are obviously going to be a bit better for certain classes, but at the end of the day, you chose the only character with hit issues. The other axe users get progressively better hit - To the point where by time you actually get major supports, they're content. Especially Hector who *eventually* gets a sword. Geitz has issues, but he's hardly popular, and doesn't have fire affinity anyway.

[Reikken]

you chose the only character with hit issues.

You forgot Bartre.

Now don't forget that enemies can be on terrain, like forests, pillars, or peaks. Or you may need to hit with an inaccurate weapon, like a halberd. Or may be attacking an enemy with good avoid, like a hero or valkyrie. Or may even be attacking an enemy with good avoid using an inaccurate weapon, like a halberd on a valkyrie so you can one-shot it so that it doesn't double-attack you. (lol HHM Valkyries ftw. They have like 20 spd.) Or attacking a boss.

Edited October 26, 2008 by Reikken

[bunny: spider bitten]

To be fair, most axe users can't attack enemies on a peak.