Lightningbolt or Thunder?

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Yogurticecream wrote on 2010-04-24 19:51

I @_@ when I realised that mana summoner needs lightningbolt at Rank 3 to activate mana reduction points.

The good thing is that my lightningbolt is already rank D because of my wisp enchant set.

So I'm stuck between deciding to rank lightningbolt or thunder, or completely skip lightning bolt.

One thing to consider is that I'm using stiff tail cap, so I'll lose 10 dex for ranking up lightningbolt. I'm not sure if it would affect. I won't see myself using AR much anymore, especially now that I have rank A Thunder to work with for rafting. Right now, I have about 260 dex with title (so meaning if I lose the dex, it should go to 250).

I'm not writing "do both" option, because I have to decide which I have to learn first, within 1 rebirth if possible.

My thunder is currently Rank A (waiting for more AP this rebirth to get it to Rank 9), and lightningbolt is D as stated.

(In case anyone is wondering, I'm currently doing 2 rebirths in 3 weeks.)
Cannibal wrote on 2010-04-24 19:53

I say go with thunder. Beyond 6, that is.
Nyo wrote on 2010-04-24 20:05

What's your current style of play? I went with lightning bolt first since it took less AP to get to rank 1 (or at least to rank 5), and since I use swords most of the time, I can mix lightning bolt while attacking with melee.

If you're planning to use thunder a lot and don't mind the mana drain and wand repairs, you could go with thunder.
Arsik wrote on 2010-04-24 20:16

Go Lightningbolt. Mana reduction is great, especially since you spam Thunder for Rafting. Considering that you also get a Crystal Lightning Wand modified for pure Mana Consumption reduction (at the cost of 35% damage), you're nearly cutting your mana usage by half (21MP for the first charge if the set effect's reduction stacks with the wand's reduction, or 23MP for the first charge if one effect gets applied after the other one does. Either way, you're saving alot on Mana Pots). And even with the damage reduction, you should be able to one hit all of the non-warrior Hobgoblins at R6, which is where the ideal rank of Thunder for solo rafting, because of the hitting three enemies with the first charge.

Plus, considering that LB hits fast and hard, R3 would be useful for finishing opponents that are further away from you quickly if you are fighting them with melee. Sure, the -10 Dex from Stiff enchants will be annoying if you primarily are an archer, but you're only losing about 2.5% Balance, and negligible injury.
EndlessDreams wrote on 2010-04-24 20:16

r5+ Lightning Bolt can easily be incorporated to range/melee type combos while Thunder isn't something you can do easily. It is even better when you lack a 1.5 second load bolt.
Yogurticecream wrote on 2010-04-24 21:23

My current style is "smash -> repeat smash/windmill" or "smash -> icebolt" as finishing if I'm doing melee. Icebolt is only rank F.
I'm planning to get R6 Thunder eventually but I'm not sure if I should go with Thunder or Lightningbolt first if I do decide to get both.

Original plan was:
This week: Free rebirth, R9 Thunder
Next week: Paid rebirth, R6 Thunder
3rd week: No rebirth
4th week: Free rebirth, not decided on what to do yet

Edit: I have one more option. Magic mastery to C and mana magician enchant.
Shirayuki wrote on 2010-04-24 23:20

Well lightning would add some magic balance, make your damage more stable, so I would recommend LB to 3. Plus, it's easy to put into other combat styles like archery and melee.
Justified wrote on 2010-04-24 23:27

Mana Summoner or Wisp Magic School Uniform is better than Mana Summoner IMO. Or go for Mana Witch MSUniform and end up with up to 6 Mana Reduction (but that requires rA Ice Spear).

If you have r9 Icebolt, I would go for max Thunder. If you don't, then rank Lightningbolt up to r2 so you can get a 1.5 second bolt spell and activate Summoner while you're at it.
Yogurticecream wrote on 2010-04-25 00:50

Thanks. I solved the problem by going for Mana Magician and Rank C Magic Mastery.
Mana Magician is a reward from hot-air ballooning.
Put on Magic School Uniform and it's a +4. With magic school shoes and BB Feather Hat it's +10.
It also has a bonus of allowing me to get Blaze at Novice too.
Trigger wrote on 2010-04-26 03:40

OOC: Neither, unless you have 100% Magic Balance (250 Int + R6 Magic Mastery, or 290 Int with Novice Magic Mastery). Technically you could rank Lightning Bolt and gain the Intelligence from it toward your Magic Balance, which you might have to do anyway if your Int is particularly low, but Thunder is definitely a no-no without 100% Magic Balance.