This guide is mostly for established ranged elf players who are looking to cut down on a majority of NX expenses without sacrificing their in-game performance too much. It might also be useful to new players, but it would be a very long term aspiration for them. Some of the concepts used here can also be applied to other classes/races, but not particularly.
In my opinion, the following are the most expensive Mabinogi items NX-wise for an established player:
1. Weekly rebirths.
2. Enchant/Repair protection/Artisan restoration of endgame upgraded weapons that decay over time.
The above have in-game alternatives that require less or no NX, and this guide is on how to optimize those in-game alternatives for G15.
Free rebirths:
By taking advantage of the free rebirth system, you can cut down on your NX usage by a lot. There are some disadvantages for elf range when doing this, however, and these are lower dexterity/luck gain through leveling when compared to weekly rebirthing at a younger age.
Spirit weapon:
While having a perfect artisan Nobility Thorn Lotus r6 Highlander Long Bow is ideal for an endgame ranged elf character, the NX cost of creating such a weapon and maintaining it for a long time can be astronomical. Spirit weapons are a competent alternative that can save you much NX and is more convenient to raise in these times of inflation.
This guide focuses on how to optimize your (already developed) character's performance through equipment suited to maximize the potential of a free-birthing elf ranger with a spirit weapon. This is not for the faint of heart, as working on this setup will take much effort and may actually cost NX in the form of enchant protection during its creation.
[SIZE="3"]Choosing the right Spirit Weapon:[/SIZE]
1.Ring Bow: [SPOILER="Spoiler"]
[Image: http://puu.sh/fD5T]
[/SPOILER]+Has the highest maximum damage (and enough critical) out of any bow ego (155 max, 37% critical).
+Has the highest stun out of any other bow ego.
+Has a large effective range (2400)
+Has a Normal refire rate.
+Moderate upkeep.
My recommendation goes to the Ring Bow due to it's speed, damage, ability to be repaired in-game and sufficient critical for this guide's build. While it's repairs are not the most accessible, by leveling exploration through ballooning (which is faster than rafting) you have a 10~15% chance to acquire them by sacrificing a minimal amount of exploration experience each run.
The Ring Bow ego is the only spirit bow that can surpass S-Type Highlander Long Bow in maximum damage, as well as the only one that can come close to R-Type Highlander Long Bow's average damage (and even be situationally better). Since this guide is about optimizing performance while spending the least amount of NX, then this is the bow you want.
2.Guardian Bow:
+Has the second highest maximum damage (and decent critical) out of all bow egos (141 max, 44% critical).
+Consumes durability slower than other bows (not verified).
+Superb upkeep. It's repairs can be bought from NPCs.
-Has a short effective range (1700) although it's exact range is not verified yet.
-Has a Slow refire rate.
Just added this one after seeing it's endgame stats. It looks like a much better option for elves than the LLB in terms of damage and durability usage, and definitely gets my recommendation if you prefer a weapon with cheap/easy NPC repairs. It's range, however is lackluster, but for elves who range at close distances that much range should be more than enough.
3. Leather Long Bow
+Has an adequate mix of damage and critical (133 max, 48% critical).
+Superb upkeep. It's repairs can be bought from NPCs.
+Has a large effective range (2500).
-Has a Slow refire rate.
The LLB is not stellar by any means, but its convenience of repairs and effective range make it the contender that it is. It might not perform as well as the Ring Bow or Guardian Bow in terms of damage, but, again... the repairs are so easy and cheap.
Other notable bows are restricted by NX-only repairs, so they are not worth considering for this guide's purpose. The reason I recommend a spirit bow for this build is that in these times of inflation, getting one to a very high level only requires patience... and the amount of NX saved during the time you will play Mabinogi (as compared to enchant/repair potting an r6 HLB that decays over time) is astronomical.
Another advantage of ego bows, is that should you choose to spend NX on metal toolkit upgrades... you can sleep safe knowing that this bow will never be destroyed or leave your hands after such expenses are made.
[SIZE="3"]
Choosing the right equipment and enchants:
[/SIZE]This is not a list of the absolute best enchants you can use for elf range (though it is extremely close) but more like a build designed to maximize critical and damage potential with a spirit weapon at free-birth ages, despite the noticeably lower dexterity/luck gain.
The base for this enchant setup revolves around the Bohemian set that is released in G15, but it can
be modified for other equipment. The Bohemian set is ideal, as it adds a 15% damage bonus to Magnum Shot (the bread and butter of elf range).
You might need NX to enchant protect some of these items, but as equipment lasts a very long time... you don't have to worry about maintenance.
Headgear:
Vine Dexterity Bohemian Hat. [SPOILER="Spoiler"]
[Image: http://puu.sh/cLQY]
[/SPOILER]- Round might be better than Vine if you eventually wish to play at younger ages.
- Oblivion might be better than Vine for upgraded weapons or if you run missions that don't require critical with ego to be over 100%.
Accessories:
Oblivion Lilly x2. [SPOILER="Spoiler"]
[Image: http://puu.sh/cLQt]
[/SPOILER]- Sonnet, Salvia, Gemini and Swarming are more accessible but less effective alternatives to Lilly.
- Enchanting over accessories with max damage reforge lv 1 will yield you additional max damage.
- Fierce pre-enchanted accessories are a far better alternative to Lilly, but they are unnatural and most likely impossible to obtain.
Clothes:
Restored Ambush Bohemian Wear (High or max WILL artisan). [SPOILER="Spoiler"]
[Image: http://puu.sh/cKDo]
[/SPOILER]- Glass Fragment can be a more accessible alternative to Ambush.
- White Horse might be a better option to Ambush should you wish to eventually play at a younger age or when the new +luck skill is added.
- Special can be used as a decent placeholder until you get Restored.
Gloves:
Classic Elementalist Bohemian Band. [SPOILER="Spoiler"]
[Image: http://puu.sh/cLQK]
[/SPOILER]- Clear or Oblivion are decent placeholder/bridges for Classic.
- Ecstasy or Elegant might be more accessible options than Elementalist.
- Steel Needle Ecstasy can be used if you're not planning to take advantage of Bohemian set effect)
Shoes:
Oblivion Hard Peaca Bohemian Shoes. [SPOILER="Spoiler"]
[Image: http://puu.sh/cLQS]
[/SPOILER]- Hawk can be used as an alternative to Hard Peaca that might be easier to enchant but less effective.
- Oblivion Raven/Viscount can be used instead of Hard Peaca if you're not planning to take advantage of Bohemian set effect.
Title:
The Sniper.
- There's no reason to use any other title. Master of CS is barely ahead of Sniper in CS damage even with high max.
Now, you might be saying "All that -luck is murdering your crit! And where is that wonderful beast known as White Horse?"... However, the point of this setup is indeed to get rid of all the luck ever in exchange for raw damage... so we can in turn be lenient with critical through other slots.
The decision between Vine or Oasis for hat/shoes is a toss-up relying on whether you want 4 crit or 4 max. I'd go for Vine, because the crit is nice and it doesn't force you to level in order to activate its effects or have to re-roll a million times and a half.
Age 17+ has no luck gain through leveling, so if you stack -luck damage/critical enchants there comes a point where luck cannot go into negative, so your critical cannot be affected too badly. Taking advantage of this, we have a setup where we get a lot of max damage and raw critical to help make up the damage/critical deficiency of playing at free-birth ages. This kind of build is less effective on upgraded HLB, as you would have to turn down its artisan and therefore lowering its potential.
This setup is mostly tailored for an endgame Ring Bow Ego as a free-birth character with maxed Will or near it. You will be able to reach 115~125% critical while only sacrificing 5 max damage from enchants over the ideal setup for a character who rebirths and plays at a young age. It is important to note than in g16, new skills that give 15% critical when ranked will further optimize this build and allow Ring Bow ego to soar even higher with critical... or allow you to replace pieces like Vine for Oblivion and obtain extra damage.
It is a very endgame play style meant for low maintenance once it is mastered, but is very well worth it if you want to spend little NX in Mabinogi after you're an established player but still want to have fun and mission with all your friends while not feeling like you're missing out on a lot of potential.
There it is... my first and only guide. It's quite wordy and plain so most of you will just tl;dr it. In any case, I can only hope someone might find some use for it.