Any tips or builds for a new Spear Lann?

• Eyrion wrote on 2012-02-18 10:04
  So I'm a level 13 Lann, planning on pulling out the ol' spears once I get the chance. I'm wondering if you have any combat tips, and which skills should I be upgrading before I reach level24?
• Sekwaf wrote on 2012-02-18 10:42
  I made one a while ago just to try spears. For skills, I'd say invest a good deal into critical, and gliding fury (not much is worth ranking before them, except maybe armor masteries). Standing Endurance is also good, since you can get the roll at level 30. Also, I'd save up a good amount of AP before 24 so you can dump it all into fury infusion when you get it. As for combat, learn to dodge without slip dash (I did this through sprint smashing). Aside from that, I don't know what else to tell you.
• Invertex wrote on 2012-02-18 11:19
  The sad truth is that once you're past Lv. 50 or so, you'll need to focus more on your equipment than your playing skills.
  
  You could also try practicing with a Fiona (if you have one). Since you can block attacks, it'll let you observe boss patterns to some extent. After that, practice only using Fiona's rolls and sprint smashes to dodge. In essence, you'll be playing a Spear Lann without as much damage output.
  
  Criticals are the one way you'll escape some attacks (Crit -> GF), so rank that as much as you can. As mentioned above, getting Standing Endurance to Rank 9 is very helpful, though you could just use Windmill instead. You might want to consider ranking your Heavy/Plate mastery a bit more so you get some extra Def when available. HP Potion proficiency is also good as Spear Lanns will always end up losing some HP, so healing faster is pretty important.
  
  Spear Lann doesn't have many important offensive skills. Fury Infusion is the obvious one. Smash and Strength masteries are also good. But there aren't too many smash skills that are crucial to his gameplay (unlike every other character).
  
  In the end, the greatest help you can get to your survivability is crit and GF. Spear Lann's offence needs very little help so it's not as important to rank them. The rest of your skills should be there to help you when you get hit.
• Eyrion wrote on 2012-02-19 06:05

  Quote from Invertex;778088:

  there aren't too many smash skills that are crucial to his gameplay (unlike every other character).

  
  
  Isn't smash attacks almost all a Spear Lann does?
• MareneCorp wrote on 2012-02-19 06:31

  Quote from Eyrion;778614:

  Isn't smash attacks almost all a Spear Lann does?

  
  
  Yes but the only smash skill you can rank up for spears is Moon Splitter. Meaning your damage output is more or less directly correlated with your attack.
• Eyrion wrote on 2012-02-19 07:54

  Quote from MareneCorp;778640:

  Yes but the only smash skill you can rank up for spears is Moon Splitter. Meaning your damage output is more or less directly correlated with your attack.

  
  
  I meant that Smash Mastery is actually VERY important to a Spear Lann, because all they do is smash. I wasn't talking about what smash skills may be upgraded.
• Invertex wrote on 2012-02-19 08:31

  Quote from Eyrion;778770:

  I meant that Smash Mastery is actually VERY important to a Spear Lann, because all they do is smash. I wasn't talking about what smash skills may be upgraded.

  
  
  I meant attack specific skills, such as "Smash: Thousand Needles". As Marene mentioned, the only smash skill a Spear Lann has is Moon Splitter. While a max Moon Splitter should match (if not beat) Hurricane's damage output, it lacks the mobility of Hurricane. In the end it means that it's not too important to rank it up.
  
  I also did mention Smash Mastery about a line before, if that helps at all.
• Eyrion wrote on 2012-02-19 10:07

  Quote from Invertex;778839:

  I meant attack specific skills, such as "Smash: Thousand Needles". As Marene mentioned, the only smash skill a Spear Lann has is Moon Splitter. While a max Moon Splitter should match (if not beat) Hurricane's damage output, it lacks the mobility of Hurricane. In the end it means that it's not too important to rank it up.
  
  I also did mention Smash Mastery about a line before, if that helps at all.

  
  
  Guess I didn't read that right, you said smash skills, not just smash attacks, sorry 'bout that.
• RebeccaBlack wrote on 2012-02-27 01:31
  I'll just throw this out there. Getting Defense Mastery to R9 allows you to wear Protection Rings at level 36. What this means is that you'll spend 1,920AP and get 808 defense. This makes up a big chunk of your defense at lower levels and helps a lot at higher levels. Of course, this is meant to prepare you for endgame high defense builds (they do the most DPS), and may or may not do much for you before then. At the very least, it'll help your survivability a bit, which is what Lann struggles with the most. I find increasing your defense by 40-50% at lower levels to be more helpful than doing, for example, 15% more Gliding Fury damage.
  
  Alternatively, you could skip it altogether and swap it out for the super expensive Ocean's Embrace at level 60. Chances are you won't even be able to afford it for a while because they cost a massive 10 million apiece (or they did, when I played) just to be an alternative to Protection Rings, which are dirt cheap. I wouldn't worry about that for a looong time, and using Protection Rings forever would not be the end of the world.