max damage your thoughts

[asdfen]

I've rerolled the game once I've found out that putting certain orbs on large spheres give specific bonus depending on the role that game my characters extra ~150ish attack

I've went for attack on both char since rav's only use is get things to stagger and then still switch to com for damage in 99% of the cases also when just fighting trash the best setup is still 3xcom

so currently starting weapon no acc str/mag
Serah 698/596
Noel 855/511
Chichu 1500attk (according to gamefaqs if leveled with +str)

Also found a +35% str for Serah which actually evens her out with Noel for me atm. I dont have access to best weapons yet 140frags/1trap traps are back and the drop rate seems the same as it was in ff13 they just put it on different monster which actually takes longer to kill :(

I am still not sure whatever or not level up bonuses to roles/accessories/atb do you get all of those regardless or choices actually matter here? (edit not monster I mean Serah/Niel)

I've also discovered that +stats orbs seems to be better than potent orbs for monsters. my current com monster is Chichu ~ 1237 attk (found with mog in flowers in Steppe available only after you finished the boss in Steppe) dont make the same mistake I've made level him with + stat

So how would you go about maxing damage?

[Azn Playah]

Even though you'll be using COMs for damage, it's still more prudent for Serah to max magic because she'll just be casting ruin as a COM which is still based off magic. If you're purely going for power, then go ahead and use power materials for your monsters since it gives double the strength boost compared to the potents. Although again, if the monster is learning spells and not attacks, use mana materials. For COM monsters you're going to definitely want to just select COM bonus boosts over ATB gauge as well.

[BBowles]

As stated, if you pumped magic on serah, her magic stat would be equal to/ slightly higher than Noel's strength stat. And since Ruin uses Magic to compute damage, she'd still be doing great damage.

+ stat orbs are obviously better for monsters, depending on their role. The whole idea of them is to allow you to max one stat, or customize the monster to your liking. You can give your medic a little health boost in exchange for weaker cures, raise your Ravager's strength skill so they focus more on strike/blitz type magic attacks, etc.

Edit: As for monster Role bonuses versus ATB segments, it really depends. If the monster attacks really fast, the ATB segment is probably more useful. Slower moving, harder hitting monsters will benefit more from the Role bonus.

As far as maxing damage,

1. Always start battle with a Syn monster that has Brave/Faith ONLY (so they don't waste time casting protect/shell/etc.) so you instantly have increased damage, then use your first ATB refresh to bring in another monster.

2. Find all fragments, then use the Odinbolt/Odinblade weapons. With all fragments found, these weapons give +220 to both magic and strength.

3. 100 Accessory points. Equip 2 Durable Brawler's Wristbands or Durable Shaman's Marks for a 40% increase to str/mag.

4. Set up your paradigm list with your preferred damage paradigm, and the EXACT SAME PARADIGM right after it. Use the ATB refresh to you advantage (switching to an identical paradigm still counts as switching, giving you the free full bar every other attack), thus increasing the frequency of your attacks.

[asdfen]

hey cool didnt know about atb refresh and double paragrim thanks for info
btw whats the best com monster? is it Chichu? who I cant get 2nd one of :(?

[BBowles]

For those who don't know about ATB Refresh:

Essentially, every so often you can get a free full ATB bar by switching paradigms. This worked in FF-XIII as well, but neither game actually tells you about it. Basically, it works like this:

Battle starts. After your first full ATB bar is used, shifting paradigms will give you a full bar. Use that bar, and let it charge to full again. Use this 2nd bar, and then switch paradigms again. Assuming a full 11 seconds has gone by since your first shift (1st free ATB bar), you'll recieve another full bar.

In shorthand:

Battle Starts > ATB fills > Attack > Paradigm Shift > Instant full ATB > Attack > ATB fills > Attack > Paradigm Shift > Instant full ATB > Rinse and repeat.

So if you set up two identical paradigms, you can take advantage of the free full ATB bars without actually switching your characters roles.



As far as best Com, it really is a matter of preference. There are around 10 monsters with Str between 900 and 1100 (using strictly potent materials....using Power materials will obviously raise this). Chichu is one of them. The main thing is to make sure you infuse all of the role abilities. The following are abilities for Com's that can be infused:

Ruin
Ruinga
Adrenaline
Blindside
Bloodthirsty
Deathblow
Faultsiphon
Lifesiphon
Powerchain
Scourge

If Chichu is missing any of those, find a cheap monster that has them (preferably with no passive abilities) and infuse it so that Chichu can learn those role abilities. Not all of them are important, but you might as well equip him with all the possible abilities.

The guide does recommend you have a commando with either Armor Breaker or Mind Piercer by default (does extra damage to enemies that take half physical/magical damage, or are resistant to phy/mag damage). Since you can't infuse these abilities, choosing a monster with them by default is a plus.

[ImaginaryRuins]

I personally prefer a more balanced ATK and MAG stat, but Noel's and Serah's Crystarium seems to have set Noel to incline to ATK and Serah to MAG according to my observation.

[BBowles]

Serah is definately more inclined to magic, and Noel to strength. That being said, if its balance you seek, then you you should max out Serah's magic and Noel's strength, and then equip Serah with Nagaraja and Noel with The Tower. These weapons are both Chocobo race rewards.

Nagaraja makes Serah's strength equal her magic stat, and The Tower makes Noel's magic equal to his strength stat. Maxed, balanced stats :)