Phalanx II

[K. Ishitar]

How's the gap looking between this and Phalanx? Post update you had to have specific gear to make Phalanx II slighty better than the original.

Hows the gap looking at 80? or is it the same?

 

[Nyosan~]

I'm not sure exactly how much enhancing skill a RDM can muster these days, but I do know that Phalanx and a fully-merited Phalanx 2 meet at 290 skill for a reduction of 27 points of damage. At 310 skill, Phalanx beings to out-pace Phalanx 2 (29 and 28, respectively). RDM can easily achieve 310+, so it looks like the original Phalanx is the winner for self-use. It'll only get better as the level cap rises, barring a retooling of Phalanx 2.

 

[Lukas]

Assuming a RDM80/WHM40

281 Base Enhancing Skill (B+)
+15 Warlock's Tights
+15 Duelist's Gloves
+7 Enhancing Torque
+5 Merciful Cape
+3 Augmenting Earring
+3 Glamour Jupon
+16 Enhancing Merits

345 Total

Phalanx: (Enhancing/10) - 2
= 32

Phalanx II (5 merits): (Enhancing/25) + (3 x5 merits) + 1
= 29

Edit: You can cut 5 Enhancing Skill on Phalanx and not lose tier.
You can cut 20 Enhancing Skill on Phalanx II and not lose tier.

 

[Uzor]

Phalanx is meant to be stronger than Phalanx II - so it doesn't require a retooling of it. Its why I never bothered meritting it past 1 point for those situational things you need it for.

Especially now that Paladin has access to Phaalanx.

 

[Alereth]

Given a non-exp situation, is a RDMs Phalanx II going to always trump a PLDs self Phalanx?

 

[Lukas]

Assuming PLD80

230 Base Enhancing Skill (D)
+7 Enhancing Torque
+10 Galant Breeches +1
+5 Merciful Cape
+3 Augmenting Earring
+16 Enhancing Merits

271 Total

Phalanx: (Enhancing/10) - 2
= 25

Compared to a fully buffed Phalanx II = 29

So yes, theoretically. Bear in mind if we were to look at the very basic numbers (a naked PLD with 230 skill, and a RDM with 281 and ONE merit into Phalanx II), RDM would be sitting at 15, and the PLD at 21. RDM would need 3 merits in Phalanx II and AT LEAST 300 skill to beat a naked PLDs Phalanx.

If both had the max Enhancing builds listed above, RDM would still need four merits in Phalanx II.

A RDM's Phalanx will always be preferable to Phalanx II when self casting. It will also be preferable when /SCH with Accession (in fact the MP cost of Accession + Phalanx and Phalanx II on a single target should be identical).

 

[Nyosan~]

Eh, I don't see why Phalanx II shouldn't be equally or more effective than Phalanx. Having merits in it (especially 5/5) eats up very valuable Tier 2 space. If one decides to pursue this route, one should be rewarded in a manner similar to the benefit of having full Slow 2 merits.

Personally, I've never taken a Phalanx II merit, and I have no plans to do so. Like you said, it's less potent than the original version, and if a group really wants me to provide Phalanx, I can RDM/SCH or SCH/RDM to facilitate that.

If there were a significant reason to have it, I might reconsider my decision. Same goes for Enhancing Magic merits. I doubt there are very many mages who actually have this merited; the benefits of meriting other magic types greatly out-weigh Enhancing merits. There's very little point to it as it stands, but that doesn't mean that it has to be that way.

Variety in options is never a bad thing.

 

[Lukas]

It was highly situational, even more acutely so after the update. Unless you're constantly in a situation where your tank is not a PLD, and desperately needs damage mitigation... and for some reason you can never come /SCH, then go for it I guess. Although, some could argue that the other Tier II spells also have indirect effects on how much damage your tank will take (Slow, Para, Bio).

 

[K. Ishitar]

thats pretty much my thoughts on it nyo hence the thread, I never planned on phalanx II tbh I was just wondering if it was retooled. Really hope they let us max out our merit categories at 99 or so, having dia III maxed out with para II/slowII would be nice; but something has to give!

 

[Nyosan~]

I would be immensely happy if they took away the section limits at lv99. I'd love to have at least twice as many combat skill merits than I have currently do, for example. Same thing goes for the individual job merits.

Pipe dreams...

 

[K. Ishitar]

assuming the same result but bio II vs bio III still the same with bio II being slighly better?

 

[Dowzer]

assuming the same result but bio II vs bio III still the same with bio II being slighly better?

Bio III is much better, it's only worse than Bio II when merited 3/5 or less.

Bio III (5/5) is 400 damage. 150 second duration.

Bio II is 240 damage. 120 second duration.

All assuming dark skill 211 or above.