Help Me Choose Bower Build

[_MoB_]

Hey SRF,
First off I've read pretty much every Bower guide on SRF and I'm finally ready to choose my Bower build. I've narrowed it down to these couple of builds. Also, I've set the poll so you can vote for 2 different builds.

1. Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice (<-- Currently my favorite option)
2. Hybrid 70:70 Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice
3. Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Light/Cold
4. Hybrid 70:70 Pach/Ligh/Cold
5. Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Fire/60Light/60Ice
6. Hybrid 70:70 Pach/Fire/60Light/60Ice (<-- Second favorite atm)

Here are some things to help you understand what I will use my Bower for. Mostly I want a char that can grind solo easily, kill fast and not have to worry much about dying to giants and party mobs. I don't want to have to rely so much on crits to do a lot of damange (which is why I'm not making pure str). I also want to be able to PvP decently at cap and while leveling up. I'll probably end up doing 2 star trades solo while I level so being able to tank a bit is neccessary. Likely I won't having the best gear while leveling up so maybe something that is a little less gear dependent. I would prefer to have Fire as one of my masteries since I don't have any chars with Fire mastery yet but if one of the builds wiuthout Fire is much better let me know and give me some reasons. Also, if you could give me some advice on which Imbue I should take with the build you select that would be great, I've been leaning toward Fire Imbue for the Fire builds and Light Imbue for the Light builds. If you have an opinion on which kind of armor I should use for a certain set please include that as well. I've been leaning toward Prot or Garment for most builds.

EDIT: I've started my bower on Helios server currently level 17 (been spending a lot of time stalling for money ) Going great so far I've had no trouble grinding and killing giants. He's 79% phys balance right now but obviously it doesnt make much difference at low level. If you play on Helios hit me up! AnbuMobb is my name.. I'm looking for a guild!

TL;DR - Pick from one of the builds above and supply a lil reasoning.

Thanks SRF

[Tasdik]

Hello there. = )

First off, I'm a bit confused about your skill masteries. Like for instance, with the 5th and 6th one one you have 60 light and 60 ice. 60 + 60 = 120. What then are you pacheon and fire mastery levels at? I assume with the other builds that your going with 90 light. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyways, operating under that assumption, I like the 5th option the best. Although you probably won't need a level 60 snow shield, *you'll probably want to keep it around the first 5ish levels*, the added ice def and extra few levels of snow shield are quite helpful when pvping. I also like the build because it does off enough speed/phantom that you won't have to blow tons of money on speed drugs and what not.

[_MoB_]

Hello there. = )

First off, I'm a bit confused about your skill masteries. Like for instance, with the 5th and 6th one one you have 60 light and 60 ice. 60 + 60 = 120. What then are you pacheon and fire mastery levels at? I assume with the other builds that your going with 90 light. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyways, operating under that assumption, I like the 5th option the best. Although you probably won't need a level 60 snow shield, *you'll probably want to keep it around the first 5ish levels*, the added ice def and extra few levels of snow shield are quite helpful when pvping. I also like the build because it does off enough speed/phantom that you won't have to blow tons of money on speed drugs and what not.

Thanks for the input. Yea I left off the Fire and Pach Mastery level because I just went under the assumtion it would be about 3 levels below my actual level (I'm planning on going 3 gap up till about level 60ish while leaving light and ice at about 20-30 mastery then building 9 gap to farm somewhere). So yes you can assume its 90Fire 90Pach 60 Light 60 Ice etc etc.. If I didnt write a mastery level next to the build just assume its maxed (90)

So far I'm leaning most towards the build you mentioned. I like the 60 Ice and 60 Light should be enough with 85% Physical balance.

[IntWarrior]

110 pach 110 fire 110 force

full str

[_MoB_]

Thanks for your input but I'd rather go with Hybrid for a little more sustained damage (less bursty) and Force doesn't really seem that useful until higher levels.

[S3by]

Hybrid 70:70 Pach/Ligh/Cold
Just because i do not like 60 / 60 mastery , iven u go 110 iven u delete char .

[Pan_Raider(`_´)]

the most effective ones from my point of view:

Hybrid 70:70 Pach/Fire/60Light/60Ice
if you want to be a good lvler for less sp but still about the same strength all around,
light 50/cold 60

Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice
if you want to be a good lvler that can also take on others 1vs1 in pvp
light 80(or 90) cold 30(or 20)

Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Light/Cold
if you want to be a good lvler for alot of sp

________________________________________________
these have a flaw:


Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Fire/60Light/60Ice
as a str, either 20-30 ice or max, in between it doesnt give much defence, snow shield is only worth it till about 30%
higher and you will find yourself with an empty mp bar more often after sustaining a hard attack
so max 40 cold

Hybrid 70:70 Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice
a little unstable, more damage but less defence, frail
the 60 ice would give higher snow shield
wont survive too much and you will be less inclined to pvp

[_MoB_]

Thanks Pan, really helpful look at some different builds.
Currently I'm leaning toward 85% phys Balance Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice... I'm really interested in 70:70 Pach/Fire/60Light/60Ice but I feel the extra HP might be more helpful especially in pvp and without snowshield up the 70:70 seems kinda vulnerable.
My Bower is only level 17 right now so I haven't really had to choose my spec for sure yet.

[Criticals]

Offtopic: Why not full str?

OT: Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice

[_MoB_]

Offtopic: Why not full str?

OT: Hybrid 85% Phys Balance Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice

Main reason why I'm not considering Full Str is because I've heard that Full Str Bowers rely a bit too heavily on crits to do most of their damage since their Imbue damage isn't as strong. With that in mind, I've realized I probably won't be rocking the best SoX + whatever wep while leveling up so my passive crit won't be that high really. I feel like the better damage over time of the Hybrid due to more Imbue damage will help me in the long run. Also, crit damage is based on physical damage while imbue is magic, having a good balance between the two will help when facing people with a good Prot or Armor set that will mitigate a lot of my physical damage.
The 85% Pach/Fire/Light/20Ice is probably what I'll end up with but I'm only just starting the char so I've got plenty of time to make my final choice.