Dragon Buster II and Dragon Slayer Reviews

 [Draft Post from Last Month]
Hello all.  I decided to do a review because I felt like it. :D

Dragon Buster II


This sword is good.  Not just the art, which I love and reminds me of the Draconic Devastator.
1) Damage: 35
This sword is the second 35 damage sword, after Frost Slayer.  I was expecting a 36 damage sword to match the Infernal Slayer.
2) Enhance Slots: 10
Like the other promos.  I expected this.  If you fully enhance this sword, it will have one more stat than a fully enhanced Infernal Slayer.  Not that one extra stat makes up for one less damage.
3) Damage Type: Physical
About time we get a physical promo.  Really.
4) Lack of special
Well, we're going to have to get used to it.  Just like the Infernal Slayer.
5) Cheevo with purchase
Dragon Master.  Sort of like Infernal Slayer (the sword)'s Infernal Slayer (the cheevo).
6) Number of stat modifiers
30.  On par with the Infernal Slayer.  Maybe it could've been more, to make up for lack of one damage.
7) Stat placement
+8
+10
+4
+8
Now compare that to the original Dragon Buster.
+8
+10
---
+8
Basically just another four points of tech.  I've never liked weapons that have points to both Strength and Support, as if they couldn't decide which stat to pick.  But the stat placement makes the sword a good weapon for Cyber Hunters, Tech Mages (because of the support), and maybe Mercenaries.  Not so good for Tactical Mercenaries (Passive PHYSICAL armor).
8) Requirements
Low, as with most Varium promotions.
9) Cost
Lower Varium cost than most promotions.  Very good.

[End Draft Post Part]

Dragon Slayer
  
The first thing I noticed about this armor: It's hybrid.  Second: Stat placement.

1) Defenses
Hybrid Armor.  Cool.  That's what they've all been for a while now.  +5/+5, unlike Platinum's Pride, which is another story.
2) Enhance Slots: 10
As expected.
3) Defense Type: Hybrid
Good and balanced.  In case if you don't know: Hybrid Armors are good for:
Balanced Def/Res Bounty Hunter
Balanced Def/Res Blood Mage
Tech Abuse Tactical Mercenary
Balanced Def/Res Mercenary
Balanced Def/Res Tech Mage
4) Lack of special
Really, it's about time we return to the old standards.  The last promo with no special was... WTF THEY ALL HAVE SPECIALS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER  But still, we must adjust.  In my opinion, the cost more than makes up for this.
5) Cheevo with purchase
Refer to above.
6) Number of stat modifiers
20.  Like a normal Level 35 armor should have.
7) Stat placement
+5
+5
+5
+5
Incredibly balanced, don't you think?  Sounds like it's good for *incredibly balanced* builds.  But to be honest, whenever any piece of gear covers all stats (such as Harbinger Husk) I think Mehh, not really worth getting.
8) Requirements
Armors have next to no requirements.  In this case, that you have a gender and that you are at least level 31.
9) Cost
Incredibly cost-efficient.  I'm serious.  Really.  995 Varium for one half of a promo is dirt cheap.

And don't even get me started on how much you save when you get the whole Dragon's Reckoning Package together.
~ReconnaisX
PS: Still gotta do my homework.

A Question Answered

I was looking through my blog's stats, until I found the category "Referring Keywords".  Basically, that is when you search up something and if it links somewhere, say my blog, then I would get a page hit and Blogger would record that keyword that ultimately led to my blog.

I found this in "Referring Keywords" today:
Why is everyone a Mercenary in EpicDuel?

Ha.  That's funny.  I'm not sure whether or no I agree with you, but I will try to dig up as many possible reasons as I can.

I assume you must be a lower-level player.  In the lower levels, Mercenaries are a popular choice.  Their Bunker Buster can make for an instant death, and coupled with Hybrid Armor and Berzerker, a typical low-level Mercenary is rivaled only by a Plasma Bolt Tech Mage.  In the higher levels, a Multi-Support build can surpass even a bolt TM.  In a nutshell: Quick Kill.  (In the higher levels, this trophy is taken usually by Blood Mages- key word: strength.)
Most lower-level players are non-varium.  Therefore, the amount of noob (level-wise) Cyber Hunters, Tactical Mercenaries, and Blood Mages running around is close to zero.  So, more starter-class people.
If you remember what I said earlier, nonvariums are essentially left with three choices- Mercenary, Tech Mage, and Bounty Hunter.  And then there's the random element.  Say that people were to choose their class randomly.  We're not robots, but I will assume that the chance of picking one starter class is 1/3.

Ugh.  That's all I can think of.  (I will put in more if I can think.)  But if you don't like Mercenaries, you don't have to join them to beat them.  Of course, that is your choice, though.

~ReconnaisX

Bot Balance :D

Hiya everyone. I'm about due for a blog post, anyway, and this buff (or nerf) to all bots is good material. I'm typing this from an iPad, so forgive me if something nasty and autocorrecty happens.

But going on-

1) Infernal Android

Even though last week's nerf damaged (and I mean really hurt) the Infernal Android's power, it is still a great bot choice for tank builds, second only to the Gamma Bot.
The base damage is 10-12, which earns a mehhh from me, but then again you must remember that I have used Varium before. It's great for non-variums, though. It costs exactly the same as the Rusted Assault Bot (14k credits).
There really is no strategy to this bot, though, as it is pure damage. Just a rule of thumb: it takes five rounds before the Infernal Android reaches normal damage (although in energy).

2) Assault Bots

The debuts reduction was reduced from 80% to 65%? Cool. Now the debs have to give TLM a debuff. I don't care whether or not it's Smoke Screen, Malfunction, or Intimidate. The problem is, what will the debuff replace? If it replaces Field Commander, FC will go extinct.

3) Azrael's Borg

Basically the same as the Assault Bots, just reversed. This is good for my support BM.

4) Bio Borg

It's special is no longer affected by Azrael's Borg? Okay. I guess that's good.

5) Baby Yeti

So the special is unblockable. Wow, that took a while. Now, what about making "Seasonal-Rare" live up to its name?

6) Gamma Bot

The Gamma Bot is still the best bot around. Good, it's rare.

~ReconnaisX

Zombie Human Robots? Holy crap.

Hey guys.  I'm back.  And to celebrate the end of this long, hard grinding session that was so boring it nearly sent me to Fruit Ninja sorry, the war, I have

1) Claimed the achievement.  "Infernal Conqueror".  Worth 2.5k Rating Points.  Just what I need to get my BM to 6 stars.
2) Stared at the bots.  Watch the "Spoils of War" cutscene at the Exile Footsoldier.  It creeps me out.
3) Bought a bot.  Still plain creepy.
4) Stared at a holographic Baelius.  My god, does he always look like that?
5) Why the hell is he level 100?  As if the level 50 Zedmyr (when he was released, about a year ago) didn't freak me out enough.  Sheesh, we're on freaking level 35!
6) Stared at the bots again.  They really are stare-worthy.

I love making lists.

Infernal Android: A Good Investment for your Future (and Death)

The Infernal Android is worth it.  Why?
(Yeah, it's a list.)
1) It is the best nonvarium bot to date.  It costs the same as the Rusted Assualt Bot.
2) The special can get pretty overpowered.  It deals more damage each time you use it.
3) It is a human.  Come on guys, who wouldn't want a servant?
4) It is worth it: 14,000 credits or 500 varium (just 500!) to a base 10-14?  Heck yes, you should get it.

However, I hope this is a glitch: The Infernal Android is not a rare.  #RareCollector

What?  Oh, sorry.  That was from my time on Twitter.  I'm getting too used to it.

Expect reviews on the Infernal Infiltration weapons and more lists.
~ReconnaisX
PS: Get a bot!

Currently Not Available

Sorry guys, you're going to have to wait until the war is over.  What war?  The EpicDuel Infernal Infiltration War.
~ReconnaisX

Below the Surface- The Second Door

Merc1225 stared at the first door, which was still smoking.  The scrap metal gathered around it was a testament to the brave pieces of steel that had given their lives in battle to shield the Vault.  But apparently it was not enough.
The Legion army was overpowering.  For every Legion warrior that fell, two Exiles were defeated.  The Lawman did not despair, though.  Apparently he still had a trick up his sleeves.
On the seventh day, they finally broke through.  The shell hit the Delta Vault gate, and it couldn't take it anymore.  It shattered.  The Exiles gathered around their broken gate.  They had expected to see what was inside the Vault- what would turn the tide of war.
The Exiles saw another door.
"You can't be kidding me," Merc1225 groaned.
Ulysses shrugged.  "It makes sense Baelius would think to secure the Delta Vault with more than one door."
Unfortunately, the door was covered by rubble.
"So, how do we get in?" Merc1225 asked.
"The Mechachillids," Ulysses said.  "Wait."  He left, and a few minutes later, he came back with two Mechachillids.
"Their arms were made to easily carry heavy rock," he explained.  "They can help with the debris removal."
Just then, M4tr1x materialized.
"Wait a sec," Merc1225 said, staring at M4tr1x.  "I thought you were aligned with the Legion.  What are you doing here?"
"I am not aligned," M4tr1x replied.  "I was merely created by the Legion.  I have come to offer you a selection of moltings from the Mechachillid.  They can resist damage from the Delta Vault's security systems."
"Excellent," the Lawman said, having joined quietly.  "This should give us an edge over the Legion."
"I am not aligned," M4tr1x repeated.
Merc1225 stared at the armors.
------------------------------------------------
The Light Mechachillid took hold of the last rock.  There it was- the second door.
"Should we call the others?" its partner asked.
"They're already here," the first Mechachillid said.  It pointed to the rows of tanks, manned by Exile Footsoldiers.

Infernal Interdictor Support Build for TLMs.

Hello, everyone.  I just finished a battle in which I ended it by dealing a 47 to a Heavy Mechachillid.  How did I get 47?
Well, my primary damage is 13-16+35-2 (I'm level 33 on this TLM).  That means my possible damage range (at 0-0, both for defense and resistance) would be 46-49.  Now the 47 seems possible, but the Heavy Mechachillid wasn't debuffed.  For that matter, I was not buffed, either.  And the level 35 Heavy Mechachillid has a defense and resistance of somewhere around 20 (Yeah, that is pretty weak).
For those of you who noticed last Friday's early update (the devs deserve a reward) and what came in it, you might already know the answer (also figured out by looking at the title of this post).
The new special, Massive Strike, comes on the Infernal Interdictor weapon (yeah, I have it).  It deals a lot of damage on critical strikes.  Critical strikes already deal a lot, as they ignore 50% of the defense/resistance and deal increased damage.  Well, Massive Strike, which may be the most overpowered special to date (rivaled only by Frostbite, in my opinion) adds some more damage to that.  Now I hope for crits.
And here's the build.

If you've never read the Battle Mechanics page on the EpicDuel Wiki, now would be a good time to do so, as I've provided the link.  It should help you understand why this build uses Support.  For those of you who are too lazy to read or click links: 
--------------------------------------------------------
Rage:

• Rage will cause the next attack to ignore a percent of defenses, dealing extra damage.
• [Formula] Filled Rage Bar = 40 + (2.5 * Level)
• As an attacker, rage is gained at a rate of 110% of damage blocked (by the opponents defense/resistance) + 1% per 4 support you have over the defender, up to a maximum rate of 125%. If at a support disadvantage, the minimum rate is 95%.
• As a defender, rage is gained at a rate of 25% of the damage taken, +0.25% per 4 support you have over the attacker, up to a maximum rate of 29%. If at a support disadvantage, the minimum rate is 21%.

First Strike

• [Formula] Chance to go first = (firstStrikePoints / totalFirstStrikePoints) * 100
• First Strike Points = ((yourSupport - (6 * (yourLevel - minimumLevelInBattle)))²

Critical Strike:

• Critical Strikes ignores 50% of your opponents defense and resistance and deal increased damage. The chance to cause a Critical Strike is increased by Support.
• [Formula] Chance to Critical Strike = 4 + (Support Advantage / 7)
• The minimum Critical Strike chance is 1%.
• The maximum Critical Strike chance is 20%. 

Stun:

• Base Stun Chance is determined by the skill. Stun Grenade and Overload have a base chance of 30%. The base chance of Maul increased with its skill level.
• [Formula] Chance to Stun = Base Stun Chance - (Defender's Support Advantage / 4)
• The most chance to Stun can be reduced by is 12% (a 48 Support Advantage by the defender).
• NOTE: Chance to stun will not be increased if the attacker has more Support than the defender.  

-----------------------------

Now do you see why I use Support in this build?  I have no idea why people are ditching Support.  It's basically like Luck in other games- it works behind the scenes, and the only noticeable effects are first strike and criticals.
The fact that Support boosts critical chance is the whole reason why I have included it in my build.  Using this build against a typical Level 34 Cyber Hunter (and I'm talking the whole monotonus Surgical Slicers thing), I calculated that I have a 11% chance to strike a critical.  That's pretty high.  And the classic Rage-Auxiliary combo is well, a classic.  And it's fun.
At the moment, I believe Massive Strike only empowers crits on the primary.  However, I do see one problem with the whole concept of a special being added to the Infernal Indictor.  Doesn't it need to be added to the Infernal Slayer as well?  After all, the Infernal Slayer was there first.
~ReconnaisX
PS: I beat Caden on my TLM today.  Simply spammed strength.  Reminds me of those good old days.

RAGEPOST (Now Comes in Angry Civilized Mode!)

I still can't believe EpicDuel can put stress on me.  I must be a serious gamer.

This morning, EpicDuel put out a new release (that's really rare- it hardly happens).  I suppose it was since the Legion had broken through the first round of doors (yes- there's more to come).  There's new stuff as well:
1) Infernal Interdictor- makes the Infernal Slayer look like sh*t, overpowered special (in my opinion), mutating weapon (of course, what else)
2) Mechachillid armor- Legion only-NW tweeted that the alignment to first break through the doors would get first dibs on the Mechachillid armor.  Although it's level 35, Heavy Mechachillid (and level 25, Medium Mechachillid and 15, Light Mechachillid) and all that, it's a shame that they put the first 20-stat modifier armor on such an ugly armor. 
3) Vault Breaker I- a special achievement for Legion only (you can guess why).  You can claim it from M4tr1x (if you're Legion).  1,500 Rating Points.

You might not know why this is all stressing me out.  (Yeah, I love doing lists.)
1) My Varium reserves have run out (EFFFFFFF).
2) It's not very easy for me to replenish those reserves (DOUBLE EFFFFF)
3) The Infernal Interdictor's special is wayy overpowered (and therefore makes it a must-get) (TRIPLE EFFFF)
4) I am an achievement hunter (!@#$%^&*), and that dang achievement...

Oh. I am a serious gamer.
~ReconnaisX

PS: I get it that the Delta Vault has multiple doors, but really I see how the future of this war will play out:
Door Number 2- Broken by Legion (aka Varium-buying grenade robots/humans)
Door Number 3- Broken by Legion (aka Varium-buying grenade robots/humans)
And so on.

(If you read the postscript, I'm sorry for really getting mad this time.  But just think what it would have been like during the Frysteland War.)

WAR!

Just so you guys know how hard it is for me to stop fighting that stupid Delta Vault, I had to drag myself away from EpicDuel (even though right now it's in the other tab).  I have a lot of comparisons to make between this war and the Frysteland War.
1. Special Achievements (Vault Breaker and Infernal War Hero)
For one thing, it's easier to obtain the Vault Breaker achievement than it was to obtain Bombardier (either way, I have both).  In this war, it's only my second day of activity and already I have Vault Breaker.  During the Frysteland War, I had to work for several weeks (no Super Bombs) to get Bombardier.
Sadly, though, the Infernal War Hero achievement is still largely fueled by Varium.  Well, things change and yet do not change.  (That last one was a quote from somewhere.  I'm not wise enough to think of one like that.)
2. The Role of Varium
Varium does play a smaller role in this war.  I thank the developers for that, even though Legion is still winning (but by only one million this time).  There are no Super Infernal Grenades purchaseable from the BombBot, and the regular Infernal Grenades there cost varium (94, thank god).  However, the Super Infernal Grenade is available as a rare battle drop, giving both nonvarium and varium players an equal chance (glares at Smackie El Frog, if you know why, good for you).
Here's hoping to that the next war will not be as Varium dependent.
3. Grenades
At the BombBot, there is only one type of purchaseable Grenade, as opposed to two in the last war.  The Infernal Grenade, at 94 Varium, is really a bit overpriced for a Varium advantage weapon, but who am I to complain?  I'm for less Varium use in these wars.
The regular Infernal Grenade (war drop) deals around 70-90 damage.  The Super Infernal Grenade is a rare war drop.  It deals around 130 damage.
Compare this to the Frysteland War Bomb.  It dealt around 100 damage and had a chance for a critical.  The Super War Bomb dealt around 200 and also had a chance for a critical.  See the change?
One more thing concerning Grenades: Can they crit?  (Envisioning 175 damage Super Infernal Grenade)
4. Ranks (Goes Under Special Achievements)
The ranks are the same as before, except that the developers have added "Infernal" before every one, and the rank color is reddish.  There is also a rank for War Grunt (as you may recall, the beginning rank), therefore rewarding those who have done absolutely nothing in the war with 100 Rating Points.  But is it just me, or are the ranks harder to obtain now?
5. The Delta Vault
For those who haven't figured it out already, the Delta Vault is the heart of the war.  Each alignment attacks its own Delta Vault door.  At the beginning of the war, the Delta Vault had 25 million (I think) health.  It retains a constant 100 Energy.
The Delta Vault has two attacks: two gatling guns and and a laser beam.  The gatling guns deal physical damage and are blockable (they make up the "primary" attack of the Vault).  The laser beam deals energy damage and is deflectable (it makes up the "sidearm" attack of the Vault).  Unlike regular sidearms, the laser beam only has around 1 turn of cooldown.
Possibly to add a greater challenge, make it harder for low-level players to fight the Vault, and to combat anti-Vault tanks (looking at CHs and TLMs here), the Delta Vault deals increasing damage over time.  (Example: On its first turn, it usually deals around 20 damage to me.  Last turn: 12 damage, 12 damage, 12 damage, 26 damage.)
6. Farming
The inevitable question springs up: Can we farm this war?  Well, yes, you can, although not as easily as the Frysteland War.  For one thing, there are no drops of Ice Gems (or any sort of Gem or sellable drop for that matter). The credits come purely from the first battle against AIs and/or players.  (My bad, I just checked the EpicDuel Wiki and apparently there is an Infernal type of Gem.)  However, the Mechachillids are weak (case in point: Level 30 non-variumdefeats a Level 35 Heavy Mechachillid), and half the time, you face them, so I see potential big-time credits!
7. The War Bar
Ladies and gentlemen Hunters, mages, and mercenaries, it's baaack!  The much-anticipated return of the War Bar has come.  On this particular Infernal Infilitration War Bar,
1) The left side displays how much health the Legion Vault has.
2) If you rollover the icon of the Delta Vault, it explains that it puts a shield on the alignment that is doing the most damage (as of right now, Legion).  This is akin to the regular War Bar's reinforcements, and a great addition.
3) The right side displays how much health the Exile Vault has.

This is going to be a fight to the finish!
~ReconnaisX
PS: Happy Fourth of July!

Below the Surface- The Delta Vault

The possibility of war was real.  Very real.  In fact, the war was so real that right now, it was happening twenty feet away from Merc1225.
In a turn from the Frysteland War, both the Exiles and the Legion were attacking the Delta Vault.  The two opposing alignments ignored each other as the combatants hacked and slashed away at the Vault, occasionally throwing a few grenades to soften up the defenses of the Vault.
What was in the Delta Vault?  Nobody knew.  Except for Baelius.  The cruel overlord had secured the Delta Vault with thick sheets of metal, making it close to impossible to punch through the doors.  He had added a security system as well.  Gatling guns and a armor-penetrating laser were added to the Delta Vault gates to ensure the continued safety of the Vault. 
Merc1225 walked up to the Exile Footsoldier.  These soldiers had originally gone through the same training as the Exile Soldiers, except near the end, they had been diverted to a special course.  This one was not for the weak-hearted.  When the Footsoldiers emerged, Level 35 and ready, they were at the front lines dividing the Exile and Legion bases.  There was not much warfare there, as most of the forces were concentrated on the vault.
After glancing at the Footsoldier for a while, Merc1225 then continued on to the Exile camp.  Legionnaires were forbidden here.  The roaming Exile Footsoldiers assured that.
Selina and her father, the Lawman, were in one part of the camp.  The Lawman was the leader of these Exile forces.  He had a bone to pick with Silas Auer, the head of the Legion camp and the Lawman's archenemy.  Merc1225 rushed past to the next part of the camp, and the entrance to the Delta Vault.
Galatea, and her husband, Ulysses, were there.  They were the two officers that completed the group of four.  Merc1225 was not sure, but he had a feeling that Ulysses' reconstructed metal face had something to do with this conflict.
At last, he reached the gates.  First, he saw the Delta Vault, gleaming, armed, and ready to take out people.  Then he saw the Heavy Mechachillid coming at him.

Dumbest Bots on Earth

So here's the War.  After all of that excitement, it eventually becomes a farming process (but I didn't get anything yet).  I guess I will be posting more on the war soon, but first complaints first:  Mechachillids are dumb NPCs.
I'm serious.  Maybe they are level 35.  So what?  A strategical level 30 could easily beat them.  Why?
1) Their base damage is somewhere around 40.
2) They only deal physical attacks.
3) They have two attacks: Strike and Cheap Shot.
4) They tend to ignore you in 2vs2 when you're down on your knees (both enemy and partner).
5) That said, they tend to switch targets all the time.  It's annoying.

There's a lot more.  Just give me a while to think.
~ReconnaisX
PS: Because they are such noobs, the war's going to be an easy farming process.

̶A̶n̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶T̶a̶c̶t̶i̶c̶a̶l̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶e̶n̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶d̶!̶ My Best TLM build so far!

Since my Minecraft segment today was a complete and utter failure, I will try to make up for that one with an EpicDuel post.
I've found another Tactical Mercenary build (I experiment with them a lot).  This one is not only unbalanced, but also has a Level 7 Field Medic and focuses on Double Strike and Field Medic.  Unusual, right?
Gear used:
Energy Rapier
Carrot Impaler
Carrierzooka (should be coming in this week's release, seeing as it's 3 days away from July 4)
Beast Rider P M (adjust gender as needed)

The only enhancements in this build were +5 to dexterity on the Beast Rider and a +4 to strength on the Energy Rapier.
~ReconnaisX
PS: Impatient for war.  One reason: Faction cost will be changed to 3000 Credits or 300 Varium.  Next reason: Mechachillid armor.  Next reason: I think I've been spending too much time on Minecraft.
PPS: Will try to find a way to get varium for my TLM.

EDIT (7/4/12): Best.  Build.  Ever.  Capable of a lot.  Try it out.