Asari Duelist: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu (theme build) - gold/platinum
Aug 7, 2017 19:37:23 GMT
vanelsa, Evil, and 17 more like this
Post by megawug on Aug 7, 2017 19:37:23 GMT
I've previously made references to the anime/manga, Rurouni Kenshin, when discussing the Duelist. I've played her a fair amount with a full-melee build, inspired by the series. This is a theme build (for fun) - it is not the highest DPS, highest scoring, nor designed for speed runs. However, this build is equally good on gold and platinum without any changes. In fact, AFAIK, she's the only kit that can truly melee on platinum. So let's begin!
Pre-requisites
- Minimum of rank 2 at level 20
- Played at least 40 to 50 games with the Duelist, and comfortable on gold
- Weapon: Ruzad with melee mod
- Equipment: Hydraulic Joints (was Martial Biotic Amp)
She needs to be rank 2 to get max melee bonus from the skill trees. To one-hit kill redbars on platinum, a level 2 melee booster is required until rank 12, and a level 1 booster is required until rank 15 (see revised math below).
Skills
Charge: 4B (Radius), 5A (Weapons & Melee), 6A (Shock Trooper)
Backlash: 4A or 4B, 5B (Reflection), 6A (Shield Resurgence)
Lance: N/A
Offensive Biotics: 4B (Power Efficiency), 5A (Weapons & Melee), 6B (Biotic Warrior)
Barrier: 4A (Unyielding Barrier), 5B (Barrier Drain), 6B (Saving Barrier)
The skill choices are pretty obvious - maximize melee damage, then defense and cool downs, with Backlash levelled up last (with rank increases). Even at one point, Backlash is crucial to the full-melee style, so no points are put into Lance.
Play-style: Mastering Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu
As a student of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, it is assumed you already know all the basic attack forms (gun, melee), defense (Backlash) and evasion (jump, jet pack, blink dodge). If you cannot do sword strikes consistently, or have trouble surviving on gold, you are probably not yet ready to play an all-melee style. If gold is too difficult, I would recommend practising on silver, unless you have very patient friends to play with. :>
All the practice is necessary because timing of the techniques is absolutely critical. The Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style allows only a very small margin of error. If you miss a keystroke by a 1/4 second or more, you'll probably need reviving. And no one is likely to able to, as you will be attacking mobs and bosses, making it difficult for other players to reach you.
The Asari have adapted Kenshin's two strongest attacks for the Duelist - Kuzu Ryu Sen and Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki.
Kuzu Ryu Sen
The best technique of Kenshin's master, Hiko Seijuro, involves delivering nine near-simultaneously sword strikes. While the Asari can use Biotic Charge to duplicate the god-like speed of Shinsoku, they do not have the sword speed for muliple strikes. To mimic the sword strikes, the Duelist relies on the Ruzad to deliver multiple shotgun pellets at point-blank range. This attack is mainly used against aerial units (e.g. Observer, Ascendent), where a normal sword strike is not possible.
Attack sequence: Backlash -> Charge -> Gun
The gun is fired (once) while dropping from mid-air. Once on the ground, fire more shots as necessary and/or use Backlash again to finish off the opponent. If you cannot reload safely, move and/or blink dodge to a safer spot. Note: In rooms with low ceilings, it is possible to hit an Observer and Ascendent with the sword instead.
On platinum, it is probably best to let the other players take out Observers. The Duelist should be focussed more on taking on groups and holding them back.
Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki
The final, ultimate technique of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. This Battojutsu technique will be the one most used in platinum, and is key to the Duelist's success/survival.
Attack sequence: Jump + Backlash -> Charge -> Melee -> Repeat
As in the series, the timing of this technique is critical. After the sword strike, you must immediately jump and use Backlash (and jetpack, if necessary), reposition and find a target, then charge again - all before hitting the ground. Executed properly, the attack can be used against any opponent and any number of opponents. Charging into groups of berserkers, dogs, hydras, etc., becomes pretty routine.
Backlash provides the aerial defense, and must be off cool down before the next attack sequence. As Biotic Charge is on a 3-second cool down, Backlash is timed to the jump and is used only for a split second. Jumping is also critical, as otherwise, you will be flak-stunned or grabbed after the sword strike. Even though the Duelist can charge into mobs, she is not invulnerable, and it takes some practice to handle multiple enemies. Positioning is important to avoid taking too much fire from behind.
Once you have mastered this technique and it has become second nature, you can begin to focus on the battle around you, and pick up on targets attacking you from behind. Before you finish off an opponent, you should already have chosen the next target to charge.
Bonus style points for getting the message: "Warning: Leaving the mission area" right before charging.
Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki (rocket variant)
Because the Duelist cannot match Kenshin's speed nor power using this technique, a rocket can be fired first in desperate situations. Rocket + charge will result in a fire explosion on top of the rocket damage.
Attack sequence: Rocket -> Charge -> Melee -> Jump + Backlash
Notes
Destroyer: Melee attacks are ineffective until the turrets have been destroyed. However, the Duelist can attack to draw fire away from the other players, allowing them to more safely take out the turrets. The Destroyer's megabeam cannon also requires careful timing of Biotic Charge/melee to avoid damage. I'm not sure, but I don't believe Backlash can withstand the blasts on platinum.
Hydra: Watch out for those missiles! Again, the timing of when to charge is important, or blink dodge to safety (if possible). There is also a chance of being grabbed, especially if you attack a target next to a Hydra.
Fiend: Only a danger when in the "I'm going to grab you" pose. As with the Hydra, be careful when attacking enemies near it.
Revives: If you're playing platinum, do not attempt to revive other players. The Duelist is an aggro-magnet... as soon as she stops attacking, she is vulnerable.
Blink dodge: When you can't lock onto a target, need to reload, etc., use blink dodge to pass through walls to escape and avoid danger. However, blink dodge does not always work reliably off-host.
Debuffs: Other players using debuffs and/or priming targets are a great help for the Duelist, as Biotic Charge can multi-detonate and debuffs can significantly increase her melee damage.
Lag: On gold, a little lag is annoying, but survivable. On platinum, playing off-host can be quite difficult; make sure to be on a good host.
Hovering: While performing Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki, the Duelist may end up backpedalling off a ledge or even off the map. To make sure she doesn't end up falling, tap hover momentarily to keep her airborne, then Biotic Charge. Be careful not to hover for too long, as staying stationary increases her exposure.
And there you have it. She's the closest thing to playing a space version of the Battousai, while walking the fine line between life and death. Personally, I only play her a game or two at a time. She requires a lot of focus and attention to play well (although gold is pretty easy now). While she lives on the edge, I find she's more zen and less frantic to play than ME3's Fury. And there's nothing quite like charging at a target from mid-air. Good luck and keep practising!
Q&A
Q: Other players keep stealing my kills when I sword strike. What should I do?
A: In Zen philosophy, there is no such thing. That opponent was simply not destined to meet you in battle. Learn to sense the flow of battle, and go where you are most needed.
Q: The sword keeps missing. Is there any fix for that?
A: Try playing another 50 to 100 games with the Duelist. If you still find it difficult, then maybe it's best to play another character. Not everyone can play the Duelist well, and even fewer can master Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. There's also other games like Minecraft, Pokemon Go, Candy Crush, etc., that may be more your play-style.
Q: I keep dying! Can't she tank?!
A: See answer to previous question.
Q: Other players outscore me. Why is her score so low?
A: That's correct - even if she gets the most kills, she will likely have a lower score. Like Kenshin, her level of skill means she often acts alone, and rarely assists others. And score has no meaning for one trained in the way of the warrior; it is the challenge of the opponents that matters.
Q: Well, that's lame. Why not just shoot everything? It's faster!
A: The way of the warrior is not about having a "win" button. It is using the sword to change the course of battle (and history), as Kenshin's master had warned. That said, BW should really give her a buff to make her sword damage higher on platinum.
See videos below:
bsn.boards.net/post/841727/thread
bsn.boards.net/post/843950/thread
Pre-requisites
- Minimum of rank 2 at level 20
- Played at least 40 to 50 games with the Duelist, and comfortable on gold
- Weapon: Ruzad with melee mod
- Equipment: Hydraulic Joints (was Martial Biotic Amp)
She needs to be rank 2 to get max melee bonus from the skill trees. To one-hit kill redbars on platinum, a level 2 melee booster is required until rank 12, and a level 1 booster is required until rank 15 (see revised math below).
Skills
Charge: 4B (Radius), 5A (Weapons & Melee), 6A (Shock Trooper)
Backlash: 4A or 4B, 5B (Reflection), 6A (Shield Resurgence)
Lance: N/A
Offensive Biotics: 4B (Power Efficiency), 5A (Weapons & Melee), 6B (Biotic Warrior)
Barrier: 4A (Unyielding Barrier), 5B (Barrier Drain), 6B (Saving Barrier)
The skill choices are pretty obvious - maximize melee damage, then defense and cool downs, with Backlash levelled up last (with rank increases). Even at one point, Backlash is crucial to the full-melee style, so no points are put into Lance.
Play-style: Mastering Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu
As a student of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, it is assumed you already know all the basic attack forms (gun, melee), defense (Backlash) and evasion (jump, jet pack, blink dodge). If you cannot do sword strikes consistently, or have trouble surviving on gold, you are probably not yet ready to play an all-melee style. If gold is too difficult, I would recommend practising on silver, unless you have very patient friends to play with. :>
All the practice is necessary because timing of the techniques is absolutely critical. The Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style allows only a very small margin of error. If you miss a keystroke by a 1/4 second or more, you'll probably need reviving. And no one is likely to able to, as you will be attacking mobs and bosses, making it difficult for other players to reach you.
The Asari have adapted Kenshin's two strongest attacks for the Duelist - Kuzu Ryu Sen and Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki.
Kuzu Ryu Sen
The best technique of Kenshin's master, Hiko Seijuro, involves delivering nine near-simultaneously sword strikes. While the Asari can use Biotic Charge to duplicate the god-like speed of Shinsoku, they do not have the sword speed for muliple strikes. To mimic the sword strikes, the Duelist relies on the Ruzad to deliver multiple shotgun pellets at point-blank range. This attack is mainly used against aerial units (e.g. Observer, Ascendent), where a normal sword strike is not possible.
Attack sequence: Backlash -> Charge -> Gun
The gun is fired (once) while dropping from mid-air. Once on the ground, fire more shots as necessary and/or use Backlash again to finish off the opponent. If you cannot reload safely, move and/or blink dodge to a safer spot. Note: In rooms with low ceilings, it is possible to hit an Observer and Ascendent with the sword instead.
On platinum, it is probably best to let the other players take out Observers. The Duelist should be focussed more on taking on groups and holding them back.
Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki
The final, ultimate technique of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. This Battojutsu technique will be the one most used in platinum, and is key to the Duelist's success/survival.
Attack sequence: Jump + Backlash -> Charge -> Melee -> Repeat
As in the series, the timing of this technique is critical. After the sword strike, you must immediately jump and use Backlash (and jetpack, if necessary), reposition and find a target, then charge again - all before hitting the ground. Executed properly, the attack can be used against any opponent and any number of opponents. Charging into groups of berserkers, dogs, hydras, etc., becomes pretty routine.
Backlash provides the aerial defense, and must be off cool down before the next attack sequence. As Biotic Charge is on a 3-second cool down, Backlash is timed to the jump and is used only for a split second. Jumping is also critical, as otherwise, you will be flak-stunned or grabbed after the sword strike. Even though the Duelist can charge into mobs, she is not invulnerable, and it takes some practice to handle multiple enemies. Positioning is important to avoid taking too much fire from behind.
Once you have mastered this technique and it has become second nature, you can begin to focus on the battle around you, and pick up on targets attacking you from behind. Before you finish off an opponent, you should already have chosen the next target to charge.
Bonus style points for getting the message: "Warning: Leaving the mission area" right before charging.
Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki (rocket variant)
Because the Duelist cannot match Kenshin's speed nor power using this technique, a rocket can be fired first in desperate situations. Rocket + charge will result in a fire explosion on top of the rocket damage.
Attack sequence: Rocket -> Charge -> Melee -> Jump + Backlash
Notes
Destroyer: Melee attacks are ineffective until the turrets have been destroyed. However, the Duelist can attack to draw fire away from the other players, allowing them to more safely take out the turrets. The Destroyer's megabeam cannon also requires careful timing of Biotic Charge/melee to avoid damage. I'm not sure, but I don't believe Backlash can withstand the blasts on platinum.
Hydra: Watch out for those missiles! Again, the timing of when to charge is important, or blink dodge to safety (if possible). There is also a chance of being grabbed, especially if you attack a target next to a Hydra.
Fiend: Only a danger when in the "I'm going to grab you" pose. As with the Hydra, be careful when attacking enemies near it.
Revives: If you're playing platinum, do not attempt to revive other players. The Duelist is an aggro-magnet... as soon as she stops attacking, she is vulnerable.
Blink dodge: When you can't lock onto a target, need to reload, etc., use blink dodge to pass through walls to escape and avoid danger. However, blink dodge does not always work reliably off-host.
Debuffs: Other players using debuffs and/or priming targets are a great help for the Duelist, as Biotic Charge can multi-detonate and debuffs can significantly increase her melee damage.
Lag: On gold, a little lag is annoying, but survivable. On platinum, playing off-host can be quite difficult; make sure to be on a good host.
Hovering: While performing Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki, the Duelist may end up backpedalling off a ledge or even off the map. To make sure she doesn't end up falling, tap hover momentarily to keep her airborne, then Biotic Charge. Be careful not to hover for too long, as staying stationary increases her exposure.
And there you have it. She's the closest thing to playing a space version of the Battousai, while walking the fine line between life and death. Personally, I only play her a game or two at a time. She requires a lot of focus and attention to play well (although gold is pretty easy now). While she lives on the edge, I find she's more zen and less frantic to play than ME3's Fury. And there's nothing quite like charging at a target from mid-air. Good luck and keep practising!
Redbar health (platinum): 3375
Sword damage: 1 + .3 + .15+.3+.5 + .3+.5 + .1+.33 = 3.48
740 * 3.48 = 2575.2
Biotic Charge: 1 + .3 + .1+.15 = 1.55
275 * 1.55 = 426.25
Total damage: 3001.45
Remaining redbar health: 3375 - 3001.45 = 373.55
Hydraulic Joints: 740 * .25 = 185
(Martial Biotic Amp: 740 * .15 + 275 * .2 = 111 + 55 = 166)
Level 1 melee booster: 740 * .15 = 111
Level 2 melee booster: 740 * .3 = 222
Rank XI: 740 * .04 + 275 * .04 = 29.6 + 11 = 40.6
Rank XII: 81.2
Rank XIII: 121.8
Rank XIV: 162.4
Rank XV: 203
Rank XVI: 243.6
Rank XVII: 284.2
Rank XVIII: 324.8
Rank XIX: 365.4
Rank XX: 406
Sword damage: 1 + .3 + .15+.3+.5 + .3+.5 + .1+.33 = 3.48
740 * 3.48 = 2575.2
Biotic Charge: 1 + .3 + .1+.15 = 1.55
275 * 1.55 = 426.25
Total damage: 3001.45
Remaining redbar health: 3375 - 3001.45 = 373.55
Hydraulic Joints: 740 * .25 = 185
(Martial Biotic Amp: 740 * .15 + 275 * .2 = 111 + 55 = 166)
Level 1 melee booster: 740 * .15 = 111
Level 2 melee booster: 740 * .3 = 222
Rank XI: 740 * .04 + 275 * .04 = 29.6 + 11 = 40.6
Rank XII: 81.2
Rank XIII: 121.8
Rank XIV: 162.4
Rank XV: 203
Rank XVI: 243.6
Rank XVII: 284.2
Rank XVIII: 324.8
Rank XIX: 365.4
Rank XX: 406
Q&A
Q: Other players keep stealing my kills when I sword strike. What should I do?
A: In Zen philosophy, there is no such thing. That opponent was simply not destined to meet you in battle. Learn to sense the flow of battle, and go where you are most needed.
Q: The sword keeps missing. Is there any fix for that?
A: Try playing another 50 to 100 games with the Duelist. If you still find it difficult, then maybe it's best to play another character. Not everyone can play the Duelist well, and even fewer can master Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. There's also other games like Minecraft, Pokemon Go, Candy Crush, etc., that may be more your play-style.
Q: I keep dying! Can't she tank?!
A: See answer to previous question.
Q: Other players outscore me. Why is her score so low?
A: That's correct - even if she gets the most kills, she will likely have a lower score. Like Kenshin, her level of skill means she often acts alone, and rarely assists others. And score has no meaning for one trained in the way of the warrior; it is the challenge of the opponents that matters.
Q: Well, that's lame. Why not just shoot everything? It's faster!
A: The way of the warrior is not about having a "win" button. It is using the sword to change the course of battle (and history), as Kenshin's master had warned. That said, BW should really give her a buff to make her sword damage higher on platinum.
See videos below:
bsn.boards.net/post/841727/thread
bsn.boards.net/post/843950/thread
