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Emeraude
Total Newbie
Joined: 20 May 2008
Posts: 11
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 Posted: 05/20/08 - 05:11 Post subject: Lineage 2: Magic Power vs. Acumen SA
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I made this in thread the form of a guide because there are a number of people who wonder what is the use of Magic Power SA. I have used both extensively, so I will try to write my view on this subject.
First I want to begin a brief description of both.
Acumen: is a pretty much straightforward SA. It simply increases your casting speed by 15%, independently from any other bonuses. That means that you can use your magic skills faster (affects both casting speed and skill reuse timer).
Magic power : is a more subtle SA. It increases M. Attack by a fixed amount (amount increases by weapon grade) but then your magical skills cost 15% more MP. Furthermore, this increase is not affected by any buffs (e.g. Empower). But it is affected by the use of spirit shots (since it is part of the total M. Attack)
The benefit of acumen SA is self evident for any class that uses magic skills. Casting fast for classes like nukers or healers is essential. Magic power though, can have its uses under certain circumstances which I will try to present.
Let’s take a look at offensive magic skills. Basically, they do 2 things:
1) Direct damage
and
2) Cause abnormal conditions (sleep, hold, paralyze, various debuffs).
The first case is affected much less from M. Attack than the second. That is because the Magical damage formula uses the square root of M. Attack. So an increase in M. Attack is not translated in a direct increase in M. Damage. For example, if one increase his M. Attack by 50%, the increase of damage on the same target would be 22% [SQR (1.5) =1.22].
The second case though is much different. Landing rate of magical skills that cause abnormal conditions is affected by the attacker’s direct M. Attack (not the square root). Increase of M. Attack results on a direct increase on the chances of a skill to land. Given the fact that these skills can change the course of a PvE or PvP, it becomes clear that for classes (e.g. buffers) that use these kind of skills a weapon with such SA can be useful (maybe as secondary weapon). In the game there are a number for resistances (passive, buffs, boss jewels). In order to overcome all these, you need all the M. Attack you can have.
Orc mages is another category that can benefit from these weapons, especially for landing skills like dreaming spirit and OL seals. Their low INT is greatly benefited by such an SA.
DE fighters are another good example. They have low INT but have several magical skills (hex, drain health, etc.). The landing rate of debuffs as well the HP gained can be increased with such a weapon SA (on a secondary weapon of course).
Lastly, I would like to add some nukers that can benefit from this SA. A good example is a SpS that solos without empower. At level 45 he would see his damage output increase more than the MP consumption does. But still if the MP consumption is a bit higher (e.g. MP consumption +15%, damage increase +13%) the increase itself might help to kill a mob in 2 shots instead of 3. In this case we have a huge MP efficiency, but it depends on mobs and presence or lack of buffs.
Low INT, lack of empower and use of magical skills is a good reason for a class to use a weapon with Magic Power SA.
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blackdiamond
Total Newbie
Joined: 05 Aug 2008
Posts: 10
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Posted: 08/05/08 - 15:21 Post subject:
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You make a few valid points with this, but theres a bit more to add in there as well. While it looks as though you were talking primarily about PVE, a few PVP (being a primary pvp'er) tips are that most of the time a surprise pvp that ends up in your lap, the amount of damage you do in 1 slow attack will not generally win you the fight, especially if you are going up against a faster nuker.
A nuker whose running with fast cast will generally be able to cancel, silence, or debuff quicker, thereby giving the immediate advantage. Also, they will be able to cancel your silence, cancel, or debuff simply by using a quick attack that is heightened more by their faster casting (ie, ice dagger).
In group PVP, you should never need to have the Magic Power SA, since you will have Emp, a healer, or CoV/PoW.
Lastly, once you are up in the higher levels at end-game, nukers are given their own self-buff empower spell, granted this takes HP to keep up, but it is a substantial boost that will certainly be beneficial, regardless if you have a buffer or not.
Just my PVP advice. I dont PVE much anymore.
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