[EMS] Combo Instinct - Level 30!

 

Alright! Level 30 on Combo Instinct went fast, despite that it has only been available since December. I suppose that shows how much events have been improved with giving more generous amounts of Nodestones. Of course there's also the (recent) increase in base droprate from Nodestones, the amounts of hours I've had to grind for event coins and having more % Item Droprate on my character to contribute for this milestone, but either way: this is going well.

So, what skill is next? I'm actually going to follow my gut feeling on this one. Objectively speaking, from the skills that I have left in my active V Matrix, Body of Steel would be the next logical choice. However, I've decided to save up Nodeshards again for the time being. That might sound as a boring decision, but keep in mind that these remain a rare resource to me since I don't purchase Nodestones from other players. I feel like I should save up shards, regardless what the next skill wave will introduce to the game.

Either way, it's not like I extract everything I find from Nodeshards. Duplicate skills are used to improve the ones I currently use, all others I don't need will be converted into shards - it's just that I don't invest these Nodeshards into getting a skill maxed out sooner. I'd rather keep them until there is something that feels worth my while. It is a luxury issue, at best. I could consider to invest in reinforcing the damage on Raging Blow and start working on my enhancement nodes, but it's not something I currently need. Having more damage is always nice, but it needs purpose. Plus, finding enhancements from opening Nodestones is extremely common. It would be a bit of a waste to pour shards into these because of that. I'll be fine without crafting duplicates once I've decided to start working on enhancements.

So with Sword of Burning Soul and Aura Weapon, the duration increase was way too valuable because the increases for each additional level is significant. So increasing the uptime for these skills became an absolute priority. In context of Combo Instinct, where that priority came from was a bit of a different story: despite that its duration does not increase per level, the damage output on it gains a significant boost. This boost was that large that it does really make a huge difference, so it was definitely worth my while for where I want to utilize it. But if we look at the skills I currently have left... Hmm. At best it's icing on the cake. I just don't have something as big as Sobs, AW or CI left until Nexon introduces something new or increases the appeal of leveling the more underused skills.

I'll be fine with not spending Nodeshards on my remaining skills for the time being - there's plenty of Nodestones to be opened in the future, so maxing out all skills is inevitable. Yes, even Spider in Mirror.

Anyway, hopefully that does clarify some of that dilemma. I'd rather choose to prioritize game changers over "nice to haves". I'm currently at a point where I could always use more damage, but doing so with only Nodeshards is not going to place me higher up in the food chain. If I would want to solo the normal variants of 5th Job bosses or the final 4th Job ones, then I would need more than just working exclusively on my 5th Job skills. Gotta work on that Star Force and Potential first in order to get closer to that goal. But for now, I'm sitting comfortably with my daily stuff - I haven't bumped into many walls yet. And as long as that remains, there is not a lot of need for (small but expensive) power creep. I'll definitely get to that point eventually, but not today or tomorrow. Anyway, another 5th Job skill maxed!

That's it for today - I'll see you guys again next post!