User blog:KKytes/Earth Vortex Arena 2.0

Hullo everyone! It's been quite a while, hasn't it? My bad... been sorting some stuff out on my end. Apologies. (owo)

If you're new to this series of blogposts of mine, basically what I do here is provide a synthesized list of units you'd expect to see in this month's Vortex Arena. The spotlight includes their respective buffpools, skills, and Skill Point options, as well as a quick explanation detailing why exactly these units are dangerous.

Since I already did make an Earth Vortex Arena spotlight, this particular list should be fairly easier to send out - but I will have to rewrite most of my previous work. To be frank it's pretty bad, haha.

Essentially, this entire blog is a giant WIP.

Last update:

Units
There are a ton of Earth units who will undoubtedly cause us all a fair bit of trouble in this Vortex Arena. Here's a list of which units pose the biggest threats, and a short explanation accompanying each explaining why they'll be a pain to deal with. As per usual, this guide will assume that all units are in their respective Omni forms, and at their maximum level. In terms of Skill Point options, this guide will only mention the ones which seem the most deadly in the context of the Earth Vortex Arena. It will also assume that none of these units are further evolved (e.g. Omni +1, +2, +3).

Should you want to read the entirety of the unit's bio, click on its title - I attached hyperlinks directing towards each unit's unit page.

I'll also post another paragraph under each unit detailing what a feasable Skill Point setup would be, as well as how to best handle each unit. Let's get started! (ovo)/

Last update: 10:07 AM, UTC (May 11, 2018)

Damage Dealers
This portion is filled with units who are the main damage dealers in a mono-Earth element squad. This can be because of many factors - such as their raw damage outputs, self-buffs, hitcount boosts, or the main fact that they all hit like trucks.

Dark Soul Dranoel
Say hello to the Dragonian Prince himself.

Watch out for people who use this guy as a lead, as he gives a 150% boost to Attack and 80% boost to Defense and Max Health Points to Earth types, as well as a 20% damage reduction from Earth and Thunder types, effectively halving damage from enemies in the Vortex Arena. Aside from this, he has a chance to reduce your BB gauge and gives an innate 50-75% damage counter. Arguably, Dranoel is one of the most Arena-centric VA units thanks to this leader skill.

His Extra Skill grants him a free Angel Idol and Attack limit boost, as well as a squad-wide tristat reduction negation buff. Aside from this, his Extra Skill also grants an extra 19 combo attack against Earth and Thunder types to his BB and SBB, which, when combined with his double AoE in his BB or his AoE and single target nuke in his SBB, allows him to hit enemies a total of three times.

Dranoel's buffpool includes a DoT, a Tristat Parameter debuff (enemy), and a Tristat Parameter boost (squad) in his BB, as well as a Tristat Parameter debuff (Attack, enemy), a Spark buff, an all elements added to attack buff, and a Tristat Parameter boost (squad) in his SBB.

Dranoel's buffpool is filled with various offensive buffs. His double AoE BB grants a 500% DoT, a chance of a tristat debuff added to the squad's attack, and a 180% tristat boost. Similarly, his AoE + ST SBB shares his BB's tristat boost and debuff chance, but also brings in an Earth element exclusive Spark buff alongside a full elemental addition buff. Definitely a dangerous foe to deal with.

As for Skill Point options, he has access to a 60% parameter boost and a 70% AI chance, which can be stacked with his EX skill. He can further enhance his tristat buff and debuff, as well as increase the chance of his Leader Skill's BC drain effect. Finally, he can further expand his buffpool by adding in a 1000% DoT to his SBB, a BC drop during Spark, and a Spark damage boost (which stacks with his element-chained Spark boost).

There's no doubt that Dranoel will be an absolute terror to deal with. I'd suppose that the best SP build for him in the Vortex Arena would be unlocking his 60% parameter boost (30 SP total) alongside his Angel Idol chance (50SP). You're free to spend the remaining 20 SP on whatever you'd like - his DoT seems attractive.

Merciful Honoka & Hisa
Anyone else wonder how she can carry that big of a fan on her back? No? Just me? Ok.

As the flagship unit for this installment of the Earth Vortex Arena, you can expect her to pack quite a punch. Her Leader Skill is pretty great, granting an 80% Attack and HP boost as well as a 120% Defense and Recovery stat boost for Earth types, which'll work well for the Earth Vortex Arena - and mono-Earth squads in general. It also grants a BC drop on normal attack, a BC drop during Spark, and an EWD null. Not as offensive as Dranoel's, but still good considering how balanced it is.

Her Extra Skill makes her a great support unit, granting a BC drop when attacked buff and ailment null for all squad members. It also gives a 20% chance of reducing enemy BC fill rate, and boosts her damage output by adding in a Single Target nuke to her BB and SBB.

Honoka's buffpool is what makes her shine in PvP situations, especially in the Earth Vortex Arena. Her BB grants a tristat boost and critical hit rate boost for Earth types, an HoT, a chance of a revive, a BC fillrate reduction against the enemy, and, most importantly, a two-turn Fire shield. Likewise, her AoE + ST SBB grants the same tristat, critical hit rate boost, and Fire Shield, but brings along a burst HC fill and 10% Angel Idol. She'll synergize well with pretty much every Earth squad, to be honest.

Her skillpoint options further boost her use as a support unit, but also improves her use as an offensive unit. In terms of self buffs, she has access to an 80% parameter boost, an EWD boost, a 20% BB/SBB activation boost, a 70% Angel Idol, and a buff which activates all turn's end effects during the start of one's turn instead. Buffwise, she can enhance her tristat boost and Fire Shield, and can expand her buffpool through adding a Critical Damage boost or a BC fillrate reduction to her SBB, as well as by adding a BCoT, an OD gauge fillrate boost, an ailment null.

Honoka is an incredible unit, especially in the context of the Earth Vortex Arena. I'd suggest to spend SP on her 80% parameter boost and Angel Idol boost, which totals up to 40 SP, and to perhaps spend 20 SP on either her Fire Shield boost or her tristat boost - perhaps even both.

Steel Magus Dessit
First Honoka, now Dessit - how the hell do you carry something that heavy? That thing's twice her size. I aspire to be that strong someday. Being one of the two Earth type Guild Raid units, it's no doubt that Dessit is an unstoppable force on the battlefield. Her Leader Skill grants a 60% boost to both Attack and Health Points, a great boost to both Critical Damage and BC/HC droprate, and a boost to Attack and Defense based on remaining HP. Admittedly, she's not that terrifying as a leader, but what really makes her a fighting force is her Extra Skill. It grants a whopping 50% boost to Attack to all Earth types in the squad, which is quite deadly. This, in tandem with her 100% boost to attack when her BB gauge is over half full, her Earth Shield added to her BB/SBB, and her Attack limit boost makes her a stellar sub unit. Her buffpool includes a Critical Hit Rate boost, a Tristat Parameter boost, a Max Health Point boost, and a chance to heal when being attacked in her BB, and a Attack boost relative to Defense buff, a Hitcount boost, a Critical Hit Rate boost, a Tristat Parameter boost, and a BC/HC droprate boost in her SBB. In terms of Skill Point options, she has access to a 60% parameter boost, a hitcount boost, and a Critical Damage boost. She can enhance her already great buffs, such as her tristat boost and Defense convert buff. Finally, she can add an ailment cleanse to her BB, lengthen her SBB's buffs, and unlock an HoT and/or a damage reduction from Earth and Thunder types which can be added to her BB and SBB.

Dessit is a pretty versatile unit which has a place in almost every mono-Earth team. She has a pretty good damage potential and her buff pool is pretty incredible. I would suggest to spend 40 SP on her Parameter boosts and her hitcount boost, and spend the rest however you would like. Maybe try investing in her Elemental Mitigation buff?

Blightblade Wannahon
The OG Guild Raid unit. As the first Guild Raid unit, you can expect quite a lot from this deadly unit. His Leader Skill grants a 200% Attack boost and a 60% Health Point boost, a Hitcount boost, and a Critical Damage boost, helping the squad pack quite the punch. His Extra Skill grants him a BCoT buff, a Hitcount boost, and an Attack boost relative to remaining Health Points. As for his buffpool, Wannahon gets a Hitcount boost, an attacks hit all enemies buff, and an Attack reduction (enemy, added to attack) in his BB, and a Defense Ignore buff, attacks hit all foes buff, Attack boost, Attack reduction (enemy, added to attack), and a Critical Damage boost in his SBB. His Skill Point options are pretty expansive, giving access to a 50% boost to attack and a 50% boost to attack when his BB gauge is over 50%. Aside from this, he can also get a high chance to inflict ailments when attacking, and a damage boost against afflicted foes. He can further enhance his SBB's AoE normal attack, Critical Damage boost, and can even lengthen its buff length. Finally, he can add a complete BC fill to his SBB and an Attack and Defense boost for Earth types to her BB and SBB.

Since his Extra Skill and general buffpool point towards nuking - normal attack nuking, in particular - I would suggest to focus on that. Spend 20 SP for his Parameter boosts, and an extra 20 SP for his Ailment infliction chance. Spend the rest however you would want, depending on your needs.

Was this thread of any use? Like, at all? Yes! Please keep making more of these! (ovo)/ It was useful-ish, but I could've survived without it. lol nope it's trash