So I've been on Subeta for one thousand years, and while I've never been a super hardcore battler, I am a ... medium-core? battler. Mostly because a lot of the prizes are amazing wearables, and that's my real collection passion. Anyway the point of that is that I train REALLY slowly. My battler hit tier 7 last May, and tier 6 in October of 2015. Just for context.

My beautiful little Wyllop (well, I guess I thought it was funny when I started training him) is finally going to hit tier 8 soon. And yet, I am essentially only half a step up from a complete and utter newbie when it comes to actually understanding why I might buy one weapon over another. I think only three things in my current set were bought on purpose after reading guides? Yeah.

I would say "price is not an object" because I am not precisely poor, but uh, I like to hoard my fake monies in a big old pile. When I need to buy something less than 5million I just do quests a couple of days in a row rather than pull money from my vault. Price could, in theory, not be an object, but let me be honest with you, I am not ready to spend 25m+ on a single weapon that will just be replaced by a 50m+ weapon next tier. I maybe just need a talking to about what actually constitutes expensive when you want to fight with the big kids.

I do actually own a Sentinel (what can I say, I love Mass Effect), but are Legendary weapons even kind of worth their price point?

Anyway, I'm just looking for some advice...

Here's my default set (I'm pretty lazy and don't actually have a non-default set...):

The Shuriken and Knocker both have a crit strike tear crystal, the Blunderbuss has two parched baguettes, and for some reason I do not recall I put a blessing of natural armor on the Recycle Blaster.

I get the feeling the shuriken and the shield should go, just based on tier. As you can see my strategy is largely "hope to blast out the enemy's worst weapons and roll a good blessing" and then just pick off their HP. Most of the time it works, but I'm also dying to challengers I should be sweeping the floor with, so I know somewhere deep in my stubborn heart that I am doing it Wrong (tm). For one, I haven't actually got a guaranteed freezer and I believe that's one of those Important Things for Surviving to the End of a Fight'.

My scroll situation is so sad and embarrassing I'm not going to list them. For one thing, I have a lot of reading to do, at only 23 AP. For another, I keep getting unreasonably frustrated at the price/rarity of spell ingredients and giving up on things. I always see really big hitting scrolls suggested, but either I'm not seeing it or there isn't really a guide for scrolls that won't break the dang bank. I did buy one Cobalt Eternal, though I've seen everyone recommending multiples. Are higher tier shields just not a thing (I must sadly admit that no amount of staring at element icons with x's over them helps me to understand if something is actually good or not, despite knowing what those mean)? Is there a solution that is at least almost as good for defense that is either not 1) OPB or 2) 5.5 million a pop ?

Oh and I really don't want to buy the Reviver of the Lion , it's just too dang expensive. I paid for my Soma tablets with blood, sweat, and books (in other words they felt free)!

Also, since it's close to set advice and I'm here... I apparently just sat on the bulk of my masquerade 2013 plot points. Should I buy the and or just continue to waffle about whether I like the overlays enough to stuff them in my wardrobe?

Oh, here's my stats: Health: 1073 Strength: 1088 Defense: 1100 Speed: 1110 Intelligence: 373

Advice both for 'good lord, you're tier 7 please act like it' and 'wait and instead buy this in the next few days when you hit 8' appreciated.

-Legendary weapons are outdated and just not worth it, you can sell or keep your Sentinel if you wish.

-You are correct that a 100% freezer is a staple in your set and I recommend buying a Gorgun from the Battle Shop as soon as possible.

-If you're looking for some budget scrolls right off the bat, Singed Stuffing Scroll is a solid infinite use scroll and Fatal Fire Scroll is a solid bomb/defensive scroll. Eventually you will want to upgrade these to Aftershocks Scroll and multiple Cobalt Eternal Scrolls, but determining when is the right time is up to you. Divine Denizhen Scroll is another option if you need a bit more punch than Singed Stuffing, but something cheaper than Aftershocks.

-Generally, shields aren't used much in the upper tiers, but if you want some affordable shield options I would suggest Flayed Lord Breastplate or Item Defenders Shield for now and Blackmoons War Plate when you reach T10.

-Out of the Masquerade Plot options, Malignant Rift Staff is the superior choice.

-Your Mystical Star Shuriken, Forj Tempered Shield, and Blunderbuss can all go. I suggest Large Gutting Knife as the replacement for the Blunderbuss.

-You may also want to get your hands on a Sierrac Basal Ice Flail or Rapier of Error because they both have a chance to freeze, which can be helpful in some battles. Assassin Scroll and Gelaspell Scroll are kind of the scroll equivalents; they both have a chance to freeze with some attack and defense. Pairing a freezing weapon with a freezing scroll can be a cheaper way to get freezes on your opponents without having to buy Shriek of Despair or Psycho Smasher Scrolls.

-Lastly, although Reviver of the Lion is expensive, a free heal during battle can often be the difference between a loss and a win. It's an item you'll definitely want to get your hands on at some point because, once you have one, you'll use it for your entire battling career.

I think that was everything 😅

Thank you so much! This is really thorough, I'll have to sit and upack it a bit.

Im actually much happier to keep the Sentinel in my wardrobe, because that's why I bought it, but I thought, if it's good I should take it out and use it.

Is it worth it to have both the quill and the reviver? I do rely pretty heavily on that free heal so I'm guessing that personally, yes, but also there's just a limited number of items that you can take into battle after all.

You're welcome!

Totally! I use both the PQ and RotL almost all the time. I think it is more useful than a shield, for instance, because you can get a heal in one go rather than having to use a shield every turn, which limits the attack icons you can do. The more you battle, the more you will know whether you need it or not. If one day you find yourself wishing you had another healer, it may be time to buy it. Until then, it's fine to just work with what you've got :D

Ill second the second healer. Having that second full heal is super helpful. you can focus on burning down your opponent fast then just pop a heal on one turn and then keep burning them down and repeating instead of stalling out the fights chancing more freezes, more steals or more shenanigans.

Or you can be cheap like me and use the second heal with the last attach to end the fight with full health so you wont need to pay for the healer >_>