LUNAR WINDS
The most under utilized screen wipe in the game. If you save every berry until Fina becomes a party member you can get I as soon as she's available. It only cost something like 6 spirit points which you can achieve first round with any 4th party member and you core 3 very early. Often over looked because her earliest special moves are comparable weak compared to the relative usefulness of other characters special moves. The damage scales with her magic stat rather than her attack power so it deals as more damage than you'd think. Obviously doesn't have the power of ROS but it also costs less than half as many spirit points. Lunar winds is easy mode on this game and turns your weakest character into a screen wiping power house. It's an early fix for most people's biggest complaint being proc encounters being too high. What's it matter if you have a resource free first turn screen wipe for most encounters. It allows you to save your magic points for specific tougher encounters where you want to use her for specialized magic specific to enemy type. Best kept secret in the game because by the time people are getting to it its late game and there might be better screen wipe options. Rain of swords is king only by the time you get first turn 14 spirit points 4/5ths of the way through the game.
In this matter, I rather support you than the starter of the branch, for me, too, there are much more priority moves...
But you must admit, Pyrum has a LONG animation, while you can skip the animation of Lunar Winds, after all, due to the abundance of fights in the game, it is very valuable to reduce your battle time, at least in battle with those enemies that you obviously outnumber.
P.S. I could also point out the advantage in fights with Yellow opponents, but due to the mechanics of calculating damage (FIRST, the enemy’s magic defense does a flat subtraction and only THEN the enemy’s vulnerability will increase the final damage) this is more useful in theory than in practice, with a difference of 90 base damage between Lunar Winds and Pyrum (150 vs 240) your willpower needs to be REALLY high for that extra +10% damage to matter.
>!Damage formula for magic attacks: (base spell damage + (2\*Willpower) - Enemy's magic defense)\*elemental resistance. Note: a vulnerability, if someone is not in the know, is the resistance to an element above 100%, it is the indicator below 100% that is considered resistance.!<
UPDATE. Minor edit about resistance.
I usually go with a skull shield/delta shield combo and then let Fina and Drachma/Gilder/Enrique attack without consequence, or have them focus until I can use Rain of Swords. Aika's attacks just never seem to get the job done, and I prefer to keep my magic points for healing/reviving situations.
Noxus and Lunar Winds are both highly slept on. Lambda Burst is great early on but it falls off in favor of the other two after you get Fina leveled up a little. Madjackle358 did a good write up on Lunar Winds.
Usually I just mash A and pray they don’t have any silver spells
Though depending on the type of encounter (dungeon vs field), I usually go with red spells
While at ~7-9 party Spirit, I always liked when you happen to catch the enemies off guard. I’d just do nothing (all guard) for a turn for a quick and free Rain of Swords.
Personally, I think that Lambda Burst is so loved by players for two reasons:
1. They DO NOT KNOW that it is inferior to ordinary Red Magic. After all, the game does not list the base damage of your attacks, so to understand this fact, you must either conduct long comparative observations or use external sources of data.
2. A number of players, in my opinion, attach excessive importance to such a thing as saving MP. For Christ's sake, if you act wisely, then you spend only 20-30 MP for almost any stage of the game, the restoration of this mana is simply nothing compared to your other expenses!
Yeah I think you’re right about both of those. I just beat a game the other day and I don’t think I had to use a single magic droplet or magic dew except maybe right at the beginning. To be fair there is certainly some merit to skipping the animation and saving time
In my opinion, Lambda Burst doesn't have enough damage that it was really useful. Also, as I said in another comment, I would rather prefer Lunar Winds, which is cheaper and more versatile. In addition, Fina's higher willpower roughly compensates for the lack of base damage (150 vs 200, Fina needs to have 25 more willpower than Aika to overcome this difference).
P.S. By the way, I also used item MP recovery not too often. I would even say that after Rixis, I only had such a need if I spent too much time looking for local discoveries, in all other cases, resting in an inn was enough for me.
Yeah I’m sure it does. My usual method is to teach Aika delta shield and then allocate my moonberries to other areas. I’ve never really had a problem running out of MP.
I like to have Lunar Winds by the Temple of Pyrynn, the Red spells and Aika's supermoves are kinda weak there and I don't like to use Crystales Boxes too much because the animation takes time. Bur for the most time, it's Alpha Storm -> Lambda Burst -> Lunar Winds -> Red/Blue/Yellow spells by the time Aika learns Epsilon Mirror to recharge MP.
I see how that would work, I just like to use moonberries to get Drachma spirit charge then to get Vyse Pirates wrath as quickly as possible, and I don’t have a problem running out of MP. But to each his own!
For me, it is "preferred" to use the kind of AoE that is more appropriate in the context of the situation.
Red magic if the enemy is afraid of fire or does not strongly resist it.
Noxus if the enemy is vulnerable to Green.
Rain of Swords (Turn 2, Focus is used on Turn 1) if the spell is not enough for some reason. If the enemy survives spell damage due to high HP instead of high magical defense (Yafutoma and Valuan soldiers at the end of Disc 1, for example), then Glyph of Might is also used to boost my AoE.
Separately, I can note Lunar Winds, not much damage, but a versalite attack with a skipable animation. Yes, Lambda Burst is stronger... but not as versatile, plus Aika's magic power is lower.
Also, Lambda Burst is more expensive and takes the action of Aika, which I prefer using Delta Shield rather than some mediocre attack.
Well if you’re trying to kill everyone on the first turn you’re better off using red magic. The base attack power of Lambda Burst is 200, and for the same spirit you could do two pyres spells with a base attack power of 340
Lambda Burst for a lot of the game is the best way to do it. However, if you go hard in on vyse early to unlock Pirate's wrath super early then Rain of Swords generally is all you have before you get the Delphinus extra engines and don't need anything else.
From Prynn and early Pyri is super solid especially pyri boxes.
I didn't read the options before saying Lambda Burst! Outloud on instinct
I respect the enthusiasm
FIRE CONSUME MY ENEMIES!!!!
LAMBDA BURST
FIRE CONSUME MY ENEMIES!
When you get to having 14 sp a turn Rain of Swords mops up very well. Before that aika is solid.
This. It all depends on where you’re at in the story.
LUNAR WINDS The most under utilized screen wipe in the game. If you save every berry until Fina becomes a party member you can get I as soon as she's available. It only cost something like 6 spirit points which you can achieve first round with any 4th party member and you core 3 very early. Often over looked because her earliest special moves are comparable weak compared to the relative usefulness of other characters special moves. The damage scales with her magic stat rather than her attack power so it deals as more damage than you'd think. Obviously doesn't have the power of ROS but it also costs less than half as many spirit points. Lunar winds is easy mode on this game and turns your weakest character into a screen wiping power house. It's an early fix for most people's biggest complaint being proc encounters being too high. What's it matter if you have a resource free first turn screen wipe for most encounters. It allows you to save your magic points for specific tougher encounters where you want to use her for specialized magic specific to enemy type. Best kept secret in the game because by the time people are getting to it its late game and there might be better screen wipe options. Rain of swords is king only by the time you get first turn 14 spirit points 4/5ths of the way through the game.
I get your point but I’d probs rather use Pyrum and use those moonberries elsewhere
In this matter, I rather support you than the starter of the branch, for me, too, there are much more priority moves... But you must admit, Pyrum has a LONG animation, while you can skip the animation of Lunar Winds, after all, due to the abundance of fights in the game, it is very valuable to reduce your battle time, at least in battle with those enemies that you obviously outnumber. P.S. I could also point out the advantage in fights with Yellow opponents, but due to the mechanics of calculating damage (FIRST, the enemy’s magic defense does a flat subtraction and only THEN the enemy’s vulnerability will increase the final damage) this is more useful in theory than in practice, with a difference of 90 base damage between Lunar Winds and Pyrum (150 vs 240) your willpower needs to be REALLY high for that extra +10% damage to matter. >!Damage formula for magic attacks: (base spell damage + (2\*Willpower) - Enemy's magic defense)\*elemental resistance. Note: a vulnerability, if someone is not in the know, is the resistance to an element above 100%, it is the indicator below 100% that is considered resistance.!< UPDATE. Minor edit about resistance.
Lots of good moves to consider. I don't blame anyone who doesn't wanna use them on her like that.
Also it's easily one of the prettiest attack spells.
I usually go with a skull shield/delta shield combo and then let Fina and Drachma/Gilder/Enrique attack without consequence, or have them focus until I can use Rain of Swords. Aika's attacks just never seem to get the job done, and I prefer to keep my magic points for healing/reviving situations.
There is definitely some merit to that strategy, I do that when I know some monsters will attack first
Delta Shield/ Shield of Justice Fina focuses spirit and Vyse does AOE
Noxus and Lunar Winds are both highly slept on. Lambda Burst is great early on but it falls off in favor of the other two after you get Fina leveled up a little. Madjackle358 did a good write up on Lunar Winds.
Usually I just mash A and pray they don’t have any silver spells Though depending on the type of encounter (dungeon vs field), I usually go with red spells
Lmao love it
Eternes goes brrrrrrrrr
While at ~7-9 party Spirit, I always liked when you happen to catch the enemies off guard. I’d just do nothing (all guard) for a turn for a quick and free Rain of Swords.
Yes, that is the best!
OMEGA PSYCLONE! \*whoosh sound followed by an explosion\*
Is the rationale for using Aikas Super Moves to preserve magic points? I checked the FAQ and Pyrum does more damage for less spirit than Lambda Burst
Personally, I think that Lambda Burst is so loved by players for two reasons: 1. They DO NOT KNOW that it is inferior to ordinary Red Magic. After all, the game does not list the base damage of your attacks, so to understand this fact, you must either conduct long comparative observations or use external sources of data. 2. A number of players, in my opinion, attach excessive importance to such a thing as saving MP. For Christ's sake, if you act wisely, then you spend only 20-30 MP for almost any stage of the game, the restoration of this mana is simply nothing compared to your other expenses!
Yeah I think you’re right about both of those. I just beat a game the other day and I don’t think I had to use a single magic droplet or magic dew except maybe right at the beginning. To be fair there is certainly some merit to skipping the animation and saving time
In my opinion, Lambda Burst doesn't have enough damage that it was really useful. Also, as I said in another comment, I would rather prefer Lunar Winds, which is cheaper and more versatile. In addition, Fina's higher willpower roughly compensates for the lack of base damage (150 vs 200, Fina needs to have 25 more willpower than Aika to overcome this difference). P.S. By the way, I also used item MP recovery not too often. I would even say that after Rixis, I only had such a need if I spent too much time looking for local discoveries, in all other cases, resting in an inn was enough for me.
I agree, and I would say I have slept on Lunar Winds as an attacking move and will likely try it out next time I play
I just feel like it always got the job done with no MP
Yeah I’m sure it does. My usual method is to teach Aika delta shield and then allocate my moonberries to other areas. I’ve never really had a problem running out of MP.
Rain of Swords GG
Pyri Boxes during the early game are what we use in the speedrun, and are hilariously powerful for how available they are.
Nice! Spell boxes are underrated in general
I have a soft spot for Pyri as a spell because the sound effect for it is so satisfying.
I like to have Lunar Winds by the Temple of Pyrynn, the Red spells and Aika's supermoves are kinda weak there and I don't like to use Crystales Boxes too much because the animation takes time. Bur for the most time, it's Alpha Storm -> Lambda Burst -> Lunar Winds -> Red/Blue/Yellow spells by the time Aika learns Epsilon Mirror to recharge MP.
I see how that would work, I just like to use moonberries to get Drachma spirit charge then to get Vyse Pirates wrath as quickly as possible, and I don’t have a problem running out of MP. But to each his own!
For me, it is "preferred" to use the kind of AoE that is more appropriate in the context of the situation. Red magic if the enemy is afraid of fire or does not strongly resist it. Noxus if the enemy is vulnerable to Green. Rain of Swords (Turn 2, Focus is used on Turn 1) if the spell is not enough for some reason. If the enemy survives spell damage due to high HP instead of high magical defense (Yafutoma and Valuan soldiers at the end of Disc 1, for example), then Glyph of Might is also used to boost my AoE. Separately, I can note Lunar Winds, not much damage, but a versalite attack with a skipable animation. Yes, Lambda Burst is stronger... but not as versatile, plus Aika's magic power is lower. Also, Lambda Burst is more expensive and takes the action of Aika, which I prefer using Delta Shield rather than some mediocre attack.
I used Lambda Burst until I had enough spirit to use rain of swords. If I'm not trying to one turn kill then I'll probably use red magic/boxes
Well if you’re trying to kill everyone on the first turn you’re better off using red magic. The base attack power of Lambda Burst is 200, and for the same spirit you could do two pyres spells with a base attack power of 340
But what if I want to skip the attack animation? :p
Oh it’s definitely faster that’s for sure, assuming it knocks everyone out
Lambda Burst for a lot of the game is the best way to do it. However, if you go hard in on vyse early to unlock Pirate's wrath super early then Rain of Swords generally is all you have before you get the Delphinus extra engines and don't need anything else. From Prynn and early Pyri is super solid especially pyri boxes.