Purchase order for Paladin

Hi, as per title, would like to get some opinion, is it better to get Burtgang first or to get some Soldiery gear? (currently I have 1244 Sol + 450 for this week, should be around 1694)
The only i100 I have is Weathered Noct Lorica.
Accessories are Allagan+Heroes Ring and left sides are mix of Myth and Allagan.
Weapon and Shield are Relic Zenith.
Thanks in advance :D

depend, do you have static and plan on to doing T8,9? if so armor first (calculate your BiS set then but the SoL piece that you need first.) Otherwise, it don't really matter ;p if you undicide, I suggest getting SoL Ring, since it the 1 of the 2 i110 ring.

If you think you can handle the climb from Zenith -> Atma -> Animus -> Novus, then you may want to pursue that avenue for your weapon and shield. If you're looking to max mitigation, then the Animus Sword is your best i100 option, and the Novus Shield is a better option overall than the unweathered Noct Hoplon because a Kite Shield is okay to take into any situation whereas a Tower Shield like the Noct will hinder you when hoping for the mitigation of particularly big hits.

If you aren't thinking about the relic route, it would probably be a good idea to go ahead and get the Burtgang. Whatever DPS you're going to be playing with at this stage in the game are prioritizing their weapon above all else, and you simply won't be able to keep threat against them unless you follow suit. Otherwise, the best order for buying Soldiery gear is Chest/Legs -> Head/Hands/Legs -> Waist > Accessories. The best accessory to get first is the Ring, as upgrading it to i110 allows you to buy and equip another Unweathered ring.

Generally accepted BiS Soldiery Gear for a Mitigation focused PLD:

Noct Lorica
Noct Breeches
Noct Gauntlets
Noct Plate Belt
Noct Ring
Noct Choker

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Originally Posted by Remn

depend, do you have static and plan on to doing T8,9? if so armor first (calculate your BiS set then but the SoL piece that you need first.) Otherwise, it don't really matter ;p if you undicide, I suggest getting SoL Ring, since it the 1 of the 2 i110 ring.

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I don't have a static yet, but looking to form or join one. Not gonna do T8/9 for a while though, since I just passed T5 few days ago.

@Donjo
Is there any other option for Paladin's weapon and shield going to SCoB?
I'm seriously questioning myself if I can stand the Atma, Animus and Novus grind.
Will i95 Allagan Blade be sufficient to last me through T8/9?
Or should I try to get weapon from Levi or Ramuh?
I suppose for head gear, ST Phlegethon's Mask is good enough until HA head?

Weapon first.

You can beat T8 and 9 with a i95 weapon but I wouldn't recommend it.

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Originally Posted by Donjo

If you think you can handle the climb from Zenith -> Atma -> Animus -> Novus, then you may want to pursue that avenue for your weapon and shield. If you're looking to max mitigation, then the Animus Sword is your best i100 option, and the Novus Shield is a better option overall than the unweathered Noct Hoplon because a Kite Shield is okay to take into any situation whereas a Tower Shield like the Noct will hinder you when hoping for the mitigation of particularly big hits.

If you aren't thinking about the relic route, it would probably be a good idea to go ahead and get the Burtgang. Whatever DPS you're going to be playing with at this stage in the game are prioritizing their weapon above all else, and you simply won't be able to keep threat against them unless you follow suit. Otherwise, the best order for buying Soldiery gear is Chest/Legs -> Head/Hands/Legs -> Waist > Accessories. The best accessory to get first is the Ring, as upgrading it to i110 allows you to buy and equip another Unweathered ring.

Generally accepted BiS Soldiery Gear for a Mitigation focused PLD:

Noct Lorica
Noct Breeches
Noct Gauntlets
Noct Plate Belt
Noct Ring
Noct Choker

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This is solid advice, but you need to look at what stats are more important TO YOU. For my build the gauntlets are the ST ones. THe SoL gaunts have SS whereas the ST gauntlets have ACC/Parry. For my build those are the way to go.

My order was:
Lorica
Shield
Breeches
Ring

Will finish with:
Belt
Choker
Second ring (So one Noct and one Weathered Noct)

I want the head and hands from ST and currently have the boots.

I definitely recommend getting the burtgang going. With all the folks out there that have their zodiac weapons, ex weapons, coil weapons, i90 isn't going to cut it. After I got my breeches I was about i94ish and would loose threat from time to time.

Since getting my Burtgang that doesn't happen any more. It is a initial investment but should last a while.

So my vote is, if you have the tomes and the UAT, then get the W. Burtgang, if you don't save till you do.

Syn

I haven't finished collecting my ATMA yet (currently at 6/12) but from what others in my FC say, the grind to Novus is worse than the ATMA grind. So once you get all of your ATMA, upgrading that to Animus is really just spending 1500 myth, which is easy to get now, over and over and complete your books. Easy peasy i100 weapon/shield.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Marukoban

@Donjo
Is there any other option for Paladin's weapon and shield going to SCoB?
I'm seriously questioning myself if I can stand the Atma, Animus and Novus grind.
Will i95 Allagan Blade be sufficient to last me through T8/9?
Or should I try to get weapon from Levi or Ramuh?
I suppose for head gear, ST Phlegethon's Mask is good enough until HA head?

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Here are all of your i100+ options for weapons and shields.

Weapons:
i100: Curtana Animus(Grind those books!)
i100: Tidal Wave Shamshir(Grind those Mirrors!)
i100: Thunderstrike(Defeat Ramuh EX and hope)
i100: Burtgang(1 Unidentified Allagan Tomestone and 7 Rowena Tokens[910 Soldiery])
i110: Curtana Novus(Grind that sphere scroll!)
i110: Burtgang(Unweather Burtgang with a Sands of Time)
i115: High Allagan Blade(Turn 9)

Shields:
i100: Tidal Wave Shield(Chance of direct drop from Levi EX)
i100: Thunderhead(Ramuh EX)
i100: Weathered Noct Hoplon(390 Soldiery)
i100: Holy Shield Animus
i110: Holy Shield Novus
i110: Noct Hoplon(Unweather Hoplon with Oil of Time)
i115: High Allagan Kite Shield(Turn 8)

Your only i110 options are the Burtgang and the Novus. You might be able to get away with an i100 weapon/shield, but the i95 Allagan blade absolutely will not cut it when your DPS has i110 weapons and needs to go completely ham on the bosses in order to meet DPS checks. If the DPS isn't there yet, then you have some time of doing Turn 6 and 7 a few times for extra gear before you'll be able to take out 8. The Levi Weapon will be entirely too stupid to attempt to get, so you might want to consider Ramuh... but taking the time to save for a Burtgang through the ST Unidentified Tomestone is probably more reliable. The ST Headgear is just fine as a stepping stone to High Allagan.

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Originally Posted by Synestr

This is solid advice, but you need to look at what stats are more important TO YOU. For my build the gauntlets are the ST ones. THe SoL gaunts have SS whereas the ST gauntlets have ACC/Parry. For my build those are the way to go.

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That's why I specifically said "mitigation focused PLD". Judging from your choice of ST Gauntlets for a BiS build, you seem to be thinking that way too. However, just make sure know that you're sacrificing some defense, threat, and health for that ~1.7% increase in Parry Rate.

Thanks for all the advices so far.
I decided to get Weathered Burtgang and ran ST for the headgear, though I got Oil instead.
So I bought the noct ring and unweathered it, since I don't like Noct Shield low block rate :D
Will do Atma and Novus for the Holy Shield later.

Burtang is quite good, though it is not impossible to beat t9 with allegan (or break blade like our pld). Do not touch the shield, get Thunderhead as it is a very good shield despite i100.

Burtang>Chest>Ring>Pants and you have enough gear for t9

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Originally Posted by Aurelle_Delacroix

I haven't finished collecting my ATMA yet (currently at 6/12) but from what others in my FC say, the grind to Novus is worse than the ATMA grind. So once you get all of your ATMA, upgrading that to Animus is really just spending 1500 myth, which is easy to get now, over and over and complete your books. Easy peasy i100 weapon/shield.

Good luck.

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Novus grind is better than Atma because it's measurable and you don't have to spend a ton of time on it per day if you are patient. Roulettes (especially with the first-timer bonuses) and hunts practically vomit myth at you and with that alongside the once-a-day Alexandrite Map quest you can make some efficient progress.

Much better than "I spent my day off of work farming for atma and I didn't get anything". If you do the same farming myth to buy Alexandrite maps you at least have something to show for it.

One recommendation I have is to prioritize doing your sword books over your shield books.

I know I (and a lot of other players I see around) did it the opposite way, but going from 90 to 100 on your weapon makes a much larger difference than going from 90 to 100 on your shield. It's tempting to go to the shield first since you only have to do 3 books, but it's really not worth it. You can always get the Hoplon if you are swimming in soldiery. Tower shields do make your damage more spikey, but they also effectively turn bulwark into a 15s long 30-35% straight mitigation skill. It's also got accuracy, which will be useful as a swap-out, especially if you don't put accuracy on your novus (or skip the novus altogether).

I don't know if it has been fixed, But if you get your sword to Novus before the shield, you won't be able to get alexandrites from Fates. Since you need Animus to get a super-small chance, the game consider the Sword as the complete part of the relic quest.

So.. I am doing the Shield first, only 22 Alexandrites needed as well to change it.

*I did Books for shield Animus first to get it out of the way, was faster, and I didn't had any problems.

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Originally Posted by Marukoban

Thanks for all the advices so far.
I decided to get Weathered Burtgang and ran ST for the headgear, though I got Oil instead.
So I bought the noct ring and unweathered it, since I don't like Noct Shield low block rate :D
Will do Atma and Novus for the Holy Shield later.

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If you already have a Burtgang, going through the Novus quest line just for the Holy Shield Novus is a lot of work. Getting a new shield is probably the single most important purchase when it comes to mitigation and it'll be quite some time before you get there with the Novus route.

I highly recommend taking the Noct Hoplon. The block rate may be lower, but the block strength is worth it. When paired with Bulwark, the damage reduction becomes much more reliable and noticeable. Noct Hoplon also only costs 390 seals and uses a single oil to upgrade from i100 > i110.

Burtgang > Noct Hoplon >>> Chest/Pants >>> Ring/Belt > whatever

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Originally Posted by kro

If you already have a Burtgang, going through the Novus quest line just for the Holy Shield Novus is a lot of work. Getting a new shield is probably the single most important purchase when it comes to mitigation and it'll be quite some time before you get there with the Novus route.

Burtgang > Noct Hoplon >>> Chest/Pants >>> Ring/Belt > whatever

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I still haven't got Burtgang, only Weathered version for now, so I'm thinking even Animus should be fine.
Regarding upgrading Noct Hoplon, I kind of already went ahead to purchase Ring and upgraded it.
Weathered Chest I already have and am planning to get Pants next week.
So, for the relic quest, it's better if I do it for other Job?

I have an unweathered burgtang and noct shield. The block rate at ilvl 110 is only a tad bit lower compared to zenith shield, and the block strength is a big upgrade. Over 10 percent more damage per block, with a tiny fraction of the block chance going down. It makes Bulwark a much better cooldown as well.

As for the higher block chance in "big hits", having a chance at mitigating a big hit is not near as important as having better survivability forbwhen it does land. The (while minimal) extra vit and overall extra mitigation over zenith shield ensures you stay alive when shit hits the fan.

If you have the time to upgrade to novus, go for it. Otherwise noct shield is perfectly viable.

Edit: Anyone with a better knowledge of the forumla's want to throw out some numbers on mitigation percent and block chance comparing the noct shield/zenith shield/novus shield?

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Originally Posted by Marukoban

I still haven't got Burtgang, only Weathered version for now, so I'm thinking even Animus should be fine.
Regarding upgrading Noct Hoplon, I kind of already went ahead to purchase Ring and upgraded it.
Weathered Chest I already have and am planning to get Pants next week.
So, for the relic quest, it's better if I do it for other Job?

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If the Hunt situation is good on your server, you can farm enough Sands and Oils to upgrade all of those things much, much faster than trying to complete the relic quest. Hunts are also the best way to farm myth so you will have to do them anyway because Novus requires tons of myth.

At this point, I would only finish a Novus if you really plan to main that job and want to be ready for the next stage of the relic quest. The time and gil investment is way too much compared to the soldiery/hunt route.

Weapon first. All else second. The simple reason is that currently the only ways to get an i110 weapon are:
- Unidentified Allagan Tomestone + Sands (sounds like you already got the tomestone?). Earning 3 sands is like 2-3 nights of hunts. Done. Enjoy your i110 weapon!

OR

- Doing your relic quest, upgrading to zenith. Spending untold hours/days/weeks(?) farming atma, another week or two of 100% dedication to grinding myth and doing animus books and then probably three weeks of ridiculous dedication (and gil) farming your alexandrite and infusing it with possibly very expensive materia.

Well even if you get myth faster. Doing those whole 9 books are pain in the ass, even worse than atma to me :)

For the shield i use the unweathered hoplon one, still trying to get a hand on the one in T8, it never drops lol.

The hoplon gives me a block strength of 41%, so basically to me it feels like a second sentinel. And when i Look at scob it's much more usefull to me.

T6 you don't bulwark that much.
T7 you can use it when you have one add and Melusine, great plus
T8 you have an extra Sentinel for the double tanking Avatar +DN
T9 great plus for the fourth ravenbeak in P1 (if you can't skip the 4th one)

Ofc i'll use the T8 one when it drops (been almost 2 months that i'm waiting for it ahaha).

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Originally Posted by Sandamar

Well even if you get myth faster. Doing those whole 9 books are pain in the ass, even worse than atma to me :).

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Say that when you have 3 of your atma take over 10 hrs of solid farming each.