Hellfire Guillotine vs Nothung

[Reynhart]

However, point about making relic for higher chances of getting high iLvl weapon in shorter period of time is an argument for the relic.
Actually you can have both. Never too much glamour stuff. Hellfire look sucks, but it matches armor set.

It would have been easier for me to quote you if your answers were in your post, but I'll do it anyway

1) Possible, yes, but unlikely when looking at the past. Besides, we'll probably stay on the "moar DPS" mentality for a while now, so anything is better than Parry.
2) We don't know yet how this will work. I really hope they don't use the same gimmick.
3) Getting the next tome weapon will probably be shorter, but will still requires you to keep your tomestone of whatever and thus, not buying armor with it...while still being, at best, on par with the Anima.
4) Yes, it was funny, but frankly, the gear you have for your leveling phase does not justify min-maxing.

No, I'm not mistaken :
In regards to weapons, we removed accuracy from the weapons for all jobs. We did this to eliminate situations where you couldn't use a new weapon with a high item level because it didn't have accuracy on it. We've made adjustments to the required accuracy, so even without accuracy on weapons it should be easier to land hits on enemies.
Taken from the Q/A thread on Live Letter XXIII.

In 3.4 I'll use an Augmented Hellfire/Midan weapon to farm the new primal weapon which will be better than those and the relic

Nope, because in 3.3, we'll have the next step of Anima to make it an i240 weapon (or even i245, if they follow the Relic steps), probably with custom stats so that your Augmented Hellfire will always be weaker.

[SpookyGhost]

They made the comment before that they wanted to have the raid weapon be the highest tier ilvl to incentivize raiding, so it'll be i240. Whether that will happen in 3.3 or not, I'd need a source on, as I'd assume the next relic step is probably on a half patch. Either way, the first step in the relic is a massive time investment, and then you need to invest even more into the current step, so just using your Lore for the weapon seems like a fine option. I guess the relic is more worth it if you're not raiding and you can afford the time investment on top of capping tomes weekly and anything else you plan on doing.

[Reynhart]

They made the comment before that they wanted to have the raid weapon be the highest tier ilvl to incentivize raiding, so it'll be i240.

For now, probably. But if you remember, they also said it for the Zodiac weapons compared to Coil, which didn't prevent them from being on par (or even better) near the end. And even if they stay 5 ilvl lower, itemization can still make them better, especially for tanks.

Whether that will happen in 3.3 or not, I'd need a source on, as I'd assume the next relic step is probably on a half patch.

We're also planning to add more storyline to the Anima weapon series in Patch 3.3, and it'll be possible to change your weapon's secondary stats at that time.

We'll be proceeding with a system similar to that of the alexandrite that was needed to create Zodiac weapons, but it will not involve materia. Just like the initial stage of the anima weapon quest, we'll be preparing several avenues for obtaining the necessary items, so you can choose a method that suits your preferences. The weapon enhancements coming in Patch 3.3 will make them comparable to weapons affixed with grade V materia.
Source (On the bright note, it says no materia involved )

Either way, the first step in the relic is a massive time investment, and then you need to invest even more into the current step, so just using your Lore for the weapon seems like a fine option.

Frankly, the last step can be done really quick... And since I haven't been able to buy a full Lore set, despite capping every week since 3.2, I'd have ended with a lower average ilvl if I had spent 1000 Lore on a weapon, since I already had the i210 Anima.

[Ultear_Milkovich]

I went for the Hyperconductive Nothung for my DRK (CRT & DET) and used my Lore Tokens to buy the BLM Lore Rod (SSP & CRT), as the BLM relic is not good for me (losing 100+ SSP, no).

I think that was a good move.

[jssanderson747]

Until you get a gobdip, the relic has better stats. No real getting around that

[MiniPrinny]

Hyperconductive Nothung is flat out better than anything else at its item level for two reasons. The first is its stat layout, Crit/Det is impossible to overlook, there isn't a better combination unless you're a Warrior and then its Crit/SkS or Det/SkS. The second is that relics, and this goes for all relics in the foreseeable future are assured to have their secondary stats capped. Currently, even with max melds, for whatever reason, you wouldn't be able to cap the parry on Hellfire Guillotine. And even if Hellfire Guillotine didn't have the parry and had SkS or Det, you would still not be able to cap those stats. Basically, if you're a Dark Knight, you get your Nothung and sit on it until you clear A8S or at least five to eight weeks pass of clearing A7S. And considering that A8S' damage check is much more lax than other fights, you should be able to do it long before then and wait out the Midan Metal Greatsword instead.

If you don't have either by 3.3, upgrade Nothung, because Hellfire Guillotine will still be garbage compared to it.

[KrenianKandos]

Nothung was what made me decide not to spend my 7 Midan Gear and get the Guillotine. It just is flat out better secondary stats wise. Also, while I don't raid Savage, this made the choice even easier: 230 vs 230. If I had a faint hope to upgrade the Guillotine, then I would have considered it + the materia slotted for Det, simply due to the weapon damage increase.

As I will not be able to upgrade it until most likely 3.3, and they are making the Relic grow in power in 3.3 as well, I am just better off gearing the rest of my slots with Lore instead. I'll probably dump it on my Monk secondary when my Dark Knight is fully equipped.

[Kotemon]

If you haven't upgraded Anima to i210 by the time you get 7 gears, then go with Hellfire. If Anima relic can't be modified yet then its personal choice, just load up with a lot of STR V and DET V on other pieces to make up for the parry. But I'd rather wait until armor reaches its max ilevel before putting good grade V materia on it.

[Undeadfire]

Nope, because in 3.3, we'll have the next step of Anima to make it an i240 weapon (or even i245, if they follow the Relic steps), probably with custom stats so that your Augmented Hellfire will always be weaker.

Relic/Animas were only evened out to final fights when it was near next raid tier or fights too easy or too difficult. They made it 210 for Animas because A4S was lacking clears out 95% of raid groups, A3S was too difficult to fathom for being a 3rd fight. A8S so far is being cleared appropriately so I doubt it be 245, it's way too early.

Turn 5 Weapons were dominant.
Turn 9 weapons remained dominant for a while but they made the path to 215 a major grind so you couldn't have it easy.
Turn 13 was lacking clears and far too easy so I can see why Zeta was added in a fast time.
A4S was hell broken fight with a more difficult fight blocking it. Adding Thordan/Animas was the only way to push slight more clears.

I don't know about A8S.. The only way I can see it going 245 would be near 3.4.

[Reynhart]

I don't know about A8S.. The only way I can see it going 245 would be near 3.4.

It will still be better than any tome weapon you can buy without having to set foot in savage.

They also said that i210 step was that long because A4S took a long time to clear. So we can assume that they won't give us more steps that take that much time to complete.
And, I think we can also assume that, comes 4.0, the Anima holders will again have "something" to help them with the next upgradable weapon, even if it's not much.

So, in the long run, I really think doing the Anima is a better choice.