How to I optimize my opener and rotation as Samurai?

[Chronons]

snip

In a perfect scenario against the susy ex dummy I have 3 sen as the Hagakure comes up. So I will typically Hagakure these sen and move into the Meikyo for a Midare. In actual fights its not always so ideal. Generally speaking I will prioritize the Hagakure by using the Meikyo to fill up any missing sen and if I have uses of Meikyo after a 3 sen Hagakure I will use them on whatever sen has the longest time left on its buff.

[Genjii]

Interesting... So even if you have 1 or 2 sen, you will use Meikyo to fill up to 3 and use Hagakure anyways? Don't you feel like that's a waste of Meikyo? The CD on it is double that of Hagakure so I've been treating it like I HAVE to use it for a good Midare lineup.

EDIT: Also, when do you guys use your strength potions?? When is it most optimal?

[Adriosh]

meikyo isn't necessarily wasted on one sen since you can haga and not break meikyo so you can grab 1 or two more sen after haga with shinten spam. also I pop pots before gekko in the opener

[bswpayton]

this is my biggest issue with the game , everyone says oh people don't know their rotations but yet thats the least discussed thing on the forums, many people have uploaded rotations and stuff but honestly have no idea who to follow

[Chronons]

snip

Yes, because Shinten is a more efficient use of the Kenki than a Keitan Midare. I dont have a link to the math for that on hand, but it has been accepted by most serious theory crafters that I am aware of. Also as Adriosh pointed out if you already have 1 or 2 sen when Meikyo becomes available you can use it to get the ones you need, Hagakure, then use the rest of your Meikyo uses to fill sen slots back up.

Most str pot rotations I have seen prioritize it before the Gekko or after the 4th GCD.

[Chronons]

this is my biggest issue with the game , everyone says oh people don't know their rotations but yet thats the least discussed thing on the forums, many people have uploaded rotations and stuff but honestly have no idea who to follow

Lol, true. But, asking for help and discussing with others means admitting you have room to grow and the way you do things may not be the best. Setting aside ones pride is a rare thing on the internet.

[Clover210]

So you guys only use Hagakure on 3 sens? What if you only have 1 sen when Hagakure comes off CD? Do you guys just wait to use it and build up your 3 sens?

[Genjii]

Lol, true. But, asking for help and discussing with others means admitting you have room to grow and the way you do things may not be the best. Setting aside ones pride is a rare thing on the internet.

This. I do consider myself better than the average player, but like I said, I was noticing I wasn't seeing the numbers that I've seen other Samurai's reach so I thought I'd ask what everyone was doing differently. There's always room for improvement, I'm by no means a pro :P.

[Genjii]

So you guys only use Hagakure on 3 sens? What if you only have 1 sen when Hagakure comes off CD? Do you guys just wait to use it and build up your 3 sens?

I believe so? 3 sen will basically fill up your Kenki gauge. That's why they were telling me to use Meikyo even if I only have 1 or 2 sen up to max up 3 sen for the Hagakure.

[Adriosh]

3 sen will equate to 60 kenki that 60 kenki dumped into shintens + a GCD will equate to more potency then a midare. the math is there go find it. as for rotational discussion these forums are notorious for perma banning many of the more respected theory crafters which is why that advice isn't so easily found here. Also please rmemeber SAM is still in its infancy stage having one perfect everything you just have to replicate will come with time. (however sam is highly dependent on situation which is why one single "perfect opener/rotation" probably will never exist)