New Pug

[NoctisUmbra]

I get that. but there are no 4th tier WS so I doubted that the 3rd set of combo sparks were pointless.
Seriously I'll just run a small test sample. Unless you have already done so in which case I will defer to you.

Testing regarding Combo Bonuses? Yes, I have.

The sparks aren't pointless. They denote that the skill was used as part of a combo. That's why the first one doesn't get any sparks.

[silverdragontyr]

Howling Fist gets increased accuracy from the side, not increased damage. So using it from behind doesn't have any disadvantage.

I couldn't believe this, so I had to try it myself. Turns out it's true. Howling Fist gets ZERO damage bonus from attacking the side. I will be using Blinside with this from now on.

[NoctisUmbra]

I couldn't believe this, so I had to try it myself. Turns out it's true. Howling Fist gets ZERO damage bonus from attacking the side. I will be using Blinside with this from now on.

Just some basic understanding of the combo system, really. I can understand how it can be confusing/misleading though. In any case, thanks for the confirmation.

[ShadowCadja]

I didn't even have any idea that Howling Fist combo had a +dmg bonus in side or acc bonus from attacking from side... ._. Always just use it with Keen Flurry and Blindside and works just fine, have Help text turned off so can't see descriptions either >.<
I should test some more stuff with PGL, especially the INT/STR, still wondering if I should use INT or STR rings to boost dmg. =(

[SeraviEdalborez]

Apologies for my disbelief then. Every other WS on every other class required correct facing for boosted effects due to the combo's effect and the WS's innate effect being the same; Howling Fist is one of the only oddballs, seemed like it should have had to be done from the side. Pretty ambiguous on SE's part.

[NoctisUmbra]

Apologies for my disbelief then. Every other WS on every other class required correct facing for boosted effects due to the combo's effect and the WS's innate effect being the same; Howling Fist is one of the only oddballs, seemed like it should have had to be done from the side. Pretty ambiguous on SE's part.

Actually... all combos work the same. It's quite clearly explained in the patch notes section with mock-up weapon skills and their bonuses.

[Soukyuu]

I should test some more stuff with PGL, especially the INT/STR, still wondering if I should use INT or STR rings to boost dmg. =(

Well, according to [this test], STR gives more raw dmg per point than INT, but INT's effect on Blindside wasn't tested.

You can't put INT/STR everywhere, so just put STR where you can and INT where you can't. Blindside boosts only one skill, usually Howling Fist, but other than that, STR seems to be worth more to me.

Apologies for my disbelief then. Every other WS on every other class required correct facing for boosted effects due to the combo's effect

Actually, no. You have to fulfill all the conditions to activate the next skill in a combo chain, so basically:

hit Pummel from the front -> Concussive Blow combo condition met -> Concussive blow has damage bonus when executed -> execute from left/right to activate Simian Thrash OR from anywhere else.

Concussive Blow still has dmg bonus because it's condition was already met, but it's execution doesn't activate Simian Thrash, because you didn't meet the conditions!

I hope i'm making sense lol

[Vanguard319]

So from gear perspective what will you guys wear on head? The Maat's cap or Silver Tricorn +1 Melded with Inteligence?
Ill propably go with both.

I would say the tricorne, provided you have a good int materia on it, I have both, but tend to favor the tricorne on my pug due to the +17 int materia on it

[silverdragontyr]

After my own testing I would go with Int materia. I use crowns for the Element potency. Atm I have one at +25, and I don't think the +3 Str of the Tricorne is going to do more then +9 Potency. At most they balance, and crowns are easier to multi-meld. I keep having a friend go for x2/3 melds. I had him do a III/IV Int which was +28. He made the mistake of telling me adding another IV gave it a 10% chance. I told him to go, and while it broke, and I cried, it gave me the confidence to keep going until I get the fabled +50 Int crown.

[yukikaze_yanagi]

Isn't been tested elemental potency on fists ? They seems to add nothing