How to I optimize my opener and rotation as Samurai?

[Stormfur]

Thanks so much!

So it's better in the long run to just spam Shinten as long as I have 35+ Kenki rather than saving it up and using Midare? That's surprising.

Is it also then not worth really using Guren either? Just Shinten all day every day?

Is there any appropriate time where one would use Mindare over 3 Sen Hagakura Kenki-filled gauge?

[Chronons]

snip

If you follow the 35 rule, you will always have at least 10 Kenki. Meaning if you are at 35 and use Shinten(25) you are left with 10. That means you can use Hakakaze(+5 Kenki) > Shifu or Jinpu (+5 Kenki either way) and have the 20 Kenki required for a Kaiten > Midare. So for example: You have 3 sen and 35 kenki. If you use a Shinten you will be reduced to 10 Kenki. You need 20 to Kaiten buff the Midare. You can Hakakaze > Jinpu to generate the needed 10 Kenki, use Kaiten > Midare, then finish the combo with Gekko to get another sen.
Note - If you use Shinten at below 35 you will have to use more than two gcds to generate that 20 Kenki that you need to Kaiten buff the Midare. Meaning you are using Gekko/Kasha/Yukikaze even though you already have the sen for that combo.
So in regards to the first question, you want to do both. The goal of the 35 rule is to make sure you can Kaiten buff every one of your Midare and give you the most Shinten possible.


Use Guren as it is available, it is one of the few things that are a more efficient use of Kenki than Shinten. If its about to come off cooldown make sure you have the Kenki to use - watch the Shinten spam.

Generally speaking no, using the 3 sen for Hagakura is better. But Hagakura has a long cooldown so you will be using Midare every time you get to 3 sen and Hagakura isn't ready.
Caveat - If for some reason you need a spike in dps NOW, you can use the Midare instead of the Hagakura. Few examples being: fight is about over, trick attack is up, add needs to die asap.

[Stormfur]

So for the most part, something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/1atVAsO.png

would be worth following?

[Lastelli]

So for the most part, something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/1atVAsO.png

would be worth following?

Well, that's exactly what I've been doing since I hit level 70 and I can guarantee it works very well. I suggest you keep hitting the dummy after that final gekko so you understand how to manage the inevitable Meikyo+Hagakure scenario.

[Chronons]

http://i.imgur.com/1atVAsO.png

Yes, that is a perfect representation of what to do. And that opener is the "one sen" opener people are generally referring to.

[Thunda_Cat_SMASH]

So for the most part, something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/1atVAsO.png

would be worth following?

I usually double weave the Kaiten and Meikyo but yes, you have the right idea. Remember to take advantage of Seigan whenever you can since its a 20 potency gain over Shinten per Kenki spent.

FYI: Meikyo's 3 charges aren't affected by Iaijutsu.

[Genjii]

Hey Guys,

I just started doing Susano Extreme with friends and I noticed my dps was what I felt like, a little low despite my ilvl only being 305; however, after reading about how I should basically be doing 3 sen hagakure on CD and practicing my rotation on a dummy for a good 30 minutes or so, I saw a dramatic increase in my DPS. My Susano opener is now spiking to 4.7k before 2nd phase! Now my only question is once I'm done with the initial 1:30 rotation, and I come to "inevitable Meikyo+Hagakure scenario", what do I do? What I've been doing is basically falling back to the initial opener. Am I correct in doing this?

[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?

[Leonus]

Hey Guys,

I just...

After you Hagakure, you'll typically do 4 shintens since you're washing them in between you GCDs to dump it (unless gluten is off cool down).

4 shintens are a total of 1200 potency while kaiten Midare is 1080.
On to of that, K:Midare costs a GCD while shintens spam does not. So not only is it more damage to Hagakure 3 Sen, you will also arrive at you next Sen a GCD sooner. The only times you Midare over Hagakure are when you can't get to 40 or less kenki in 3
Seconds or the lasts % of a boss's health (Because you might not be able to use the converted kenki in time.