SAM PVP: How are you supposed to play this class?

[Jaydarksol]

• Seems to be shredded by every class, can barely duel, easily avoided and ran away from.
• GCD Kills burst combos to secure a kill
• 3-attack combo is weak, sacrifice movement for neglectable damage / utility.

The class feels handicapped, and easily one of the lowest dps unless you nail the LB.


Would genuinely appreciate understanding this class, because I am at a complete loss on what i can currently consider an underwhelming design. P.S I am also aware it really could just be my performance, but that is why I am open to understanding it. My experience as a CC player is Crystal Rank if that helps any.

[Valence]

There is Samurai players evolving in the top ranks so it does perform. I think everybody agrees that it's a little underwhelming on some points (especially the LB), but shredded by every class? If I play ranged and I have a samurai harassing me I take it very seriously. If they know what they're doing they'll shred you, because by essence of being a melee dps, they soft counter you, and SAM has a lot of tools to chase (3 dashes + a bind + stun, which is more than what almost everybody else can claim to have).

But it is indeed the least survivable melee DPS which tends to make it be a lot less durable on the frontlines, and the cast times require surgical planning.

[Jaydarksol]

Greatly appreciate the reply, hope to learn it to a very great extent, just right now it feels I have no guide to it. Even the youtube videos ive come across have all been watered down basics that don't entirely go through playstyles, target priorities, moments to counter things like that. Learning as we speak but would love to have someone with the knowledge at top rank to provide some insight on top of any info others have.

[Valence]

I do feel the job requires a big of a learning curve to get a feel for the cast times especially and a stronger discipline then other melees due to the limited survivability timings (SAM is even more about timings than other melees imo). Get in, burn purifies on AoE binds like RPR does, play bruiser on point, else harass backliners with hard hitting skills. Gauge how their team responds because one of the weaknesses of sam is the lack of escape button (unless you can gap close back on the enemy frontline) and an extremely limited mitigation window so if they try to peel you off their ranged, they can kill you pretty quick if you linger.

TBh I've also accepted that some classes don't click as well as some others with me and I bet it's the same for everybody. I just can't wrap my head around DRK for example.

[Mistress_Irika]

I don't think you're going to be able to find a great guide on samurai. Most people just look to instant kill others with their limit break. I haven't played CC in months, but I'm pretty sure that most players are still marking samurai target to ignore every time their limit break pops up.

Majority of the things I do agree with you with. Samurai seems very weak compared to the other melees, because they're the only class that is forced to commit in the frontlines. They don't really have any escape tools at their disposal. As far as being easily shredded that's about the only thing I can confidently disagree with. Chiten is the strongest ability that samurai has. It's not a defensive tool. It's a counter-burst tool. It gains a ton of value from other people targeting them while they're on the offense. I would personally avoid using stuns and roots while Chiten is active unless you are forced to as a last ditch effort to live.

Take it with a grain of salt. I only have 3 hours of Crystal gameplay experience despite never touching Crystal at all.

[EmilySummerstar]

I don't think you're going to be able to find a great guide on samurai. Most people just look to instant kill others with their limit break. I haven't played CC in months, but I'm pretty sure that most players are still marking samurai target to ignore every time their limit break pops up.

Majority of the things I do agree with you with. Samurai seems very weak compared to the other melees, because they're the only class that is forced to commit in the frontlines. They don't really have any escape tools at their disposal. As far as being easily shredded that's about the only thing I can confidently disagree with. Chiten is the strongest ability that samurai has. It's not a defensive tool. It's a counter-burst tool. It gains a ton of value from other people targeting them while they're on the offense. I would personally avoid using stuns and roots while Chiten is active unless you are forced to as a last ditch effort to live.

Take it with a grain of salt. I only have 3 hours of Crystal gameplay experience despite never touching Crystal at all.

I'd be in favor of them getting sustained damage and defense in exchange for insta-kill mechanics. It doesn't feel OP, just cheap. "Why won't anyone play with me?"

[Mistress_Irika]

I'd be in favor of them getting sustained damage and defense in exchange for insta-kill mechanics. It doesn't feel OP, just cheap. "Why won't anyone play with me?"

The instant kill mechanic was never needed it to begin with. I guess the devs thought that they did when creating the class back when Chiten was at 50%. I've personally never understood why samurai was allowed to profit twice off of Chiten. You're already being rewarded the reflective damage off the ability. The only thing the mechanic did was make interaction a nightmare for everyone. Samurai's looking for interaction, and no one is giving it to them except when they don't have the limit break. As you have stated: "Why won't anyone play with me?"

Definitely needs to be addressed come 7.1 (We all know there's no major pvp updates for x.0. I've seen this twice.)

[EmilySummerstar]

The instant kill mechanic was never needed it to begin with. I guess the devs thought that they did when creating the class back when Chiten was at 50%. I've personally never understood why samurai was allowed to profit twice off of Chiten. You're already being rewarded the reflective damage off the ability. The only thing the mechanic did was make interaction a nightmare for everyone. Samurai's looking for interaction, and no one is giving it to them except when they don't have the limit break. As you have stated: "Why won't anyone play with me?"

Definitely needs to be addressed come 7.1 (We all know there's no major pvp updates for x.0. I've seen this twice.)

Many of the SAMs just dive when they have it to kill and then get mobbed and die. They lose battle high if they had any. My friends call it, "One Time Use" Samurai.

Also, if I have to endure a huge aura telling everyone what shift I'm using, they should make the SAM buff more conspicuous. Every game, I lose my battle high because of AoE clipping a SAM somewhere in my vicinity. It is cheap AF.

[Mawlzy]

Many of the SAMs just dive when they have it to kill and then get mobbed and die. They lose battle high if they had any. My friends call it, "One Time Use" Samurai.

Classic kamikaze.

[Toffa]

Chiten is an incredible cooldown and getting the most out of it is the most important part of SAM.
You kinda have to play the psychological game to succeed.
People not hitting you is mitigation.
If they waste all their cooldowns getting subpar results while hitting you in chiten and you make them waste more MP by hitting them back with Kuzuchi on them, then you've won.