Dragoons: A Rotation Reborn

[EasymodeX]

The "next best" is pretty variable and based on conflicting priorities.

The safest in terms of "guaranteed to be BiS" is the ring. However, the ring does not give +Vit, which is a consideration.

The chest, gloves, and boots are all reasonable candidates for +Vit and "probably BiS". The issue is that the 480 acc BiS is different than the 470 and swaps pieces between those 3 slots. So if we need 480 or more for T7/8/9, then a "470 purchase" might not be BiS and you could be randomly annoyed later.

The helm and belt are poor candidates because it is unlikely they will be in any BiS set. (Sidenote: checked, helm is good for a no-Acc i110 set, but that's about it).


The last consideration, and the most complicated, is that the loot tables are not fully known for T6-9 yet. If a certain slot does not drop until T9 or maybe T8, then that becomes a more relevant priority for Soldiery Tomes.


So a generally safe strategy would be to pick up the leggings, then stockpile Soldiery until more accuracy and/or loot table information is confirmed.

Then, prioritize either the boots or gloves+chest depending on the acc, and prioritize the "T9 only" slots.

Within that pool, prioritize by left side > right side.

If you cap out Soldiery before the information is confirmed, pick up the ring.

[Dervy]

SNIP

The ring is BiS, but in comparison to another upgrade, like the boots, it's not as great as an upgrade. The good thing about the Astrum Boots, is that all accuracies from 480-521, excluding 500, has them as the BiS set. If you do not have the Sabatons of Maiming from T5, then the Astrum Boots are the 2nd best set upgrade. The Astrum Hose on the other hand, despite it being the best item to purchase for set optimisation, it's not in any set requiring 484, 497, 500, 503, 506, 509, 512, 516, 519 accuracies (from 480-521).

There's also the a report of a player missing @ 496~ accuracy from rear in Turn 8. If this is confirmed to be true, the chances of the Astrum Hose in any BiS is 50/50.

But, the High Allagan Legs don't drop until Turn 8, so the Astrum Hose, coupled with the Astrum Boots, is a safe purchase, unless your group is/has been/will be able to clear Turn 8.

Getting gloves is a pointless upgrade as well. Yes, it's a great item due to it's CRT + DET, but as the Dragoon gloves drop from T6, purchasing the Astrum Gauntlets doesn't allow you to efficiently use your soldieries.

Something that is surprising, is that if you have Allagan/Wave spear, Sabatons of Maiming + Bracelets of Maiming, the Astrum Mail chest upgrade is a very, very good upgrade from what I've seen so far with my solver.

[JetBrooks]

Getting gloves is a pointless upgrade as well. Yes, it's a great item due to it's CRT + DET, but as the Dragoon gloves drop from T6, purchasing the Astrum Gauntlets doesn't allow you to efficiently use your soldieries.

Eh, that's kinda like saying you shouldn't have gotten Myth Chest in 2.1 coz Allagan drops in T1, if they're gonna be the best thing to use, screw it.

Related note: I got gloves coz I wanna hit stuff hard while I'm waiting for my static to progress, dang it! Prolly do legs next.. my static is still on T5 and I have enough alternate i90 gear to make up for accuracy loss while equipping highly weighted i100 gear.

[Dervy]

snippidy snip

High Allagan Gauntlets > Weathered Astrum Armguards for set optimisation, that's why. Once your group has actually got the Turn 7 kill, then maybe you can consider getting the Weathered Astrum Armguards, as you can upgrade it to i110. At which point, Astrum Armguards > High Allagan Gauntlets for set optimisation.

You can't really compare 2.0 to 2.2 progression, as the Allagan Cuirass and the Wyrms mail were the same ilvl. Right now in 2.2, High Allagan will always be better than the items we can currently purchase, which is why it is best to prioritise the High Allagan Drops from Turn 6 first.

EDIT: It's different, particularly for you however as your static is still on Turn 5.

[EasymodeX]

The good thing about the Astrum Boots, is that all accuracies from 480-521, excluding 500, has them as the BiS set.

And 470. I'd like to see more confirmation of T7-9 before I accept that it's different in scaling from T1-5 (which had none).

The Astrum Hose on the other hand, despite it being the best item to purchase for set optimisation, it's not in any set requiring 484, 497, 500, 503, 506, 509, 512, 516, 519 accuracies (from 480-521).

Oh, interesting. I forgot I put a -10% malus against SS's weight because I don't like it and I run out of TP enough as it is. That is apparently enough to shift leggings away from BiS for a number of acc points (I use 470, 481, 493, 504).


Regardless, the crux of this discussion is that the acc requirements are uncertain. The easiest way to determine that will be tank and BLM acc thresholds. Mages have no variance between flanks/rear/front, and tanks have little to no variation, particularly since they're testing the max acc condition.

Hence, the basic recommendation to stockpile for a few weeks until things become clearer.


Anyways, the other component which is a significant factor is your personal expectations of your access to later turns. If you expect access to various slots in a reasonable timeframe, then some people are willing to over-purchase in the near-term even at risk of replacing it with an H-A drop. Shrug.