Phantasy Star Online HUnewearl (and partly for other) In-Depth FAQ Version 1.0 (first official release) (c) by Yumiko Tanaka This FAQ should only be posted at www.gamefaqs.com and my own nice homepage, located at http://members.tripod.de/Yumikotanaka (with big "Y") All information and data in this FAQ are "first hand", e.g. I figured out everything on my own. ____________ ___/ MOTIVATION \_____________________________________________________________ \____________/ Playing Phantasy Star Online for a while (and recently REALLY online), I got the impression that HUnewearl is a very underrepresented character class. The reason of this might be that most of the players are male and therefor prefer a male character. In addition, playing an android as an beginnner is very popular, because of the high fighting abilities, the no-worry-about-those-techniques and who-needs-abnormal-status effects. But now some time passed and most players of the first hour got their hero at an extreamly high level and maxed out all the stats. They want to try something new, getting all aspects Phantasy Star Online offers. Well, as mentioned in the manual the HUnewearl is suited for experienced players, because it is very hard to start with, like FOrce characters, but covers almost every ability offered by the game: PRO: - You can use EVERY technique like a FOrce. - You can be the second-best in EVERY aspect. - You can specialize in close combat, ranged combat or support/attack techniques and reorientate after some time without changing the character. - Cool and very different (hi androids ;-) outfits. CONTRA: - You should be familiar with equipment, techniques, MAGs and different combat tactics. - You can never be the best in an aspect; there is always a better one. - The first hours of gameplay are boring, because you will need them to give the character her needed ATA and techniques and keep staying alive till then! _____________________ ___/ PURPOSE OF THIS FAQ \____________________________________________________ \_____________________/ But don't worry: it is the purpose of this FAQ to help you getting the most balanced and respected character in Phantasy Star Online, even if you are a newbee by now! Most of the tips and information here can also be used with a HUmar; they get less techniques and have higher fighting stats, but can't use versile combat tactics. However, it is NOT the purpose of this FAQ to cover general information about Phantasy Star Online, the quests and some other aspects (MAG feeding and so on) that have already been posted at www.gamefaqs.com. If necessary I will refer to this FAQs and maybe give a short summary, but I recommend to read them at least once to understand the subject I am writing about. _________________ ___/ CHARACTER STATS \________________________________________________________ \_________________/ After leveling up several times, I can report the stat-growth per level: HP: ca. 7 TP: ca. 6 ATP: 5-7 (max. 710 or 900 with Shifta) DEF: 2 (max. 310?) MST: 3-5 (max. 590) ATA: 0-1 (max. 138) EVP: 3-4 (max. 450) LCK: 0 (max. 100?) As I know from different sources the HUmar and HUnewearl have the highest maximum stats. In fact, the HUmar has a slightly higher maximum ATA, but can't use all techniques (hehe). _________________ ___/ USEABLE WEAPONS \________________________________________________________ \_________________/ I will describe all weapons here, which HUnewearls can use. Although I did not find all rare weapons (yet) this detailed list shows that fully grinded standard weapons often have more ATP than fully grinded rare ones (+1 ginded equals +2 ATP). I should also mention that the +xx% attribute of the weapons is very important, even more than a unremarkable ATP difference. I have, for example, +35% to +50% MPs for every attribute and use always the appropriated one in battle (try to get a combination with hit +xx%). Weapons with an asterisk * behind their +ATP value only have 0% attributes. For more information (where to find, etc.) take a look at Khaotikas Item-FAQ or Rare-FAQ at www.gamefaqs.com. I only contribute additional weapon stats here I could confirm by myself. Sabers hit one enemy in front of you with lots of damage. SABERS min.ATP +ATP +ATA max.grind Special ------ Saber 30 55 30 Brand 90 100 33 Buster 155 160 36 35 Pallasch 233 220 39 Gladius 296 280 42 DB'S SABER 265 250 40 9 spirit Throwing weapons hit a targeted group of enemies at medium range. THROWING min.ATP +ATP +ATA max.grind Special -------- Slicer 135 15 13 Spinner 204 30 16 Cutter 302 55 19 Sawcer 395 80 22 Diska 476 105 25 SLICER OF ASSASSIN 475 120 28 9 kills instantly, DFP +10 Guns hit one enemy at long range. GUNS min.ATA +ATP +ATA max.grind Special ---- Handgun 68 30 26 Autogun 78 65 29 Lockgun 88 100 31 Railgun 98 140 35 Raygun 108 180 38 15 VARISTA 110 210 43 9 paralyses, EVP +10 HOLY RAY 120* 302 60 30 paralyses MPs hit one enemy at medium range 3 times (may hit enemies in a row). MACHINE PISTOLS min.ATA +ATP +ATA max.grind Special --------------- Mechgun 79 4 0 Assault 87 8 3 25 Repeater 97 12 6 20 Gatling 107 16 9 20 Vulcan 117 20 12 15 M&A60 VISE 120 25 15 9 berzerk, LCK +5 H&S25 JUSTICE 122 30 18 9 freezes Swords hit all nearby enemies with much damage, but reduce EVP by 10. SWORDS min.ATP +ATP +ATA max.grind Special ------ Sword 82 60 25 Gigush 169 100 27 Breaker 258 150 30 Claymore 316 200 32 Calibur 474 255 35 LAST SURVIVOR 470 280 25 9 steals HP, no EVP penalty FLOWEN'S SWORD 385 240 34 9 LCK +5, no EVP penalty DRAGON SLAYER 480* 300 40 9 explosive, EVP -15 CHAIN SAWD 470* 365 40 30 steals HP, EVP -15 LAVIS CANNON 500* 422 52 15 ???, no EVP penalty Short swords hit an nearby enemy 2 times. SHORT SWORD min.ATP +ATP +ATA max.grind Special ----------- Dagger 65 40 20 Knife 117 70 22 Blade 182 100 24 Edge 281 130 26 Ripper 340 160 28 BLADE DANCE 385 170 27 9 paralyses, DEP +10 Long swords hit all nearby enemies. LONG SWORD min.ATP +ATP +ATA max.grind Special ---------- Partisan 124 40 33 Halbert 192 75 37 Glaive 286 110 41 Berdys 335 145 45 Gungir 450 180 49 BRIONAC 475 160 46 9 steals TP These weapons have different attack patterns. OTHER min.ATP +ATP +ATA max.grind Special ----- DOUBLE SABER 235 152 28 20 steals TP TWIN BRAND 470* 225 32 9 halves HP AGITO 195* 280 46 0 Model "1983" AGITO 195* 275 47 0 Model "2001" SOUL EATER 165* 185 49 35 berzerk, drains HP SOUL BANISH 295* 285 52 9 berzerk, drains HP BRAVE KNUCKLE 250 210 60 55 paralyses AKIKO'S FRYING PAN 52* 95 35 9 cool fun item ;-) ______________ ___/ HOW TO BEGIN \___________________________________________________________ \______________/ OK, you are at level 1, owning a saber and have very low stats: welcome at Phantasy Star Online! To change situation "quickly", do exacly this: Use everything you can find, buy only monomates (later monofluids too). If you find an item you can't use at this time, just store it (especially armor). Any other consumptionable item: just feed your MAG. Store telepipes as well: you will need them to return and sell/refresh until you get ryuker (MST 150). To contibute to your low DFP, get a handgun as soon you can use one. To level up with no problems just play quests like "Battle Training" and cancel it just before completion, then start over. Before you enter a new "room", ALWAYS(!) use shifta and deband so your stats and effectiveness will grow with your level AND spells AND MAG evolution, especially if you use techniques to lower the enemies attack power too. Woa, massive use of technique you will say and I must agree. If you learn early to combine the physical power of the HUnter class and the techniques of the HUnewearl you will get strong very fast, because most other characters can only rely on techniques OR their power. Using both will double your progress. Uh, there is a backdraw: you need everything. Buying mates, fluids, techniques, armor and weapons form the beginning on will deplete your meseta very quickly. So buy only really necessary things, you will find most items you need during the normal mode. Well, it's not really true if you train to level up all the time. If you do so you will certanly want to use new items earlier and buy them. ________________________________________ ___/ HOW TO CONFIGURE BUTTONS THE RIGHT WAY \_________________________________ \________________________________________/ You may be a bit confused right now: "use techniques to power up", "shoot", "slash", "buzz them", "power down enemies" and "don't forget to heal yourself". If you then look at the right bottom of the screen, you will recognize only six configurable buttons. How to do all this?!!! Ehm, I don't have a real solution either. That's the real drawback of a HUnewearl I suppose ;-) Ok, here are my suggestions: use only one weapon attack button, because your techniques are faster and have a greater reach than weapon specials (so ignore them ;-). Just be sure to have resta (for healing if you have a sec) and a mate (for instant healing if you are surrounded) on the buttons. The rest I configure to fit the needs; especially attack magic combined with fluids. But be sure to experiment often to fit in your situation. Tip: always use the same buttons for attack, healing and so on. Doing so you can press them without hesitating and less "uh oh, wrong one" quotes. To make things worse (yes, it is possible ;-) your MAG will use up three buttons if the PB-meter reaches 100%. Therefor be sure to have all really necessary actions at the first three buttons (attack, healing). If you, as I always highly recommend, use shifta and debend from the technique menu BEFORE you enter a room, you save some button space without losing anything. ____________ ___/ USING MAGS \_____________________________________________________________ \____________/ Well, using MAGs right is very important for HUnewearls. As a matter of the balanced growth of their stats, thay must use MAGs to fit the players needs. If you want to focus on techniques, raise Mind. If you want to use pistols or MPs, you should have a conciderable Dex, but you don't need too much. To do some real damage, the MAG's Power shouldn't be to low. I won't focus too much on Defense (although the characters defence growth is very low) because you can get some much more effective with units. For ATP and MST MAGs are more effective, especially to get the minimum requirements for weapons or techniques. To fully develop your character, I recommend to have different MAGs, each one for a special aspect. At least you should have one for techniques, because you must equip it to learn high-level techniques, then change to your previous MAG. To reach this goal, feed it mostly with Moon Atomizers because you don't need them in offline game and they are relatively cheap. For planing with MAGs and how to obtain the different fury attacks, take a look at noZedive13s superb MAG-FAQ at www.gamefaqs.com. ________________ ___/ BATTLE TACTICS \_________________________________________________________ \________________/ In my opinion there are two types of conventional combat: Close range combat: This has lots of disadvantages. You can get easily sourrounded and thats the most way im Phantasy Star Online to get killed, because you can't reach the savety of a cleared room and may even have no time to attack. This is especially a problem at fast attacking opponents in higher levels. Even worse, you can't attack flying enemies. Ok, there is a plus of cause. Most weapons hit multiple enemies and/or have a remarkable higher ATP bonus than ranged weapons, but this fades if you are at higher levels and/or are using an adequat MAG. I recommend that you perfectionize the three-combo-attack because you attack faster this way. Well, to kit the flaws HUnewearls can throw in their techniques. If you encounter a large group of enemies try to take out or injure some with area-techniques and weaken their attack before you leave the relative savety of a cleared room. If there are flying enemies then thunder-techniques like gizonde should calm them "down". In addition you can try to freeze groups of enemies and then attack but if it's not successful and you are overrun don't blame me ;-) Ranged combat: Ah, well, my favorite (but go on and find your own personal style). This art of war requires some room for manovering, because you should shift to a shoot-and-run tactic or you can't doing ranged combat for long. As a matter of fact most enemies want to engage in melee combat and swarm upon you. So shoot some, circle around the mob and begin this procedure from an other angle. You will realize that it is not necassary to use three-attack-combos because you must be swift as the wind if they are near. In addition you can use the hard-attack instead the normal one, because you have the time to do so. This way to fight seems to be a bit time consuming, but is much more effective and secure (think of your low defense). But keep in mind that you really need room to manovere or it ends up like you enter the room, shoot some times, leave, wait and enter again to shoot. We had no word of tequniques yet. Well, exept the standard use of techniques I described above there is no big need for them. If you are in an tiny-area situation, just use the same tactics I described in "close range". _______________ ___/ ONLINE GAMING \__________________________________________________________ \_______________/ Huh? Strange topic? Is there any big difference to offline mode? Ah yes, there is (beside the obvious one: the telephone bill). Be a team player! Try to get your party around you when you cast resta, shifta and deband. Help out with ryuker, freeze enemies and revive the fallen ones. Don't worry if they call you the "mother chick" of the team; this is a compliment and adds team spirit. On the other hand, in a not-so-nice-party-of-machos, you are the amazon. You can do everything, don't depend on others. Just be sure to have enough scape dolls with you, just for the case... Well, don't forget to hit enemies at least one time (with gizonde for example) to get your share of the experience points. If someone moans, mostly androids with ultrarare game-sharked weapons, tell them you don't get experience points for healing, resurrecting, power up own teammates and power down enemies. It's your style of gameplay and tribute to the team and if they don't want a team, they should play offline! Share special items. Especially if you cannot use them. The others should do so too, no question ;-) Maybe give some items you wouldn't use anymore ("grown out") to lower level characters, you don't really need the few meseta you get selling it, do you? Well, please don't get a shock, but I must tell you that there is a dark side. Yes, very mean and selfish people who enjoy harassing innocent players. This can be player-killing or simply stealing your rare weapons if you get killed. That leads to my next tip: do not use weapons online you cannot spare. There will always be a bad guy, beleave me. And don't give your Guild Card to any stranger, just try to sense their attitude first. It can be very boring to recieve mails all the time with very boring content (at best ;-). And if someone wants to trade with you, change Guild Cards, so you can track him if he runs away with your item. Remember to exchange at an empty location, like the priciple area or a boss stage, to avoid any thieves crossing... ________________________ ___/ WHAT NEXT IN THIS FAQ? \_________________________________________________ \________________________/ Ah, well, this seems to be the end of this FAQ. I will update it as fast as I can, so take a look after some time. If you can find errors, typos or anything else you can contact me via my homepage mentioned above ;-) But don't eMail me additioinal weapon stuff, because I will only present first-handed stats here. But feel free to encourage me to add new and interesting topics (I will need this ;-). ________________ ___/ Yumiko's Heros \________________________________________________ | \________________/ \ | \ | Thanx go to Visarrr, ACE, David, Lady Ayeka/B.KO, and all other! | | | \ | \____________________________________________________________________| _____________________________________________________________________ | \ | All Phantasy Star Online stuff and so on is copyright by SEGA and \ | Sonic Team and I wanna thank them for this gorgerous game and V2.0 | \ in advance, but NOT for an sequel on PS2... | \____________________________________________________________________|