[Triumph]

The widely accepted build for archers is 25spr, the rest str... but i've been wondering, why not reverse that? or maybe even go pure spirit with str equips? here's my theory:

if you have a high crit rate, with a bit of str backing you up, isn't it better than a low crit rate with a bit more damage per shot? i mean, if you get crits say... every 2 hits, for 400 damage, isn't it better than a crit every 4-5 hits for 800 damage? plus, you could factor in the extra magic defense and mp you'd get from spirit, plus the fact that you can just get str from equips while spr from equips doesnt add crit... spirit starts looking a bit more prosperous. to me, at least. =/

I seek to challenge that statement, actually.

Numerous tests have indicated that in most circumstances, a pure build will defeat a hybrid build. It seems to be that KFiesta/JPFiesta both prefer pure STR and INT builds. This argument I won't touch on; it has been argued extensively, and it is your choice exclusively. I know for a fact CB testers preferred a pure build; all the Legends of Isya were pure builds as well. I'm sure that things have changed in the past year since my departure.

As you may know, the critical rate is a statistic added onto each shot, meaning that if you have a 25% critical rate, it is a 25% chance of landing a critical. This does not mean that you will get a critical hit once every four hits; this just means that a probability of 0.25 exists of hitting a critical hit.

Whereas the damage output does not deviate much, you will notice a damage over time difference. However, it is really insignificant, as one extra shot from the hybrid build will equal the pure build in terms of damage.

Secondly, as Hessah has stated, the critical bonus levels off. It reduces to 0.1% after 25, and after 62, I believe it levels off to 0.05%.

Thirdly, freestat points are points added onto your damage output. For example, assume your damage output is X, calculated by your weapon, enhancement, armor attributes, etc. You then add Y, which is your freestat points in terms of damage. 25 damage may not seem like very much, and it may seem contradictory to common sense, but it does more damage.

Thus, as follows:

Pure build: X+Y = damage
Hybrid build: X+(Y-25) = damage