Debuff Items

[Dunbary]

Why do none of the debuff items I use on enemies do anything at all? I havent had one single instance of a debuff aside from defence down actually register. Is it bad luck or am I missing something?

[Null Winter]

It's weighted bad luck and hidden immunities, which is traditional for SMT and its spin-offs. Unless an NPC directly tells you a boss is weak to a specific status effect, then it's safest to assume they're immune to it; for normal enemies, you should usually be trying to take them out in a single turn rather than make it a battle of attrition with status effects. Pretty much the only time you should even be bothering with status effects is if that effect is attached to a skill that is an attack anyways, such as Poison Shot or Skullcracker; even then, it's more of an occasional lucky bonus that you can then capitalize on rather than something you'll be relying on. Elite enemies in some dungeons at certain level tiers are worth using status effects on due to being beefy enough to count as bosses, but lack the boss immunities to things like Forget (complete enemy shutdown, usually) and Instant Death.

STAT effects (attack, defense, and hit/dodge) can't be resisted and are your main way of increasing your damage output, boosting your survivability, and destroying the enemy's ability to meaningfully harm you.

[SundownKid]

I'd like to say you're wrong, but none ever worked for me either.

[Watermill]

Because status ailments are absolutely useless in this game. You cant land them to save your life but the enemies land them on you near effortlessly. "Rules for thee but not for me" sort of thing. Even with 99 luck on Dragoon it doesnt happen. Its why even now you dont see any meta builds involving Dragoon or Assassin/Faker beyond inheriting Fakers Roguery or Vidyarja