Isn't Isonade technically the best starting spirit?

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Emphasis on starting. I thought it was kind of garbage at first, but when I respec'd I changed my mind. Since you get the other 2 later any way, it doesn't matter too much, but the +1 spirit is going to be useful no matter what build you run, whereas skill/strength can end up a waste if you respec into a build using the other. I know it's only 1 insignificant point, but if you really want to min-max and be flexible, shark-senpai would be the best choice, no?

On another note, picking Spear/Sword would probably be best as starting weapons given that their stats are universally useful, as well.

[☺]

In my opinion it's Kato as the first and actually best spirit in the game. I finished WotN and I'm still using that thing, it gives you, Ki, Ki regen, Attack damage and skill damage increase and with a strong living weapon it's basicly my go-to for nearly every build I use that involves close combat, which is 80% of the times.

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Originally posted by Eve:

In my opinion it's Kato as the first and actually best spirit in the game. I finished WotN and I'm still using that thing, it gives you, Ki, Ki regen, Attack damage and skill damage increase and with a strong living weapon it's basicly my go-to for nearly every build I use that involves close combat, which is 80% of the times basicly.

Yeah I know Kato's OP, but I meant as a starting spirit. You get Kato later any way, and Isonade's spirit +1 is useful no matter what build you run, meaning that it's more flexible than Kato's strength +1.

[☺]

Oh yes, with that you are correkt. having that extra point in spirit is great. Not that I picked it anyway tho since I usually play with strengt involved in my builds, but yes, you get alot more utility from that without having to deal with that one wastet point that smiles at you when you respec your attributes.

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Originally posted by Eve:

Oh yes, with that you are correkt. having that extra point in spirit is great. Not that I picked it anyway tho since I usually play with strengt involved in my builds, but yes, you get alot more utility from that without having to deal with that one wastet point that smiles at you when you respec your attributes.

Yeah, I kind of wish we could just pick weapons with +spirit, too, so your bonus points never go to waste. xd

[☺]

yeah or at least magic or ninjustu since at some point you'll have spend points in that anyway to grab one or two usefill skills.

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Originally posted by Eve:

yeah or at least magic or ninjustu since at some point you'll have spend points in that anyway to grab one or two usefill skills.

Indeed. 1 weapon scaling with magic would make sense either way, and that way you could pick that and Kusarigama w/ Isonade as your starting kit to make sure you can optimize all builds on 1 character.

What should I go with to optimize a new character in this way, in your opinion? I was thinking Isonade + Kusarigama + something. I actually hate the Kusarigama move set, but I'd take it just for the Dexterity, which would be useful for any build. For the second weapon, maybe sword? Spear is alright, too, but if I want to do a heavy Stamina axe build it feels like it would be a waste, at least before really high levels. The +Heart from Sword could be useful, but I'm not sure if it's the best pick.

Edit: Actually, nvm, +Body could be universally useful as well. Spear or Sword for second pick, then, hmm.

[Royta15]

As a starting spirit it is very nice, mostly due to Enemy Sense which can be pretty rare at the start.

[tommes_JBL]

Super game tolle Handlung klasse Grafig!

[Talon Rose]

Kato is *immensely* powerful.
Just the huge Ki regen boost will help you dodge more, hit more, etc.
It is invaluable to have that tiny bit of uptime.
Also, if you launch Kato in critical (low) health, the attack boost is massive.

Isonade by comparison is just adorable.
Even the wind one (Daiba-Washi IIRC) is more useful in so much as the Guardian Talisman (Onmyou or non) knocks humanoids down for a free Final Blow aka coup the grace strike of high damage.

[lmaogg]

I basically chose isonade as my starting spirit to get the free +1 spirit. I know it's not much but at least I can get rid of the spirit requirements early and get the bonuses which are pretty good early game. Then focus on other stats.

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Originally posted by Chillnaga:

Kato is *immensely* powerful.
Just the huge Ki regen boost will help you dodge more, hit more, etc.
It is invaluable to have that tiny bit of uptime.
Also, if you launch Kato in critical (low) health, the attack boost is massive.

Isonade by comparison is just adorable.
Even the wind one (Daiba-Washi IIRC) is more useful in so much as the Guardian Talisman (Onmyou or non) knocks humanoids down for a free Final Blow aka coup the grace strike of high damage.

Yeah we know, but this isn't about the quality as a spirit but as a starting spirit. Taking Isonade for the +1 Spirit then using Kato starting region 2 is better than picking Kato and being stuck with the +1 Strength in case you want to respec for Kusarigama, Dual Swords, Tonfa et.c.

[Aven]

I agree with you on this.
Starting with Isonade guarantees that no stat points goes to waste, no matter what build you end up with.

It's arguably the best spirit to start with early anyway (for a new player at least), beacuse of the health on kill and sense enemies

[Zamus]

+1 Stat is meaningless even in the start, Having one stat less is a loss of about 2 to 5 damage on weapons that will reach 5K eventually.

The damage of Kato and especially his Im about to die emergency LW far make up for it.

[Aven]

Originally posted by Zamus:

+1 Stat is meaningless even in the start, Having one stat less is a loss of about 2 to 5 damage on weapons that will reach 5K eventually.

The damage of Kato and especially his Im about to die emergency LW far make up for it.

You get Kato anyway after a few missions. The stats are permanent.

Sure, they are minor. Really minor, but a wasted stat is a wasted stat.

to op: Agree on the +1 body (every 5 body gives +1 resist poison/paralyze, starting at 6, so that one point is great!)
and +1 heart is 2ki, almost always worth the stat point as well

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Originally posted by Aven:

to op: Agree on the +1 body (every 5 body gives +1 resist poison/paralyze, starting at 6, so that one point is great!)
and +1 heart is 2ki, almost always worth the stat point as well

Yeah, Body is actually a great pick for a permanent +1. The reason I was unsure was that I thought it would be a waste if you were to respec for a heavy armour axe build, in which case you'd have loads of Stamina either way. However, I then realised that the axe benefits slightly, damage wise, from Body on top of the extra health/resistances.

So I feel like Body/Dex/Spirit is the best 3 for permanent +1s, unless you absolutely want nothing to do with ninjutsu, in which case you could replace Dex with Heart, although seeing as there are some great passives in that tree, I don't think any build would ever ignore it entirely.