Is raw the way for IG or should I be farming IGs for all elements? Currently at Post-Velk and Pre-R. Brachy

[A]

I think someone mentioned that IG is a raw weapon like how SnS is. I may be confusing stuff since I'm playing both SnS and IG on my current save. Anyways, I'm wondering if it's not worth exploring the IG elementals and that I should just go for a raw or blast--whatever IG that is in my current MR (regular brachy?).

I did make a velk IG and a azure rat ig, but im lacking the other elements. At the very least, the velk IG secures my weapon for R. brachy and shara. However, i'm debating what to do for the rest of the hunts.

[Lin]

For general purposes, the raw is most important on the IG, followed by the kinsect bonus. Element on the IG itself will help, but less than raw or even the kinsect bonus arguably.

Frostfang barioth's IG is enough for all of the content after the main story, and you can farm this immediately after the main story concludes. The next strongest craftable ones are Raging Brachydios' and then Fatalis' IG.

If you really need element damage, that's what your bug is for. Make 5 copies of any single bug with different elements for each one, and swap between them per target.

You want the Spirit & Strength kinsect bonus so that all ammo can power up your kinsect's damage. Pretty sure it makes your triple up last longer too, provided your kinsect is buffed before obtaining all 3 extracts.

There are situational uses for the IGs with element boost though, as it makes the kinsect do even more element damage per hit when you buff it with damage boosting slinger ammo.

The other kinsect bonuses are less notable in general. Speed is convenient, but it makes your bug get less hits in on dives.

[robruckus65]

Raw is best for glaive. A good progression is diving destroyer 2 -> royal march banner-> lightbreak press-> fatalis glaive.

[Agoraphobic Meep]

Raw for the glaive, elemental for the kinsect. Raw is fine for the bug for general use but if you want to be an omeganerd like me and lin, make a bunch of elemental verzistags for any given monster. A fed kinsect with the proper elemental advantage will absolutely ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ shred monsters if you use dive properly.

[Mei]

How much a kinsects damage is actually changed to the element you put on it?

[overmage]

raw for the glaive because the kinsect does insane elemental damage (IG is probably the only one you can bring fatty weapons to ala and cart 0 times because kinsect alone will pass the check)

[A]

Originally posted by Lin:

For general purposes, the raw is most important on the IG, followed by the kinsect bonus. Element on the IG itself will help, but less than raw or even the kinsect bonus arguably.

Frostfang barioth's IG is enough for all of the content after the main story, and you can farm this immediately after the main story concludes. The next strongest craftable ones are Raging Brachydios' and then Fatalis' IG.

If you really need element damage, that's what your bug is for. Make 5 copies of any single bug with different elements for each one, and swap between them per target.

You want the Spirit & Strength kinsect bonus so that all ammo can power up your kinsect's damage. Pretty sure it makes your triple up last longer too, provided your kinsect is buffed before obtaining all 3 extracts.

There are situational uses for the IGs with element boost though, as it makes the kinsect do even more element damage per hit when you buff it with damage boosting slinger ammo.

The other kinsect bonuses are less notable in general. Speed is convenient, but it makes your bug get less hits in on dives.

Hi, just a few questions. Why frostfang barioth? I'm looking at it online and the element isn't hidden, is the sharpness, raw, and kinsect bonus THAT good to justify using ice on most if not all hunts? Or is it because ice is a convenient weapon right before r. brachy?

Also, kinsect bonus like the one for LT + Y+B? I was reading a post about it somewhere last night and they said that the spirit and strength buff is a QOL not a damage increase, whatever that means.

[Veritas]

raw for insect glaive, element for its kinsect. very annoying but that's just how it is, capcom gave insect glaive moves very poor elemental damage modifers and your stronger moves (tornado slash, descending thrust) have high enough motion value to want raw

as for the kinsect itself being elemental, even if the hitzone is only 5 element (lowest possible other than 0) it will always be more damage

[A]

Originally posted by Snazzy Dragon:

raw for insect glaive, element for its kinsect. very annoying but that's just how it is, capcom gave insect glaive moves very poor elemental damage modifers and your stronger moves (tornado slash, descending thrust) have high enough motion value to want raw

as for the kinsect itself being elemental, even if the hitzone is only 5 element (lowest possible other than 0) it will always be more damage

So it's really important to match up the kinsect's element vs the monster? Does this also mean I should switch my kinsect the slowest but stronger one? (Vezirstag III Forz)

What moves do we expect the kinsect to do? The diving thrust follow up or the kinsect simply flying around the monster after getting tagged?

I used to use the Vezirstag III Forz but then decided to switch to a speedier kinsect.

[Lin]

Originally posted by A:

Hi, just a few questions. Why frostfang barioth? I'm looking at it online and the element isn't hidden, is the sharpness, raw, and kinsect bonus THAT good to justify using ice on most if not all hunts? Or is it because ice is a convenient weapon right before r. brachy?

Also, kinsect bonus like the one for LT + Y+B? I was reading a post about it somewhere last night and they said that the spirit and strength buff is a QOL not a damage increase, whatever that means.

Frostfang's IG because it is the strongest you can get with "spirit & strength" kinsect bonus. And because of its natural purple sharpness and large white sharpness, it is arguably going to out-damage most other options throughout a hunt. Especially compared to what is available to you at that point.

The ice element damage on the IG is just a bonus; element damage will never make you do "less" damage, only more. And a good portion of the post-story fights have a solid ice weakness.

The last reason for that IG is that the armor has a useful piece or 2. And well, might be a solid SnS too.

Also, if you want an option to health augment earlier, frostfang's is available from MR 70 on, where all other options are MR 100 on.

The kinsect bonus is "always active". Lt + y + b is what you use to buff your kinsect with slinger ammo. "QoL" = "Quality of Life". While its true it doesnt get you any higher numbers, you do spend less time gathering extracts again, your kinsect stays out longer, and your kinsect recharges its bar faster + has more total energy to deplete.

Thus, you can focus on fighting well for longer. And that will allow you to do more damage overall than a strict kinsect damage bonus. And if not more damage, about equal but with less management.

If you are already completely amazing at IG + a specific fight, the spirit & strength kinsect bonus may not be that helpful (ignoring that the best IG has it too). But for cases where you aren't basically speedrunning, or specifically doing kinsect only runs, its bonus is going to help you a lot more overall compared to any other bonus.

[Veritas]

Originally posted by A:

Originally posted by Snazzy Dragon:

raw for insect glaive, element for its kinsect. very annoying but that's just how it is, capcom gave insect glaive moves very poor elemental damage modifers and your stronger moves (tornado slash, descending thrust) have high enough motion value to want raw

as for the kinsect itself being elemental, even if the hitzone is only 5 element (lowest possible other than 0) it will always be more damage

So it's really important to match up the kinsect's element vs the monster? Does this also mean I should switch my kinsect the slowest but stronger one? (Vezirstag III Forz)

What moves do we expect the kinsect to do? The diving thrust follow up or the kinsect simply flying around the monster after getting tagged?

I used to use the Vezirstag III Forz but then decided to switch to a speedier kinsect.

Powerful and slow kinsects are preferred because they are better for descending thrust, so it's Vezirstag III Forz yeah. otherwise use Foliacath III Forz for speed

The kinsect should mostly be recalled so that you can get its descending thrust damage, but if you're using a speed kinsect just keep it out auto attacking tbh.

[Pride Lizard Pride Lizard]

From my experience, Raw generally gives you more damage than element - element is nice on the side if it comes with good Raw. That being said... end game, Kulve Taroth Kjarr weapons are ♥♥♥♥♥♥' mental.

[lailaamell]

Raw is over all better