The elusive Gray Pearl....

[Personacyde]

I don't mean difficult to find...

I am a player who enjoys using the items in a way that makes sense to me, gimmicky or theme based is what I mean.

Examples that come to mind

Orb = makes sense on mad eye cause he is the orb or Vertragg, because he uses orbs.

Trident = Vodinoy (Vodinoy is the best if you didn't know by the way!)

Dumbell = Brutus or Mad Lord....cause they swoll obviously

What the heck do you use the gray pearl on? From not only a gimmick/theme way, but have you found a mon that you think this item belongs on? Who do you prefer to not have shifted?

Only idea I've got is Spinner.

Here's why: while trying to build a very unsuccessful blind/tether comp to beat Aazerach, I used the pirates hook on Spinner, thus my mind made the connection that he kind of resembles a pirate. This connection still makes sense to me, and I could unshift him from the bleed machine he is to justify the item....

Do you have opinions on the gray pearl?

Is there anyone out there that looks at the gray pearl as, "this is the item that belongs on ____"?

[Conan The Librarian]

Personacyde-

Obviously things are all pertaining to "people come up with new strategies all the time", but, examples I've heard:

Spinner (focus on more direct damage instead of [Bleed Out] which can be used by a support instead / instead of extra charge stacks for your allies)

Troll (Focus on direct damage instead of debuff-spreading on Dark shift -- have allies focus on enabling the debuffs / instead of the DR granted from light shift)

Silvaero (Focus on direct damage instead of the buff bonus from light shift / instead of "just crit" bonuses from Dark -- gain more "offensive stats" such as attack / magic / crit alongside all the other stuff)

Manticorb (similar story to Silvaero, though, the circumstances on why you might want the Pearl here can vary -- such as Single Target focused for Grey Pearl / Dark Shift for AoE due to more hit count on the AoE abilities)

Mad Lord (Similar to troll, focusing on direct damage instead of debuff application, or, if not utilizing charge-based strategies, then [Supremacy] might not be as valuable)

Elderjel (Similar, focusing on damage and bulk compared to some extra charge stacks from [Mana Conflux])

So, I hope some of this helps inspire your thoughts for further testing.

[Personacyde]

Great substance in that post. Have to admit, I've never looked twice at Silvaero, similarly only looked a few times at Manticorb (who it seems I've slept on a bit!)

Some of those indeed gave me ideas to rattle around.....Eldergel has been on the burner in my mind for a few now.

You rock, and are appreciated my friend!

Thanks!

[Conan The Librarian]

Originally posted by Personacyde:

Great substance in that post. Have to admit, I've never looked twice at Silvaero, similarly only looked a few times at Manticorb (who it seems I've slept on a bit!)

Some of those indeed gave me ideas to rattle around.....Eldergel has been on the burner in my mind for a few now.

You rock, and are appreciated my friend!

Thanks!

And for some further considerations, note this:

Since the [Grey Pearl] take an equipment slot, you're not JUST comparing it to the shift stats and shift passive, but the fact that you're using an equipment slot as well.

What does this mean, practically-speaking? I would generally advise against using the [Grey Pearl] on ANY MONSTER which has either: [Equipment Mastery] or [Dual Wield], because you're competing against essentially TWO equipment slots, which...is not the best numbers if ya know what I mean.

Also see this quote from the head designer:

Sersch 06/05/2020
If you compare Gray Pearl to shifts which just offer pure stats (like equipment mastery or dual wield) the stats gained from Gray Pearl are on similar level for most monsters
Because some people wanted to have the option to unshift their monsters
Its fine for most people to never use it

Basically, the Pearl is a good tool, but is indeed intended to be niche. All the same, people have (and will) come up with creative uses for it

[Frosty the Pyro]

Originally posted by Personacyde:

Great substance in that post. Have to admit, I've never looked twice at Silvaero, similarly only looked a few times at Manticorb (who it seems I've slept on a bit!)

Some of those indeed gave me ideas to rattle around.....Eldergel has been on the burner in my mind for a few now.

You rock, and are appreciated my friend!

Thanks!

Manticorb is, I think, the only dude with two copies of cascade. This gives him the arcane bolt of the GODS. I was devistated when I learned he didnt get Arcane barage as an ultimate.

[Personacyde]

Hadn't really thought of the pearl that way, meaning comparable to those skills for those who just don't want to shift...assuming aesthetics, since the stat boosts alone are a no brainer typically...hence the pearl...go figure.

Dude, the way you describe manticorb with the arcane bolt was great, that alone makes me wanna try him out. Dual cascade....nice.

Thanks guys!

[strata_ranger]

In my playthrough, I've been partly equipping Monsters based on the aesthetics of the item, like equipping Spectral Eagle with a Feather (because freakin' why not, plus, a Precision First Impact Explosion is nothing to scoff at), or Imori with a Poisoned Dart (because the potential to inflict Chill, Burn, Poison, AND Weakness all in one attack is hilarious).