Are prosthetic tool just weak?

[meiam]

Just started the game, I'm having a hard time fighting the purple guy in hirata estate, so I figured I'd try fighting differently and try the tool I currently have. The shuriken do literally nothing, the axe deals less damage than a sword hit and setting him on fire takes two shoot of the flame vent but deal barely more damage than two hit of the sword...

I'm guessing at some point I'll find a tool that's broken OP (like let you spam posture damage or something) but for now I'm incredibly underwhelmed, which sets a bad precendent since it seems you can't use another weapon than the sword, so loot is essentially non existent?

[Nibbie]

"The swiftly thrown shuriken damages enemy Vitality and Posture, particularly against those with a tendency to take to the air."
As a not-airborne enemy, the Shinobi Hunter (I think that is the purple guy you are talking about) wouldn't take too much from the shuriken. Outside of aerial enemies, the shuriken (basic especially) is mainly good for activating Chasing Slice, a skill in the prosthetics arts tree.

The axe is mainly for breaking shields, though apparently it is good for interrupting enemy attacks and deals good posture damage.

The flame vent's main job is red-eyes, though there are other enemies that ignite in one burst as well. You can also activate the burn in one burst if you use oil first, which can be quickly and safely applied from range. Burn doesn't do that much damage, but as a DoT it should prevent posture recovery for quite a while, which may be valuable.

Overall though, prosthetic tools are meant to be situational. They are very effective in those situations, but often mediocre outside of them. Your sword is always your main tool in this game. Your prosthetics can also be upgraded for extra effects and options to improve their use.

[LightLance]

Originally posted by meiam:

Just started the game, I'm having a hard time fighting the purple guy in hirata estate, so I figured I'd try fighting differently and try the tool I currently have.

You should learn how to deal with this type of enemy through deflection and mikiri. It's enough. This enemy does not require dodging or prosthetic tool. Later in the game you will meet mini-bosses and one boss of this type with the same triks (or much similar) and fight rythm. These enemies are just checking how you mastered the basic mechanics. And if you did not master it properly, it will be very difficult for you later in the game. You will understand that you have mastered the mechanics to the right extent when you see that to defeat this enemy, the wolf does not need to move much, and movement is only necessary to catch up with the enemy and continue a close battle with the sword.

[Artek [General]]

Prosthetics are tactical advantages, not alternatives to sword-combat.
Each enemy has a unique weakness against unique prosthetics and some prosthetics can actally lead to devastating effects if used in right combinations.

To use prosthetics to their maximum potential you'll have to learn prosthetic-focused techniques such as the follow up strike and - of course- the Living Force.
Follow up strike can be used with shurikens, for example, to close the distance between you and opponent.
Living Force - which you'll be able to purchase at a later game after getting some EXP - allows for some amasing techniques such as covering your sword with flames after flame-barrel blast.

TL:DR
Default, basic-function prosthetics are indeed underwhelming.
They'll get better down the line as you get access to better prosthetics, upgrades for already acquired prosthetics and, of course, special shinobi techniques that allow amasing combos with prosthetics.

[Teddy Roosevelt]

You're probably fighting him a tad too early, he guards a powerful but difficult to use effectively prosthetic tool. I would suggest coming back to him sometime after madame butterly.

Beating him is really memorizing his attack pattern like most bosses and mini bosses. You can mikiri counter his straight leg thrust if you have mikiri counter unlocked. the rest of it is judge dodge and slice. Remember the game is about pressure for 90% of the enemies in the game, bosses included. Just learn his moves, stay right up on his ass, dont give him time to recover.

Again though your probably going at this alittle soon and youd be better off coming back after getting attack and defense boosts.

[Miromett]

tbh prosthetics are kind of weird. They aren't that useful if you're in a stalemate with an enemy unless they've got a weakness to a particular unique ability of the prosthetic. But they can turn around an entire fight if they have that last bit of posture. You combo them with shadow-(fall/rush) on humanoids with posture to interrupt with a stab that can't be parried into a free drop attack with an applicable prosthetic. I mainly see the best results with the spark axe or lazulite axe. Thing's weak to fire / ghosts respectively.

[Xaphnir]

The shuriken can be very useful in certain situations. Weak enemies can be easily dispatched from range with them, and they can be used to interrupt enemy actions from range. There are a few bosses/minibosses where the ability to do the latter part is incredibly valuable.

[Sokurah]

I only used a few frequently. Shuriken interrupt posture regeneration, fan help when you have more then one enemy close ... they are tool used for some tactical reasons.

The main weapon is still your Katana