Complete Guide to Main Characters: Gun
Now, let's start.
Basic stats show that the Main Gun is a close copy of the Gunner mercenary (in her highest levels). Indeed, strength, dexterity and M.def are about the same ; vitality and defense are better for the mercenary, but the Main characters' unique items compensate for that at the highest levels. We only see an intelligence bonus for the Oichi (not greatly useful).
| Character | Str | Int | Dex | Vit | Def | M.Def |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Gun | 210 | 240 | 320 | 230 | 250 | 278 |
| Gunner (level 1) | 150 | 220 | 220 | 170 | 180 | 225 |
| Hero Oichi (level 100) | 192 | 331 | 331 | 288 | 570 | 225 |
It may be more relevant to compare the Main Gun with the two other Long Range characters, [ao:character]Bow[/ao] and [ao:cannon]Cannon[/ao]:
- Guns' basic attack can hit 3 targets (column), cannon 5, and bow 1. But most of the damage for a gun is focused on the first enemy.
- Guns have medium-high Action Power, cannon low, and bow very high.
- Guns' main skill ([ao:skill]Wild Shot[/ao]) has nice damage, cannon and bow both have a very useful skill (respectively Deep Insight and Silence), but neither skill does much damage.
- Bows have extremely low stats, Cannons have higher stats, and Guns are in the middle (except they have the highest dexterity).
That's why one can say that the Gun character is in between the Cannon and Bow, when you don't consider the important skills that separate her from them.
Leveling: Good
Multiple target attackers (gun, axe, cannon, spear) generally progress more quickly than single target ones (bow, sword, staff). Gun users are a little different since the damage is very concentrated on the first target, and very low on the two others.
Thus, it is not rare to shoot a column of dying monsters (life at approximately 5%), and see that they are still upright after having hit them! It is frustrating, and of course slows down the fight. Boosting self Attack Power with a powerful weapon (strongly enchanted) and bonuses in dexterity makes it possible to partly correct this problem, but it will still have to be said that gun weapons are not designed to make triple-kills
by themselves (even if it does occur occasionally, particularly with flying mobs).
For that, one would rather use the Wild Shot skill which does very good damage, and which one will not hesitate to raise to the maximum skill level.
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On the other hand, in team of 3-4 guns (including possibly one cannon), it is a true massacre if a [ao:mercenary]Shaman[/ao] uses [ao:skill]Brutal Will[/ao], and the battles are a lot shorter. This strategy proves very effective until levels 80-90, where the monsters change caliber and the defects of Guns become awkward
Indeed, the Main gun is rather fragile, especially against physical damage. However, she dodges well, owing to a good evasion. Up to a certain level, it is thus possible to place her near the front (even on the frontline!), with a [ao:mercenary]monk[/ao] skilled with [ao:skill]Shield of Protection[/ao] allowing to her to handle the damage. However, if the [ac]AI[/ac] concentrates its attacks on her, or profits from chance, she will fall quickly.
At high levels, with quality gear and unique items (in particular mounts for defense), resistance increases a lot (like all the mains). But it remains insufficient to take violent assaults from level 100+ mobs, especially as the main gun's attack starts to do less damage to the mobs due to their higher defense and the mobs die more slowly.
One will therefore need to count on the whole formation for damaging the monsters well, and on a good line of defense to protect it. It is undoubtedly one of the reasons for which we see so few top-level Main Guns on the Atlatinca's servers, and that the mercenary gunners themselves are often replaced.
PvE: Good in solo, Very good in party
Though the triple-attack of the gun does unbalanced damage, it is on the other hand very effective to stun its opponents. Of course, the gun hits fewer mobs than the cannon and its five targets, but the Gun character has a higher dexterity and more action power. Its shots are thus more precise and more frequent.
In addition, she is the only character capable making multi-hits on flying mobs (at least the only one with a basic attack). Since those have a weak defense, the weak damage matters less. That probably makes her the most effective - and most amusing - to kill this category of monster. We will also appreciate that her attacks are at the same time pleasant to look at (on the condition that you like firearms, but if one chooses Gun it is not by chance!) and quick to be executed.
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Finally, her Wild Shot remains usable at any level in [ac]PvE[/ac], but its usefulness is more debatable. It appears to be more strategic to use the basic attack for the stun at the beginning of battles, while using the skill at the end of the fight, to kill the last monsters (especially if they gather in column!).
It is also a solid asset against the monsters with very high defense and weak [ac] M.def [/ac].
If it were not weaker in the last levels (cf previous paragraph), the Gun character would be excellent in [ac]PvE[/ac] solo, but in party it deserves an additional mention. Indeed, strategy based on a group of Gunners under Brutal Will, or, better, under the effect of [ao:skill]Seth's will[/ao] from an [ao:mercenary]Oracle[/ao], is amazing in a group. The damage of the monsters is distributed more between the teams, and 3-4 guns allow the gunner team to volley enemies effectively.
Moreover, the [ao:skill]Princess' Order[/ao] skill from [ao:mercenary]Princess[/ao] mercenary makes it possible to survive bad surprises.
It should be mentioned that the [ao:skill]Chaos Wind[/ao] ability specific to the Long Range job Mains allows a very nice combo if his/her partner is a melee main skilled with [ao:skill]Break Down[/ao].
For a player who belongs to an active guild, or has a large friend-list, a group of gunners specialized in [ac]PvE[/ac] makes it possible to easily explore the world of Atlantica and even to farm quite effectively.
PvP: Bad-average
Unfortunately, this ability to stun is the only real asset of the Main Gun in [ac]PvP[/ac]. It will also be essential to use other mercenaries that are ranged and attack multiple targets ([ao:mercenary]Cannoneer[/ao], [ao:mercenary]Artillery[/ao], [ao:mercenary]Gunner[/ao], etc.) to obtain decent results. The Princess, interesting in theory, don't bring enough high bonuses to make a difference in PVP.
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If not for her very high dexterity, the Gun character can be summarized as the lower alternative of the Main Cannon, and it will be necessary to have a very good equipment to correct her weaknesses in Free League.
Conclusion
The Main Gun is the type of hybrid character who one loves more for her style (look at the screenshot below!) than her abilities.
Because, let us say it frankly, this character really does not manage to find her place between a Cannon who is much more balanced and effective in a stun formation and a Bow who is very fragile but skilled with the excellent [ao:skill]Silence[/ao].
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Pros
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Cons
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