Latent breaking involves doing skillchain after skillchain after skillchain, until a latent is broken. When that happens, it will make the weapon more powerful or unlock powerful new weaponskills. Usually, to unlock a latent in a timely involves getting a "skill up" party. Usually, 2 people are needed to form a skillchain, and go from there. However, there are a few jobs that can do skillchains solo, and Summoner is one of those jobs because a Summoner can have their avatars do a Rage Bloodpact followed by a weaponskill to form a skillchains (Puppetmasters can do this too, and perhaps Dragoon and Samurai, although not quite as efficiently). This little post is a guide on how to unlock a latent weapon as a Summoner.
Gear
To start off with, good melee gear is a must. Since most summoners who were only Summoners to begin with, most summoners don't have good melee gear that they can wear (it's not like there's a huge selection to begin with...).
I recommend getting the following before beginning:
- Wahalara Turban - This turban is a really popular piece of equipment that can be bought for about 1000 bronze coins (10 gold coins) in Aht Urghan. The good thing here is that all jobs can equip it, and it has a +5% haste to it, something that's rare for Summoner.
- Battle Gloves - Battle gloves is a low level piece of equipment that has a good accuracy boost. Since Summoners don't have much in way of accuracy equipment, we need as much accuracy as we can get. These can be replaced, however, with Goliard cuffs if accuracy is okay for more haste.
- Yingyang robe - Failing that, Summoner's Doublet also works, as well as Austere/Penance robe. This is one of the few slots that I dedicated to avatar perpetuation, which is strongly recommended for efficient latent breaking.
- Volunteer's Brais - This legs equipment is rather ugly, I know, but it has a sizable accuracy boost that isn't found elsewhere that Summoners can equip. This piece of equipment can be bought with IS, but the proper rank is required.
- Evoker's Pigaches +1 - There aren't many choices for meleeing in the feet slot, so I dedicated this slot for avatar perpetuation. Again, the less perpetuation, the less resting is needed, and the more time can be focused on breaking latent.
- Brutal Earring - Double Attack is good here, and it will help in TP gain. The other earring can be used for standard Summoner equipment.
- Rajas/Ulthalam's Ring - Obviously, these are the end of storyline rings, and if they're available use them. If not, just use standard summoning equipment.
- Evoker's Ring - Yeah, every Summoner should have this. Anyway, use this as a means to boost summoning skill and the -2 avatar perpetuation.
- Life belt - +10 Accuracy. 'nough said.
- Chivalrous Chain - This piece of equipment adds in both accuracy and Store TP, both which help TP gain. It can be bought for 8,000 Lebros points in assault. It's a good piece to have for all melee jobs.
In short, melee gear should focus on getting accuracy, haste, and Store TP. The purpose of the melee gear isn't to kill the target quickly, but to build TP in the most efficient manner possible. I also recommend getting Summoning Magic skill for extra accuracy for bloodpacts and extra time for wards and extra MP from Elemental Siphon. Make two macros so that the two can be switched easily, one for summoning magic, and the other for TP.
Subjob
Needless to say, Samurai is the best subjob for this. Not only can Samurai can pull out TP out of thin air, but it has the Store TP trait, and Hasso, which adds in extra accuracy and speed for even more TP. It even has Zanshin so that each hit will pull in TP more often than not. I recommend to have Samurai to at least 30, if not 35, before trying this. Failing this, Dragoon is a good replacement, especially if one has the Wyvern Earring, as well as Ranger or even Dancer. Suffice it to say that a melee subjob is strongly recommended over a mage subjob.
Location
In order for the weaponskill to count for unlocking, it must be done on an enemy that checks as "Easy Prey" or above. My best recommendation are the Goobues outside in Rolanberry Fields[S]. They fall pretty quick (but not too quick), don't have too many threatening moves, and fairly close to Jeuno, so it's not a long walk at all. Add to the fact that no one ever farms these things, so targets are rather plentiful. Do keep in mind that there are things that are aggressive to level 75 characters, so tread carefully. A good alternate spot would be in Wajaoum Woodlands right outside of Al Zhabi, but the birds are a bit tougher than the Goobue, and they're also hunted more frequently, and they have very annoying Feather tickle, which erases TP. Failing that, crabs in Boyhada Tree is also a good spot.
Tactics
When reaching the area, first equip the melee gear, including the weapon, and then summon Garuda. Why Garuda? Because a level 2 skillchain can be formed with Garuda (I'll explain later), as well as Garuda has Hastega (something VERY helpful for TP gain) and Whispering Wind (healing move for if things go wrong). Use Meditate and Hasso AFTER summoning (especially Hasso. Having Hasso adds in the time it takes to summon by 2 seconds!), and then send in Garuda first and then attack. Use Hastega if it hasn't been used before, and then wait for 100% TP. At 100% TP, use the Claw Bloodpact. When Garuda uses Claw, count to three and use Starburst. This will create a Gravitation skillchain and add in 3 weaponskill points. Done right, and it's possible to do two skillchains per enemy, by doing a skillchain near the start, and then do a second near the end. Just make sure that the enemy has enough life to not get killed. If this is the case, retreat the avatar, and wait for either the bloodpact timer or the TP to reach 100% to get the skillchain. Then use the bloodpact and weapon skill to create the second skillchain.
In between fights, feel free to use elemental siphon, or rest between fights. Note that changing weapons will reset TP to 0%, and thus, make sure to change back to the weapon in question before going to fight or using Meditate.
Done right, a latent in a few hours with Summoner. It's really all about efficiency.
Summoner as a subjob
As I write this post, I find myself asking if Summoner as a subjob could work for any job. The advantages is that there is a ready made skillchain partner that can go at almost any time (assuming the bloodpact rage timer is ready). Add to the fact that pretty much, a level 2 skillchain can be made anywhere with the right avatar, it would make Summoner the ideal subjob for unlocking a latent.
The real question is that if the avatar is level 37, will the accuracy of the avatar be an issue? If the bloodpacts are constantly missing, then the advantages would effectively be nullified.
I will be happy to take any questions from the peanut gallery, and everybody else. ;)
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