[KI:U] Claw Builds

Hey all,

After a lot of experimentation and some reading, I feel confident in writing up my first guide for the now month-old Kid Icarus: Uprising. In case you couldn't tell by the title and the above picture, this entry will be about claw weapons. They are the first weapon type I was successfully able to create into decent multiplayer weapons so I have had the most experience with them. My stats in battle tell the tale (most of the time anyway.) Here's some of the basics I have picked up about claws:

• Most claws should be built with melee only. The ranged attack on a lot of the claws is short-ranged with negligible damage, and the extra value from having points in ranged will be more harmful when you die.
• The most popular claws appear to be the Pandora Claws. Their backward dash charged attack is a good follow-up for a melee combo. They do require some investment in ranged attack, so this weapon is one of the exceptions to the previous rule. Wolf Claws, Cancer Claws, and Raptor Claws appear to be common as well.
• Try to get Melee Combo or Melee Dash Attack on your claws. Freezing, while useful in general, is also good for pulling off multiple combos on unwitting enemies. Backward Dash Charge Shot is useful for Pandora Claws.
• Counter is by far the most useful power for claw users in my opinion. It prevents you from getting caught off-guard by other melee attackers or any ranged players dumb enough to engage you in melee combat in an effort to escape.

Listed here are the two claw builds I use in online battle:

Quick Claw

Value: 203 Ranged: 0 Melee: 6 Weakening +4

Meteor Shower Lv 1 Heavenly Light Lv 2 Freeze Attack Lv 3 Bumblebee Lv 1 Counter Lv 1

This first claw build is based on speed. Many claws, like the Raptor Claws, improve your speed regardless of the modifiers. Run circles around your opponent in your approach and hit them hard. You get a lot of bang for your buck when you can get 160 melee dash attack and 198 melee combo damage out of a weapon with only 203 value. With Freezing enabled you are likely to either inflict Weaknening for a one combo kill or Freezing to easily get two. Bumblebee is used as a defensive measure or to confuse your opponent to help get in closer.

Juggernaut

Value: 273 Ranged:2.5 Melee: 6 Melee Combo + 4 Side-dash Ch. Shot + 2 In-peril Autododge +1

Black Hole Lv3 Confuse Attack Lv 3 Super Armor Lv 3 Counter Lv3 Effect Recovery Lv 1 Throwing Boost Lv 1

Bear Claws don't have the speed that other claws do, but they have some of the highest attack power in their class. Six-star melee Bear Claws with Melee Combo +4 does nearly 320 damage in one combo, enough to defeat anyone without decent defense or health modifiers. The side dash attack even does 70-90 damage depending on distance to the target. Since speed is an issue, however, you must use other tactics to approach. Super Armor and Effect Recovery will help prevent you from being knocked back, stopped, or comboed. Black Hole traps enemies until you can get into melee range. Throwing Boost increases the effectiveness of items (but for me it's really there for filler.)

My best games have been with claws, including a 14 kill, 3350 point Free-for-all match with the Bear Claws. Once you can get past the lack of ranged attack ability, claws can be deadly weapons.

Later,
ArgentStew, the Gaming Sage