Edit incoming for deeper explanation on my reasoning…
So I recommended crunching the math on the constellation, but I didn’t just mean to sum up what it gives you in a vacuum like this:
Kraken is OK on a very select few builds, particularly those involving Savagery (Shaman) and lacking many sources of MS. This is because Kraken actually offers no defensive stats (which Shaman offers), no Offensive Ability to synergize with its Crit Damage (which Savagery’s modifier offers), and at best very limited offensive potential for 2H users (which should already have boatloads of % Damage, seeing as how every 2H item/affix/augment/etc. gives vastly more % Damage than anything else (something-something diminishing returns of % damage, which already happens for 1H builds)).
So all in all you get 120%-200% Damage (depending on whether you’re Physical or ANYTHING ELSE), some crit damage but no better means of using it, roughly 15% attack speed (after the harsh multiplicative base speed penalties of 2H weapons), and 5% movespeed (which is irrelevant for anything using Demolitionist or Soldier or Nightblade).
TooLong;Didn’tRead - Kraken gives you very little despite being a 5/5 affinity constellation for two affinities that are rarely associated with each other (basically only Widow and Amatok, neither of which are Physical based).
70% Pierce Damage (relative to the 120% you’d get from Kraken), 22 DA, 18 OA, 16% resists, 6 flat Piercing Damage, 15 + 5% Cunning, 15% Racial Damage to Humans, and a very solid proc.
Or…marginally more speed and barely any more damage (likely a loss of damage vs humans)?
There’s no error, but again, you’re looking at things in a vacuum.
Ulzuin’s Torch is stronger for a crit route because it gives you tons of OA as well as the Crit Damage (as well as more % damage for a Fire build, but largely irrelevant). Same with SotH.
Blades of Nadaan is stronger because it doubles your piercing conversion, which is usually around a 30-50% boost to your base damage output.
Oklaine’s gives fantastic generalized stats to shore up the weaknesses of all kinds of builds (OA, speed, energy regen, crit damage).
Oleron’s is stronger because it gives you tons of health and resists on top of its damage.
Sailor’s Guide is vastly superior due not only to having more movespeed but also to its multitude of resists.
So yes, Kraken has higher numbers than other constellations. Yippee. It still utterly blows in the grand scheme of things.
In the grand scheme of thing, EVERY other constellation you mentioned “blows”.
Torch? Great for fire…But you CAN use that AND Kraken, yes?
SOTH is for Aether/Lightning…name how many builds THAT makes up an integral part of. I can’t think of all that many, compared to all that exist.
Blades? Good in pierce builds…And that’s it. Nice, so handy for ALL the other damage types that Kraken supports.
Oklaine’s is indeed another handy generic, but it’s for a different type of build than Kraken. Oklaine’s being good doesn’t make Kraken worse, they’re for different things.
Oleron’s is nice, and has a skill…But it’s also way in the other direction, so unless you want other things that have that affinity, it’s not really competing with Kraken.
Guide? Really? I’ll take Eel or Lizard over Guide any day. The two important things from Guide are the freeze duration and the physical resistance. After that, it’s physique, which is available in many places…Movement speed, which is not at all helpful in combat…And some resistances, that you can get elsewhere. Oh right, and slow resistance…Big woop.
Kraken has the advantage of good numbers and useful devotions on the way to it, as well as being fairly cheap on affinity.
Oh BTW…It’s a T2 constellation. So it being “worse than Oleron”…Duh. Oleron is T3, and takes a lot more to get. Lantern? Oh, takes 10 Green…More investment than just 5 Green 5 Blue, yes? Blades requires a sword, and is only good for Pierce, really…Not very comparable, and in an entirely different affinity direction.
No need to hate Kraken just because other, unrelated things are ALSO good. But it’d be foolish to deny that Kraken IS good, for many builds that the other constellations you mentioned aren’t.
This is when I stopped taking your counterargument seriously. Also, you realize I mentioned the constellations I mentioned because JoV mentioned them? I didn’t pick them, he could have picked anything, and it would have been better than Kraken…other than Hammer, I guess. Hammer’s pretty bad.
Well as a newer player (relative to you guys) Kraken is pretty damn easy to get early in the game. I am still using it on my Warder along with several of the others mentioned in this thread…am I missing something by doing that? As in can’t I take Kraken and Assassin’s Blade for example? They are both currently in my setup…
As long as you are using a 2H you can use Kraken. As long as you are using a Sword, you can use Blades of Nadaan.
We weren’t discussing Assassin’s Blade, however.
Also, ignore our quibbling if you’re new. There are a few constellations that some people love and some people hate. Kraken, Turtle, Sailor’s Guide, Behemoth…We argue over them all the time, and there’s never really been a winner. Once you’ve spent more time in the game and formed your own opinion, you can join us, and argue over digital choices that aren’t really better or worse than their other alternatives!
Yes, that last sentence WAS meant to sound like that.
I just threw Assassin’s Blade in there because Ceno mentioned it. Anyways just had a look at Sailor’s Guide another that he mentioned and I’m sorry I’m having a hard time choosing that over Kraken.
Edit: Please excuse me. Ceno mentioned Assassin not Assassin’s Blade so I was in error there. Apologies
Some people are addicted to movement speed. The idea of going around with 0% increased movement speed instantly kills their desire to make the build. Personally, I’m not clear why ANY ARPG ever added the stat…Just make everyone move the same speed, and then nobody will have a difference to compare it to. If the movement speed stat was never added, this would never be an issue…And the stat doesn’t actually add value to gameplay in any way shape or form, it’s just an extra affix/RNG gear roll.
So Guide gets overvalued for being an all right constellation…And having movement speed. It’s a consistent issue, movement speed distorts evaluation in every ARPG that offers the stat.
“Some people are addicted to movement speed. The idea of going around with 0% increased movement speed instantly kills their desire to make the build.”
Well personally I do find the base speed very slow. I’m not gonna sweat the 3% diff from Kraken to Sailor but if you’ve played any of the other ARPGs it really does seem take a while to get from place to place in this game
I feel like the OP hasn’t really played all that much. One play through means you beat normal and maybe hit level 49-50? It’s clear by the 2nd and 3rd bullet points that OP lacks experience/knowledge within the game. I guess point 1 is kind of true, but there are so many ways to build that you don’t necessarily need the best items.
Crafting allows any of your characters to craft that item AND there is also an element of RNG to the final stats.
2H and sword/board have plenty of strong builds, duel wield is not necessary to be a strong melee character. It’s a matter of understanding HOW to build them, including proper use of constellations.
