View source for Talisman Soul Ascetic Luxury Sub-Guide by Sophie/Joan

[[Category:Soul Ascetic]]

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-right:0;border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; border-color:#ffffff00; float:right;"
! colspan="6" style="background-color:#FF8512; " | '''R.ClickToRename254519'''
|-
| colspan="6" |[[File:monkigirl.jpg|250px]] <div style="text-align: center;">
|-
| colspan="6" style="background-color:#2A76E8;" | <center> '''not Soul Ascetic skin tho''' </center>
|-
|}

= Introduction =
<page under construction>

Hello I'm Sophie/Joan (Guide Date: 2/Sep/2025). You would not see me that often playing in D1/Biosphere Venom/Biosphere Temple with my Soul Ascetic (SA) char R.ClickToRename254519. I think I will play SA more though, because I think my flight hours on this character are lacking (you can expect more sporadic future updates as I discover stuff). Magic builds speaking, I still play on my EM more, but this job definitely offers niches that EM doesn't have, namely mobility and harder hitting single target skills. Thinking back, I really should have been telling people to play SA instead as starting class whenever someone asked in #global, because the barrier of the requirements are easier to fulfill compared to the likes of EM, because SA talisman build doesn't need ACD% and therefore doesn't need {{#item:4403}} or the likes (and that managing ASPD is easier).

This guide is merely what I do on my talisman SA and is not optimized (dm me on discord/In-game if you can improve upon it). I just tried to write it out, because I think other SA main guide writers are inactive (retirement/hiatus), while the guide/discussion demands from new players are as high as ever (as of 2/Sep/2025) and I saw many new faces playing SA within the last 1-2 months. Also I have to state that: there's not really a different playstyle or skill/stat allocation between Talisman of Blue Dragon Build ('''Single Target Talisman Build''') vs Talisman of White Tiger Build ('''Area Talisman Build'''), so you should definitely have both at the same time as your general to go build. The exception might be if you want to maximize Single Target Talisman Build on skills while also grabbing {{#skill:5432}}, which you will probably do in instances like HoL in situations where there is no other SA available. Between both builds, most of it is simply the matter of gear swapping (most significantly between the weapons), so I would advice you readers to familiarize yourself with gear swapping (even easier now that there's a custom skill created for that very purpose).

= Scope/For whom this guide is intended for =
End game luxury of nice to have and fun to do things for those players who have reached end game and have collected most if not all BiS gears or their equivalent (y'all can refer to this guide as the complementary to the more comprehensive guides such as [[Mango%27s_guide_to_leveling_and_farming_with_SA|Mango's guide to leveling and farming with SA]] and [[Choi%27s_Soul_Ascetic_Guide|Choi's Soul Ascetic Guide]]). This guide is very subjective and intuitive as I do not provide exact numbers and optimization, but for that case you can find me to test out or experiment with any gears/luxuries that are listed/mentioned within this guide, unless I specifically stated to not have them. In this guide you are assumed to have already worn BiS (Best in Slot) equipment or incomplete BiS (enchanting in progress) and have reached 100% VCT (Variable cast time) reduction via item bonus (because those 120 Dex better be put elsewhere). Also you are required to like to '''Leap''' (this is a warning).

End game optimization problem is that for some people, some gear/enchant/MVP setups suit them better as it touches the specifics of their playing styles and currently owned assets (e.g. with {{#item:312700}} in your {{#item:400544}} you might want {{#item:310860}}) in your {{#item:460020}}), so we will not assume a narrow-minded stance on this issue and would tolerate a bit lesser or bigger DPS and whatnots as long as things work well (shout out to get the DPS envy immunity people!). 

[[File:leap_monki.gif|300px]]

=General Overview=
=== Stats&Traits ===
The actual distribution of stats and traits is more loosely defined (this is not a starter player's guide) but we aim to fulfill these '''Objectives''' (by priority):
# Instant Cast (very important for both builds: you want to DPS hard with single target talisman build and instant-cast leap+skill with area talisman build)
# Damage (in general) and OH capability (mostly for area talisman build)
# ASPD (SA talisman skills have no '''After Cast Delay''' so your bottleneck will be ASPD)
# Survivability, HP pool (mostly when doing single target talisman build)
# Curse immunity
# Non-priority niches (carry weight, SP pool, SP consumption)

====== Stats ======

* STR - 80-100; Carry weight (talisman bundles are heavy)

* AGI - 110-120; Reaching 185-187 ASPD will still not be that easy. Also some people have utilized builds with even more ASPD, but I have yet to fathom their usage

* VIT -  90-120; Can put minimum amount when in a party with devo

* INT - 100-120; MATK, SP pool. (SA have high SP consumption problem)

* DEX - 1 (all remaining points here)

* LUK - 89-110; For Curse Immunity, MATK

Example (My stats for general farming):

* STR - 100

* AGI - 120

* VIT - 108

* INT - 120

* DEX - 2

* LUK - 89

====== Traits ======

* SPL - 110; Damage
* CON - 110; Damage (and a bit of survivability)
* WIS/STA - 72; Survivability

=== Core Skills ===

===== Buff/Debuff and Passives =====

{{#skill:5416}}: More damage from skills with talismans (what we really care about) and a bit of S.MATK (we don't really care). Very important because it is 10-20% damage difference when I tested it after maxxing everything (seriously go max it). Still better damage addition than '''Soul of Heaven and Earth''' if you can only pick one.

{{#skill:5431}}: More damage from skills with talismans. To activate it, you cast Blue Dragon-->White Tiger-->Red Phoenix-->Black Tortoise-->Circle of Direction and Elementals. For single target talisman spam, it is around 15-35% damage difference than without the buff (tested with full gear).

{{#skill:5417}}: Up to +10 SPL, not bad but not that good either. Just put points here if you can't reach {{#skill:5432}} with your remaining skill points.

{{#skill:2597}} Shadow Soul: We care about the ASPD bonus.

{{#skill:2599}} Fairy Soul: We care about the VCT% reduction bonus.

{{#skill:2596}} Golem Soul: More DEF and MDEF, mostly used for party play.

{{#skill:2608}}: Use this to reset souls.

{{#skill:425}}: Changing element of your talisman skills (Earth/Wind/Water/Fire/Ghost/Shadow/Holy). Unequip your weapon to reset the element.

{{#skill:462}}: You buff with this and get revived if you die. 

{{#skill:2601}}: Debuff a target to make it take increased damage from Shadow element (mild wind lvl 6). Rarely used it though for some reason.

{{#skill:5423}}: More Enemy_Element% damage modifier against water, wind, earth, fire, and neutral element mobs (very strong, so always use it).

{{#skill:5432}}: A party buff that provides large damage modifiers: Physical melee% and ranged%, and Magical Ele%. Used to be more godly, but is kinda meh for solo play now, because Ele% saturates fast, since the CoL Autumn gives a lot of Ele%. (Refer to the next part if you're confused about the meh Ele% vs the precious Enemy_Element%)

===== Active Skills =====

Swap Equip: You can just swap between Single Target Talisman Build vs Area Talisman Build by simply switching the weapons.

{{#skill:426}}: Best mobility skill after Monk's snap. I'd say go play EM or AM if you don't like the leaping mechanism (not everyone does).

{{#skill:5426}}: Main Single Target DPS skill. Auto-casts Red Phoenix (TD combo).

{{#skill:5427}}: Main Area skill. Auto-casts Black Tortoise (TD combo).

= Gears and Min-Max Technicalities =

=== About Magical Damage Modifiers for Talisman SA Build ===

The general aim of the min-maxing process (as of Date: 2/Sep/2025) is to equalize these damage modifiers while maximizing their overall multiplicative result. You should be aware of diminishing returns as you add up a single damage modifier. The contextual reason of the importance on this matter is because of the aforementioned '''DPS''' and '''One Hit''' (OH) Objectives, that we want each hit of our talisman skills damage to be as high as possible (the DPS for '''blue dragon''' and the single burst instance of skill for '''white tiger''').

Listed from most precious to least worthy, type @bs in game to see yours:

* '''Class%/Boss%:''' Hardest and most expensive to get, generally speaking. You will have around 20%-100%. Main Sources: {{#item:300472}}, Demigod Set, HoL accessories and enchantments, White Knight Pet. (This is probably why {{#item:300472}} was so expensive in contrast to the physical builds which have plethora of '''Class%/Boss%''' sources)
* '''Enemy_Element%:''' Rare modifier mostly seen on more modern iterations of items (post 2016), but is less expensive than Class%. You will have around 40%-100%. Main Sources: CoL Autumn garment and its 2nd slot enchantment, Dimensions/Time Gap Weapons 3rd slot enchant, Jitterbug combo and proc.
* '''Skill%:''' Quite hard to get as the only source is from TDRC and Dimensions/Time Gap Weapons for Talisman skills, which is already mandatory. You will have around 70%-130%. Haven't yet tested the Yorscalp headgear + {{#item:300600}} combo (the red phoenix and talisman of four bearing god skill).
* '''Enemy_Race%:''' Kinda rare for magical racial modifier. You will have 50%-130%. Main Sources:{{#item:4441}}-like MVP cards on shoes, HoL accessories and enchantments, various equipments.
* '''Enemy_Size%:''' Easy to get and cheap. You will easily have more than 65%-120%. Main Sources: Cards on Weapon slots, TDRC, Shadow Gears. 
* '''MRes_Ignore%:''' Only '''relevant''' source for now is the Magical/Spell/Sorcery Master Shadow Gears for 20%. The effect is only roughly 5-10% pure damage increase, though it is nice, because it is outside all other modifier calculations.
* '''MATK%''': You will have more than 150-250% MATK%. Main Sources: {{#item:450173}}, Shadow Gear Enchantments for MATK%, {{#item:4441}}-like MVP cards on shoes, various equipments.
* '''Spl''': You will have around 200-250 or more. Main Sources: {{#item:470204}}, Shadow Gear enchantments,
*'''S.MATK''': You will have around 350 or more. Main Sources: various equipments,
* '''Ele%''': You will easily have around 300-500% or more. Main Sources: {{#item:27362}}-like MVP cards on garment, various equipments. Used to be less on previous meta (around 100-250% top), that is why additional damage boost from {{#item:27362}}-like MVP cards on garment felt bigger, because the 100% ele is of bigger ratio.

===Gears===
Recommended gears (as of Date: 2/Sep/2025):

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:85%;"
!Type
!Item
!Card
!Enchants and Notes
|- style=height:13em
|'''Upper'''
| align="center" | +12 to +15 [A] {{#item:400544}}
| 
<small> 
*{{#item:300377}}
*{{#item:4148}}
*{{#item:4366}}
*{{#item:4583}}(or any that suits your farm)
</small>
|
*Enchanted with {{#item:312763}}, {{#item:312700}}.
*You can use {{#item:312718}} but it means that you will have to find other ways to enhance your ASPD (while there's easier options for the VCT% problem)
|- style=height:11em
|'''Middle'''
| align="center" | {{#item:410233}}
| 
<small>
*{{#item:4148}}
*{{#item:4366}}
*{{#item:4583}}(or any that suits your farm)
</small>
|
*Enchanted with any of the following:
**MATK% +8-10% (Ele% falls in grace as CoL Autumn and HoL acc set and combo gives a lot of that Ele% modifier compared to previous meta)
**VCT% reduction +8-10% (only if you still have a VCT% problem, see here there's no ASPD/reduce delay after attack option)
**MaxHP +8-10% (Experimental), the reason is that sometimes additional HP is simply better when you already have saturated every other damage source modifier.
|-
|'''Lower'''
| align="center" | {{#item:420213}} (BiS) <br> and/or <br> {{#item:420269}} (Experimental)
| <center><small> N/A </center></small>
|
*Enchanted with any of the following:
**'''1st line''': VIT +5 / INT +5 / any (stats are not that important) 
**'''2nd line''': Ele% +6-7% ''or''  S.MATK +6-7% (BiS) ''or'' %increases attack speed (reduces delay after attack) (Experimental)
|- style=height:9em
|'''Armor'''
| align="center" | +12 to +15 [A] {{#item:450173}}
| 
<small>
*{{#item:300472}} (BiS)
*{{#item:300529}} (Combo with {{#item:300521}} or {{#item:300522}} on garment)
</small>
|
*Enchanted with {{#item:310688}}, {{#item:310738}}(BiS) or {{#item:310744}}(Experimental), and {{#item:4714}}(BiS) or {{#item:4744}}. 
**For more info on how to enchant, check this [[Constellation_Tower_Enchants|page]].
|- style=height:18em
|'''Weapon'''
| align="center" | +12 to +15 [A] {{#item:550131}}(Single Target DPS) <br> and/or <br> +12 to +15 [A] {{#item:550132}}(Area Damage)
| 
<small>
*{{#item:27384}} 
*{{#item:300455}}
*{{#item:300495}}
*{{#item:300497}}
</small>
|
*For a list of possible enchants, refer to [[Varmundt%27s_Biosphere_Depth_2#Dimensions_Weapons_Enchants|this]]. Enchants of your choice will vary depending on your needs, and the race/elemental property of the mobs you're going to prioritize.
|- style=height:20em
|'''Shield'''
| align="center" | +11 to +12 [C] {{#item:460040}} <br> or <br> +12 to +14 [A] {{#item:460020}}
| 
<small> 
*{{#item:4128}} 
*{{#item:300239}}
*{{#item:27298}} 
*{{#item:27385}} 
*{{#item:300379}} 
</small>
|
*'''Glacier Guard''' enchanted with {{#item:312095}}, {{#item:312093}} or {{#item:312092}}, and {{#item:312091}}.
*'''Mad Bunny-LT''' enchanted with {{#item:310860}} or {{#item:310856}}.

*For a list of possible enchants, refer to [[Varmundt%27s_Biosphere_Depth_2#Dimensions_Weapons_Enchants|this]]. Enchants of your choice will vary depending on your needs, and the race/elemental property of the mobs you're going to prioritize.
|- style=height:21em
|'''Garment'''
| align="center" | +12 to +15 [A] {{#item:480351}}
| 
<small> 
*{{#item:27381}} 
*{{#item:300145}}
*{{#item:300382}}
*{{#item:27362}}
*{{#item:300521}}(Combo with '''Yoscopus Conjurator Card''' on body)
*{{#item:300522}}(Combo with '''Yoscopus Conjurator Card''' on body) 
</small>
|

*Enchanted with {{#item:313018}}, {{#item:312558}}, and {{#item:312489}}.


|- style=height:16em
|'''Shoes'''
| align="center" | +12 to +14 [A] {{#item:470204}}
| 
<small> 
*{{#item:300248}}
*{{#item:300262}}  
*{{#item:4441}}
*{{#item:300281}} 
*{{#item:300458}} 
</small>
|
*MoC is still very strong with its +SPL bonus
|- style=height:14em
|'''Accessory (Right)'''
| align="center" | <br> {{#item:490136}}
| 
<small> 
*{{#item:4040}} 
*{{#item:4145}} (Experimental)
*{{#item:300268}} 
*{{#item:300470}} 
*{{#item:300469}} 
*{{#item:300464}} 
</small>
|
*Enchanted with {{#item:313038}},  
**{{#item:310711}} and {{#item:310711}}(BiS)
**There are some crazy fringe item like {{#item:310716}} and {{#item:310716}}, but you should just avoid them if you haven't got your double {{#item:310711}} first (it's fun tho). 
**For more info on how to enchant, check this [[Constellation_Tower_Enchants|page]].
|-
|'''Accessory (Left)'''
| align="center" | {{#item:490485}}
| 
<small> 
*{{#item:4040}} 
*{{#item:4145}} (Experimental)
*{{#item:300267}}
*{{#item:300216}}
*{{#item:300364}}
*{{#item:300211}}
*{{#item:300222}}
</small>
|
*Enchanted with {{#item:312996}} and {{#item:312981}}.
**For more info about purchasing and enchanting the accessory, check this [[Circulation_of_Life_Accessories|page]].
|}
*Pets: {{#item:9134}}
*Shadow Gears:
**Magical Spell Shadow Shield+Shadow Weapon combo with Full Spell Armor-Shoes Combo: very strong if not BiS.
**Needing Full Tempest acc combo for 100% magic penetration.
**Otherwise double +10/+10 Magical/Spell/Sorcery Master Shadow Gears is not bad.
*Currently not-haves list: {{#item:300262}},{{#item:300377}}.

=== Miscellaneous and Hot Tips (for SA in general) ===

* To reset souls, use {{#skill:2608}}. To reset {{#skill:425}} element, just unequip your weapon. (Credit to '''aru?''' (4/Sep/2025) for this Hot Tip)

* Using {{#skill:2612}} and {{#skill:5418}} helps a lot in field farming (confirmed at Z1/Z2, D2, Nif2 Bio Temple) for SP and HP problems. For {{#skill:5418}} you should raise your {{#skill:5416}} skill and CRT for greater effect. (Credit to '''Micha''' (4/Sep/2025) for this Hot Tip)

= Glossary=
*BiS: Best in Slot, refers to items/cards that are considered the best according to the ongoing meta. May be subject to change, that is why I put emphasize on dates whenever the term BiS is mentioned on that part.
*Old BiS: Old Best in Slot, was the BiS on previous meta. Some have the potential to be BiS again in the future (e.g. Bio5 MVP Ranger Shecil card in the case future Job 4 Wind Hawk Bio MVP cards will give strong combo bonus), so they are generally still top tier recommended items, though not to die for.
*Experimental: Strong items that could possibly be BiS on some setups, but are not widely accepted as the BiS and still need a lot of testing and discussion for it to be universally designated as BiS. Or items that are situationally considerably better than BiS or offering niches that are considered worth trading with the boons gained from the BiS items depending on your personal playing style.

= Acknowledgements =

*Special Thanks to '''Tmisn''' for editing and proofreading.
*Discussions and demonstrations from Various Masters (ain't namedropping y'all but you know who you are) mostly but not limited to #archer, #swordsman, and #mage class channels of MuhRo Discord that have educated me on so many things regarding this class beyond general guides. 
*Hurt Locker's Wind Hawk Guide character picture format was used for character picture formatting of this guide.
*Goldie's EM Guide Endgame part table format was used for gears part formatting of this guide.
*Credit to '''Aintz''' for personally contacting me and showing a viable very strong option of {{#item:300495}} and {{#item:300497}} cards on weapon. (4/Sep/2025)