Discussion: BYP Altair Sphere

Nezzy: Hi all, I’m back (finally) with a new magi review! That’s right! The long awaited and coveted Altair Sphere has arrived in DP! Are you ready for some exciting magi play and crazy damage immunity?

Shishui: YAS Nezzy is finally back!!! 😍😍😍

Nezzy: Without further ado..

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Disclaimer 

I don't include ratings for one simple reason. At the end of the day, you are the player. Not the person who wrote the review, not your friends, not the community. Decide for yourself what is worth the gems and what is trivial. The best guide is always the heart.

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Altair Sphere : The Pocket Fortress

(it's closer to a hexagonal geodesic dome with a decagonal base but hey, sphere is much shorter)

General Stats:

Type : Support

Charge Time : 110

Cast Speed : 0 + 2 (sphere appears instantly on cast)

Duration : 60

Durability : 10,000 (sphere has 0 DEF)

Altair Sphere (AS) is the first magi that allows hunters to setup a defensive AOE that grants all allies immunity from attacks as well as increased revive speed inside the sphere. With a decent charge time and superior cast speed, AS is extremely flexible and can be utilised in both offensive and defensive scenarios.

Special Notes:

1. Only 1 Sphere can exist per hunter, but there is no limit to number of spheres on the field
2. Sphere takes damage regardless whether there is a hunter in the sphere
3. Spheres are not removed by debuffs, only by damage or expiration
4. Hunters within the sphere are still affected by repositioning effects
5. Hunters affected by status ailments will still take status damage within the sphere
6. The previously casted sphere will disappear upon re-cast and a new sphere is created
7. You do not take hits within the sphere, so on-hit effects will not trigger

Top 2 Weapon Synergy:

Soul Bow: S-bows are the biggest beneficiaries of AS. S-bows possess innately high DPS and magi charge rate, but are afflicted with poor defensive options. AS remedies that weakness by providing Sbow users with much-needed cover, and sync perfectly with their high magi charge rate, coupled with amazing cast speed to minimise lost in DPS. Also, Sbows are naturally immobile which pairs well with the static AOE of AS.

Soul Dual Blades: S-DBs will love AS without a doubt. S-DBs revolve around a magi spam playstyle, boasting insane magi charge rate. However, their Achilles Heel is that S-DBs lose soul gauge upon getting hit, and Demon Blast traps the user in animation, which leaves them vulnerable to attacks. Up till today, defensive magis only provide heals and anti-stagger, none of which solve the dilemma of S-DBs. AS is the godsend S-DBs have been waiting for, providing on-demand damage immunity, allowing them space to Demon Blast and cast magi without fear of disruption.

But even if you don’t play the above weapons, fret not! Like I said, AS is extremely flexible and you can definitely find a situation where it comes in handy. Need space to cast magi? Need a shield from ultimates? Need to get up close and personal? AS is not always the best solution, but is a sure candidate for most situations.

Thanks for reading! 

Good luck for your pulls!