darkSpyro

Some upgrade paths are a lot lot bett er than the other in pvp like:

Camo: Melon master makes camo S tier vine virtuoso sucks and is useless.

Stealth elf: pook blade saint is much better thanthe other path

Spyro:either blitz spyro or you need to get your head examined

Chill: ice lancer will always kick frozen furys ass.

Crusher hammer path is better by a longshot.

Eruptor: volcanor is a lot gooder than magmantor.

Trigger happy: gold frenzy is a lot better cuz gold mony bags is overrated and sucks.

^ I agree on Camo, Stealth Elf, Chill, Eruptor, and Trigger Happy, and I don't need to get my head examined just because I hate Blitz Spyro and love Sheep Burner Spyro.

Gold Money Bags is good for taking out enemy's in the Arena... so not all paths are bad that are Series 2 now.

//forum.darkspyro.net/spyro/viewposts.php?topic=50977
Also, different people have different skills. I find Vine Virtuoso much better than Melon Master as it gives Camo a proper ranged move, I hate Blitz Spyro, Frozen Fury is much more boring to me, and I don't think Golden Frenzy is worth any hoot(especially since Bouncer is pretty much a far better version of it now).

Quote: SPARXisAWESOME

Noooo FROZEN FURY KICKS ICE LANCERS BUM!
And if you like actual FUN instead of bieng overpowered try Forest ninja for Stealth elf.

This is funny because I actually think forest ninja is pretty underrated. Ive done a lot with it and it really is fun!

Agreed.

You do know Golden Frenzy is stupid in PvP right? Golden Frenzy is terrible for PvP. My got his ass handed to him several times.

The Bouncing Bullets are the only thing saving you in PvP on that terrible path, the guns don't get much stronger and the Yamato Blast takes too long to charge up and it slows down alot. But even then, not alot to make him good in PvP.

Golden Money Bags is much better for it.

Money Bags is a kool path, that's the one I have for my S1. But the Lava throwing path for Eruptor is POWERFUL

Trigger Happy has a dismally low amount of hit points. The next lowest (Boomer) has like 75 more or so more then him. He just can't hold up.

Quote: LightSpyro13

You do know Golden Frenzy is stupid in PvP right? Golden Frenzy is terrible for PvP. My got his ass handed to him several times.

The Bouncing Bullets are the only thing saving you in PvP on that terrible path, the guns don't get much stronger and the Yamato Blast takes too long to charge up and it slows down alot. But even then, not alot to make him good in PvP.

Golden Money Bags is much better for it.

Yeah well golden frenzy does much much better than gmb for me.

You may just stink at the game then (No offense, the point of the game is just to have fun) or your opponent just may be really good.

No. I'm actually good with golden frenzy, DEAL WITH IT.

Theres a topic for this.

Quote: Zeeker

Eruptor: volcanor is a lot gooder than magmantor.

seriously??? gooder!!!

Quote: scottbot3000

Quote: Zeeker

Eruptor: volcanor is a lot gooder than magmantor.

seriously??? gooder!!!

It's just for laughs.

Quote: Zeeker

No. I'm actually good with golden frenzy, DEAL WITH IT.

But stink at the game, DEAL WITH THAT.

Quote: Zeeker

No. I'm actually good with golden frenzy, DEAL WITH IT.

Pressing the primary button alot is considered skill?

Spyro: Both paths are mediocre, Sheep Burner is better overall due to being more versatile and easier to use however.
Double Trouble: Chaneller, Conjuror was not made with PVP in mind.
Wrecking Ball: Ultimate Spinner is better with both modes... A TON better...
Voodood: Marauder, though both are pretty even, it mainly depends on playstyle but Marauder is just more abusable.
Pop Fizz: I've only played Best of The Beast!, it's too fiddly for PVP so I'm guessing Mad Scientist is, of course, a better option.

Crusher: The Rockslide path by far. Rock Grinder (the Hammer path) just doesn't have meaningful enough boosts- melee damage only gets increased by 10 points and neither combo is that useful. I know the Rockslide path seems silly but it is just a lot better.
Bash: Granite Dragon- purely because there's little Pulver does that Granite can't.
Prism Break: Crystaleer, Prismancer is a simply poor ranged character.
Dino-Rang: Grand Boomerang Master is simply the more abusable choice. Both are good though, so it isn't bad to consider between them.
Terrafin: Sandhog, Sandhog, Sandhog...

Slam Bam: Blizzard Brawler... Glacier Yeti could work in theory but your opponent just shakes out of his ice way too easily.
Zap: Tesla Dragon, but nobody agrees with me... I don't really have a recommend, both are meh at Battle.
Gill Grunt: Water Weaver- Harpooner's downright terrible.
Wham-Shell: Captain Crustacean- Commander Crab is worse in both modes.
Chill: I've only played Frozen Fury.

Ignitor: Soul of The Flame, classic broken choice. Blademaster isn't unusable but it can't hold a candle.
Sunburn: I have yet to try Blaze Dragon with Giants' engine buffs, but Flame Lord is genuinely fantastic now.
Flameslinger: Pyromancer was always the better option.
Eruptor: Volcanor by far.

Bouncer: Still not tried in Battle.
Boomer: Demolition Troll, Clobber is terrible.
Drill Sergeant: Always Megadozer.
Drobot: Master Blaster.
Trigger Happy: Golden Money Bags by far.
Sprocket: Still yet to try Gearhead.

Hex: I think everyone can agree on Bone Crafter.
Cynder: I have yet to test Nether Wielder.
Chop Chop: Yet to try in Battle.
Ghost Roaster: Fear Eater is now clearly better due to its versatility and Skull Charge being universally nerfed.
Fright Rider: Joust Jockey- the extra speed makes the difference.

Swarm: Still not tried in Battle.
Whirlwind: Unless something super unexpected happens it will always be Tempest.
Warnado: Eye of The Storm, Wind Master is just too much of a one trick pony.
Sonic Boom: Medea Griffin uncontested.
Lightning Rod: Lord Of The Lightning because it's just so much more strong but both are iffy.
Jet-Vac: Even in Battle Bird Blaster remains miles better.

Tree Rex: Haven't tried in Battle.
Camo: Vine Virtuoso- Melon Fountain is badly nerfed this game and Vine Virtuoso gives him a long ranged option anyway- something Melon Master lacks.
Zook: Floral Defender is outright better.
Stump Smash: Nut Crafter is always more powerful.
Stealth Elf: Pook Blade Saint is very close to broken.
Shroomboom: Yet to Battle with.

niiice. a lot of timee into that, eh?

Quote: LightSpyro13

Quote: Zeeker

No. I'm actually good with golden frenzy, DEAL WITH IT.

But stink at the game, DEAL WITH THAT.

No, u have never even seen me play so u have no right to say that. Just because im good at golden frenzy doesnt mean im bad at the whole game.

in ssa my cousin was awesome w/ chop chop. it just means he plays with him lots. i dont doubt you, zeeker.

Thank you? Bout freaking time people stop pestering me for likimg golden frenzy.

I think the same, I am also much better with Golden Frenzy.

im not resetting my trigger happy to get the huge coin. i never cared for lob attacks.

Quote: WUMBOSIMPSON

Quote: Zeeker

No. I'm actually good with golden frenzy, DEAL WITH IT.

Pressing the primary button alot is considered skill?

Dude shut up and leave Zeeker alone.

Nibelilt is pretty much correct with every pick, so I don't think I need to reiterate a large list.

I will say, though, that for Chop Chop, it largely depends on if you're playing S1 or S2. If S1, go Vampiric Warrior, because he stands to benefit more from game-engine buffs than Undead Defender. S2 is a different story, though, as your entire game plan will be Wow Pow spam with S2 Chop Chop (it's his best offensive AND defensive move after all). Undead Defender's Wow Pow does twice as much damage (60 per strike), and stunlocks, making it clearly and by far the best path for S2 Chop Chop. PVP prowess all depends on which version of the character, essentially.

You mean you agree with her on every pick. There is no "correct" path.

I would actually have to say vampiric warrior for S2 Chop chop as it feels much more balanced and the wow pow is good enough for his shield, just a slight egde for vampiric warrior though.

There are very many correct paths in my opinion, so, in the sense that I do believe in the concept of the objective better in Skylanders, I used the language I meant to use.

In any case, I am interested to hear what attacks you use besides the Wow Pow with S2 Chop Chop. For your pick to be Vampiric Warrior, it definitely means that we see different things as being important to the character's offense.

With chop chop when your just mashimg down the shield bash buttons its effectibe enough for me, on either path. But the shield bash isnt as fast as say, stealth elfs blade attacks, amd so I feel Chop chop needs the backup of his trusty vampiric warrior sword, at least every now and then. I just find the super shield bash to be good as is on vampiric warrior.
Now dont get me wrong I still think Umdead defender is a completely viable path, but vampiric warrior simply feels better balanced.

Understandable.

With Undead Defender, I rely on the doubled damage of his Wow Pow to compensate for slightly weaker sword strikes, and capitalize on both the stunlock, and the fact that shield physics aren't as awful this time. I think this gives him a better chance against characters above his station in PVP, which is why I recommend it, but you're right when you say that neither path is bad. I can absolutely agree to that. Chop Chop as a character is massively improved.

Yep, Cho chop has gone through a great improvement just with his wow pow. I dint do much pvp testing with him in Spyros adventure, but many people say he was complete and utter rubbish in that game, and I can see why.
Hopefully in the next game we get some more epic wow pows, like for some of the "forbidden 8" as Ive always wanted to see a wow pow for Ghost roaster, like maybe leaving a trail of his little white ghosts while doing a skull charge!

I mostly agree with Nibelilt. Mostly.

Spyro: Sheep Burner was far less effective than Blitz Spyro in the previous game. Now, in Giants, it seems like the stun doesn't work very often, if at all (at least on my PS3 version anyway), it has a smaller 'hit box' on the attack, and he no longer 'punches through' enemy attacks with his charge, so Sheep Burner is pretty much left as the default non-crappy one. So, I agree, but for a different reason--it's main selling point is simply that the previously better path was, for some reason, nerfed to pointlessness.

Pop Fizz: Has serious issues on both that keeps him from being good overall. His path really depends on what you are fighting, as they are both only somewhat decent at one thing.

Crusher: Thanks! It's good to see someone else who agrees on the Rockslide path.

Flashwing: Going to go with the Shards path on this. They are fast and, while not doing much damage individually, really stack up fast. The healing thing isn't a big issue for me, but the stacking 'spikes in walls that shoot back' is REALLY nice. It's like having a Golden Frenzy Trigger Happy whose coins, when they bounce of a wall, make extra copies of themselves and are thus even more lethal damage-wise. Plus, her spinning charge is still fast and can be used to get away from a foe. She makes a really good ranged character, but I can see people arguing for the other path.

Zap: I would have said Slide Serpent a thousand times over in the previous game. But now his speed is nerfed, the slow effect is nerfed, and the number of slimes he can have out is nerfed, as well as their duration. He's pretty terrible on either path now and easily the bottom-most of all Skylanders on the Tier Listing as far as I'm concerned.

Ignitor: Soul of the Flame was a murderer in S:SA, he can easily use it to kill Giants, and NOW he has the Blue Flame Wow-Pow and it's just.... no competition. He was underrated but very powerful before, now he's definitely rubbing shoulders with the best of the best. The 'blade' focus is neat, but with his low max Hit Points, it's not worth using at all in PvP.

Flameslinger: Marksman, all the way. Pyromancer comes down to 'how well can an opponent character deal with my single trick'. I'd rather put that new speed boost to use and have decent-enough ranged damage. He at that point changes from a one-trick pony character to an entirely skill-based character who will perform in almost linear fashion to his user's skill. Get skilled enough and he's near untouchable and will establish control over the battlefield. Having both sets of ranged attacks upgraded and it being worth it to rain down attacks on those above you or behind barriers makes it more useful. But I can see Pyro being preferred by most due to the trick and its obscene damage, especially since you can just chain them over and over against certain melee guys.

Bouncer: Going to go with the I-Beam Supreme or whatever it's called. The rocket path can be interesting but depends too much on its one trick, one which requires delayed-effect attacks. He's like a super-sized Trigger Happy who has options. While he lacks a speed boost, he has the highest base speed of any Giant. In addition, being able to drop mines in a cluser around key items (or himself for melee woes) is of great benefit, as is shooting out two fists that do 40 damage each (and both can easily hit a single Giant at range for 80 while you reposition).

Trigger Happy: Monybags for the SOLE reason that his firing speed was nerfed since last game. There's a certain 'tempo' you have to find when hitting the button that does NOT correspond to the shots to get him to go into full rapidfire. Even so, doing it makes you fire at 75% the rate of the previous game, while spamming the button relentlessly only nets you about 50%. That nerfs his prime source of damage way too much.

Cynder: Whichever path is the dash one still seems more useful to me, despite nerfs, as it is strong but not broken. She's one whose Wow-Pow's usefulness is entirely determined on which path you prefer. If you prefer dashing, it's a hindrance since you can't Dash out of flight anymore.

Chop Chop: I want to try him in PvP, but he's still Level 1. They made too many cool new ones!

Fright Rider: Joust Jockey, for the same reason that Soul of the Flame is the way to go on Ignitor. You can have a cool, unique style of fighting, or you can be just another melee guy with dumpy HP.

Jet-Vac: Blaster path solely because it's less useless than the other. Both are terrible in PvP and he should go back to sucking up Chompies.

Swarm: Barbs. The 'insect form' is a neat trick, but it slows your speed and you do NOT get to avoid incoming damage. Maybe if it gave a huge boost to armor, or reduced incoming damage by 25% or something, it could compete, but it makes you more vulnerable. Which is sad, because it was one of the main reasons I wanted him in the first place. I'm tired of 'alternate form' guys being screwed over by having one form be terrible.

Whirlwind: Ultimate Rainbower, every time. Tempest is a neat trick, when you can convince enemies to come to you and wander into the path of the clouds--IE: PvE. In PvP, it's a lot less useful, as fast melee will circle and facepunch but ranged guys will just plink you. Double rainbow mortars and their explosions are the main reason, as the damage output is almost 3x what it normally is, plus it bounces the enemy around like crazy. In addition, its the better Co-Op PVE choice, too, since if they are in the sweet-spot your ally will get healed by BOTH shots each time, making boss fights into cake.

Tree Rex: I love Treefolk Charger, but people say Lumbering Laser is better. Fortunately, I have 2, and will raise the second one with LL to see how it goes.

Zook: Depends on foe. Floral Defender is the better choice--against normal Skylanders. The Mortar path, though, that one makes him MUCH more brutal against Giants. There is quite a considerable amount of added DPS, and once you get used to double-tapping by alternating Rocket and Mortar shots, those all combine together to rip Giants apart like a fruity chainsaw. It also helps that they take damage from his Cacti but most can just push right through them.

Note: My ratings are all based on PS3 experience. All the consoles SHOULD be the same this time, but I don't know.

I disagree that Jet vac is bad in pvp. I find him to be one of the best pvp characters. However I agree with you that Bird blaster is the better path. And I disagree on whirlwimd, as I fimd her amazing on tempest dragon.

Honestly, Supernova is nice, but I find the field damage left by arrows to be the real reason I advocate Pyromancer. It consistently adds up to higher and safer damage than just blasting with arrows, in my experience, and adds another level of frustration to a character who was already difficult to pursue. The effect is particularly nice on arrow volleys, which are my main offense with S2 Flameslinger in most situations, simply since it's so effective to just hide behind a wall or on a ledge and let fly with them, only moving (to another safe spot--most arenas have several) when threatened.

Don't get me wrong, I like Supernova, but it's an emergency escape tactic and not something I like to risk in normal situations. Since Marksman can't set the field on fire and Pyromancer can, I do find the latter to have the most tricks at his disposal. At least, in my experience with him.

Hmmm... Interesting idea, Tashiji. I like it, will have to give it a spin when I buy the other path of upgrades. That turns him into a very defensive manner of fighter, as opposed to the 'switch' style the Marksman enjoys. Makes a lot of sense, thanks, I'll definitely try it out.

No problem. And thanks for your input on Ultimate Rainbower Whirlwind above, by the way. It's nice to see some real experience behind that path in particular, because there is almost nothing out there in terms of actual playtime, from an informed perspective, with regards to Rainbower. I think I will give her a closer look on your recommendation.

I don't know if UM has been changed in Giants, because I haven't tested Whirlwind in a while. Maybe I'll try it again someday, but the boosts on it aren't that huge other than the Vortex, which is too risky(like Yamato Blast). Double Rainbows are neat, but I just don't find any ease in controlling her. Both paths are pretty much the best of Air outside or EoTS and MG anyway.
Quote: Tashiji

Honestly, Supernova is nice, but I find the field damage left by arrows to be the real reason I advocate Pyromancer. It consistently adds up to higher and safer damage than just blasting with arrows, in my experience, and adds another level of frustration to a character who was already difficult to pursue. The effect is particularly nice on arrow volleys, which are my main offense with S2 Flameslinger in most situations, simply since it's so effective to just hide behind a wall or on a ledge and let fly with them, only moving (to another safe spot--most arenas have several) when threatened.

Don't get me wrong, I like Supernova, but it's an emergency escape tactic and not something I like to risk in normal situations. Since Marksman can't set the field on fire and Pyromancer can, I do find the latter to have the most tricks at his disposal. At least, in my experience with him.

Exactly. I like using Arrow Rain with him a lot for the patches of fire it leaves behind. It's good to see someone isn't ignoring those for once because they're a huge threat based on how fast they tick when you use them right.

Tash: No problem, glad I could get you to try something new. It seems kinda boring, almost like a Sonic Boom style of play, because you basically just fly around spamming one main attack. But it works because it is so good, and it REALLY irritates the foe getting smashed around randomly. You don't worry about things like ledges or obstacles much, either. You can also quickly switch directions when starting the charge on the black hole, though it rarely gets used and honestly isn't that great unless you can funnel a foe into a chokepoint.

Nibelilt: Another trick is to time it and arc a wave of arrows at someone approaching you and immediately follow by shooting them in the face. The 'straight' arrows will knock them back into the position where the arcing arrows will land, which combos a nice chunk of damage and irritates your foe to no end. I'll give that Pyromancer a try, but I think I'm still going to have more fun with Marksman.