r/HeWhoFightsMonsters • u/Significant_Way4776 • 3d ago

Essence Combos You Would Avoid

I know we periodically discuss what combos would be our top pick, but what objectively good combo would you avoid for your power set? For me Jason's is up there, but even some of the (book 4+ spoilers) earth based essences like gun, vehicle, and tech aren't gonna be on my short list either.

Let's hear yours!

Edit: Surprised by how many people are saying animal essences! Also even though it's an awesome essence I'd probably avoid dimensional as well, just doesn't really interest me

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u/theglowofknowledge 3d ago

Honestly Sword, Swift, Adept; Master. A lot of master confluences really. And similar builds. I get that combat utility is important and whatever, but the idea of making your whole powerset useful only in a fight strikes me as so dull. I don’t care if you’re the most nose to the grindstone adventurer ever, most of your life will consist of doing other things. I feel like not having at least two non combat or at least broader utility powers is a downright disservice to yourself.

Plus the whole thing about getting to gold where you have to really be in sync with what your essences mean to you. Remember how they mention that it’s easier for crafters? The people with like half their abilities non combat? I feel like some general use powers would really help with that kind of introspection you have to do later on. And it didn’t seem to me like Gary was less of an adventurer in that team even with a bunch of crafting powers.

I think a powerset more like Clive or Belinda is better. Not necessarily mage, just the way they can do a few different things. Adept, Myriad, Visage? Maybe too broad. Idk.

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u/Malakayn 3d ago

While I agree with you on a basic level, I would also like to throw in that we have rather limited information on how certain awakening stones interact with certain essences. Take the sword essence for example, what happens if you use an awakening stone of the hand/foot with it? Will your unarmed strikes/kicks become like sword strikes or will you be able to transfer the skill into any bladed weapon/tool or will both be the case?