Buddy Rush: Vivich's Skill Guide (1.8.2)

Jonathan sent screenshots and notes on Vivich's skill, enough for a guide. Note that I do not have Vivich so it is unlikely this article will be updated.

Jonathan's notes are in italics.

Lotus slap

Lotus Slap: I highly recommend maxing this skill. Although the range increase won't be visible by the skill animation, at level 7 you'll hit pretty much everything on the game's screen. It's very useful for SD-91's robot minions, as it also has an interrupt effect. If Botherella's Curse is active, Lotus Slap can hit as much as 100k if it gets a critical.

This skill is one of The Almighty Skills. Like the notes say, it does lots of damage to a large area. When Vivich vanishes while using Lotus Slap, she cannot be actively targeted for attacks and Skills. However, she may still be injured by area-effect Skills and attacks that have already been initiated.

Heal

Heal: Vivich's Heal heals four consecutive separate times. Don't let the description fool you; skill points do indeed affect the amount of regained HP points. With the build I have, each of the four heals usually gets about 2000-2500, which is more than enough considering there's four of them. Meditation also heavily affects Heal.

This skill is the reason people bring Vivich along on Missions and Raids: the ability to reduce the usage of consumables.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary: Although this skill is necessary and very helpful, the percentages for additional skill points don't justify investing a lot into it. Meditation already adds 35% healing effect to it if it's maxed. My Sanctuary heals around 2.5 times per second at 150 hp each heal. The only thing I've encountered that can kill buddies when Sanctuary is up is SD-91's fire rockets (if curse is up it is survivable) and Ivardark's purple jam (not sure if curse is affected by this).

Sanctuary is a good skill to reduce damage done to the party. This is important against baddies that do a lot of damage such as Genzir the Storm or SD-91.

Lotus Blossom

Lotus Blossom: What most don't know is that Lotus Blossom drastically increases not only the damage of the initial attack, but it has an AoE effect. If Botherella's curse is up, one Lotus Blossom hit (out of seven if it's maxed; they're consumed with each basic attack) hits for about 20k and has a volatile AoE spread of about 5-15k.

This is a reliable skill to have although it has a large MP requirement.

Meditation

Meditation: This skill is a necessity to max. If you look at the percentages from adding points into Heal and Sanctuary individually, it makes no sense to prioritize them over this skill (smaller skill point cost as well).

Like the notes say, this skill improves the healing effects of Heal and Sanctuary.

Cricket Training

Cricket Training: This skill is how Vivich's get such massive Attack and Defense bonuses. Max at all cost.

This single Passive Skill gives a large increase in both Att and Def.

Aum

Aum: I personally prefer to max this skill. It makes Vivich very helpful in long fights. If you equip Vivich with a lot of critical as I have (with refineries, my Vivich currently has a total of 17.2% in critical) Aum will almost always be active. Also consider the large AoE effects of Lotus Slap and Lotus Blossom; critical hits on these will also activate Aum.

I depend on Aum to do additional damage with my characters which are built to deal damage through skills. This Skill makes Vivich even more useful in Raids.

Thoughtful Mind

Thoughtful Mind: The one skill in which I have invested nothing. Just by taking a look at the bonuses from skill points added, you can see why. Skill points could be used much, much better elsewhere.

I depend on Jonathan's judgement concerning the effectiveness of this skill.

***

Here are Jonathan's recommendations for Vivich's equipment:

As for my Vivich's item build, I recommend Hammer of Genzir the Storm as it has critical, or as an alternative, Grandpa's Trident (PU), and also Ivardark's Apron as it also has critical. For the other four slots, I suggest a mixture of Att+Skill Power items such as Oblinium Fang and PU Lord's Hammer and items that offer MP regen.

And there's my wall of text for Vivich.

I think Critical is important for Vivich so that Aum activates. HP and Def are also important so that Vivich stays alive long enough to Heal.

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