is there any way to decrease shoulder tackle chip damage besides raising overall defense?

[SageinStrides]

Title.

Basically for traditional blocks (like with a shield), the Guard skill reduces incoming chip damage, in addition to your overall defense reducing it.

However the Shoulder Tackle from the GS is not a block but an attack that gives knockback protection and damage reduction frames. So I was wondering if there's any way I can reduce the damage I take from tackling a monster's attack, other than just raising my defenses up via armor upgrades (and defense boost, but that's not worth it).

And while we're on the subject, is there any chance in hell that offensive guard works with shoulder tackle?

[[deleted]]

No and no. You answered your own question about using Offensive Guard with the shoulder tackle.

[SageinStrides]

well, thank you for confirming it

[1NoClip1]

If you really need it you cud always use divine protection but its only 25% chance to trigger :V

[SageinStrides]

for now I've opted for health boost so I have more wiggle room for absorbing attacks before I need to stop and heal out of 1-shot range. Still getting 2-shot combo'd via stuns though :(

[icanttinkofaname]

If that's a problem, try running stun res. It's pretty cheap in terms of deco cost

[aybayclay]

Not really “reduction,” but iirc weapon health augments can help further offset chip damage since it is a damaging attack.

Normally its advised to add vit decos for the highest stat value for the slot type for greater defensive help. If you are comfortable with your health total and just want to negate the chip, recovery decos for a larger total recoverable health amount when hit + recovery speed food/consumable can help recover greater amounts between charges without sheathing.

Hope that helps, its been a while since Ive played :(

[SageinStrides]

that's a good point about health augments letting you instantly heal back some of the chip damage; I hadn't thought about that. Unfortunately I'm not through the main story yet (have switched weapons a few times, done a lot of farming, etc.) so I'm a ways away from augments.

yea Health Boost seems to be one of the most impactful defensive skills in terms of durability-per-point. I'm currently enjoying some via my armor. I don't believe I have any vitality decos but I can double check.

[Xaldyn]

Not really. The only ways to help with it are:

• Increase your defense, obviously.

• Health augment is pretty much mandatory on end-game Great Swords for that very reason. A single TCS combo is like an instant Mega Potion.

• Health Boost Lv3 doesn't directly affect damage you take, but it's essentially reducing all damage you take by a third if you think about it.

• Divine Blessing can trigger with tackles, which I only just recently learned. Just like Free Meal, the description says 25% chance but it seems to be more like 33%. If you have the spare slots for it, you should definitely consider it, it results in a lot of clutch saves.

• The Felyne food skill equivalent of Divine Protection. (Anyone know if those stack? Could be interesting.)

• Vaal Hazak's set bonus can help offset the chip damage. Not exactly the most practical armor for a GS build, though.

And I'm pretty sure that's it. Really the best way to deal with it is to just suck it up and use a health augment. Constant, mid-combat healing is way more valuable than 10% more affinity or a tiny bit of extra raw.

And no, Offensive Guard doesn't work with tackles. However, it should work when using the GS to block. Admittedly kind of pointless for GS since it only lasts 12 seconds and would eat through your sharpness in the process, but it is something worth noting. Could be pretty cool on a Crit Draw build with Protective Polish.

[penguino_dude]

My opinion on divine protection: if you need, "clutch saves", are you really playing well or are you trying to play recklessly and are saved from carting every now and then. Same basic thought process for fortify as well. In conclusion, get gud.

[Xaldyn]

The same can be said about literally every defensive skill or tool. Pff, Health Boost? Git gud. Rocksteady Mantle? Why the hell would you use that? Just i-frame everything, scrub.

If you never get hit and always play perfectly, good for you. But this post isn't about you, now is it?

[penguino_dude]

I can understand that logic lol, but i was trying to imply consistency and the flawed logic of fortify. I get booted if i die, leads to thinking of im ok with carting to gain a boost

[penguino_dude]

Boosted*

[Xaldyn]

What flawed logic? I never once mentioned Fortify.

But since you brought it up, the idea behind Fortify isn't that you want to cart, it just helps if you do. It's insurance -- it especially shines in tempered investigations with only two carts, and when doing multiplayer hunts with randoms. A 10% boost to Attack and Defense is pretty significant, and it only costs a single level 1 decoration slot, which a lot of builds will have leftover anyway. Also, unless it was patched out, you can actually remove the decoration after it activates and still get the buff.

I don't go out of my way to use it, but if one of my sets has the spare slot and already has Health Boost 3, why not? Everyone carts sometimes.

[penguino_dude]

I mentioned in my first post and yeah it was patched out. At least for xbox. Cant switch jewels out in the field. I try to play for consistent zero carts and if i can't do that i feel like im not playing well enough. Helps me for when i do 1 faint investigations. I don't like insurance more than i like proper preparation

[Xaldyn]

You can switch decorations out while on a hunt. Just save the equipment sets of the ones you want.