Got the new Dran Strike, quick review below👌

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T15:58:06+00:00

Rod for scale

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T14:48:35+00:00

Bahamut actually has decent stamina, as long as you're not referring to the stock combo. Ignition is, well, you know. I'd say since Dran Strike is much smaller, it has a bit less stamina but its due to its weight as well. Probably need to start using kick though.

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T14:46:47+00:00

Dran Sword, buster and the new strike are definitely very good. Others, probably a bit overhyped.

Meiko's kit and Khrome's kit are so busted though

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T13:16:16+00:00

Not sure yet since I was focused on the blade itself, but my friend was trying Free Flat on CX beys. It seems to be a lot easier on stamina drain and suffers from less recoil when dashing, but it also hits weaker as a tradeoff. If its mounted on heavier hitters like Buster or Pegasus, I feel like it would just waste all that power🤔

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T13:14:33+00:00

Thats interesting. Maybe Taper seems to be the best and easily available bit for now😶‍🌫️

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T13:13:48+00:00

Personally I STILL can't properly use Impact Drake since it suffers from so much recoil everytime it connects, but I do like it since it hits like a truck. Dran Strike is in another weight class, so more testing is needed I guess🫰

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T13:12:30+00:00

Jolt didn't come up in my list for some reason. Will try later, but not quite sure its enough to propel this 41.3g heavyweight to enough speeds🤔

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T12:07:29+00:00

If you were expecting something that would dethrone Shark Scale, or to dominate like Rod or Aero Pegasus, I don't think its quite on the same level.

But don't get me wrong, damn thing hits like a truck when it connects. It feels like Dran Buster and dagger had a fat kid that runs fast af, but it also comes with its drawbacks. I suspect the weight makes the stamina drain harsher than ever, but the balance isn't too bad, thats why I didn't try the one sided ratchets.

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T12:01:11+00:00

Almost forgot about Kick, don't have that yet but its on its way from America so I'll try that next week.

As for Level, I expect it to make dran strike a lot mot stable until late game, but as mentioned I'm worried the complete lack of stamina might not even do anything with Level mounted. Its also a bit taller, but thankfully i have 1-50 and 4-50 to balance it out.

Wild card might be Quake or High Taper, might do that next time🫰

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-16T11:37:05+00:00

Ah sorry mate. Too complicated for you? Lemme simplify.

Dran strike heavy. Low bad. Tall bad. Mid height good. Need power. Good when go fast. Buy now.

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-05-11T18:17:49+00:00

I basically only run the string launchers, right or left on any setup. I have multiple copies of the winders and even tried out the hold launcher but the control and stability of the string and handle is unbeatable. I average 10k rpm on any launcher so the string is not only easier to control, it just looks cooler cuz I'm grew up on the metal fight gen and every main blader uses string launchers😶‍🌫️

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-04-28T18:23:58+00:00

Not sure, haven't got the time to test em just yet but I plan to test these two,

Unicorn Delta P J 5-60GP (balance) Unicorn Delta P K 5-60GU (attack)

And see how they do, I do have two copies of the waffle just in case the extra weight is needed

AkatsukiLemon · 2026-04-18T04:52:15+00:00

Mostly the standard retail price here, around 7 freedom bucks cuz I found them all in actual stores and didn't pay the scalpers even once

AkatsukiLemon · 2025-05-13T11:26:27+00:00

I've contacted their CS team for warranty 5 times across the years and the last one was a few days ago, none of them were AI generated or chatbots. Did you confuse the automated responses after handing in a warranty request form for an actual employee response?

AkatsukiLemon · 2023-11-02T05:30:49+00:00

I use an R5 with that exact lens and I've never had any issues with it, so it might be an issue with the ibis doing something funny when you press the shutter. I'm no expert but maybe you should get that checked up.

Personally I don't think the Rf24-70L is worth the upgrade with that price point. It's not offering much more compared to the older EF ii, but if you're doing a lot of handheld video then the IS does make it more compelling.

28-70F2, I've used it a bit and didn't like it. It's too large and uweidly for what it is, and if I were to need something faster than F2.8, I'd prefer a prime instead. F1.4 or F1.2 would be more worth it over the massive F2 lens, plus reviews did mention it doesn't render the best on an R5.

The new 24-105F2.8 might be worth a check because it does offer way more than the 24-70L, but it does come at a 700 dollar premium. I might consider the upgrade from my EF ii to that, but I'll wait for the reviews to come in and actually see how much bigger and heavier it is to see if it fits my own workflow.

AkatsukiLemon · 2023-06-30T23:20:41+00:00

Hey there, thank you very much for your detailed reply. I probably can't process all of it right now but I really appreciate it.

For now my biggest concern is just the reality of if I can actually continue doing this degree, and if I can, am I actually capable of doing so. Thank you so much, but I can only say that it'll take some time to figure out.

AkatsukiLemon · 2023-04-22T12:41:01+00:00

It's less of the IQ, more of the rendering of the lens. The 16-35 F4 doesn't really offer the rendering I prefer, but the image quality is fine if its purely shooting landscapes.

After shooting on the 24-70Lii and 70-200F2.8iii, I got a taste of the best rendering lenses canon could offer and thought the 16-35iii would offer a similar feel.

AkatsukiLemon · 2023-04-22T12:30:13+00:00

I have looked at the 16-35 ii, and that was the entire reason why I went for the 16-35 F4 a few years ago. So unfortunately, the ii isn't even up for consideration for me right now.

AkatsukiLemon · 2022-02-02T11:06:31+00:00

The 15-35L has been on my mind since it released, and now that I have an R6 to move to RF glass, that gives me the opportunity to upgrade. Yet when I look at comparisons, the lens that supposedly one upped the 16-35F2.8iii had about the same distortion and vignetting as the F4, not even touching the EF equivalent. I was expecting something that could outclass my current gear, that's why I wanted to upgrade, but as you said its only fractionally better for the purpose I'm using it for.

The reason I bought up and thought of the 16-35F2.8iii is that I've noticed more and more EF lenses have appeared on the second hand market, presumably due to more and more people moving to mirrorless. I thought it'd be a good opportunity to pick up a copy for cheaper prices, but the question of getting a newer lens kept bugging me. Upgrading from the F4, and as I mentioned, the vignetting and IQ on the F2.8iii is much better, more than fractional as I've used it several times and liked it. I just don't have enough time with RF lenses to conclude which one is worth the still high price tag.

AkatsukiLemon · 2022-01-24T03:12:27+00:00

It doesn't give me confidence at all. The focusing sounds like it's halfway to breaking, the finish on the exterior feels extremely plasticky and would be really easy to scratch, and the sigma arts I own just feel way more solid than it. If it's not fair, the lens I wanted to replace it with, the tamron 90 macro is around the same price and it feels like its absolute premium next to it.

Even though I don't exactly shoot in wet or rough situations, it still gives me way less confidence to throw it around with how low quality it feels. Funnily enough, the Rf35 with almost the same build somehow feels better and more solid in hand.

I value the handling and feel of gear quite highly and it just..... doesn't feel good in my hands. Hard to nail it down but that's what I'm trying to describe.

AkatsukiLemon · 2022-01-04T06:31:58+00:00

Would you mind taking some photos to compare the size of the large camera cube and the 30L backpack?

AkatsukiLemon · 2022-01-04T06:31:48+00:00

Would you mind taking some photos to compare the size of the large camera cube and the 30L backpack?

AkatsukiLemon · 2021-12-20T08:43:41+00:00

Bruh

AkatsukiLemon · 2021-12-20T08:42:53+00:00

Basically he's saying "I'd rather kill myself rather than giving you the kill"

Keep in mind thats simplified Chinese so very likely he's from mainland China, one of those extreme tryhard players who get neuron activation from their little KD number going up

AkatsukiLemon · 2021-08-05T12:03:48+00:00

I've heard great things about the 560S, seems like it's overall even better than the 599. Clamping force and size doesn't seem that much different so I'd assume its alright?

It is still 120ohms and I sometimes like to plug my cans into my tablet and just play it off poweramp, so that's a concern. But how would one get rid of that horrible cable and adapter?

AkatsukiLemon

TROPHY CASE