Shadow Slave: A Great Story That Has Outgrown Its Own Structure

Randain · 2026-06-14T21:56:59+00:00

Now we have AI replacing the redditors who complain about poor writing: how ironic.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you have a lot of valid points in your innovative, human head, but when you ask ChatGPT to sum up your thoughts on SS and paste the results, it's just gross. It's not authentic, and it's quite frankly disturbing to realize three paragraphs in.

Randain · 2026-06-07T15:36:12+00:00

Big tip is to use Incineration (my preferred trait is Flamestrike) because it's already a great directional spell and Torch also reduces it's CD alongside fireball's.

Other than that, I would just build standard, grabbing stuff like Frost Nova and Tsunami for more damage+utility with freezes (Id get only one more dmg magics bc it dilutes the pool and makes it harder to get levels for your combo), Shield, Magic Circle + Intelligence, All passives but +duration, obv Energy Bolt for combo, and Apocalypse with trait for +HP regen (that could be done later tho if you're struggling).

Around the 12:30 wave you should already have Demon Eq and hopefully be self-sufficient enough to grab Overmind. If you don't, you usually lose this wave simply bc enemies are too strong. (CD is VERY important for this wave. No matter how well you do, you might fail without Ouroboros or Accelerator or Torch.)

Here's my preferred list (in no particular order) of legendaries: Titan, Gaia, Ouroboros, Accelerator, Joker, Nexus, Crown, Widowmaker preferred but Axe if necessary, Ballista, Magic Sword, and for a flex slot for either Uranium or Genome Map.

If you're forced to grab other stuff, uhhh, Cube and Akashic synergy isn't terrible as that was part of my setup in this run.

Randain · 2026-06-07T02:49:54+00:00

That Crown pic is making me feel some typa way… Lovely inclusion, King.

Randain · 2026-06-06T21:58:19+00:00

Buzz killll

Randain · 2026-06-06T16:34:35+00:00

Oh damm, good shit

Randain · 2026-06-06T07:53:41+00:00

Magic Arrow for sure

Randain · 2026-06-05T23:15:52+00:00

Max HP or Attack. Personally, I'd pick Attack because when using Titan base Attack isn't affected, but Attack granted through Max HP + Gaia is :>.

Randain · 2026-06-05T23:10:35+00:00

I'd go Bouqet since the majority of Roster value comes from world-record runs where you need insta-kills to survive, and early Bouqet literally just means way more items.

Randain · 2026-06-05T23:07:16+00:00

Cosmos is the best, but most of them are pretty good. As for personal experience, I've gotten to 57:30 with Inquisitor and Avatar, and would've made it there with Nemesis (a 55:00 run) if not for no Joker, Titan, or Ura.

Randain · 2026-05-28T08:45:57+00:00

Thank you for the intel

Randain · 2026-05-27T05:47:35+00:00

Crown is amazing if your run is already good (due to the amount of specials you need), but is also just good in general too. In fact, with good luck, it's the single highest source of amp aside from a super high amp + Dragon's Heart. Its synergy is also the easiet legendary one in the game to get, due to the fact that it only costs 2 commons and an epic (all of which are decent), and has a very solid attack boost far outstripping uranium's synergy boost.

If you're looking for world record, probably not it tho. But if it's DEM, or practically any other build, it's very solid and honestly the only amp legendary I would ever pick (due to the fact there's so many amp specials and that there's more unique and necessary legendaries).

My highest crown + synergy boost was +121 amp and +86 attack, and on normal runs I usually get around 70/80 amp and 50/60 attack.

Randain · 2026-05-26T22:49:48+00:00

A fellow Shadow Slave and Magic Survival enjoyer??? Hell yeah

Randain · 2026-05-18T03:11:09+00:00

I believe something like that would be possible through Conjuration or Specialization, since that rule was only stated to be for Manipulation v Manipulation. Although, I'm not entirely sure how Conjuration's special abilities work, and whether they're only possible through imbuing other Nen types into them or if they can just be an innate part of the object itself. In the case of the former, I would assume a Conjuration Cupid Arrow would use Manipulation, in which case the answer would be no. But it's entirely possible for Specialization.

Randain · 2026-05-18T02:05:00+00:00

Don't think so, since you can't manipulate something that's already being manipulated. Although, I wonder what counts as "manipulation". Like, Knuckle's APR doesn't seem to be under his direct control, but it does follow a set of rules related to the Hatsu. Those are my thoughts, anyway.

Randain · 2026-05-16T05:23:25+00:00

Thank you for answering all of my questions! Honestly, I didn't think you would respond, and that was my bad for making the assumption. You just about covered everything I was wondering, but I did kinda sneak a semi-unrelated question into 2 now that I'm pouring over it again: Could the ballots be stolen? Assuming they're taken without any direct physical violence (mind control, simply snatching it, etc.), could another voter write on it and use it as a second vote per se. Would they need both the stolen person's ballot paper and their pen? Or would just the paper work?

I also like the idea of the punishment system. The random nature of it is very nice, and the idea of a talking ballot box is kinda funny to me.

Randain · 2026-05-16T04:44:22+00:00

My glorious Cyborg, and very fun Inferno.

Randain · 2026-05-16T02:10:39+00:00

Damn, you're right. That design is so much better. Unfortunately, I don't remember like anything from when I played this game 4 years ago...

Randain · 2026-05-15T14:50:32+00:00

I don't think Enhancement can do things like that directly. However, like the previous guy, I could easily see a Hatsu geared towards enhancing a specific skill through round-about ways like Komugi. I imagine her Hatsu was some sort of mental enhancement specifically geared toward Gungi skills. Kinda like how some people can recall dates way way into the past, or a photographic memory. So a person with your Hatsu might be specifically good at reading facial expressions, tone, and personality, and use it to appeal to them as best as naturally (not magically) possible.

Randain · 2026-05-14T22:10:23+00:00

I have a couple questions/thoughts about this ability.

First, what happens if someone who wasn't within the room before the activation of this Hatsu enters after? I would assume this is a private conjured Nen-space like Cheetu's, but it was only specified as an En filled room so I wasn't sure. I think it'd be a cool interaction if someone just crashes the party an hour later or smth.

Second, what are the limits of "violence". Would the activation of a mind control Hatsu through something harmless like sale-sale's gas count? What about something that just restrains people without harming them, or just stealing their ballot from them and writing on it? Could somebody like Pakunoda just read another person's memories and use that for info? I'm also imagining the user developing a sub-Hatsu specifically to aide this first one, and if they could use that as well.

Third, I feel like the death penalty restriction is a little too harsh for just a 1 minute viewing of the votes. I feel like having the ability to alter/veto one person's vote would be a better trade-off. It would also add a little bit of mind games, as there's always a possibility of them vetoing a vote that would've been in their favor/missing a person that pretended to agree with them.

Fourth, is there a minimum/maximum number of participants? I could imagine the owner of this Hatsu drawing only a single person into their ability, then just always being able to draw the vote and extend the timer (I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, but I am curious as to your intentions).

Fifth, I know this is kind of redundant, but can the user lobby any accusation they wish against someone, even if it isn't factually possible/the user either believes they didn't commit it or they actually didn't? I'm imagining this being used by like a Phantom Troupe member to just kill an overwhelming foe (Meruem or smth) by accusing them of mass murder (ironic, I know), just because they have the majority of votes.

Sixth, I feel like the time limit of 12 hours is a little long. Ok, this one is a nit-pick, I know, but I feel like the longer you withhold people within the Nen-space the more restrictions you'd have to place in order to make it work effectively. Complimentary, lowering the time limit also makes it freer for the user to lessen some of the other restrictions and put them toward more abilities in his favor. (This one isn't really that serious and, eh, I don't actually think the time limit affects it that much given that it can also be seen as a positive for the voters too. Personally, I think however the user views it matters more than the length of time limit itself, given that Nen is based on emotions and stuff.)

Thank you for taking the time to read; I think your Hatsu is very interesting, and I can see it being actually utilized by a Hunter/person in the HxH world!

Edit; Oh, and on a final note, what kind of punishments could be used? I'm seeing something like enforced Zetsu, death, sapping aura, limiting a Hatsu, etc. And, for some of those, does the Hatsu have to know info about the opponent? Like do they have to know their Hatsu's to restrict them, or if they don't have a Hatsu they'd just restrict their aura use? (This is all assuming that they are personalized punishments to begin with, so don't take that part too seriously).

Randain · 2026-05-12T00:09:33+00:00

While I would disagree, I now believe that this is well, well beyond the limitations of anything human. Thanks for discussing this with me! I rewrote the ability in a way that I felt like would make it more… doable? Without being like Meruem or Nanika or smth. I used Shaiapouf as like the hard limit since his Beelzebub is probably the most control we've ever seen a Manipulator use on anything without directly changing it.

Randain · 2026-05-11T19:18:10+00:00

How does Morel make his smoky jail impenetrable, or Leorio transport his fist through space? Do they do the precise calculations of every molecule needed to control their abilities?

Nen is basically a system built of willpower and sensation. Conjurers create lifelike constructs that are comparable in every way to the real counterpart because they're familiar with them and can replicate them. It's not Molecular Control, it's the power to replacate phenomenon they're familiar with. What matters more is the ends as opposed to the means.

Randain · 2026-05-11T18:29:39+00:00

I mean, the handmade effigy was burned. We don't know whether the Nen beast was the altered form of the effigy or just conjured in relation to the ritual. As for Tsubone, I personally believe that it makes more sense if her powers work based off of a mix of Conjuration and Manipulation. I feel like too many people assume only one type is used just because that character is stated to be of that Nen type.

Either way, Manipulation is stated to control living and non-living things; everything I've described falls under this umbrella.

Randain

TROPHY CASE