A super in depth guide on Party Buff

[heavy cradle]

Party Buff - One of the most important mechanic that the game somehow gloss over..

TLDR: #1160517537243607143 message

Introduction

• Party buff is super important in teambuilding. They determine whether your team will deal a lot of damage, or tougher than any steel, or none at all
• You can find party buff info on said unit in hero profile, or hero's book
• They remain active even if the hero dies
• They still apply in Arena, TDM, and even any other gamemode
• However, they're not a part of DPS/Toughness stat formula, so you have to go in battle to notice it

Now, let's talk about different types of Party buff (shortened to PB)

For PB with (Universal**) tag

• These PB that benefits everyone, though if you pair them with melee/ranged PB, please see what their damage type.
  For example, Parvati is crit, but deals MELEE damage so put her on a team with Melee PB, or how Rosetta has Normal attack, but deals RANGED damage, so put her with Ranged PB

1.) Melee Damage```In GT, we have two attack type, Melee and Ranged. Melee damage ONLY increase unit that deals melee type attack. 
- Example of someone that __benefit__ this buff would be Beth, KAI and Lupina (yes, lupina deals melee damage ![CraigKek](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/859048484095131658.webp?size=128 "CraigKek") )

2.) Ranged Damage```Opposite of Melee, it increases Ranged damage type ONLY.
- Example of someone that __benefit__ Ranged damage would be Mayreel, Andras and Bianca (Andras n Bianca deals ranged damage ![ThisIsFine](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/1054346777001730088.webp?size=128 "ThisIsFine") )

3.) Critical Chance (Universal**)```Increase the chance to deal double damage (x2) in all attack (weapon and chain skill included)
- __(Universal**) Party buff__
- **One crit chance PB is enough!** The more crit you have, the less you benefit from more crit. Never use more than 1 crit party buff ![captain_eva_stop](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/899620627462373417.webp?size=128 "captain_eva_stop")  *__We'll talk about this later__*

4.) Critical Multiplier (Universal**)```Increase critical damage only. Due to nature of this PB, do not use this without a Critical Chance PB in the team
- Need critical chance PB in your team ![favi_peek](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/729673578966024303.webp?size=128 "favi_peek") , also __(Universal**) Party buff__

5.) Skill Damage (Universal**)```Increase the damage from Weapon Skill and Chain Skills ![mayreel](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/834526710896525363.webp?size=128 "mayreel") 
- __(Universal**) Party buff__

6.) Weapon Skill Regen Speed```Increase the speed at which Weapon Skill recharges (basically faster cooldown)
- This PB benefits only for party leader ![ThisIsFine](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/1054346777001730088.webp?size=128 "ThisIsFine") 
- If you wanna nerd abt it, formula to see your current weapon skill CD is =  "Raw CD listed on weapon info" / (100% + "Total of WSR Bonuses")

7.) Normal Attack (Universal**)```increase the damage from normal attacks, and second attacks, whether they are melee or ranged.
- __(Universal**) Party buff__, however does not increase weapon/chain skill damage. ![KamaelPain](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/899620662719692890.webp?size=128 "KamaelPain")

8.) Elemental Damage (Universal**)```Increase any damage from that specific element. On the other hand, it will not affect damage outside of that element so it can only be used in specific team.
- Remember that hero damage comes __from the Weapon element__, not the hero's element ![captain_eva_stop](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/899620627462373417.webp?size=128 "captain_eva_stop") 
- __(Universal**) Party buff__ as long they has the same weapon element. Example: Andras with Earth staff, or Eunha with earth basket will benefit Earth damage PB

9.) HP (Hit Points)```Increase your unit's health. Pretty straightforward ![KamaelPain](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/899620662719692890.webp?size=128 "KamaelPain") . Obviously this benefits everyone

10.) Defense (Def)```Increase your unit's defense. Pretty straightforward ![KamaelPain](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/899620662719692890.webp?size=128 "KamaelPain"). Obviously this benefits everyone

11.) Shield on Battle Start```Gives your unit's shield everytime on battle start. This PB works best with another HP/Def PB for maximum effect
- In Arena, This only affects once in Arena match per unit. Say you have Morrian with shield start, then you move to another enemy after you killed one. Then Morrian doesn't get more shield from party buff.
- Obviously this benefits everyone ![KamaelPain](https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/899620662719692890.webp?size=128 "KamaelPain")

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Advanced info about Party Buff

• Due to how guardian tales is coded, having a wide variety of party buff that syncronize >>> having the same party buff, because they multiplies.
  For example, HP+Def is more beneficial rather than HP+HP or Def+Def party buff

This also goes the same for Ranged+Crit > Ranged+Ranged, or Element+Ranged+Crit > Ranged+Ranged+Ranged. You can take a look in this chart made by Para https://discord.com/channels/685074259910852633/1160494587928903690

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Let's take a look into some of the Meta team:

• Kamael FP Craig Miya, for story
  Miya increases Kamael's weapon & chain skill damage, while Miya herself can benefit Kamael's PB. Though Miya's PB and Kamael's Ranged PB doesn't benefit FP and Craig, since they are melee and not leader (Tbh they're there only to tank, so it doesnt matter much)

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• Ameris Kamael Tinia Mayreel, for raid (mono earth)
  Kamael & Tinia's ranged PB benefits Ameris n Mayreel. Ameris's Earth PB Also works since they use earth weapons. Mayreel's Crit PB further enchance their damage. Of course this all also works because they give defense debuff, but the concept still strongly applies.
  Honestly raid is on whole another topic due to debuff mechanic

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• Morrian Pymon Lahn, Stall team in Arena
  The combination of Shield+Def+HP really make this team so tanky, that they can win by stalling the Arena timer. Since all of them has no offensive party buff, attack type can be ignored

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• Sohee Beth Lupina KAI, for Colosseum
  Aside from how expensive this team is, their PB syncronizes. Sohee and Beth's melee dmg compliments Lupina and KAI who deals melee attack, Lupina gives Crit for everyone, while KAI enchance Normal attack for them

[heavy cradle]

TLDR;

• Don't mix Ranged damage (Ex. Kamael) party buff with melee dealer (ex. Beth). And Vice versa
• 1 crit chance party buff is enough, no need 2+
• Shield on start must be mixed with defensive party buff
• Normal attack doesn't buff your weapon/chain skill, and vice versa
• More varieties of Party buff (ranged+element+crit) is better than same varieties on 1 team (ranged+ranged+ranged) with rule no.1