[Fern]

Global evasion affects more than just mages. STR autohit builds generally sacrifice SKI and deal with a constant 30% reduction, which usually also throws defensive stats and others into the mix. I had a 201 scaled weapon attack Apertaurus, and once Global Evasion hit, I had to shift out of that build. Why? Because it was pure autohits, and 200 SWA wasn't as effective versus the DR. The power bonus also wouldn't apply to the Apertaurus' casting tool, in the original suggestion, since it's supposed to count all casting tools.

The STR investment, in this case, would be about 40 to 50 scaled to even show a good difference. You've gotta build a fairly high amount of STR to get good use out of the power bonus. If you build STR, you miss out on other stats due to the amount of stat points you can invest. That generally means critical damage-- and if you build pure, critical damage with STR? Then you lose out on defensive stats as well, usually. I'm speaking from experience with making numerous critical builds, both the ones using STR and the ones that don't. The latter usually plays out the best, in the end.

Cinders are a different issue- you shouldn't shoot towards cinders every time you build STR at all. The problem with cinders is also not the fact you can get high STR with Dragon King set (that forces you go to go tank in most cases if you wear the full thing, mind you) but the way on-round effects work. It's the reason why being a low CEL character is usually the best route for a pyromancer- because things such as Explosion and cinders activate the moment their turn ends, if they go last. If such effects happened on your next turn instead, then it'd be a lot better- but this thread is about STR, not cinders.