[Trexmaster]

I do not think "Its easily" accesible, so that argument is a bit weird to make.

Shine sword has a lot of problems with itself, mainly not being a casting tool for Mercala domain, meaning you automaically start investing alot more when you go down that rabbit hole. Of course you could just say you do not have to use magic, which is technically correct...But why bother with it then if NOT for the immunity? The blind thing? I do think there are easier ways for this.


Either way I do not mind it changing, I find myself winning more fights not actually shine knighting than I do with it, in same set ups. Spending one whole turn invoking for only 5 turns is more than it sounds.

It's accessible in the sense that unless you rely on a specific hand-slot item or weapon potential for your build, main-handing a shine sword and off-handing your usual weapon won't break your build. A very small price to pay for being able to wall out entire builds.

If nothing else shine sword is a +2 WIL/FAI stat stick hand-slot item. If you're only using it as a stat-stick/means of using shine knighting it not being a spell-edge weapon for Mercalan domain spells isn't much of a downside, as most people are going to be casting with their main weapon (in their off hand) instead, if they're even a caster using it. You bother with shine knighting if you have time to setup before engaging the enemy or you know your opponent makes use of Dark and or Light damage predominately.

It's an amazing defensive buff when it can be used without getting punished such as in cases where you start at extreme distances from your opponent, and acts as a complete shutdown against anyone who relied on either Dark or Light damage. It's worth mentioning nothing else acts as a pseudo-forced blind effect against anything attacking you.

Shine Knighting isn't something that will win you fights more often in general, just as wearing a red letter or circle ring won't cause you to win more fights against people. Its best use is as a hard counter to Dark/Light. Worst case scenario your opponent is having to deal with that for 4 rounds, and if it's so debilitating to them that they cannot damage you because of it you've effectively already won as you can simply refresh the buff before it expires.

That's my main problem with it, being able to have such an easily accessible win condition against two different elements. Forcing everyone to wear a magical comet in case they get pocket shine-sworded if they do majority dark/light damage seems less than ideal.