Abilities Section

Hitpoints per Level: by Title Level

TL1

TL2

TL3

TL4

TL5

TL6

6

6

6

6

6

6

Breed

Skill Multiplier

Level Modifier

Begin Value

Nanomage

2

-1

10

Solitus

3

0

10

Opifex

3

-1

15

Atrox

4

0

25

Nanopool Points per Level: by Title Level

TL1

TL2

TL3

TL4

TL5

TL6

4

5

6

7

8

10

Breed

Skill Multiplier

Level Modifier

Begin Value

Nanomage

4

+1

15

Solitus

3

0

10

Opifex

3

-1

10

Atrox

2

-2

8

Colour

Details

Green

Cheapest IP cost skills (1.0 to 1.5)

Light Blue

Medium IP cost skills (1.6 to 2.4)

Medium Dark Blue

Expensive IP cost skills (2.5 to 3.5)

Dark Blue

Very Expensive IP cost skills (3.6 and higher)

Red

Skills with strongly negative recommendations

Yellow

Skills with medium recommendations or more than one recommendation based on circumstances

Light Green

Skills with strongly positive recommendations

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Martial Arts

2.8

Martial Arts is one of the cheapest of MP weapons skills. A few MPs chose Martial Arts as a high level secondary damage skill before the release of Shadowlands. The complete Martial Arts toolset spreads over a very wide range of skills. It’s possible to raise 10 skills or more in order to complete a full set of Martial Arts weaponry. This made Martial Arts an interesting choice for many MPs who focus more on gameplay than on relentlessly seeking the highest possible damage.

Unfortunately, with the arrival of Shadowlands and the extension of levels from 200 to 220, it is unlikely that any MP will have enough spare IP to maintain the broad range of skills needed to take full advantage of the Martial Arts skillset.

With this change, the viability of Martial Arts as a secondary damage source for high level MPs has taken a huge blow and this guide cannot recommend Martial Arts for MPs any longer.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon

Brawling

2.8

Brawling is a skill that is often a requirement on melee weapons. These weapons add a Brawl special, which will increase in damage the higher you raise the skill.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Dimach

2.5

Dimach is a skill that is often a requirement on melee weapons. These weapons add a Dimach special, which will increase in damage the higher you raise the skill.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Riposte

3.2

Riposte is a melee defensive skill that gives a chance of blocking a melee attack and at the same time scoring an immediate free hit on the attacker. It does not disturb the attack and recharge on your own melee weapon. The Riposte effect is disabled at this time in AO.

Do not invest IP in this skill

Adventuring

2.0

Apart from being a requirement on some of the Protection gear that allows you safe access to some of the playfields in Shadowlands, Adventuring serves no real purpose for the MP at this time.

Invest in this skill only in order to equip items without which you cannot live.

Swimming

2.0

The Swimming skill increases your speed of swimming through water. There are very, very few situations in the game when this could ever be an advantage. The result simply would not justify the investment.

Do not invest IP in this skill

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

1 Hand Blunt

2.6

The 1 Hand Blunt skill can be an important one for the MP. The most useful of the MP’s Creation Weapons and Shields all use the 1 Hand Blunt skill. The creations are primarily buffing items, that also serve as weak weapons, and are mostly used by some lower level MPs up to around level 100.

On the whole, it’s only necessary to raise the 1 Hand Blunt skill so that it is just high enough for you to equip the Creation Weapon or Shield that you wish to wield. Before investing IP in this skill, the MP should implant as much as possible for the skill. You may even want to take into account the 1HB buffs available from Enforcers, which will buff up to +89 points on your 1 Hand Blunt.

Certainly, if you are going to use the 1 Hand Blunt creations you should invest as few points as possible into the skill.

1 Hand Blunt is also a relatively cheap weapons skill for the MP. If you have chosen to wield a 1 Hand Blunt weapon for the purpose of doing damage, then you should raise this skill as high as possible in order to get the most out of your weapon.

Invest only the very minimum of points in order to wield the creation weapons.

Or:

Invest as required for your damage weapon choice.

1 Hand Edged

4.0

1 Hand Edged is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield 1 Hand Edge based weapons.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

Piercing

3.2

Piercing is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield piercing based weapons.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

2 Hand Blunt

4.0

The 2 Hand Blunt skill is not an important one for the MP. The least useful of the MP’s Creation Weapons use the 2 Hand Blunt skill. The creations are primarily buffing items, that also serve as weak weapons, and are mostly used by some lower level MPs up to around level 100. Most MPs prefer to use the 1 Hand Blunt Creations above the 2 Hand Blunt ones.

On the whole, it’s only necessary to raise the 2 Hand Blunt skill so that it is just high enough for you to equip the Creation that you wish to wield. Before investing IP in this skill, the MP should implant as much as possible for the skill. You may even want to take into account the 2HB buffs available from Enforcers, which will buff up to +89 points on your 2 Hand Blunt.

Certainly, if you are going to use the 2 Hand Blunt creations you should invest as few points as possible into the skill.

2 Hand Blunt is also a relatively expensive weapons skill for the MP. Still, if you have chosen to wield a 2 Hand Blunt weapon for the purpose of doing damage, then you should raise this skill as high as possible in order to get the most out of your weapon.

Invest only the very minimum of points in order to wield the creation weapons.

Invest as required for your damage weapon choice though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

2 Hand Edged

2.5

2 Hand Edged is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield 2HE based weapons. 2 Hand Edged weapons are quite popular among Atrox MPs at very high levels as the 2HE skill itself is one the cheapest MP weapons skills.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Melee Energy

4.0

Melee Energy is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield Melee Energy based weapons

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

Parry

4.0

Parry is a melee defensive skill that gives a chance of blocking a melee attack while you are wielding a specific ‘parry flagged’ melee weapon type. The parry effect is disabled at this time in AO.

Do not invest IP in this skill unless required to equip a weapon that you have chosen.

Sneak Attack

4.0

Sneak Attack is a skill that is often a requirement on melee weapons. These weapons add a Sneak Attack special, which will increase in damage and recycle faster the higher you raise the skill.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Multi Melee

4.0

Multi-Melee is a skill that allows you to equip two single-handed melee weapons at the same time. Any weapon capable of being dual wielded in this way will have a “Dual Wield” requirement. The dual wield requirement of the weapon going into the left hand must be reach in order to successfully dual wield the weapon with another melee weapon. Additional Multi-Melee skill above the requirement will not affect the performance of the weapons.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Fast Attack

4.0

Fast Attack is a skill that is often a requirement on melee weapons. These weapons add a Fast Attack special, which will increase in damage and recycle faster the higher you raise the skill.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Sharp Objects

3.2

Sharp Objects is a basic weapon skill. There are some special attack items in the game for Sharp Objects skill – but these weapons are not really suited to the MP and Sharp objects has serious implant clashes and no external buffs available.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

Grenade

4.0

Grenade is a basic weapon skill. It is only used to wield certain weapons which do not really suit the MP playstyle or skills distribution.

Invest in this skill only for a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

Heavy Weapons

4.0

Heavy Weapons is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield certain weapons which do not really suit the MP playstyle or skills distribution.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Bow

2.5

Bow is a basic weapon skill. It is only used to wield certain weapons. It is a skill that many MPs favour because it seems to ‘fit’ with the warrior priest idea of the MP. It is also one of the cheapest weapons skills for the MP and some MP specific armour buffs Bow for small amounts.  There are even several MP only bows to be found in the Shadowlands.

Invest in this skill only for a specific weapon.

Pistol

2.4

Pistol is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield piercing based weapons. The MP has a natural affinity for pistol, since it’s our cheapest and highest maxing weapons skill.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Assault Rifle

4.0

Assault Rifle is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield certain weapons which do not really suit the MP playstyle or skills distribution.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

MG/SMG

3.5

MG/SMG is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield certain weapons. It is the cheapest of the Gun ranged weapon skills for the MP.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Shotgun

4.0

Shotgun is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield certain weapons.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Rifle

4.0

Rifle is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield certain weapons. Although expensive, Rifle is easy to implant for an MP and so quite a popular choice.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Ranged Energy

4.0

Ranged Energy is a basic weapon skill. It is required in order to wield certain weapons which do not really suit the MP playstyle or skills distribution.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon though it’s not recommended as a strong MP weapon skill.

Fling Shot

4.0

Fling Shot is a skill that is required in order to wield certain weapons. It adds a special to the weapon. Increasing the skill adds to the damage and reduces the recycle time on the special.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Aimed Shot

4.0

Aimed Shot is a skill that is required in order to wield certain weapons. It adds a special to the weapon. Increasing the skill adds to the damage and reduces the recycle time on the special.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Burst

4.0

Burst is a skill that is required in order to wield certain weapons. It adds a special to the weapon. Increasing the skill adds to the damage and reduces the recycle time on the special.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Full Auto

4.0

Full Auto is a skill that is required in order to wield certain weapons. It adds a special to the weapon. Increasing the skill adds to the damage and reduces the recycle time on the special.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Bow Special Attack

2.5

Bow Special Attack is a skill that is required in order to use ‘special arrows with a pure bow. Special Arrows act a little like a weapons special but are actually a special sort of ammo for the weapon. Your bow special attack will not affect the power of the special, you only need to meet the requirements to use the special.

Invest in this skill only for using specific specials.

Multi Ranged

2.5

Multi-Ranged is a skill that allows you to equip two single-handed ranged weapons at the same time. Any weapon capable of being dual wielded in this way will have a “Dual Wield” requirement. The dual wield requirement of the weapon going into the left hand must be reach in order to successfully dual wield the weapon with another melee weapon. Additional Multi-Ranged skill above the requirement will not affect the performance of the weapons.

Invest in this skill only for using a specific weapon.

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Melee-Init

4.0

Melee-Init is a skill which increases the speed of attack and recharge on a melee weapon. While the MP Creation weapons are melee weapons, their primary purpose is to buff certain stats and not to deal damage. As a result, it’s generally not a wise investment of IP to raise your Melee Init in order to make your creation weapons faster.

However if you have chosen to wield a melee damage weapon, raising your Melee-Init is likely to be an important factor in terms of your overall damage over time.

Do not raise this skill for your Creation Weapons

Raise this skill only for using a specific damage oriented Melee weapon

Ranged-Init

4.0

Ranged-Init is a skill which increases the speed of attack and recharge on a melee weapon. This can be an important factor in terms of your overall damage over time with a weapon.

Raise this skill only for using a specific ranged weapon

Phys-Init

3.2

Phys-Init is a skill which increases the speed of attack and recharge on MA fists, MA weapons and pure bows. This can be an important factor in terms of your overall damage over time with a weapon.

Raise this skill only for using a specific MA weapon or Bow

NanoC-Init

1.0

The most important skill in this section is NanoC-Init. It affects your ability to cast nanos faster. The higher the NanoC-Init the faster you can cast. While this is particularly important for MPs who like to use direct damage nanos to attack, it is also key for passive style MPs.

Particularly at lower levels where your pets will quite often die before killing a mob(s), the speed at which you can cast new pets can be the difference between life and death. In addition, when you have very high NanoC-Init through implants and NCU hardware (Nanoformula Recompiler) you can cast most nanos instantaneously. This then allows you to pull your aggro bar right down and still cast very fast.

Always max this skill

Evade Close Combat

(Evade Cls)

1.6

Evade Close Combat is a defensive skill against melee weapons attacks and MA attacks. Evade has two main effects

•           It reduces the chances of an attacker landing a hit on you

•           It reduces the chances of an attacker landing a critical hit on you (a maximum damage hit). The normal hit may still land though.

Evade will not reduce the damage of a hit that lands though, other than by reducing the chances of a critical hit.

For many MPs the major benefit is in reducing the critical hits. As a result, it’s possible to raise the Evade skill only as far as is necessary to reduce the number of critical hits you receive from the mobs or players you are fighting at your level.

For other MPs – in particular MPs who have chosen melee weaponry – lowering the chances of normal hits as much as possible is desirable too. These players will max their Evade as much as is possible with the IP they have spare.

Give evade close combat a medium priority and max it when you have the IP free

Or:

Raise evade close combat just far enough to reduce the critical hit chances against the content that you are fighting most at present.

Dodge Ranged

1.6

Dodge Ranged is a defensive skill against ranged weapons attacks. Dodge has two main effects

•           It reduces the chances of an attacker landing a hit on you

•           It reduces the chances of an attacker landing a critical hit on you (a maximum damage hit). The normal hit may still land though.

Dodge will not reduce the damage of a hit that lands though, other than by reducing the chances of a critical hit.

For many MPs the major benefit is in reducing the critical hits. As a result, it’s possible to raise the Dodge skill only as far as is necessary to reduce the number of critical hits you receive from the mobs or players you are fighting at your level.

For other MPs, lowering the chances of normal hits as much as possible is desirable too. These players will max their Dodge as much as is possible with the IP they have spare. In particular, PvP MPs will tend to try to max their Dodge where possible.

Give dodge ranged a medium priority and max it when you have the IP free

Or:

Raise dodge ranged just far enough to reduce the critical hit chances against the content that you are fighting most at present.

Duck Expl

(Duck Explosions)

2.4

Duck Explosions is a defensive skill against special weapons attacks such as Shotguns, Support Beams, Grenades and quite a few Shadowlands mob weapons.

•           It reduces the chances of an attacker landing a hit on you

•           It reduces the chances of an attacker landing a critical hit on you (a maximum damage hit). The normal hit may still land though.

Duck will not reduce the damage of a hit that lands though, other than by reducing the chances of a critical hit.

On the whole, MPs who focus on PvM in Rubika, will find that they don’t need very much Duck Exp. Most mobs in RK don’t use Duck based weaponry so you’ll only come across the need for this skill occasionally. MPs venturing into the Shadowlands may want to raise Duck Exp more in order to reduce the crit chances of some Shadowlands mobs.

In PvP, things are somewhat different. There are considerably more players who use Duck based weaponry in PvP and it is certainly worth raising Duck to a level where you reduce the chances of a critical hit significantly.

Duck Expl is quite an expensive skill for an MP so maxing it is a costly business. Not until the levels around 130+ are you likely to be able to afford to max the skill.

For PvM focussed MPs, raise this skill only as the lowest priority.

Or:

For PvP focussed MPs, raise this skill far enough to prevent critical hits from landing on you too often.

Nano Resist

1.6

Nano Resist is a defensive skill against hostile nanos. It reduces the chances that an attacker will be able to land a nano on you.

In PvM, although mobs now cast more nanos on you than they used to, the actual benefit from raising Nano Resist seems relatively small. This may well be due to abnormally high skills levels on mobs – or to the nano casting mechanism that mobs use.

In PvP, you’ll find that you need quite high levels of nano resist in order to resist nanos consistently. However, nano resist is certainly very important in PvP – particularly at the higher levels.

For PvM focussed MPs Nano Resist can take a low priority. You may never need to raise this skill at all.

Or:

For PvP focussed MPs you should try to max this skill with a medium priority.

Runspeed

2.4

Your runspeed skill determines how fast you can run. Runspeed does not affect your Walking speed.

Generally, at the lower levels, runspeed is not too important to an MP. You should in general raise runspeed enough to be able to run just a little bit faster than most of the mobs that you are fighting at your level. This means that when things go wrong during hunting and you just want to make a fast getaway, you stand a chance of getting away.

During the Medium Levels up to around level 135 a runspeed of up to around 360 should be sufficient for most of your needs. For times when you want to run long distances and would like to move faster, you can ask Fixers or Adventurers to give you a runspeed buff for the occasion.

At higher levels 135+ runspeed becomes somewhat more important and you may want to invest more points in it with a low priority.

For those players with Shadowlands though, things are a little different. Shadowlands doesn’t allow any flying whilst you are there. Also, a lot of the content in Shadowlands is linear in nature – that is you often have to move through long parts of the landscape in order to reach the area where you want to hunt. As a result, runspeed is a more important skill for Shadowlands players. Still, it’s a high cost dark blue skill and you won’t have the IP to max it all the time.

For low level players in Rubika, raise runspeed just far enough to outrun most mobs

For medium level players in Rubika up to around level 135 raise your runspeed with a low priority when you have some IP spare, up to around 360

For high level players in Rubika of level 135+ you may want to invest more points in runspeed when you have the chance

Or:

For Shadowlands players of all levels raise Runspeed with a medium priority

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Mechanical Engineering

2.0

Mechanical Engineering is a tradeskill often used for modifying and building solid objects.

Do not raise this skill

Electrical Engineering 

2.0

Electrical Engineering is a tradeskill used to create electronic parts of machines

Do not raise this skill

Quantum Field Theory 

2.4

Quantum Field Theory is a tradeskill that deals with the Quantum Level of tradeskilling.

Do not raise this skill

Weapon Smithing 

2.5

Weapon Smithing is a tradeskill used in the creation or modification of weaponry to improve them.

Do not raise this skill

Pharmaceutical Tech 

2.0

Pharmaceutical Tech is a skill used in the creation of healing items and the transformation of biological ingredients.

Do not raise this skill

Nano Programming 

1.0

This is the MPs strongest tradeskill. MPs also have a +92 buff for this skill which stacks with expertise to give a +112 buff to themselves. Nano Programming is used mostly for building clusters into normal implants. There are also several other small tradeskill processes that an MP can achieve with either Nano Programming or along with Computer Literacy. The skill has no other real uses other than being a requirement on a few very rare items that MPs might want to use.

Since this skill is green for MPs and we have a possible +112 buff in addition, we can make a tidy income using this trade. Adding in the new MP/NT perk line “Theoretical Research” which buffs the Nano Programming skill for a maximum of 200, the MP is certainly capable of being one of the leading Nano Programmers in the game.

If you have lots of money (from another character, ebay or wherever) then it's probably better to spend the points in one of your medium priority skills like evades or secondary abilities. If you aren't independently wealthy then imp building can be a useful source of income along with buffing people for tips. The higher the skill required for the imp the more money you will be tipped in general.

While MPs are able to solo high QL missions for their level, this takes a long time and can be very hard work. Missioning for items to sell is not going to make an MP much money. Buffing people with the superb range of Nano Skill buffs will make you a decent living if you sell the skill, so you may choose not to raise this skill based on that fact.

Raise this skill depending upon your financial situation and if you want to always build your own imps rather than get somebody else to build them.

Computer Literacy 

1.0

Computer Literacy is one of the most important skills for any MP. It is the requirement you need to reach in order to equip both Computer Decks and NCU chips to increase your total NCU capacity. MPs can use very large amounts of NCU in normal play and so need the best possible NCU chips they can get.

Other Deck items such as Recompilers (which buff NanoC-Init) and CPU Upgrades (which buff Nanocost Reduction) are also key elements for the MP. For the PvP MP a Coolant Sink for range increase can also be essential. All of these require Comp. Lit. to equip them and since they take up space in your deck, you’ll also need the very best NCU chips in the other slots to keep your NCU up high enough.

Comp. Lit. is a requirement for using one of the main transport methods in Rubika: The Grid. In order to get around the various places and cities in Rubika as swiftly as possible you’ll need to raise your Comp. Lit.

Comp. Lit. is also an important requirement for putting up you’re the main Control Towers and your own Personal Towers in Notum Wars tower bases.

Always max your Comp. Lit skill.

Psychology

1.6

Psychology is a tradeskill used in various unusual tradeskill process and is also a requirement to wear some unusual items. On the whole, an MP shouldn’t need to raise this skill unless they specifically want to use one of those unusual items.

Some Towers will require Psychology to place them which is probably the most likely reason for wanting to raise this skill for the MP at present. Also, Corona Armour is quite a popular armour with some MPs and will require some Psychology to equip it.

In the Shadowlands, it’s sometimes possible to disguise your faction alignment from NPCs by using the Bluffing action. Your success in bluffing depends upon your level of Psychology skill. On the whole, you will rarely actually need to bluff in the Shadowlands – but should you need to for some reason you may need to raise this skill in order to be successful.

Only raise this skill for a specific purpose. Very low priority skill for most MPs

Chemistry

2.0

Chemistry is mostly used in processes together with Pharma Tech to create various healing devices.

Do not raise this skill.

Tutoring

1.0

Tutoring is a skill that will enable you to use “Tutoring Devices”. These are items which when used, buff a particular tradeskill for a short period of time. You can only tutor one tradeskill at a time. There are tutoring devices for each of the skills you find in the Tradeskill section of the Skills Window.

The Tutoring devices range from QL1 to QL200 and will give a buff of up to 50 points. High level MPs might consider investing heavily in Tutoring in order to enable them to reach the very highest levels of Nano Programming and Computer Literacy for a specific tradeskill process.

Only raise this skill if you have maxed both Comp Lit and Nano Programming and intend to sell your services as a Tradeskiller.

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Matter Metamorphosis 

1.0

Matter Met. (MM) is the first of the nanoskills. It is most importantly a requirement for casting one of the three types of MP pets: the Psychosis or “Mez” pet. Matter Metamorphosis is also a requirement for a special nano that the MP has which allows the MP to fly through the air without a vehicle. Finally, Mat Met is also used as a requirement for casting some important buffs that the MP has.

Always max this skill.

Biological Metamorphosis 

1.0

Bio Met (BM) is also one of the nanoskills. It is most importantly used as a requirement for casting one of the three types of MP pets: the Heal pet. Bio Met is also a requirement for many other nanos that the MP casts including important pet buffs, creation weapons summoning nanos, certain debuffs etc. Bio Met counts as a requirement for casting the Creation nanos.

Always max this skill.

Psycho Modi 

1.6

Psycho Modi (PM) is also a nanoskill. Its main usage is in the casting of special buffs that the MP has which can raise the nanoskills or their target. Nanoskills buffs are a key element of MP play and as a result these buffs are very important. Psych Mod is also a key requirement in the casting of the MP nukes (direct damage nanos) and debuffs. As a result, Psych Mod is a very important skill.

During the period after you’re able to cast the nanoskills buffs called the masteries, it’s possible to save some IP for use elsewhere by not raising Psych Mod. The next major buffs that you will be able to cast with this skill are the Infuses and should come some 60 levels later. As a result, some MPs choose not to max Psych Mod during this period and wait until the level 85-100 title cap to begin maxing it again in preparation for casting the infuses.

This tactic has the downside that your debuffs and nukes will be less powerful than they could be during the period where you are not raising Psych Mod. Also, some attack pet buffs are based partly on Psych Mod and you may not be able to upgrade your pet buffs as a result. This is a choice that is usually made by MPs who have unusually chosen to use weapons for high damage during the early levels. The power that they lose on their nukes and debuffs is then offset by the extra damage they gain from using a weapon.

Most MPs should always max this skill

Or:

MPs who have chosen to use damage weapons at low level may choose to raise this skill only occasionally between the levels of 30 and 100.

Matter Creation 

1.0

Matter Creation (MC) is a nanoskill. It is used in the creation of one of the MP pets: the attack pet. Mat Cre is also used in the casting of some hostile nanos - in particular the nukes (direct damage nanos). It is also a key element of some pet buffs.

Always max this skill.

Time & Space 

1.0

Time & Space (TS) is a nanoskill. It is most importantly a requirement for casting all three of the MP pets. The pets are the life-blood of the MP and as a result this is the most important skill of all for an MP. Time/Space is also used in the casting of some hostile nanos and some important pet and player buffs. Time/Space also acts as a requirement for casting the Creation nanos.

Always max this skill.

Sensory Improvement 

1.6

Sense Imp is a nanoskill. It is the least used of the nanoskills for an MP. It’s mostly used as a requirement of buffing and debuffing nanos. Still it’s an important part of the MP toolset.

During the period after you’re able to cast the nanoskills buffs called the masteries, it’s possible to save some IP for use elsewhere by not raising Sense Imp. The next major buffs that you will be able to cast with this skill are the Infuses and should come some 60 levels later. As a result, some MPs choose not to max Psych Mod during this period and wait until the level 85-100 title cap to begin maxing it again in preparation for casting the infuses.

Although some attack pet buffs are based partly on Sense Imp (the “Chant” buffs), the Chant buffs are widely spaced and as a result some MPs choose to raise this skill only when doing so will actually gain them a new Chant. This is a choice that is usually made by MPs who have unusually chosen to use weapons for high damage during the early levels. The power that they lose on their debuffs is then offset by the extra damage they gain from using a weapon.

Some other player buffs and also the Bind and Recall nanos from Shadowlands also use Sense Imp as a requirement. Although these are secondary elements of an MP’s toolset, they can still be important elements depending upon your playstyle and where you choose to hunt most.

Most MPs should always max this skill

But:

For MPs who have chosen to raise unusual skills and are in need of the IP, it may be possible to raise this skill only when required for the casting of a specific desired nano.

First Aid 

1.6

First Aid is an Aiding skill. It is used mostly as a requirement on various stims and spindles in the game which can be used on yourself and on your team mates. Stims are tools that you can use for a variety of purposes including:

•           To heal your hitpoints while in combat

•           To heal your nanopool while in combat

•           To remove snares and roots while in combat

•           To buff your Body Dev while in combat

•           To give yourself a burst of fast runspeed while in combat

For players involved in PvP, First Aid is a key skill. For players focussed only on PvM, First Aid is a matter of choice.

While First Aid clearly has lots of uses for a player, an MP who focuses on team play in PvM will often find that other players in the team can do a better job of healing hitpoints and nano during battle. Also, in Rubika it’s possible to heal nano quite quickly with a treatment based kit while the other team members are holding the attention of the mobs.

Some MPs enjoy playing a “support role” at the lower levels, by focussing on healing, debuffing and crowd control. Such MPs may prefer to increase their First Aid in order to be able to offer another support service by helping players in need with their stims, such as filling in the pauses between heals from their heal pets.

Some MPs have a very strongly casting focussed playstyle in PvM and often run out of nano. Having a nano stim available can add an all important nuke or two at the end of a battle for an MP – particularly I solo play.

Some MPs have a very aggressive playstyle when soloing and expect the mob to be hitting them more often than hitting their pet. For such MPs the extra healing of an HP stim can be a life saver.

MPs who play in the Shadowlands a great deal will find the First Aid based “Spindles” a very important tool. The treatment based “coils” in Shadowlands take a long time to fill up your nano and HP. This can lead to downtime between battles which is never enjoyable. As a result, for players who are often hunting in the Shadowlands, First Aid is certainly an important skill.

Always max this skill.

Or:

MPs who only play in PvM teams in Rubika may decide to leave this skill untrained.

Treatment

2.0

Treatment is an Aiding skill. It is one of the most important skills for an MP.

Treatment is used as a requirement on many ‘heal’ kits that require you to sit while using them. These ‘kits’ are tools that you can use for a variety of purposes including:

•           To heal your hitpoints

•           To heal your nanopool

•           To remove snares and roots

•           To remove debuffs

Treatment is also the skill that defines what QL of implants you can equip. Since implants are a key source of skills and stat buffs, the quality of your implants will to a great extent define your power and ability in the game. Having good implants is an essential part of developing an MP well in AO and your treatment is key for this.

Always max this skill.

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Concealment

2.5

Concealment is a skill that is used to hide from others. When used you enter sneak mode, where you can move slowly but undetected by others. Some weapons specials require you to be successfully concealed in order to use them during PvM combat.

In general, you need very high levels of concealment in order to hide from mobs of the levels that you will be fighting. It’s very difficult for an MP to ever reach such levels and as such, concealment is not too useful in PvM for MPs.

In PvP, quite a lot of players do not maintain a high Perception skill, which is the skill that allows players to see other concealed players. As a result, some MPs use the ability to conceal themselves as a tactic. They can conceal themselves and order their pets to attack another player. If that player is unable to detect the MP, then he is unable to attack the MP directly. It’s an unusual tactic and not one that most MPs will choose.

Most MPs should not raise this skill

But:

Some PvP MPs may choose to raise this skill based on their own tactics

Break and Entry 

2.4

Break and Entry is mostly used for opening locked doors and chests. Together with a lock-pick your skill will allow you to open progressively more difficult locked items. All mission doors and mission chests will require a certain amount of skill to open them which is dependent upon the difficulty of the mission, which most players quote using the QL of the mission reward items.

The items found in locked chests can often be very valuable items and as such opening chests can be a useful way to make money. Also, for MPs who solo a lot, the ability to open all the doors in a mission can be extremely useful. On the whole you should be successful in opening all of the doors and chests in a mission if your B&E skill is around 2 times the QL of the mission reward item.

B&E is also used in various tradeskill processes. Hacking using a Hacker’s Tool and cracking open items is usually based on the B&E skill.

Solo MPs should raise this skill enough to be able to open doors and chests in missions.

Team focussed MPs may choose to raise this skill in order to make money from items found in chests.

B&E is a low priority skill for the MP

Trap Disarm 

2.4

Trap Disarm is used – unsurprisingly – to disarm traps. Some mission chests, doors etc will be booby trapped. If your Trap Disarm skill isn’t high enough then you will set off these traps when you attempt to open them. Also in missions, there are hidden mines which can be revealed with Perception skill using the Search action and then disarmed using a Disarming tool. Some tradeskill items are also booby trapped.

On the whole, booby traps tend to be more annoying than deadly and the MP is weak in this skill, making it a less than important skill.

Do not raise this skill.

Perception

2.4

The Perception skill is used to uncover hidden objects or players. This is done by using the “Search” action or automatically by the game. Mines and traps in missions may be uncovered by using the search action. Since mines and traps are rarely deadly in a mission, this skill is not a particularly important one – saving annoyance rather than lives.

The primary use for Perception for the MP would be in PvP. As mentioned in the section on the Concealment skill, perception can be used to uncover a hidden player. This skill may as a result be used by some PvP specialists to improve their ability to fight against the tactics of some others.

Most MPs should not raise this skill

But:

Some PvP specialists may decide to raise this skill.

Skill

IP Cost Factor

Details

Recommendations

Vehicle Air 

2.5

Purist MPs never put any points into Vehicle Air. It is the skill required to use those lovely, sleek, silver Yalmahas that everybody flies around in. Flying is particularly useful at middle to high levels for getting to missions that are in the middle of nowhere with your team.

So what does the purist MP do? He casts Quantum Wings and flies under his own steam. Most MPs can cast Quantum Wings by around level 70, which is also around the level that you will begin needing to fly to reach missions. Yalmaha users typically fly a little bit faster than an MP using Quantum Wings but not so much that you'll have problems with it.

Yalmaha vehicles are available from QL30 with a Vehicle Air requirement of >=81. It can be a difficult business finding a Yalmaha of this exact QL in the shops.

Raise this skill only high enough to be able to equip the lowest QL Yalmaha you can find

But:

For purist MPs – never raise the skill at all.

Vehicle Ground 

2.5

Vehicle Ground is the skill required to use the runspeed increasing ground cars. Ground cars are not popular as the runspeed benefits they bring are not all that useful.

Never raise this skill

Vehicle Water 

2.5

Vehicle Water is the skill required to use Hydro Vehicles. Hydro Vehicles are not popular at all, as players very rarely need to move over water for great distances and all players can swim (if slowly) without the aid of a vehicle.

Never raise this skill

Map Navigation 

2.0

Map Navigation is used to equip Map Reader Upgrades and to upload maps for playfields where you commonly hunt. You should try to get the Monsters, Players, Arrow and Machines upgrades as soon as you can. In particular, the player upgrade will allow you to see where your pets are as dots on the mini-map which can be an important tool for the MP. The Monster upgrade helps you to distinguish which dots are your pets or other people – and which dots are mobs. 130 Map Nav (including implants) should be sufficient to upload the major upgrades.

Map Navigation is also used to upload the Mini-maps of Rubika which you see in your mini-map window. The requirements to upload some of these maps can reach quite high levels. Many players will use implant sets to upload Map reader upgrades and mini-maps. Once uploaded, the maps will still be accessible, even after your skill has dropped again. Important to note, is that Map Navigation cannot be reset using IP Reset points. So you should only ever invest points in Map Navigation when you’re absolutely certain that you need them.

On the whole mini-maps are not necessary for PvM hunting. They’re a ‘nice to have’. For PvP though, mini-maps are much more important. To be able to see where your opponents are in an area you need to have the mini-map. Since many PvP battles now occur at tower bases all over Rubika it’s important to have as many maps as you can if you are going to focus on PvP. Also, for PvP it’s important to have the “Side” Map Reader upgrade, which will show the players on your side as one colour and the players of the opposition as a different colour.

This is still a low priority skill though and you should only raise it when you have points to spare.

PvM focussed MPs should only raise this as far as is necessary to upload the Arrow, People and Monster upgrades with implants. Map Navigation is a low priority for the MP.

Or:

PvP focussed MPs may choose to raise this skill somewhat further in order to get the Side upgrade and more of the mini-maps with higher requirements uploaded.