The First Berserker Kazan: Unleashing Phantom's Hidden Power for NG++ Domination

 

Kazan’s Phantom form is an underrated powerhouse that many players are leaving on the table. Whether you’re trying to conquer New Game Plus+ or seeking to refine your gameplay, it’s time to unlock the true potential of this iconic form. Far from just being a nifty emergency revive or an afterthought for katana strikes, Phantom can be a dominating force when used right—especially if you focus on its ranged capabilities.

In this guide, we’re going to dive deep into a strategy that’s rarely utilized but can make you nearly unstoppable in NG++. Forget what you know about Phantom, because this approach changes everything.

Phantom Form: The Hidden Power of Ranged Attacks

Most players are under the misconception that Phantom is solely about quick katana strikes and the occasional revive. But what if I told you the real power of Phantom lies in its ranged attacks? For New Game Plus+ players, where difficulty spikes, ranged combat becomes your most reliable tool.

Let’s take a step back and realize something most players don’t: Phantom’s abilities extend far beyond your standard weapon mechanics. With the right gear and approach, you can keep Phantom’s form active almost indefinitely, allowing you to unleash devastating ranged attacks with minimal risk.

The Core of the Build: Extending Phantom Form

The primary goal of this build is simple yet powerful: stay in Phantom form as long as possible. This is achievable through a combination of gear and tactics that enhance Phantom form’s duration and your ranged damage output.

1. Soul Eater’s Top and Pants: These pieces of gear are essential for extending Phantom form. The Soul Eater’s Top offers a 10% increase to Phantom form duration, along with a 10% boost to charged attack duration. Meanwhile, the Soul Eater’s Pants increase Phantom form duration by an additional 20% through brutal attacks. Combining these two will allow you to stay in Phantom form indefinitely, as long as you keep attacking.

2. Mercenary Spear: With its set bonus, the Mercenary Spear increases ranged attack damage for 10 seconds by 3%, stacking up to 10 times. This means you can achieve a 30% increase to ranged damage, which is crucial for maximizing your damage output while in Phantom form.

3. Dungeon Jar: This item reduces the number of set requirements, letting you equip more powerful gear without sacrificing essential bonuses.

4. Mercenary Ring: As part of the Mercenary set, the Mercenary Ring complements your ranged damage build by enhancing the set’s effect.

5. Drown Witch’s Wrist Guard & Boots: Both of these pieces increase ranged attack damage by 5%, making them invaluable for further boosting your damage output.

6. Unending Tragedy Necklace: This necklace increases post-damage by 15%. In Phantom form, your character doesn’t have a stamina bar, so you’ll constantly benefit from the 15% boost in damage.

By stacking these pieces, you can maintain Phantom form indefinitely and unleash relentless ranged attacks that can melt even the toughest enemies.

The Importance of Phantom’s Ranged Attacks

Many players overlook Phantom’s ranged abilities, but they are key to this build. Not only do they allow you to attack from a distance, but they also offer a level of safety and damage output that melee combat can’t match.

Here’s what you need to know about Phantom’s ranged attacks:

Dash Attacks: A Crucial Element

While you might be familiar with Phantom’s basic melee strikes and charged attacks, the dash attacks are a hidden gem. Phantom actually has three types of dash attacks:

1. Melee Dash Attack: A simple forward dash combined with a regular attack button results in a melee strike.

2. Side Dash Attack: This attack throws a ranged projectile, making it a key tool for dealing with enemies from a distance.

3. Backward Dash Attack: This one fires a multi-shot projectile when you dash backward while holding the attack button. This is especially useful for kiting enemies or staying out of their reach while still dealing damage.

These dash attacks are crucial because they allow you to maneuver freely while dealing damage. Unlike traditional ranged attacks, which can sometimes leave you vulnerable, Phantom’s dash attacks keep you mobile, enabling you to dodge and reposition while continuously firing off projectiles.

Building the Phantom Form Gauge Efficiently

Before diving into combat, you’ll want to make sure your Phantom form gauge is at full capacity. Here’s a quick rundown on how to do it efficiently:

1. Constantine’s Phantom Ability: Switch to Constantine before every boss fight. This ability increases your Phantom form gauge and grants you 5% Phantom form gauge per unit of spirit consumed.

2. Phantom Heatwave and Eagle Wind: These abilities allow you to quickly consume spirit and regenerate your Phantom form gauge. Use these abilities multiple times to fill up your Phantom form gauge before entering a boss encounter.

3. The Nexus Blade: By interacting with the Nexus Blade, you can refill your spirit, making it easier to maintain Phantom form during tough fights.

Switching to the Right Ability for Ranged Combat

Once your Phantom form gauge is filled, switch over to an ability that boosts your ranged attacks. The best one for this build is Atlante, which increases your ranged attack damage by 15%. This ability works wonders in maximizing your ranged output while keeping you in Phantom form.

Pro Tip: Make sure you have points allocated to the “Comment” tab for fully recovering spirit when resurrecting or interacting with the Nexus Blade. This ensures you can refill your spirit as needed to keep Phantom form active.

Mastering the Stun Lock Combo

Now that you have the fundamentals down, let’s discuss one of the most powerful techniques in your arsenal: the stun lock combo.

Once you stun an enemy, whether through Phantom’s form or other techniques, you can enter a series of dash attacks that keeps them locked in place, unable to retaliate. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Stun the Enemy: Use Phantom form or another method (like a counterattack) to stun your target. The more advanced you get, the more you’ll be able to use this technique in a variety of situations.

2. Dash and Throw: After stunning the enemy, immediately dash forward, sideways, or backward and throw your circular ranged projectile. You can also modify your positioning by holding forward while dashing to close the gap and get within range.

3. Repeat the Combo: Once you’ve thrown your projectile, repeat the process as quickly as possible. With practice, you’ll be able to weave in forward or backward dashes while keeping the enemy stunned until their stamina completely depletes. This essentially leaves them helpless, and you can continue to deal damage while staying safe.

Advanced Stun Lock Tactics

For advanced players, mastering this combo requires a level of precision. Here’s an advanced technique you can implement for even greater effectiveness:

• Forward Dash + Attack: To close the gap and stay within range, dash forward while holding an attack button. This allows you to continue the projectile combo without losing distance, which is especially useful against bosses or fast-moving enemies.

• Backward Dash + Attack: When you need to create space, backward dashes combined with projectiles allow you to maintain a safe distance while applying constant pressure.

By mastering these tactics, you can stun-lock most enemies, including elite bosses, making them an absolute joke to defeat.

Defeating Hismar: The Phantom Ranged Solution

Hismar is one of the toughest enemies in the game, but with the right strategy, he can be easily handled. The key to taking down this formidable foe lies in Phantom’s ranged multi-shot projectiles.

The Strategy:

• Keep a safe distance and use your backward dash attack to fire multi-shot projectiles. These projectiles hit Hismar multiple times, rapidly depleting his health and making the fight significantly easier.

• Don’t get greedy with melee attacks. Stick to your ranged capabilities to maintain control of the fight and avoid taking unnecessary damage.

With this tactic, the once-dreaded Hismar becomes nothing more than a minor obstacle on your path to victory.

Conclusion: Mastering the Phantom Build

By now, you should have all the tools needed to transform Kazan’s Phantom form into an unstoppable powerhouse. From extending Phantom form indefinitely to leveraging powerful ranged attacks, this build offers unmatched flexibility and power.

Whether you're trying to conquer New Game Plus+ or simply looking to refine your Phantom gameplay, this strategy will elevate your experience. Phantom’s ranged capabilities are not just a gimmick—they are a game-changer that will help you tackle even the toughest bosses with ease.

If you found this guide helpful and are ready to dominate with the Phantom form, make sure to like this post and subscribe for more game-changing strategies. As always, I’m here to provide more tips, builds, and tactics to maximize your ARPG experience.

Until next time, happy gaming!

FAQ

1. What is the best strategy for using Phantom in NG++?
To maximize Phantom's power in NG++, focus on keeping Phantom form active as long as possible using gear like the Soul Eater's Top and Pants. Also, rely heavily on Phantom's ranged attacks for a safer, high-damage output.

2. How can I extend Phantom form indefinitely?
Equip gear like the Soul Eater's Top and Pants, which boost Phantom form duration by up to 30%. Stack these with the Mercenary Spear and other items that enhance ranged attack damage.

3. Can Phantom's ranged attacks be used effectively against bosses?
Yes, Phantom's ranged attacks are incredibly powerful, especially when combined with dash attacks. They allow you to keep a safe distance while dealing significant damage, making them perfect for bosses.

4. What is the best ability to use for ranged combat?
Switch to Atlante, which increases ranged attack damage by 15%. This is especially useful for boosting damage while maintaining Phantom form.

5. How do I perform a stun-lock combo with Phantom?
After stunning an enemy, dash forward, backward, or sideways and throw a ranged projectile. Repeat the process quickly to keep the enemy stunned and deal continuous damage.

6. How do I defeat Hismar using Phantom’s ranged abilities?
Use Phantom's multi-shot projectiles from a distance, especially with backward dashes, to deal rapid damage to Hismar. Stay safe and avoid melee combat.

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