User blog comment:Lord Loss/Discussion of the Week: Bows/@comment-5043481-20121223143941/@comment-4212769-20121223165301

1. I like more Rapid, Scatter, Pierce because I like to Rapid shot a special part of a monster. Pierce just needs full charge and a good level or Pierce doesn't help much, IMO.

But with charms I like the bows with two shot types like Barioth Bow with Rapid and Pierce because I can gem in two of Rapid, Pierce or Scatter Up Bow skills. Every shot a stronger hit is just too sweet.

2. All one can be useful depending on the monster. For example when you fight a smaller monster or a monster where you want to break a part that isn't the biggest and other types wouldn't help much a fully rapid bow is a good choice (like Nibelsnarf bow).

Same goes for the other types. Always depends on the situation.

3. Depending on the monster again and how far you are. If you fight a Yian Kut-Ku you surely don't want to waste your coatings but for a Gravios it's a wholy different scenario. Also you wouldn't use as much Coatings if you have a High Rank Bow and need some Low-Rank stuff.

I like to calculate on how many coatings (especially Power Coatings) I use for monsters.

For example:

Gypceros = 15 Power Coatings

Khezu = 35 Power Coatings

Plesioth = 50 Power Coatings...

etc.

Sleep Coating I normally only use for Gravios and Hypnocatrice, because then I can get the shiny. I'm not a fan of Sleep bombing.

CloseRangeCoating I use when smaller monsters are around or when I (theoretically) could cut a tail. And also when I can use the Melee attack while fighting.

Paralyze Coating on some harder monsters (I paralyzed a Khezu once... lasted 2 seconds. XD). Can be used when you want to cut a tail.

Poison Coating when a monster is weak to poison (Black Gravios).

Exhaust Coating is pretty useful on almost all monsters that can get hungry (plus K.O. damage).

The five above I take always maximum with me so I can be sure to get the effect and can maybe even use this effect twice.

Paint Coating... I love Paint Coating. <3 Much better than paint bombs. I can only recommend any bower using Paint Coatings instead of paint bombs. A lot easier to hit and the possibility to paint two monsters with one shot. XD