Part 36: Mini-Update: Kobold's Krazy Kombination Korner
Glazius posted:
So can you get a photo taken with, say, the Glasses on too?
Anyway, the only real new enemies shown so far were the Big Fans and De Rose, which is not much for a full on Baddie Update. So, instead, the mini-update is going to be on a different mechanic.
Throughout the game, you get a lot of things tossed at you. Weapons, consumables, Scraps. It's hard to tell what to use right away and what to hold onto until later. So, I'm going to take a moment to list all the Scraps you can get in the game and what you can combine them with to make things. I'll mainly be sticking to what I consider "good" combinations, but I'll at least skim over some of the other uses for them as I talk about each one in turn.
Scrap 1
Scrap 1 is useful for upgrading some of the "better" melee weapons. Swords, Axes, and Blades can be created and upgraded using a Scrap 1 somewhere in the combination. As you'd probably expect, I'd say use them for upgrading Axes. It's only used in low-level Blades and in Swords that aren't Sword 4. Here are a couple combinations I think are worth using Scrap 1 for:
Scrap 1 + Axe 1 = Axe 2
Scrap 1 + Axe 2 = Axe 3
Scrap 1 + Sword 2 = Sword 3
It should be noted that using a Scrap 1 to make a Sword 3 is for the sole purpose of recombining it to make a Sword 4.
Scrap 2
Like Scrap 1 is for melee weapons, Scrap 2 seems to be used in a majority of the ranged weapons. The Shot, Celtis, and Laser groups all have something that can be made using a Scrap 2. However, again much like with Scrap 1, it seems to be best suited for just upgrading Shots since it's only used in making the first tier Celtis and Laser. And considering it's probably easier to combine a Shot with a Hammer to make a Celtis, my combination suggestions are rather obvious:
Scrap 2 + Shot 1 = Shot 2
Scrap 2 + Shot 2 = Shot 3
Scrap 2 + Scrap 7 = Laser 1
I recommend making a Laser 1 only if you want one before you pick up the schematic in the Fortress, or if you're trying to create Blows - the only ranged weapon that can open capsules.
Scrap 3
The Boot Scrap. There's nothing else it's used for, so it just becomes a matter of figuring out WHICH Boot to make. The first Scrap 3 is probably best used like how I did in the LP: making the Boots 4. You could hold off on using it until getting the two "top tier" Scraps, but you'll be waiting a long time for only a minor improvement.
Scrap 3 + Scrap 5 = Boots 4
Scrap 3 + Scrap 9 = Boots 5
Scrap 3 + Scrap 10 = Boots 6
Personally, I prefer the two Boots that provide the greatest mobility - Boots 4 and 6 - but Boots 5 provide a regen effect, so they might be worth making for a tanky bot who doesn't need mobility.
Scrap 4
This scrap has its own gimmick as well - it's used in both fist-related weapons. Punches and Blows are both very nice weapons to have. Punches are a very powerful chain of weapons, beaten only by Axes, and Blows both hit hard and can open distant capsules. Really, using a Scrap 4 for either works out pretty well since you can combine a Punch with a Laser to make an appropriate level Blow.
Scrap 4 + Punch 1 = Punch 2
Scrap 4 + Punch 2 = Punch 3
Scrap 4 + Scrap 9 = Blow 2
Scrap 4 + Scrap 10 = Blow 3
As stated, combining a Punch and Laser makes Blows. So if they're you're goal, it's best to just use the Scrap 4 for Punches for recombining rather than using up a 9 or 10.
Scrap 5
The Shield Scrap. Out of the five tiers of Shield, it's used in three of them. However, it's only for the lower three, which you can either make more cheaply either through different combinations or just straight up making them. As such, I only have one recommendation for this Scrap, and it's been seen earlier:
Scrap 5 + Scrap 3 = Boots 4
If you want to make a good shield early on, I recommend just using a Clean on a Shield 1 to get a Shield 2. It'll work well enough until you can make Shield 3s in the Old House.
Scrap 6
I would rate this Scrap as the "least useful." It's mainly used in creating Hammers, one of the weakest weapons in the game. It can also be combined with a Scrap 1 to make an Axe 1, but you'd be better off just combining an Sword and Hammer. Really, these are the only things I could recommend using it for:
Scrap 6 + Scrap 6 = Hammer 3
Scrap 6 + Scrap 9 = Celtis 3
The Hammer 3 is mainly there for combining with a Sword 3 for an Axe 3. The Celtis combination is all right, but there's better combinations for Scrap 9s.
Scrap 7
While this Scrap is used in the entire Laser line, it can be best described as the "multipurpose Scrap." It's used in a lot of combinations, not just making Lasers. In fact, I believe it gets used to make more things than any other Scrap - Big Bombs, Helper Robots, Repairs, Weathers. However, despite its multiple uses, these are the few combinations I think are worth using it for:
Scrap 7 + Laser 1 = Laser 2
Scrap 7 + Laser 2 = Laser 3
Scrap 7 + Sword 3 = Sword 4
Scrap 7 + Scrap 9 = Shield 4
Lasers are useful and can be made into Blows with appropriate Punches, and Sword 4 is always handy. Finally, if you only have access to one Scrap 9, having the second most powerful Shield isn't that bad either.
Scrap 8
This is used to make Blade 4, the most powerful weapon in the game. That is all.
Scrap 8 + Smoke = Blade 4
Seriously, that's it. Make Blade 4.
Scrap 9
The first of the two "top tier" Scraps. It's used for making either the strongest tier or second strongest tier of most of the weapons. Since it's used in so many powerful things, it's no surprise that the hidden programmer in the Snow Mountain cave says to be careful with what you do with it. As such, I present my best suggestions for this rare item:
Scrap 9 + Scrap 6 = Celtis 3
Scrap 9 + Scrap 7 = Shield 4
Scrap 9 + Scrap 9 = Shield 5
As mentioned with Scrap 6, Celtis 3 is one of the most powerful ranged weapons, but Scrap 9's best use is in the top tier Shields. If you have two, make a Shield 5. If you have one, make a Shield 4 and then combine the Shield 4 with the next one you find for a Shield 5.
Scrap 10
The strongest Scrap. Supposedly. Oddly enough, for how long you wait for Scrap 10, it's surprisingly disappointing. There's not a lot that can be made with it. The first tier of Blade (what?), Bombs 2 and 3 (seriously?), and the top tier of Blow. Really, it's like Scrap 8 in that you are using it for one thing... except there's other things you can make with it.
Scrap 10 + Scrap 4 = Blow 3
Scrap 10 + Scrap 3 = Boots 6
Scrap 10 + Boots 5 = Boots 6
Seriously, just make the hoverboots and dominate the battlefield.
Miscellaneous
Here are some other nifty combinations that I think come in handy. They don't involve Scraps, but they usually involve saving some cash to be used for crafting more things and kitting up multiple robots. Or just being generally useful.
Big Bomb + Clean = Repair
Smoke + Clean = Repair
Empty Pack + Weather = Solar Pack
Empty Pack + Repair = Quick Pack
Making Repairs are handy in a regular game, since they tend to cost 300G a pop. Smoke + Clean is actually the cheapest way to create them, so once you learn to make those you can have half-price Repairs if you don't mind the extra work involved. The Packs are self-explanatory, giving you either regen or a full heal on death.
The next few require some explanation: combining certain weapons together create a new weapon. However, the tier of the new weapon is going to be the LOWEST tier used in the combination. For example, a Sword 1 and a Hammer 3 makes an Axe 1. With that out of the way, some weapons.
Sword + Hammer = Axe
Sword + Laser = Blade
Shot + Hammer = Celtis
Punch + Laser = Blow
The rest of the combination tricks for weapons were mentioned back in the normal update when I first made an Axe 1. Still, with those mechanics plus these... it makes sense that you should never really throw away or recycle weapons you find. You never know what super murder weapon you could make with them.
However, don't worry if you misuse or forget to pick up a Scrap. Almost every item also has a schematic that can be found somewhere in the game, so a missed Scrap is never game-ending.