\[Novice\] Imperial

Learn the best Imperial skills in Etrian Odyssey Nexus, including Assault Drive, Natural Edge, and Heat Sink. Optimize your Imperial for maximum damage and efficiency.

The Imperial class in Etrian Odyssey Nexus boasts powerful offensive capabilities, particularly with its signature skill, Assault Drive, which is noted as the most damaging skill available at the Novice level. This guide details the various skills available to the Imperial, their effects, and strategic uses.

Skills:

1. Ignition (Force Boost): Prevents Overheat for three turns. Does not dispel existing Overheat.
2. Conversion (Force Break): Recovers TP and may overheal, with bonus TP lost after battle or upon user's death.
3. Sharp Edge (Attack): Deals cut damage. Reduces Overheat duration by one turn if the user is in Overheat state (requires Drive Blade). Max Lv Effect: Deals cut damage and reduces Overheat state duration by one turn if the user is in Overheat state.
4. Natural Edge (Attack): Deals cut damage (requires Drive Blade). Max Lv Effect: Deals cut damage.
5. Blood Edge (Attack): Deals cut damage and recovers HP equal to 35% of damage dealt. Can only be used after a starter skill on the previous turn (requires Drive Blade). Max Lv Effect: Deals cut damage and recovers HP equals 35% of damage dealt. Can only be used after performing a starter skill on the previous turn.
6. Heavy Guard (Buff): Increases DEF by 40% for 4 turns, but makes the user act last (requires Drive Blade). Max Lv Effect: Increases DEF by 40% for 4 turns, but makes them act last.
7. Assault Drive (Attack): Deals cut damage and enters Overheat state for 8 turns. All received damages are doubled when the user is in Overheat state. Can only be used when not in Overheat state. Overheat state won’t happen if the attack misses. Must equip a drive blade. Max Lv Effect: Deals cut damage and then enters Overheat state for 8 turns. All received damages are doubled before the activation and when the user is in Overheat state.
8. Heat Sink (Support): Reduces Overheat state by 4 turns. Can only be used when the user is in the Overheat state (requires Drive Blade). Max Lv Effect: Reduces Overheat state by 4 turns.
9. Heat Shield (Passive): Mitigates damage by 20% when the user is in Overheat state (requires Drive Blade). Max Lv Effect: Mitigates damage by 20% when the user is in Overheat state.
10. Avenger (Passive Heal): Recovers HP when any ally dies. Does not activate for Hero’s Afterimages and Ninja’s Ninpo: Mirages. Activates even if an ally dies due to another ally’s attack in Panic state. Does not activate if the user is Petrified, Asleep, or Panicked. Max Lv Effect: Recovers HP when any allies dies.
11. Mine (Field): Has a chance to obtain rare material at any mining point. Max Lv Effect: Has a chance to obtain rare material at any mining point.

Stat Growth: HP (A), TP (E-), STR (A+), INT (C), VIT (A+), WIS (C), AGI (E-), LUC (E-).

Possible Equipment: Sword, Drive Blade, Heavy Armor, Light Armor.

Strategy:

• Assault Drive is the Imperial's strongest skill, capable of immense damage, especially when buffed by allies like Sovereign or Shogun, or when enemy DEF is debuffed by classes like War Magus, Ninja, or Harbinger.
• When using Assault Drive, the Imperial takes double damage until the attack resolves. Therefore, use damage absorbers or redirectors like Protector's Ally Shield or Farmer's Play Possum.
• For random battles, Natural Edge is a more TP-efficient option. It can also be imbued with elemental oils or Sovereign's Elemental Arms to exploit enemy weaknesses.
• Prioritize learning Assault Drive and Natural Edge.
• When learning Heat Sink, aim for level 3 or 6 for the best TP cost-to-effect ratio.
• Consider leveling Natural Edge to maximize its TP efficiency and elemental application.
• Pour remaining skill points into Assault Drive to increase its damage output.
• To maximize Drive skill usage, ensure sufficient TP, potentially through equipment or Conversion.
• A possible skill rotation without Ignition is Assault/Natural Edge/Heat Sink 8/Assault.
• Heat Shield is beneficial but not essential.
• The Imperial has a shallow TP pool, encouraging single uses of Drive Skills unless managed with Ignition or Conversion.
• Natural Edge counts as a Basic Attack, allowing for elemental enhancements.
• Assault Drive's high TP cost makes investing in its damage worthwhile, despite the temptation to leave it at Level 1.