The Nova Hermes Boots. Just the name evokes images of swiftness, power, and perhaps a touch of divine intervention. In the world of MapleStory, particularly for Magician classes, these boots represent a significant milestone on the journey to becoming a formidable force. Reaching level 110 unlocks the potential to equip these coveted pieces of equipment, but acquiring them is only the first step. The real question lies in maximizing their potential: are they worth the investment of cubing and enhancing? This article delves deep into the Nova Hermes Boots, analyzing their stats, their place in the MapleStory progression system, and ultimately, whether the investment of resources is justified.
The Raw Power: A Statistical Breakdown
Before we delve into the complexities of enhancement and cubing, let's examine the base stats of the Nova Hermes Boots. These stats provide a foundation upon which to build, shaping their ultimate effectiveness:nova hermes boots
* REQ Level 110: This is the primary gatekeeper, determining when a player can equip the boots. Level 110 generally marks the transition from mid-game to late-mid-game, where players are starting to tackle more challenging content and require more substantial gear.
* REQ Job Magician: This restriction limits the boots' usability solely to Magician classes. This specialization ensures that the stat distribution is optimized for characters that rely on magic attack and related stats.
* STR +22, DEX +22, INT +22, LUK +22: The distribution of stats across all four main ability stats is somewhat unusual. While INT is the primary stat for Magicians, STR, DEX, and LUK provide secondary benefits. STR contributes to carrying capacity, DEX can influence accuracy (though less so for mages), and LUK provides a small boost to critical rate and avoidance. The equal distribution suggests a more balanced approach to character development at this stage.
* Weapon Attack +15, Magic Attack +15: This is where the boots start to shine. The additional Magic Attack directly increases the damage output of spells and abilities, making them significantly more potent. The inclusion of Weapon Attack, while less impactful for Magicians, isn't entirely irrelevant. Some skills may scale with weapon attack even for mage classes, or it might affect the damage of certain summons.
* Defense +50: A modest boost to defense, providing a small amount of damage mitigation. While not the primary focus for Magicians, who often prioritize avoiding damage altogether, any increase in survivability is welcome.
* Number of Upgrades 1: This severely limits the potential for scrolling the boots. Scrolling traditionally involves applying scrolls that add specific stats (e.g., Magic Attack) to an item. With only one upgrade slot, the potential for significant stat boosts through scrolling is limited. This limitation makes cubing and enhancement even more critical.
* Tradability Non: This signifies that once equipped, the boots cannot be traded to other players. This underscores the importance of careful consideration before investing heavily in enhancing and cubing. If a player decides to switch classes or moves on to superior equipment, the investment in the Nova Hermes Boots will be lost (unless transferring via equipment transfer system).
[Reboot] Is It Worth Cubing and Enhancing? The Heart of the Matter
The question of whether to invest in cubing and enhancing the Nova Hermes Boots is highly dependent on the player's circumstances within the Reboot server (or any server, really, but Reboot presents unique challenges and opportunities). Several factors come into play:
* Current Gear: What other equipment does the player currently have? If the player is using significantly weaker boots, then the Nova Hermes Boots represent a substantial upgrade, and some investment might be worthwhile. If the player is already using decent boots, the upgrade may not be worth the cost.
* Funding Level: How much Mesos (in-game currency) is the player willing to spend? Cubing and enhancing can be extremely expensive, and the return on investment isn't always guaranteed.
* Progression Goals: What are the player's immediate and long-term goals? If the player is aiming to quickly progress to higher-level content, then investing in the Nova Hermes Boots might be a short-term solution. If the player plans to stay at this level for a while, a more significant investment could be justified.
* Alternatives: Are there readily available alternatives to the Nova Hermes Boots? Perhaps other pieces of equipment in the same level range offer comparable or superior stats.
Cubing the Nova Hermes Boots: Potential and Pitfalls
Cubing involves using cubes (items purchased with Mesos or obtained through events) to reroll the potential lines on an item. Potential lines are bonus stats that can significantly increase the item's effectiveness. For the Nova Hermes Boots, the goal is to obtain potential lines that boost Magic Attack, INT, or other stats relevant to Magicians.
* Potential Tiers: Items can have different potential tiers: Rare, Epic, Unique, and Legendary. The higher the tier, the better the potential lines that can be rolled. The Nova Hermes Boots typically start at the Rare tier and require potential scrolls or cubes to reach higher tiers.
* Ideal Potential Lines: The most desirable potential lines for the Nova Hermes Boots include: