Azama: Difference between revisions

Azama is a monk that joins in [[Fierce_Winds|chapter 8]] or Birthright and [[White_Flames|chapter 16]] of Revelation. Azama has rathe unusual growths and bases for a healer, making him more fit for a phisical class rather than a magic based one. Because of his low magic, it might seem better to use a more magic based healer such as Sakura insted of Azama, however this would ignore the great uses Azama has otherwise. Azama starts out with a decent enough base magic and a D rank in staffs allowing him to use the [[Sun Festal]] at base and quickly gain EXP to rach level 10 by as early as [[To_the_Sea|chapter 11]]. Azama benefits greately from early promoting to [[Great Master]], as the promotion gives him excellent bonuses to stats (most notably the +8 strength) and access to lances at the low cost of lowering his magic, skil and resistance. While it might seem strange to use a healer as a physical combat unit at first, Azam's stats will on average be on par with [[Oboro]] if she was promoted to [[Spear Master]] around the same time. After promotion Azama can be used as a servicable combat unit, with the help of a speed tonic and a pair up, while also providing staff utility and even as a decent user of the [[Dual Naginata]]. He also makes for a decent pair up partner for Hinoka and Reina. It might seem better to promote Azama to an [[Onmyoji]] to fix his low magic, but while his magic growth is increased in said class, it is not raised by a huge margin, resulting in him not being able to inflict much damage as compared to other magic users. Azama is in a much less fortunate position in Revelation where his bases are rather low for his join time and even an early promotion barely helps. He can still serve as a staff bot, but it is likely that there will be better options by that point.

Azama start out with the skills [[Divine Retribution]] and [[Miracle]], along with [[Rally Luck]] in Revelation. Divine Retribution deals half of damage taken by the user to the foe if the user has no weapon equipped, this is rather useful in the earlygame thanks to Azama's decent defense and HP dealing some chip damage back, but becomes less useful later as Azama will likely be wielding some form of weaponry by then. Miracle is an overly situational skill and will rarely see use as it is unreliable. Rally Luck is often considered the worst rally as it provides far worse utility than the other rallies. Promoting to Great Master gives Azama access to [[Renewal]] and [[Countermagic]]. Renewal makes Azam able to tank damage and regenerate Hp at the same time, this skill works well with the low enemy quality of Birthright, but not as well on Revelation where enemy quality is considerably higher. Countermagic isn't very useful as Azama has decent resistance and as such won't be dealing much damage back to the magic wielding enemies, conutermagic does not stack with Divine Retribution. Promoting to Onmyoji gives Azama access to [[Rally Magic]] and [[Tomefaire]]. Rally Magic is an excellent utility skill especially on a unit like Azama, but tomefaire comes a bit late and at that point you're likely to have another frontline magic user who has better magic than Azama.

On the subject of reclassing, Azama can reclass into an [[Apothecary]], [[Merchant_(class)|Merchant]] or [[Mechanist]]. Reclassing him into an Apothecary allows him to make use of his high strength early at the cost of not being able to use staves. While Azama becomes more durable as an Apothecary, his speed will be lowered, and he will thus be unable to double consistently. While in this class he learns the skills [[Potent Potion]] and [[Quick Salve]]. Both skills work well with each other as Azama will be able to regain more health than normally from a vulneary and gains greatter boosts throught the use of tonics while also getting another turn.  

 

 

Overall, while Azama may seem strange at first with a bit of investment and an early promotion he can serve as a solid coombat and staff unit throughout Birthright. His performance in Revelation leaves something to be desired, but this is a rather common problem for most units in said route.