Is ATP/Elemental the only thing that matters on hunter weapons? 2* and 8* weapons...

[CultOfPersonality]

So my 2* Partizan is like 270 attack grinded, but an 8* weapon I'm looking at, the ラグネアンサラー (Dark Ragne) is 8* and would need a +7 grind to even be equal to the damage.

So 8* weapons offer anything over the 2* counter part except for looks?

[GoldenFalcon]

At +6, they are equal in attack power (274 vs. 275)
Ragne Spear at +10 has 350, that's 75 more. Big difference

[Valymer]

Also there is supposed to be a hidden ability bonus on rares, I believe

[CultOfPersonality]

So unless I managed to get it to +10 then nothing else matters right?

[Heat Haze]

Typically speaking, most rares are only good beyond +8 Grind; which coincidentally happens to be the riskiest part.

[GoldenFalcon]

Yes, if you don't plan on getting a rare past +7, you're better off getting a 3* weapon to +10 with 11-15 grinders, as opposed to hundreds of grinders for a rare

[electrolytes]

I've been buying 4-5* weapons and grinding them to +10, as they go up to 160% base damage instead of 150%, have higher base stats anyways, and are only slightly harder to grind than 1-3*. With a good +30ATK ability (Vol, Fang, Ragne, etc.) attached, they're almost as good as (or better than) many rares for a fraction of the price. If I do decide to grind a rare, it'll probably be after I've finished with the highest 5* weapon and have some money to burn (double/triple grinders, higher risk, higher grind price, and whatnot).

Sources: Weapon List; Grind Risks

[Miyoko]

It's much, much easier to get a 50% +10 3* than it is even just a +10 ANY% 9*. I've got a +10 16% Tigredore, and honestly, it only deals about 10 more damage on regular attacks against neutral enemies. I've also seen bigger numbers on my 50% +10 3*s; highest I've seen on a fire weak enemy is 7300, and the highest I've seen on a dark weak enemy is 6200.. I don't know, they kind of fudged rares and made them... Really suck :l

[CultOfPersonality]

how much damage difference after we talking with higher elemental damage?

PSU style or 50-100 damage between 16% and 50%?

[Lostbob117]

7*-9* has a bigger grind % over 1*-3*.