I realized that other people might not use the same "slots" that I use. I've always kept weapons based on this framework:
1 Worthless Weapon
2 Downsize!
3 Constant Weapon 1
4 Constant Weapon 2
5 Shield
6 Stealer
7 Healer
8 Freezer
What does everyone else do? How do you guys fit in bombs, and multiple shields and dual-duties and such?
I tend to use on the first sloth the stealer. With that sloth freed you can squeze a bomb or another shield or any dual duties.
I don't have a line up, specially now that i only play 1-p battles.
Have fun
If I had all of a 100% freezer, a HRoT, and a D! in my lineup, I'd have them in that order (everything else behind). First turn steals grab the already-used freezer, after that they just get another stealer. If they wanna use ANOTHER 1/2 turn stealing after that, then they get a D!
I'd probably gave a dual-duty that can't do much to my weapons in slot #4, just in case.
Since I use
Ancient Lupe Wand, That goes in my first slot. I usually freeze first round, plus it's species-only so that decreases the chance my opponent can use it
I use a shield that defends icons I don't deal in my first slot. That way the opponent gets a weapon that's not useful to them, but they might actually use. The drawback to this is that it does let an opponent remove a key part of my defense, which can leave me vulnerable or force me to play predictably offensively.
The problems with a freezer in the first slot are that most folks won't steal first round, so you need to watch slots after the freezer as well, and also occasionally you may find yourself fighting against someone with the stats to pull a late-freeze. I have stolen a h4k helmet before in fight 2 of a 3 round match after winning with a late-freeze round 1.
The problem with the stealer in the first slot are again that you need to watch successive slots and that it makes it easy for the opponent to counter steal if you do get something valuable.
The problem with a useless weapon is that you are wasting a slot, whether the opponent steals or not.
The problem with species weapons is that unless you are battling with newbie weapons you are either wasting a slot with a piece of junk or you are potentially giving up a healer or freezer. Sure my lab pet can't use your KLP, but I'll happily take cutting down the total damage I have to deal by 25-40% with one move when I steal one.
I know some other people put a SoS, or other solid but easy-to-block weapon in their first slot, knowing that they can defend against it if the opponent does decide to use it. This is the inverse of my shield strategy and it has the inverse problem - your remaining offense becomes thinner and a smart opponent will be able to exploit the predictable defense you'll play afterwards. If I swipe an SoS against a pet with a meaningful defense boost, I'd think real hard about going to Berserk with P-Kiln on the next turn, since I know they'll be using G-Shield.