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String Theory: A Puppetmaster's Guide *NEW*
By Kaffy 2025-06-12 21:58:33
tested new set on Kyou, didn't perform any better, though wasn't sure to expect on him with Shell V up. rolanberry daifuku +1 with the set below, only thing I can think of missing is puppet roll.
when I have more time I'll try to post pet INT, MAB and MACC totals and maybe compare with a sch or blm. Gotta figure in the attachments and all.
ItemSet 396010
ML 40 pet INT 134 + 152 with triple ice = 286
347 gear MACC + 80 food = 427
188 gear MAB + (160x2) from ice maker + loudspeaker IV = 508
attachments (resister and mana jammer can be changed):
ice maker
amplifier 1 and 2
loudspeaker 4
arcanoclutch 1
resister 2
mana jammer 4
optic fiber 1 and 2
economizer
mana tank 3 and 4
not currently using either mana channeler and wiki doesn't have data for them.
if any mage could compare those stats I'd be grateful
now check that chart again for monster int and you'll see that even V0 Ongo you are way behind. I'd love to see your numbers on E boss, just to compare.
[+]
By Nariont 2025-06-13 07:23:41
I was under the assumption that puppet only got +1 skill, some hp and acc/macc/etc, no base stats per ML
You can partially bridge this with emp+3 boots and aug'd herc but thats some hefty mab/macc in exchange and still falls behind a real nuker in total int.
That said i think you could probably do well on E though im also skeptical and would love numbers. The nms in sortie/vagary tend to have 1 ele weakness so if puppets hitting that then i could see it doing alright.
By Kaffy 2025-06-13 07:37:51
I also remember blm puppet default to casting water on A/E so you'd have to be deploying only during SC windows. hope I was doing something wrong but I tried it several times.
By Shiva.Myamoto 2025-06-13 11:04:51
Yeah the automaton assumes absorbs is the lowest resistance so it would cast accordingly unfortunately. Its shitty how it functions but that is just how it is.
You would have to create specifically scission or gravitation and deploy only on sc to ensure stone was cast and then call it off until next window.
Puppet lacks macc unfortunately when you maximize MAB and vice versa. So on anything difficult you tend to see a lot of resists. Trash mobs like locus stuff though you can hit capped bursts easily not even using overdrive.
By Khaeos 2025-06-18 21:06:35
So I figured I'd gear up my puppet as something else to try out, and since I saw them pull out some insane stuff. This is my current setup:
ItemSet 399836
Just looking for some tips. I've read the guide and I'm trying to figure out a path to go. I'm wanting to do a dual setup and a OD setup. The SU5 weapon would probably be the easiest for me to get as I don't have the unlocks (or gil) for mythic and empy but I'm down for any suggestions aside from sakpatas while I work towards ML to get SU5.
I also have a question about the heyoka legs/head combo. Should I focus on HQ for them both? Or will NQ work just as well? What other pieces of gear should I focus on for dual tp and OD sets?
Thanks for the advice!
By Nariont 2025-06-18 21:33:50
Depends what exactly you want to do here. Su4/5 are best for just about everything phys puppet related. Sakpatas are an okay nuke h2h but not much else.
Heyokas used to cover missing pet haste and give puppet enmity, the latter along with usual acc/crit rate are what raises between nq/hq. Depending on the goal here all you need to care about is capping puppets haste/acc rate, its a decent sc linker but falls behind as soon as master gets some buffs going like most pets end up
By Khaeos 2025-06-18 22:00:11
Yeah the dual tp setup is wanting capped pet haste. Currently I only have 10% from my cape which is why I was asking. You say "used" to tho so does that mean there is something else used now?
By Nariont 2025-06-18 22:10:44
Should have put "is used" its still needed in atleast 2 slots iirc, head and legs, though taliah feet can work as well, or the earring just depends on what master-related armor you want to part with to give puppet haste
So you got
10 haste cape
9 haste klouscap+1 sash over moonbow
9 haste heyoka legs over malig/samn tights/mpaca
6 haste heyoka cap over malic/mpaca
7 haste taliah boots over malig/herc/mpaca
Personally would do cape head and legs as thats 25, or cape/boots/legs for 26. But if you want more armor slots then cape/sash/hat, but that means rip moonbow
By zeta 2025-06-22 13:46:06
Started doing some Up In Arms on PUP and noticed something today that I cant figure out.
I am fairly new to PUP so dont know what i dont know. My skills are all capped and was using correct gear.
Today I was doing Up in Arms and PUP was using Bone Crusher without issue. I changed from /RDM to /DNC to test something unrelated and then when i changed back to /RDM and activated pet again my skill level was now 203 which it too low for Bone Crusher to be used.
I didnt make any changes to my build and was using Fire/Thunder/Light.
Code <up-in-arms>
<frame>valoredge frame</frame>
<head>valoredge head</head>
<slot01>steam jacket</slot01>
<slot02>magniplug</slot02>
<slot03>magniplug ii</slot03>
<slot04>tension spring iv</slot04>
<slot05>optic fiber</slot05>
<slot06>heatsink</slot06>
<slot07>turbo charger ii</slot07>
<slot08>turbo charger</slot08>
<slot09>auto-repair kit iii</slot09>
<slot10>armor plate iii</slot10>
<slot11>armor plate ii</slot11>
<slot12>stabilizer v</slot12>
</up-in-arms>
It is like the Pet is now a lower level. I am not sure what might be causing this. Maybe it is obvious and I am just missing it. Any input would be great. Thanks.
Asura.Eiryl
By Asura.Eiryl 2025-06-22 15:04:54
I don't know what you did, it should never be able to use bone crusher.
[+]
By Seun 2025-06-22 15:06:47
Yeah, you're level capped at 60 so your automaton would never reach enough skill to use BC.
By zeta 2025-06-22 16:36:14
weird then... cause it sure was.
Code 11:22:53 > 110 Nine Bone Crusher EFe'e
11:22:53 > 20 Nine Bone Crusher EFe'e 1970
Nine uses Bone Crusher. Fe'e takes 1970 points of damage.1
By Nariont 2025-06-22 16:44:15
my only question is if did you actually see the puppet doing so, as maybe battle log was messing up, otherwise you just spoiled yourself out of an odd bug i guess
Asura.Eiryl
By Asura.Eiryl 2025-06-22 16:47:39
There was a glitch that allowed the automaton(any pet) to go into level capped bc and stay master level, but they patched it.
Maybe you accidentally found a new way to do it.
By zeta 2025-06-22 16:49:06
my only question is if did you actually see the puppet doing so, as maybe battle log was messing up, otherwise you just spoiled yourself out of an odd bug i guess
No it was absolutely Bone Crusher. killed took only about 2-2.5 min. I have never done up in arms on PUP before so had no idea what to expect. I was very confused when it stopped working.
[+]
By zeta 2025-06-22 16:50:03
There was a glitch that allowed the automaton(any pet) to go into level capped bc and stay master level, but they patched it.
Maybe you accidentally found a new way to do it.
Well I dont think the pet was uncapped but it was fun to see it take off 2600 HP at a time
[+]
By Kaffy 2025-06-22 17:48:45
Quote: explain how a puppetmaster's automaton can use bone crusher in the level 60 BCNM up in arms
Quote: In the level 60 BCNM Up In Arms—a popular fight for those chasing the elusive Kraken Club—Puppetmasters (PUP) have a clever strategy that leans heavily on their automatons, especially using the Bone Crusher weaponskill.
Here’s how it works:
1. Automaton Setup:
To use Bone Crusher, your automaton needs to be equipped with a Valoredge Frame and Valoredge Head, which are melee-focused. Bone Crusher is a physical weaponskill that the automaton can use when it has sufficient TP.
2. Maneuvers and Attachments:
You’ll want to use Earth Maneuvers to boost the automaton’s TP gain and survivability. Attachments like Strobe and Flashbulb help it maintain enmity, while Tension Spring and Attuner increase its damage output. This setup ensures the automaton can tank and deal solid damage with Bone Crusher.
3. Fight Strategy:
In Up In Arms, the enemies are relatively straightforward, and the automaton can handle tanking while you support with maneuvers and occasional melee. Players often “AFK” this fight by letting the automaton do most of the work, thanks to its durability and consistent Bone Crusher usage.
If you're curious about specific builds or want to see it in action, there's a YouTube guide showing a solo Puppetmaster run and a Reddit thread with detailed strategies from experienced players.
Want help fine-tuning your automaton’s attachments for this fight? I’ve got you.
Quote: but a level 60 pet doesn't have enough skill for bone crusher
Quote: You're absolutely right—at level 60, an automaton typically doesn't have the required melee skill to unlock and use Bone Crusher, which needs 245 melee skill to become available. That makes the strategy I mentioned earlier a bit misleading for the Up In Arms BCNM, where the level cap restricts your automaton’s skill progression.
In practice, Puppetmasters running this BCNM often rely on lower-tier weaponskills like Cannibal Blade (unlocked at 150 skill) or String Clipper (available from the start with Valoredge). These are still effective when paired with the right attachments and maneuver setup.
If you're aiming to solo this BCNM, the key is less about flashy weaponskills and more about survivability and steady damage. Want help optimizing your automaton’s loadout for that level cap? I can help you build a setup that punches above its weight.
Quote: so how did they use bone crusher
Quote: That’s the million-gil question, isn’t it?
From what I could dig up, it seems there’s a bit of confusion or misinformation floating around. In the Up In Arms level 60 BCNM, automatons shouldn’t be able to use Bone Crusher because it requires 245 melee skill, which is out of reach under the level cap. So if someone claimed their automaton used Bone Crusher in that fight, there are a few possibilities:
- They were mistaken—maybe they saw a different weaponskill like Cannibal Blade or String Clipper and assumed it was Bone Crusher.
- They used a higher-level uncapped version of the fight (like a custom server or a different event), where the automaton had access to its full skill set.
- They manually intervened—some players might have used their own Bone Crusher weaponskill if they were on a job like Monk or Warrior, and the automaton’s actions were just support.
The most consistent solo strategy for Puppetmaster in this BCNM involves letting the automaton tank and chip away with lower-tier weaponskills while you manage enmity and support with maneuvers.
If you saw a video or post claiming Bone Crusher was used, I’d love to take a closer look with you—maybe we can crack the case together.
Quote: neither monk or warrior have bone crusher
Quote: Exactly—great catch. Neither Monk nor Warrior has access to Bone Crusher, which is exclusive to the Valoredge automaton frame in the Puppetmaster job. That rules out the idea that a player used it manually in the Up In Arms BCNM.
So if someone claimed Bone Crusher was used in that level 60 fight, it’s almost certainly a case of mistaken identity—maybe they saw Cannibal Blade or String Clipper, which have similar animations or effects, especially in the chaos of battle. Or they were referencing a version of the fight without the level cap, like on a private server or in a different context entirely.
If you’re trying to replicate a strategy you saw, I’d be happy to help reverse-engineer what was actually going on. Got a link or a clip? Let’s sleuth it out.
Quote: Ah, that post is a gem—and it clears up the mystery!
The player in that thread explains that their automaton does use Bone Crusher in the Up In Arms BCNM, but only after manually capping its melee skill to 245 before entering the level 60 fight. Skill caps are locked once you're inside the BCNM, but you can enter with higher skill already trained, and the automaton retains access to Bone Crusher even though its level is synced down.
So the trick is:
- Level your automaton’s melee skill to 245+ outside the BCNM.
- Then enter Up In Arms while synced to 60—the automaton keeps the weaponskill unlocked.
It’s a clever workaround that takes advantage of how skill-based weaponskills are retained once learned, even under level sync. Not something most players think to do, but it’s totally legit within the game’s mechanics.
Want help building a setup to get your automaton’s skill capped efficiently? I’ve got some ideas.
[+]
By zeta 2025-06-22 18:29:06
Way too much AI slop there :)
By zeta 2025-06-23 10:53:52
Another random question please. When it comes to Automaton WS sets is it worth it trying to build and make sure they equip right or not worth it now a days?
If it is worth it should I use the ones from the main page or have they changed?
Thanks.
By Kaffy 2025-06-23 10:56:54
if the pet is doing all the work, sure. but if you're meleeing I wouldn't bother, won't gain much dps if any at all with the time spent in bad sets waiting for it to ws
By Nariont 2025-06-23 11:31:08
if its a dmg varies you can try and build around equipping the TP bonus stuff into your TP set i.e emp hat and reive cape(though capes a tough sell) if its not then id just ignore swapping entirely
But like said thats if the puppets dmg is contributing a good amount, which is getting less and less these days
[+]
By zeta 2025-06-23 13:38:18
Thanks for the replies. I was going to have the sets when I let the pet do all the work.. Still new to PUP so not sure how often that will happen.
Would it be just one WS set to rule them all or for example should I try to stack DA for Bone Crusher. Not sure If i would need different sets for each WS option. Thanks again.
By Nariont 2025-06-23 13:51:58
Bone Crusher is all DA. String Shredder is very much the same unless you wanted to go the route of crit rate as thats actually doing something for pets now though DA is still probably better i dont think anyones re-ran puppet WS post pdif changes but prior to that SS was just kinda meh, but for the sake of space i just used the hybrid taeon i use for DPS puppet tanking in most/all the armor slots though things like mpaca boots might be better for the level+1
pet:
acc+25
da+5
dt-4
Everything else is either dmg varies, or non-scaling such as armor shatterer. But again, since you cant reliably get the puppet to fire off like say a ready move or BP, you can be stuck in that set for several seconds just wasting time for a marginal increase. In the case of only the puppet is engaged then go nuts
By benjaman 2025-06-23 16:13:51
So I don't know how far this can be exploited, but you can do a pseudo-sic move by deploying an inactive puppet to close an active skillchain IMMEDIATELY.
For example, I have a valoredge frame/head with 3 fires, speed loader, inhibitor, and 1000tp. It is not deployed. I pull a mob, shijin spiral, and deploy. That puppet will not hesitate like it normally does. It will Bone Crusher immediately. I don't know if there are limits like "what if the puppet was just retrieved so it has action cooldown" or "what if I don't have inhibitor on", but a sic-like move is possible. Might be worth playing around with for your use case.
[+]
By Nariont 2025-06-23 19:18:07
Its an option though i tbink you waste even more potentially doing retrieve > deploy to reset the puppets action quene, and in case of ranger frame i think itll still prioritize RA if its recast is up. Generally puppet will do whatever is next in priirity;
JA(Ranged attack included)
WS
Magic
AA
So re-deploying just resets the priority, though im not sure if inhib/Speedloader will force it to bypass the RA check
Server: Asura
Game: FFXI
Posts: 16
By Asura.Ayakari 2025-06-27 01:26:05
Ragnarok.Marquiss said: »Getting happy breaking 80k dmg magic bursts on PUP blm auto, I really wish we had access to t6 nukes like a real BLM. I can probably cap out 99999 dmg if I have r30 nyame body and +2 PUP neck. Very happy with PUP as a DD.
the 84k nukes were with grape daifuku, the 81k were with rolanberry daifuku. I do similar damage in sortie and use this loadout specifically to solo farm all objectives as im able to nuke kill, magic burst, 4-step solo, and WS.
So far I have been able to solo A boss with trusts using this strategy.
I was inspired by my friend on SCH soloing his stage 4 prime, so I wanted a similar power and utilized my solo skillchain + MB potential to the max.

What are your MB attachments looking like? I haven't been able to hit damage cap on any of my puppet builds and I feel like I'm doing something wrong? Also don't know if my lua is out of date or not, especially since the guides haven't been updated for years now.
Carbuncle.Kittylove
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 3
By Carbuncle.Kittylove 2025-06-28 17:31:13
What sets should I prioritize first? What weapons should I work on to go with those sets? What is some good end game content I could take pup to to succeed with?
By benjaman 2025-06-28 23:35:05
Tank set. Overdrive set. Midnights. Xiucoatl C. Lilith E solo. "Some" Ambuscade months. Ody V0 mercs.
Asura.Psylo
Server: Asura
Game: FFXI
Posts: 455
By Asura.Psylo 2025-07-13 03:33:28
Hello everyone, simple question, if i finish my Neo animator R30, do i need to keep my Animator P+1 or i can just do all thing with neo animator ?
Thks in advance

>> Click Here to view the guide over at BG Wiki <<
Last Update: 26th April 2019
I'd like to give a big shout-out to all the Puppetmasters, old or new, who have been relentlessly sharing their PUP knowledge and findings online in order to help me write this guide.
Cheers!
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