Chapter 187: Soul Master Types

As a quick‑attack type Soul Master, its greatest advantage is extremely fast speed. Relying on this, they can more easily evade the control of control-type Soul Masters. Generally, control-type Soul Masters indeed find it hard to control quick‑attack type Soul Masters, while quick‑attack type Soul Masters can relatively easily assassinate control-type Soul Masters.

Unless a control-type Soul Master possesses a locking or similar strong‑control soul skill, or an area‑wide, blind‑spot‑free control ability. But such soul skills are usually top‑grade soul skills, which are extremely rare.

Similarly, if the quick‑attack type also has top‑grade soul skills like invisibility, clones, or Instant Teleport, then the control type still finds it hard to deal with the quick‑attack type.

The greatest role of control-type Soul Masters is still in a team; as long as they can restrict the opponent's actions, they allow teammates to deal supplemental damage. After all, control-type Soul Masters themselves, like defense-type Soul Masters, lack damage‑output capability.

The reason Tang San thinks Yu Xiao Gang's theory is correct is that he is not a normal control-type Soul Master at all. He possesses many Tang Men Absolute Arts such as Xuan Yu Hand, Ghost Shadow Trail, and Crane‑Control Dragon‑Capture, which make his close‑combat ability far stronger than that of a normal control-type Soul Master. When facing quick‑attack type Soul Masters, he has a higher tolerance for error and counter‑kill capability.

Perhaps it is precisely Tang San's unusual nature that gave the relatively inexperienced Yu Xiao Gang this mistaken view. After all, another control-type Soul Master familiar to Yu Xiao Gang is Bi Bi Dong, whose martial soul combines control and strong attack, and is also not a normal control-type Soul Master, so Yu Xiao Gang concluded that the control type is the strongest in one‑on‑one combat.

Of course, the quick‑attack type counters the control type, but that does not mean the quick‑attack type is invincible. The quick‑attack type Soul Masters are most annoyed by defense-type Soul Masters. Defense-type Soul Masters have overly thick health bars, while the quick‑attack type emphasizes one‑hit kills and swift battles. Once they are held back by the opponent, the quick‑attack type's frail body can hardly withstand the opponent's relentless bombardment.

However, in one‑on‑one duels, a typical defense-type Soul Master can hardly trouble a quick‑attack type Soul Master. The mere advantage of speed allows the quick‑attack type to come and go at will. Relying solely on a defense-type Soul Master's own abilities simply cannot keep a quick‑attack type in place.

Additionally, it is worth mentioning the strong‑attack type. Strong‑attack type Soul Masters generally have high attack power, decent defense, and moderate speed, making them a relatively balanced Soul Master category without obvious flaws.

Precisely because of this, the strong‑attack type is not countered by other types. When facing a control-type Soul Master, they can rely on their robust physique to resist and use their powerful attacks to break the control; when facing a quick‑attack type, they can leverage their thick health and wait for a counter‑kill; when facing a defense type, they simply clash head‑on, a pure spear‑and‑shield contest.

Of course, balance also means there is nothing particularly outstanding.

Thus, no Soul Master type is unbeatable in one‑on‑one; they merely counter each other. If, as Yu Xiao Gang claims, the control type is the strongest in same‑level duels, would anyone still cultivate other types? Obviously not.

It should be noted that among Title Douluo, the most numerous are strong‑attack type Soul Masters! Next are quick‑attack type Soul Masters, while defense-type and control-type Soul Masters are extremely rare.

It is precisely because the drawbacks of defense-type and control-type Soul Masters are too obvious—damage is too low! They can only play a major role in team battles.

Soul Masters aren't foolish; they won't sacrifice themselves for a team. One must know that no banquet lasts forever; a team will eventually disband, and a Soul Master will eventually have to venture out alone.

Therefore, the strong‑attack type is so popular precisely because it has no obvious weakness and isn't specifically targeted. The quick‑attack type can also rely on speed to dodge damage, compensating for its defensive shortfall, and is second only to the strong‑attack type in popularity. These two types have the most members, and the reason is that their Soul Masters deal high damage.

Thus, even defense-type Soul Masters will add a few potent attack soul skills. Pure defense-type Soul Masters find it virtually impossible to venture alone; they only take hits. When facing other Soul Masters a realm higher, they might not be able to affect the opponent at all.

Damage is forever the king!

Control-type Soul Masters, also lacking damage, usually acquire one or two soul skills with strong burst power for self‑preservation, such as A Yin's Blue Silver Overlord Spear, a typical example.

But this only relatively patches a bit; the drawbacks of the control and defense types remain quite evident.

This brings up the single‑attribute four clans. In the Soul Master world, the highest‑status single‑attribute four clans are the Breaking Clan and the Power One Clan. Though they are extreme‑flow, they possess respectable damage, and generally no one dares to provoke them.

The Yu One Clan, however, is tightly countered by the Elephant Armor Sect. The latter's Diamond Mammoth follows a strength‑plus‑defense path; pure defense may be a bit weaker than the Yu One Clan, but in attack power it far surpasses the Yu One Clan. When facing the Elephant Armor Sect, the Yu One Clan can neither win a fight nor escape, whereas the Sensitive One Clan at least can run away.

Thus, powerful attack is the ability Soul Masters need most, their greatest confidence. This point is probably most relatable to support-type Soul Masters, but they cannot change it; their martial souls are destined to be non‑offensive. Defense and control types often overlook this.

This is why Yu Tianyun has no change of opinion about Yang Ruolin's pursuit of maximal attack power. However, for Bai Chenxiang and Zhu Zhu Yun, Zhu Zhuqing, who are quick‑attack type Soul Masters, he put forward an emphasis on attack power.

Originally, Zhu Zhu Yun and Zhu Zhuqing's speed was extremely fast, but they lacked attack power, making them seem feeble, especially Bai Chenxiang, who could be said to have only speed and almost no damage.

Therefore, Yu Tianyun's immortal herbs for them, as well as their Soul Ring choices, ensure speed while also accounting for attack power.

For example, the Ice Soul Chilling Herb given to Bai Chenxiang grants her ice‑type damage; the Soul Ring of the powerful Soul Beast Emerald Demon Bird chosen for Zhu Zhuqing boosts her speed while adding high attack power; and the immortal herb Phantom Shadow Enchanting Heart Orchid taken by Zhu Zhu Yun gives her some mental‑attack means, and combined with her original cat claws, her attack power is also quite respectable.

At this moment, Zhu Zhu Yun slightly turned and quickly said to her teammates, "Sisters, swift battle, swift finish, give them no chance." Yang Ruolin and Zhu Zhuqing nodded lightly, while Bai Chenxiang and Ye Lingling also prepared to provide support at any time.

(End of chapter)