Understand The Bell
Useful when…
- A claymore user who values HP and can make use of a shield that triggers after taking damage.
- A build that can benefit from a temporary general damage bonus while shielded.
How does the shield and damage effect work?
At R1, taking damage creates a shield absorbing damage up to 20% of Max HP. It lasts 10 seconds or until broken, and can trigger only once every 45 seconds. While the character is protected by a shield, they gain 12% increased damage. At R5 these values become 32% shield absorption and 24% increased damage. The effect's trigger requires taking damage; the stated damage bonus requires shield protection.
When is its HP stat useful?
The Bell's secondary stat is HP, and its shield capacity is expressed as a percentage of Max HP. That makes its stat and shield scale condition relevant to characters who value HP. The provided effect does not say that the weapon's shield is refreshed by unrelated shield creation, so do not assume another shield activates this weapon's damage bonus unless the wielder is actually protected.
What investment is sensible?
Ascension raises the weapon through its listed stages using Mora and ascension materials. Refinement improves shield capacity from 20% to 32% of Max HP and the shielded damage bonus from 12% to 24%. Each refinement consumes another copy, so weigh that limited-window increase against keeping copies for another claymore user.
What do alternatives provide?
The Ultimate Overlord's Mega Magic Sword supplies Energy Recharge and ATK, with its additional ATK tied to help given to Merusea Village Melusines. A Teaspoon of Transcendence gives ATK and boosts Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl reaction damage after Charged Attack hits. A Thousand Blazing Suns triggers temporary ATK and CRIT DMG increases through Skill or Burst use, with extra effects in Nightsoul's Blessing. Their conditions and stats differ from The Bell's HP and incoming-damage shield trigger.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- The shield only triggers when the wielder takes damage and has a 45-second trigger cooldown.
- Its damage bonus requires shield protection and is limited by the shield's duration and whether it breaks.
- The HP secondary stat may not suit an attacker who needs other stats.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the 12% damage increase as permanently active; it applies while protected by a shield.
- Expecting the weapon to create a new shield more often than once every 45 seconds.