[Myru]

I've just got to 37 and got Utsusemi: Ni. I was wondering how if Ichi and Ni stack, and what order they would have to be cast to get them to stack. Also, I've heard that the elemental Ni ninjutsu are fairly good. Can someone verify if they do some good damage or are another waste of money.

[Iphion]

They don't stack. Ni is four hits and ichi is three. Utsusemi tanking is just really good timing. I guess. *gag motion*

Haven't actually seen the Ni elementals, but I heard they were good too.

[Derikku]

Yea. They don't stack. Ni has a 45sec timer, while Ichi has 30sec. So if your Copy Image runs out before Ni recharged, then cast Ichi as a backup. They don't stack though.

[Roori]

If you currently have Utsusemi: Ichi shadows leftover and cast the Ni version, it will replace all the leftover Ichi shadows with a fresh set of 4 Ni Shadows. However, the opposite is not true. If you have Ni shadows left and cast Ichi, you'll get a message that you are unaffected and nothing happens (though Ichi cooldown will still apply). The Ni version is much easier to not be interrupted because of the faster cast time.

The workaround for this is to start off with Ni and cast Ni again when your shadows are used up. Pay attention to how many shadows are absorbed from the second Ni cast. After 3 shadows are used up, wait until the monster is about to swing again. That's when you start casting Utsusemi: Ichi and if the monster misses you, you must manually cancel the last Ni shadow before casting time gets to 50% (+ + box over shadow, enter). If the shadow was used up, take care in not cancelling a buff on accident. If you did that right, chances are Ni will be ready for recast by the time your Ichi shadows are used up.

With good evasion and debuffed mobs, alternating Ni/Ichi will let you dodge most hits and half the time all of a mob's non-area effect hits.

You generate hate by provoking every 30 seconds. In groups with a RNG/DRK (using equipment/ammo for their level), provoke itself won't be enough. Enfeeble and elemental ninjitsu give the edge needed to keep the monster on you even when the drk berserk/souleater/ws. You keep agro because you shouldn't be getting hit.

Haste and March will slightly reduce the cooldown on your ninjitsu (the timer countdown itself doesn't change) and being slowed will add to it. Note though that you are *immune* to slow when you have WHM haste on you. With haste, you're able to recast Utsusemi: Ni when there's about 10 seconds left on the cooldown timer.

[Myru]

Awesome, thanks for the info everyone.