Best/Worst Shottypes in the Series?

[LHCling]

Dammit you guys posted a lot while I was doing various tasks.

Hm, guess it's time to just make quick generalizations then  :V
Keep in mind that this is my opinion on things. Also, read the topic title properly please?

Eh, MoF ReimuC and UFO MarisaB would probably be good for stuff like easy-mode scorerunning, for those strange people who are into that kind of thing (like Heartbeam and, uh... Heartbeam).

Nope. ReimuC is just that horrible. Spread does nothing to most of the stage enemies. You can't even shotgun a sizable number of Spell Cards, and when you can't, you deal the lowest damage out of all the shot types. I'm not going to even talk about unfocusing.

MarisaB for UFO... not so much. You can score with just about all shot types (including the "dreaded" MarisaA) if you know how to.
I'll make a judgment based on these aspects:

• Scoring Capability
• Control ((un)focus speed)
• Overall Survivability (this is basically overall shot damage, versatility, bomb damage, duration and miscellaneous abilities; uses the game that they come from as a standard)

It should be quite obvious as to why I chose the shot type(s) as being either the best or the worst. If you can't figure out why, then too bad play more  :V

Spoiler:

Really, if you're participating in this, you should know why I would choose a shot type to be the best / worst

.
Additionally, I won't include the Phantasmagoria games, but I will add the PC-98 ones.

Best Windows shot type overall: Scarlet Devil Team (IN)
Worst Windows shot type overall: ReimuC (MoF)

Best PC-98 shot type overall: Mima (MS)
Worst PC-98 shot type overall: ReimuA (LLS)

I do not consider the "fun factor" of each shot type.
Also:
:munch:

[nintendonut888]

...What. Alright, first of all, she's the only shot type with piercing, and her damage isn't THAT bad, even with the lasers down.

Piercing is virtually useless in EoSD, I'm not gonna lie. I struggle to think of more than one instance where that would make a noticeable difference.

Marisa B happens to have the best bomb in the game in every way.

Stardust Reverie can knock out every spell card except Scarlet Meister consistently with one bomb

Marisa C

[theshirn]

Best Windows shot type overall: Scarlet Devil Team (IN)
Worst Windows shot type overall: ReimuC (MoF)

Best PC-98 shot type overall: Mima (MS)
Worst PC-98 shot type overall: ReimuA (LLS)

Uhhh...Remilia, used properly, is great, but I don't think she's good enough to overwrite Sakuya's terribility in IN.  She really is just that bad.

For all the factors you listed, I'd have to go with either SA ReimuA or either PCB Sakuya.  SanaeB also gets an honorable mention.  Worst isn't an argument just because MoF ReimuC is just that laughable.

For IN, I'll have to agree with Mima for best, but I usually run ReimuA for Lunatic LLS, and she has stood me in good stead for the most part.  Compare her to A or B in SoEW...I don't think it's fair to call her the worst.  I'd give to one of those.

wait can I give it to tHRtP Reimu

please

[nintendonut888]

IMO Reimu B's the best in SoEW. >_> Choosing Reimu C for lunatic will just get you killed after stage 2 thanks to the enemies forcing you into a corner with their aimed bullets with no escape (something I'm tempted to name "Cave syndrome" :V). That and she's too slow to dodge many of the patterns. Once you reach max power Reimu B dominates the game with both absolute range and decent damage output.

Also HRtP Reimu is badASS. You see some bullet out to try an' cap you? SPIN KICK THAT MOTHAFUCKA! Who the hell do you know that can kick bullets? NOBODY, that's who.

[LHCling]

Uhhh...Remilia, used properly, is great, but I don't think she's good enough to overwrite Sakuya's terribility in IN.  She really is just that bad.

Sakuya's spread makes certain attacks easier in IN. You also need a Human to do scoring properly, so yeah. Else, I would've probably gone with Remilia Solo, yeah.

...but I usually run ReimuA for Lunatic LLS, and she has stood me in good stead for the most part.  Compare her to A or B in SoEW...I don't think it's fair to call her the worst.  I'd give to one of those.

ReimuA was nominated to be the worst but just barely. Else it would've been MarisaB. SoEW's shot types all have their advantages. That includes the Movement Type.

wait can I give it to tHRtP Reimu

please

HRtP Reimu is awesome as a shot type actually. Considering that your shots cancel most bullets, you get a bomb that does rather nice damage to a certain boss; it also lasts quite a while. You also get a whole load of techniques to use.

Hi 'nut.

[Esoterica]

Best: MS Mima.  Perfect speed and just enough spread to where you don't need to be within 5 pixels of the target, but don't lose out on too much damage either.  Basically, a simple, straightforward shot that does everything right.

Worst: IN Sakuya solo.  The only thing she's good for is fighting Mokou where her knives do 100% damage to the wings, and even then everyone but Reimu solo does the job better.

[?q]

IMO Reimu B's the best in SoEW. >_> Choosing Reimu C for lunatic will just get you killed after stage 2 thanks to the enemies forcing you into a corner with their aimed bullets with no escape (something I'm tempted to name "Cave syndrome" :V). That and she's too slow to dodge many of the patterns. Once you reach max power Reimu B dominates the game with both absolute range and decent damage output.

It may sound obvious, but if I couldn't have ReimuC I would go for ReimuB.  Having one of everything at MAX power is ridiculously awesome.
(And only having it at MAX power is one reason why SoEW fails.)

Also HRtP Reimu is badASS. You see some bullet out to try an' cap you? SPIN KICK THAT MOTHAFUCKA! Who the hell do you know that can kick bullets? NOBODY, that's who.

The series' resident China Pet disagrees.

I agree with Baity that Sakuya is useful in IN precisely because she's not the only shot type in the Scarlet Team.
You CAN beat the game with Remilia solo, but it's easier with a human with spread.

[Garlyle]

Thoughts...

*Reimu's Homing in SoEW on Lunatic.  It's not a problem at all on anything less.  But her homing is so good it can go BEHIND her - and everything you destroy shoots aimed bullets at you on Lunatic.  Of course, she's great otherwise 8D

*Why no mention of Netherworld team in IN?  I mean, Yuyuko and Youmu are alright solo, but... Youmu's got a more focused fire and Yuyuko's super spread... and they're the opposite roles that you'd use focused/unfocused.  Especially given IN's time system.  It sorta drives me nuts @_@

[Helix ⑨]

Best: Youmu (IN), MarisaA (UFO), I also like SaneaA (UFO) for her okay damage and really nice homing attacks but I dont think she's the best
Worst: MARISABBBBBB (UFO!!!!!!), Alice (IN), Sakuya (IN)

[RainfallYoshi]

I don't get the hate on UFO MarisaB.

Her bomb doesn't destroy a full HP UFO but it's enough to clear enemies away. That's pretty stinkin' awesome if I do say so myself.

[Naut]

[MarisaB's] bomb doesn't destroy a full HP UFO but it's enough to clear enemies away. That's pretty stinkin' awesome if I do say so myself.

Considering that every other bomb in the game does the same thing but also does more damage as well as last longer, I'd say it's pretty stinkin' shit.

[Iryan]

Considering that every other bomb in the game does the same thing but also does more damage as well as last longer, I'd say it's pretty stinkin' shit.

Umm, no. MarisaB's bomb pretty much kills all enemies but leaves the UFO barely alive, ensuring a popped fully soaked UFO. The other bombs kill the UFOs, usually stripping you of extra bombs and lives. So while it appears to be bad, it has it's advantages. Also, the main shot is basically MS Mima with a little less oomph, and something that is less than awesome can still be good. So yeah.

[DgBarca]

EoSD :  Best : MarisaA | Worst : ReimuA
PCB : Best : all the B types | Worst : ReimuA
IN : Best : Scarlet Devil Team (Remilia = shots; Sayuka = bombs) | Worst : Sakyua/Yuyuko solo
MoF : Best : ReimuB | Worst : ReimuC (ReimuC is "good" for stage 1/2)
SA : Best : MarisaB | Worst : ReimuB
UFO : Best : ReimuA | Worst : MarisaB

SoEW : Reimu C, but the low speed is rawr
LLS : MARISA A IS THE BEST SHOTTYPE !...lolhax
MS : Mima | Worst : Marisa (I can't play with her it's awful, my eyes)

Best ever : SA MarisaB. Tactical and so awesome
Worst ever : EoSD ReimuA IT IS NOT HOMING, IT CHANGE EVERY TIME !

[AlexX Unlimited]

*Why no mention of Netherworld team in IN?  I mean, Yuyuko and Youmu are alright solo, but... Youmu's got a more focused fire and Yuyuko's super spread... and they're the opposite roles that you'd use focused/unfocused.  Especially given IN's time system.  It sorta drives me nuts @_@

Personally, I find that homing and spread types are good when you can't get directly under the boss, and Youmu's option is good to use to help deal with multiple spawn points, so despite seeming strange it actually works out in practice (or at least it does for me). It's also easier to use them together since if you solo with Youmu you'll only do half your normal damage if you can't get Myon lined up with the boss, and focusing won't reset its position (which can be bothersome for bosses like Reisen, who require swapping between focused and unfocused to deal with her illusion spells, and since she likes to move around a lot you might not be able to get directly under her as often as you'd like).

[LHCling]

Umm, no. MarisaB's bomb pretty much kills all enemies but leaves the UFO barely alive, ensuring a popped fully soaked UFO. The other bombs kill the UFOs, usually stripping you of extra bombs and lives. So while it appears to be bad, it has it's advantages. Also, the main shot is basically MS Mima with a little less oomph, and something that is less than awesome can still be good. So yeah.

If you time the bomb / summoning of the UFO properly, you can ensure the maximum number of bombs / lives / points anyway.

MS Mima essentially outclasses all shot types at long range (which MarisaB-UFO cannot do).

[canobiecrazy]

The only good use I can think of for UFO Marisa B would be a Phantasmagoria game.

[Doomsday]

Best: Reimu B (or whichever Reimu that uses Needles)
Worst: Sakuya Solo in IN maybe? i dunno

[Sapz]

Worst PC-98 shot type overall: ReimuA (LLS)

ReimuA? Really? I'm not seeing it. Admittedly I haven't played around all that much with PC-98, but I cleared LLS Lunatic with no real difficulty on my first not-ragequit attempt with her, and I remember her doing a lot more damage that I was expecting; IIRC it was only slightly less than what I was getting with MarisaA, but with all the benefits of homing (and all the benefits of fighting Marisa over Reimu but I guess that doesn't count). Is there something I'm missing here? :V

[LHCling]

Let's compare.

SoEW: All the shot types have their advantages. Movement Type can be used and "abused". Defense has homing among other things. Offense has damage. Game-breaking, considering that you can do things like take out midbosses before they can even fire.

LLS:
RA - Eh. Watch.
RB - Full-screen coverage, better shotgun capability (you can shotgun a surprising number of bosses), at the cost of having slightly less attack power at long-distances. Yuka's First Phase still goes down in 3 cycles (+bombs). Overall, more useful than ReimuA.
MA - Nothing to be said here.
MB - The "weaker" version of MA. Shot is consistent in power though.

MS:
Reimu's homing is more useful in MS than LLS. However, that Homing bug...  ;_;
Marisa still can do ridiculous amounts of damage. Swinging around randomly can kill lots of enemies too.
Mima, heh.
Yuka's bomb + overall survivability when you get to higher Power Levels.

I labeled ReimuA (LLS) as being the worst simply because it gets outshined.

[?q]

Whoever said that Yuyuko solo was one of the worst in IN is basically wrong.

My major problem with MarisaB's bomb (UFO) is that it gives you zero grace period - once the shiny graphical stuff is over, you can and will die if something hits you.  And the shiny stuff fades very quickly.

[Blackraptor]

Best shot Type from my experience (not saying much) are as follows:

EoSD: Never had the time to play it sadly...

PCB:
Best - SakuyaB: The ability to spread around her shots in unfocused mode and the sheer punch of her focused mode is great. The bombs are pretty useful since, while not damaging, can knock out all the bullets on the screen and turn them to points and cherries.

Worst - ReimuA: Homing is great if you want to have a feel of the game if it's your first time playing PCB but it becomes more of a liability on later stages and higher difficulties.

IN
Best - Marisa: Only because of Master Spark and the fact her shot is the one I'm most comfortable using.

Worst - Sakuya: Fighting bosses with Sakuya is not fun.

PoFV: Again...never played yet...

MOF
Best - ReimuB: Classic Needle Reimu is always useful.

Worst - ReimuC: So much I haven't even gotten past Momiji with this shot.

SA
Best - MarisaA: Yes...I'm not kidding. Her shot is my favorite in the game since you can make sentry towers out of the dolls in tight spots.

Worst - ReimuB: Kinda nerfed and the bomb is something I didn't even know had an offense until someone pointed it out.

UFO
Best - MarisaA: Master Spark slows you down but a 4.00 powered laser shot from Marisa is amazing in the later stages of the game.

Worst - MarisaB: I tried to use this effectively...I really did. I tried my best to find SOMETHING redeeming to this shot but alas...it's really bad...

[Recon 5]

Worst - MarisaB: I tried to use this effectively...I really did. I tried my best to find SOMETHING redeeming to this shot but alas...it's really bad...

You can fill up UFOs easier since her bomb clears the screen without killing them, and backshot is useful for some of those streaming stages when you need to go around stuff.

Still the worst shot but not completely useless.

[Blackraptor]

You can fill up UFOs easier since her bomb clears the screen without killing them, and backshot is useful for some of those streaming stages when you need to go around stuff.

Still the worst shot but not completely useless.

I didn't even realize that was possible...though that is because I almost never bomb at Touhou in general and just try to graze even that which is ungrazeable...one of my biggest weaknesses as a player but I'm learning...slowly...

[Sen]

Okay, after some extensive PCB playing today, I have changed my stance on the game: MarisaB is the worst shot type in the game.

What the hell does the shot even do? ReimuA is horribly weak, but at least she's useful for getting into the game. SakuyaA is a terrible shottype, but like ReimuA, the lock-on helps people get into the game before they realize it's terrible/boring and move onto a better type.

MarisaB?

No.

I cannot find a single good thing about this shottype except the bombs. The lasers are terrible at dealing damage unfocused (which, y'know, you want to do for most of PCB), and when you focus, your range is roughly three pixels wide. The Cherry gain is terrible and the loss for bombing/dying is even higher than MarisaA.

The only redeeming factor I can see in the shot is the bombs. Non-Directional Laser is absurdly powerful if you bodyslam the boss, and Master Spark is Master Spark. However, this is not EoSD; those bombs are going to destroy your score, and Marisa only even gets two bombs at base.

There is nothing else even remotely good about this shottype beyond the bomb damage.

>:E

[Suikama]

Worst shottype ever is VIVIT Anything

[Esoterica]

Okay, after some extensive PCB playing today, I have changed my stance on the game: MarisaB is the worst shot type in the game.

What the hell does the shot even do? ReimuA is horribly weak, but at least she's useful for getting into the game. SakuyaA is a terrible shottype, but like ReimuA, the lock-on helps people get into the game before they realize it's terrible/boring and move onto a better type.

MarisaB?

No.

I cannot find a single good thing about this shottype except the bombs. The lasers are terrible at dealing damage unfocused (which, y'know, you want to do for most of PCB), and when you focus, your range is roughly three pixels wide. The Cherry gain is terrible and the loss for bombing/dying is even higher than MarisaA.

The only redeeming factor I can see in the shot is the bombs. Non-Directional Laser is absurdly powerful if you bodyslam the boss, and Master Spark is Master Spark. However, this is not EoSD; those bombs are going to destroy your score, and Marisa only even gets two bombs at base.

There is nothing else even remotely good about this shottype beyond the bomb damage.

>:E

I actually forgot that shot type existed.

Yeah, it only exists for the bombs, which doesn't exactly turn out to be of any real benefit in this game :c 

Though, the only real screen-cleaning bombs that don't belong to MarisaB that also do any respectable amounts of damage are Stardust Reverie and Indiscriminate, so...

[Bananamatic]

StB Aya is EXTREMELY bad.
Too fast or too slow. And you can't change it :V

[Suikama]

StB Aya is EXTREMELY bad.
Too fast or too slow. And you can't change it :V

Also doesn't even have a bomb!

[Sapz]

Also doesn't even have a bomb!

Or, er, a shot. :V

[Suikama]

Or, er, a shot. :V

Well at least she can clear bullets every once in a while.

Too bad she also only has one life :V