Pop For Your 'Points (3/3): The defense and reflection package offered by this weapon is only also seen in Illusens Staff, which is more expensive. This is the cheapest way to full block one icon and reflect another. Keep in mind that it is still over 100 million neopoints.

In Battle (3/5): Let's first take a look at the offensive output of Jhudoras Wand. While 8 icons might seem fairly weak for the level of battling in which this weapon resides, it becomes reasonable when you factor in the defensive capabilities. In fact, a good way to view Jhudoras Wand is defense first, offense second. The attack is relegated to an afterthought that is used to put J-Wand ahead of the weapons it can counter.

Now we examine the passive element of Jhudoras Wand's defense, the full block of air icons that come your way. Sword of Ari and Ghostkersword are the two weapons that come to mind, and the results are a bit mixed. When it comes to Sword of Ari, it is stripped down to an average of 3.34 physical icons. The 8 icons of offense on Jhudoras Wand are sitting pretty in this scenario; there is a less than 4% chance that Sword of Ari will hit hard enough to tie or overpower J-Wand. For Ghostkersword, the two are dead even. While it may be fun to troll a G-Sword user with this, keep in mind you paid more NP just to draw even.

The air block would see use against other weapons, of course. If someone decided to use Sword of the Air Faerie for whatever reason, J-Wand would bring them to their knees. If an opponent tried to spam dual Super Attack Peas, J-Wand paired with Ultra Dual Shovel would result in you taking 10 icons to their 38. Keep in mind most people won't use dual peas turn after turn unless they know they can't be punished for it.

The light reflection is the last component to Jhudoras Wand, and in my opinion is its great downfall. I hate this style of reflection. It is forgivable when it comes to Illusens Staff because of other factors such as more offensive power and multiple healing. It cannot be so easily overlooked here.

Essentially, if you receive air and light in the same turn, you will reflect the light. (You will not reflect light without receiving air.) The thing is, you reflect 75% of the icons in question and do 125% to yourself. Jhudoras Wand can hurt the person using it. Take Sword of White Lies as case in point. Not only does Sword of White Lies boast copious amounts of light, it also activates the reflection of J-Wand because of the air icons found in the base attack. When Sword of White Lies hits its lowest, it deals 16 icons, half of which are light. 8 icons times .75 means J-Wand will hit for 14 icons. Sword of Whites Lies, which has three air, will deal a mere 5 physical but this will combine with the self-damage caused by J-Wand to total 15. Though not exponentially, the discrepancy grows larger the more light icons dealt. If you calculate using SoWL's mean, 20, you are looking at J-Wand dealing 17 icons and Sword of White Lies dealing... well, 20 icons. This is not the best result, honestly.

I suppose J-Wand actually helps a ton if you are faced with massive air and massive light across both of the opponent's weapons (perhaps Sword of Ari and Sword of Thigl combined) because the attack helps cover the gap created by the reflection, but you really have no business tackling mostly light with just J-Wand. The reflection here is a hassle to activate and a hassle to benefit from, in most cases. However, if the opponent tries to slash you with SoWL and G-Sword at the same time, go have fun!

There are actually a great number of downgrades to Jhudoras Wand, based on blocking all air. The bottom of the barrel would be Ring of Weightlessness and Shield of Soaring. Climbing up a bit (if you can overcome the price and scarcity) and you come across Alien Aisha Scrambler. While they cover the air (or light) well enough, and have a few more icons of defense, they will fall short of answering weapons with mass air because of additional icon types. For Sword of Ari in particular, Shield of Faerieland does wrap things up rather nicely. Ghostkersword becomes a problem for the Shield of Faerieland, however.

It is better to consider upgrades, anyway. The best alternative to J-Wand's air blocking would be Triple Turbo Dryer; TTD deals 11.25 icons back to the opponent when they use Sword of Ari. This means 3.75 of their air joins the average 3.34 physical. You're letting the opponent do around ~7.09 in order to deal 11.25 icons. You might actually be better off with Jwand, then, as you will do 8 and the opponent will average 3.34. Pretty similar, really. Price would favor TTD, of course.

When it comes to light, either reflect it with Superior Reflection Shield or Combo Battle Mirror or use a full blocker like Hubrid Nox Memorial Shield or Skarls Sword. Kings Lens has potential depending on the other weapons involved.

Keep in mind this is a specialized weapon for very specific circumstances.

Other (1/2): Is that Sauron's other eye?

Rated on August 27, 2013