[Jazzepi]

>As a primary bless strategy, there are a lot of problems with an air bless. As you've said, there are ways to get around it. There are also ways to circumvent twist fate and nations where its almost useless. Abysia with def2 sacreds? Jotunheim where you're outnumbered six to one?<

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said I'd bother with twist fate on these nations, it's obviously subpar, but air shield would be /even worse/ which just further proves my point that is has no place as a high level bless. In fact, the only reason I would ever take air on my pretender is to get level 4 air to allow me to easily forge air boosters. And as I said, I would always pick a high astral, enough to get twist fate, over a high air any day.


>I won't let myself loose on the argument of universally cheaper.<

Obviously some nations don't have access to the astral fountain, but most do, or they have access to the sacred statue, and the vast majority of the time a high astral bless is infinitely cheaper than the air bless. Oh, and high astral bless lets you cast much better ritual spells than air. Dispel with a huge added bonus to your roll? Or maybe arcane nexus with your level 8 or 9 caster that's nearly impossible to dispel. Or master enslave with a pretender that's ready to cast it out of box. Or Gate so that you can teleport your entire army into the enemy's capital, and then spam master enslave communion awesomeness while you take it down.

A high air bless will never, ever, be a good bless because it's opportunity cost is far too high, and it doesn't help you enough. Maybe it would be if quickness, twist fate, and flaming weapons weren't around. All of them are vastly superior, and except for the water one, offer better late game casting options. Although the sea of ice is quite useful, as is the ability to summon water queens out of the box.