HP Challenge Analysis

The challenge system was announced in october of 2022, and the full HP value is finally released as of 7/12/2024. A total of 642 days have passed since announcement to full release, during which a new character started at the announcement would have been able to amass 4.1 million nx.

This would have been enough nx to wash nearly any range DPS to ~17k hp (finished), and would have been enough to have 30k potential range characters washed to around 9k base HP.

Overall, I'd say that any range character made after 6/8/2023 have 100% benefited from waiting for the HP challenge system to be released, whereas those made earlier could have benefited from doing a normal wash (with those made at announcement certainly having been better off washing normally).

The below table roughly summarizes the NX value of the hp challenge system (NX required to reach the specified HP value with normal HP washing):


*Mage ranges depending on how early mp washing is started (starting later needs less nx)

So, it seems that range classes get the best deal, followed by shadowers, and that buccaneers /warriors get the least value.

Overall, I would say that the challenge system provides enough HP for most content, though I do want to list out the specific scenarios that I think it fails to provide enough hp.

Warriors - Challenged warriors are close enough to 30k warriors for all scenarios.

Mage (bishop) - 3400 HP (even if pushed close to 5.4k after rings) isn't sufficient for tanking hits while dispelled in a lot of bosses, notably bishop in horntail , though this is a niche scenario that can be avoided with good planning.

Bucc - 17k isn't comfortable enough for AUF, where dispels happen frequently and its rare to find a DK on a run. With careful play its probably still doable, but I wouldn't want to attempt it. Its also not enough for pink bean unless you get hyper body, which is an issue on optimized 18man runs (where the only dk are usually hb mules in the corner).

Range - 12k HP on a corsair at pink bean is fine if you have hyper body and running with a bird first strategy, but on an optimized bird last run its simply not viable (unless you have hb and a bishop to heal it). The pot burn at 12k hp is also incredibly high for corsairs (they have the lowest avoid of all range classes). Archers have similar issue at pb with this HP due to survivability, but at least fair better on potion usage due to higher avoid. NLs with 12k are completely fine for the most part as long as they have HB. All challenged range classes will have a rough time at auf, though I have seen people clear it with ~12k hp while playing extremely carefully.

Shad - 10k hp with meso guard lets you do all content without hb, after you have gotten things like t10 ring / euphenia ring and possibly some scrolled pet equips for hp and some extra level up HP

Overall, I would say the best challenge class is shadower - with regards to how much value in NX the challenge system gives you and its end game viability.