Seriously speaking, he might not have used these flexible constructs more than the Fire Giant, and from the perspective of usage, the Fire Giant can hardly be considered a flexible construct, more like an agile bomb.
For a Combat Artisan, altering the diverse configurations of flexible constructs is a shortcut to enhance combat power, much like how two priests combined with eight Heavy Armored Warriors would undoubtedly be more powerful than ten Heavy Armored Warriors alone.
In the past, he lacked the opportunity, primarily because the options available to a Combat Artisan at lower levels were limited, and possessing a high-performance variant like the Energy Angel meant there was a nearly overwhelming advantage compared to other constructs at the same level, unless he obtained other equivalent variants; otherwise, it was more effective to simply increase quantity.
But beyond the watershed of level twenty-two, the variety of flexible constructs began to flourish, making it difficult to achieve a crushing advantage between variants and ordinary types, thus making tactical configurations among constructs important.
In the past, in Istania, a place filled with Magic Guided Constructs everywhere, it was incredibly difficult for him to find construct blueprints suitable for his strategies, but now that he has left the Silver Sand Desert, he must seriously consider his future path.
Fang Hong first asked himself a question:
What kind of flexible construct does he truly need?
Choosing what kind of flexible construct is, of course, not determined by fanciful imagination, otherwise, he would only need to list the strongest variant constructs he knew, but what would be the point?
Those blueprints are often in the hands of major organizations, scattered and varied, and for an ordinary person to obtain even one is extraordinarily difficult, let alone all of them?
Even if he were incredibly lucky to gather a dream lineup, by then, his level would probably have already surpassed the point of using those constructs.
Therefore, a more grounded approach is to assess the difficulty of potentially collecting these constructs, and whether he can acquire the related knowledge and skills during the process.
Finally, he must find a balance point in terms of cost-effectiveness.
Pursue those exceptional flexible constructs as much as possible within reach.
The design of constructs certainly differentiates between excellent and ordinary.
For instance, at the same level, if an Energy Angel could score a full mark, a Sword Bearer III type would get less than forty points.
Based on this theory, craftsmen have established a ten-level classification in construct design.
From F to SS-level, with two additional levels.
Below level twenty-two, due to the scarcity of construct types, this classification generally isn't applied.
However, generally, the Energy Angel can be considered an A-level construct, while a mass-produced Sword Bearer III type can only be considered E-level at most.
Upon reaching level twenty-two and above, this categorization system can precisely specify the strength differences between constructs of different levels.
Fang Hong estimated his Dragon Hunter, at least at the higher end of S-level, nearing SS-level, could be an SS-level construct in a self-acting state, especially when utilizing the Gunslinger's skill template, and it would be among the very best.
Therefore, the Dragon Hunter can fully replace the Energy Angel as his core construct at this stage.
With the core established, the next step is to build the Construct Legion around it.
Yes, the Construct Legion—apart from the Supreme One and Controllers, this is the pursuit of every Combat Artisan.
Only for Fang Hong, this concept might simply come a little sooner.
As a balanced type of core construct, the Dragon Hunter, offers both ranged and melee in a humanoid combat state.
Thus, what needs to be paired with it naturally wouldn't be another balanced-type construct, otherwise, wouldn't that be redundant?
Though flexible constructs appear diverse, they are actually limited in types to craftsmen.
Based on form, there are humanoid, beast, special, and flying types.
Further categorized into bipedal, quadrupedal, multiped, wheeled, treaded, floating, or flying, but the specific differences aren't significant.
According to attack mode, there are magic, melee, ranged, and non-attack types.
By function, they include scouting, support, and combat.
Yet, the true core meaning for main battle type flexible construct classification actually only comprises six types.
Agility type, Heavy Armored type, Magic Guided type, Balanced type, Special type, and Main Construct.
With an addition of offensive or defensive orientations.
For instance, the Energy Angel is an agility-type offensive-oriented construct.
The Dragon Hunter is typically a balanced-type offensive-oriented.
The Orphen Twins Stars are a heavy armored-type defensive-oriented.
The role of offensive-oriented is to break the enemy, while defensive-oriented is mainly for protecting the Alchemist himself.
As for the Clockwork Fairy, in fact, doesn't belong to the main battle type construct.
Combat Fairy might be somewhat a flexibility-oriented offensive type, but too weak in strength.
As a balanced type, the Dragon Hunter is actually a special kind of flexible construct, balanced type is an all-around role whether offensive or defensive, and it deserves its balanced title.
Offensive balance uses attack to defend, while the defensive type uses defense to attack.
Therefore, with the Dragon Hunter as the guard and the Orphen Twin Stars as a double insurance construct, the constructs he needs next are extremely clear now.
That is a strong agility-type offensive construct, preferably also with some magical capabilities.
This is the direction where he intends to use the Starlight Alchemy Array and this batch of Earth Origin Crystals.
Fang Hong gave this plan a code name:
Spear Cavalry.
...