Thanks again for all the responses. Seems like the answers fell into three main areas:
Strategy/playstyle:
QUOTE(BlueWaterSplash @ Sep 28 2017, 15:29)

-snip-
If I am understanding this correctly, you are doing Item World on legendary equipment. You're close to the same level as I am, and you're able to do it on PFUDOR and IWBTH difficulties. So this tells me it is possible, even easy as you say.
QUOTE(decondelite @ Sep 28 2017, 16:01)

You're not using deprecating spells enough, and you certainly aren't geared/playing your style properly.
PFUDOR IW is hard even for high level players. Imagine the insane amount of damage the monsters deal beyond round 60 or even 80. More than 20k at once is very common.
I suspect that some kind of glaring strategy mistake is probably the cause, yes. I'm able to handle IWBTH Arenas, and can even clear then with good speed (less than half an hour each for EoD and ED). While the style works well for Arenas, something is very wrong with it for IW-Legendary. I am hoping to learn what that is, so I can do better.
You mention deprecating spells. In the wiki I see mention of using the silence spell for 1h-heavy build. There isn't much else to read up on. I'm not sure if that is relevant to what is killing me in IW though. There are usually 8-9 monsters in a round, none of them seem like prime targets to silence like SGs, it's just too much overall wear and tear on the HP/SP bars to sustain through.
So, if I am supposed to use deprecating spells to do better, which one(s)? What kind of advice would you give that I could put into practice and try out? Would I need to put some AP into making a deprecating spell better so that it lasts longer, becomes aoe, or something along those lines?
If it is a gear issue, well that is something we all struggle with, isn't it?
Rewards consideration
QUOTE(f4tal @ Sep 28 2017, 14:23)

In my opinion, since Arenas and Random Encounters give you more EXP and credits, as well, trophies from Bosses and SchoolGirls, as well clear bonuses, as well tokens - both profit-wise and exp-wise it is better to make them instead of Grindfest or IW. =)
This is my understanding too. The tokens will help me increase my army of monsters. Trophies are good rewards. The credits and exp are clearly much better at IWBTH Arena than low difficulty IW. If they're better even same difficulty, then the difference is even worse at lower difficulty for sure.
So then it boils down to how important getting the weapon done is.
IW10 importance:
QUOTE(f4tal @ Sep 28 2017, 14:23)

However, IWing your weapon to unlock second strike is good and clever idea and you should do it asap.
Have you soulfused it? Soulfusing doubles all received PXP.
QUOTE(Scremaz @ Sep 28 2017, 14:32)

reaching void strike (or iw10 random elemental strike) is one of the best upgrades you may earn, so it definitely may have a meaning trying to pursue that. you may want to try your luck with Tyger here:
https://forums.e-hentai.org/index.php?showt...p;#entry4960087 This is what I'm currently using. So I do have a weapon with void+elemental strike, and it has what feels like reasonably good damage for my efforts.
I know it isn't a rapier.
This is my best rapier. The damage is way less, and swift strikes has rendered it too fast. I don't earn enough OC in fights while using it to keep Spirit Stance going as easily.
This is the weapon I'm trying to IW. It isn't a rapier, but it does offer parry, unlike my axe. It has way better ADB% than my axe, so I figure it might be a better weapon to hang onto for awhile.
I had asked about my collection of weapons a few pages back, but got no answer. So I thought I'd try my luck with this one. I don't see myself jumping up into PFUDOR yet, so the difference between piercing and slashing procs doesn't seem as important. The parry seems important. The ADB on the shortsword seems pretty good. A legendary weapon seems better than a magnificent one. That's the logic I've been following so far, in absence of more clear guidance.
So, should I stick with my axe and just rake in the better exp/credits/rewards of arenas for now? Should I work on this legendary shortsword, then hold onto it for a nice long time instead? Or should I do something else?
This post has been edited by Scremaz: Sep 29 2017, 10:25