Karmian Set + Homunkulus with acumen.
Till level 52 you must use your nukes (twister ant shadow spark) because for now your summons are to weak and their buffs too.
With newbie buffs you'll be fine.
If u have a buffer for haste u can lvl up with the vr pet (Shadow) just fine in catacombs. Go one step lower than usual tho. 40 would be back of Pilgrims or Heretics.
Karmian Set + Homunkulus with acumen.
Till level 52 you must use your nukes (twister ant shadow spark) because for now your summons are too weak and their buffs too.
With newbie buffs you'll be fine.
Thats my suggestion. :)
+1
Early 40s go to the pit under the Ivory Tower and nuke only the flying things (eyes and gargoyles - leave the golems)
Alternatively, you could use an ecliptic axe/sword with magic power in order to save shots, as you can 1-shoot or 2-shoot without using BSSC. It costs 15% more mana, but the PS can only use the 36 lvl nukes, which are low mana cost for the 40+ level and I have NEVER been out of mana in herb-dropping spots. Moreover, the death spike is too expensive at low levels (curse bone cost is about 333 adena + BSSC per nuke) and low power, really not worth it.
Actually you can use your summons quite effectively after 48, even 44+ if you have an appropriate buffer to add to your own buffs, but it is cheaper and a bit faster to level by nuking. When you use the summons, the only option is an acumen weapon and you do not need an expensive one for grinding... even a Mysterious Sword/Acu is fine and uses 2 BSSC per heal (cheaper) with minimal difference in the healing power.
May I suggest a +4WIT -4MEN tatoo, as soon as you are done nuking and use the summons exclusively, and a +4CON -5STR anytime for carrying more shots/stuff.
The armor has to be karmian and later in B-grade Avadon Robes from the Giran Luxury... casting speed > all