THF WS Gear question

[Sarial]

I'm a level 63 THF, and it's my first real DD job (Saying real because I have NIN leveled). I don't really fully understand WS calculations and what is best, but I have a question regarding which stats to focus on when WSing.

The specific question applies to pants. Noct Brais +1 vs. AF pants. I'm wondering when TAing if it is more important to focus on the DEX modifier on DA, or on the weapon DMG point added by as point of AGI for TA. Also, if stacking SATA, will the 2 DEX be better as both a SA and WS mod than 4 points of AGI for TA?

Thanks in advance.

[Cream Soda]

1 Dex is 1 DMG rating added to your weapon for SA
1 Agi is 1 DMG rating added to your weapon for TA
Dancing edge requires about 4 dex to = 1 DMG modwise.

So the answer is obvious for SA and SATA, as for as TA goes, it looks like you'd need at least 4x the amount of dex than u have agi on that slot to make it worthwhile

[eva00r]

1 Dex is 1 DMG rating added to your weapon for SA
1 Agi is 1 DMG rating added to your weapon for TA
Dancing edge requires about 4 dex to = 1 DMG modwise.

So the answer is obvious for SA and SATA, as for as TA goes, it looks like you'd need at least 4x the amount of dex than u have agi on that slot to make it worthwhile

No, this is wrong.

DMG bonus from TA or SA is applied for the first hit only. However, Dancing Edge is a 5-hits WS, while WS mod (DEX_30%) is applied to all 5 hits (including your off hand in /NIN = 6 hits).

====From wiki====

* If you only use Sneak Attack with your weaponskills, ignore AGI and stack DEX. 1 DEX = 2 STR (unless you primarily use Shark Bite, where 1 DEX = 3 STR) for equipment comparisons.
* If you only use Trick Attack with your weaponskills, still focus on DEX and supplement with AGI. For Dancing Edge, 1 DEX = 1 CHR = 1.5 AGI = 1.5 STR. For Evisceration, 1 DEX = 1.5 AGI = 1.5 STR. For Shark Bite, 1 DEX = 1.8 AGI = 2.3 STR.
* If you use both job abilities with your weaponskills, focus mostly on DEX. For Dancing Edge, 1 DEX = 1.5 CHR = 2 AGI = 2 STR. For Evisceration, 1 DEX = 2 AGI = 2 STR. For Shark Bite, 1 DEX = 2 AGI = 3 STR.

[Cream Soda]

ah good point.

Quick question here though. Does the offhand hit rly get the mod bonus as well?

[Raen Ryong]

Yeah, as far as we know. All hits in a weaponskill benefit from WSC; additionals through DA/TA/Zanshin/offhand hit included.

[Niiro]

Note, if you're using TA+mandalic stab you should prioritize AGI over DEX. What Cream said before about needing 4 dex to equal 1 base damage is true, but like eva00r said it doesn't take into account that DE and Evis are 5 hits and the damage bonus from AGI only applies to the 1st, while the DEX mod applies to all.

If using TA+Mandalic there's no room for multiple hits to make better use of dex as it's a 1 hit WS with the same DEX mod as DE or Evis. So while dex would be of good use when using the multi hit WSs, when using TA+MS: 4 dex = 1.2 base damage and 1 AGI = 1 base damage.

(note, I'm not a THF so correct me if I'm wrong about this)

[Cream Soda]

If they're subbing nin, Mandalic is 2hit

[Niiro]

True, but you're only getting 1 extra hit with MS compared to 5 extra hits with DE/Evis.

[Phraust]

ah good point.

Quick question here though. Does the offhand hit rly get the mod bonus as well?

From what I understand it only Mods the off hand if its a matching weapon. You'll see a difference in damage favoring Dagger/Dagger versus say Dagger/Ridill, or more easily tested (because of weapon skill level differences) Axe/Axe Versus Axe/Joy or Axe/Ridill.

[Raen Ryong]

When using Mandalic Stab TA'd, you do want to put a heavy focus on AGI yeah... this is because Mandalic Stab is used in situations where you want to make one powerful hit rather than try a multihit (think Tachi: Gekko); similar to Tachi: Gekko, it has a significant Attack boost for that hit, so you only really want to focus on the first because it will make up a huge proportion of the total damage.

[Ayn]

Hmm, makes me wonder if I should finally bother upgrading THF AF hands for Apartheid Stab.

[Raen Ryong]

Should always have THF AF+1 hands; they're insanely awesome :O always put them on when you're doing anything TA-related.

[Pataki]

Should always have THF AF+1 hands; they're insanely awesome :O always put them on when you're doing anything TA-related.

agreed dmg boost is significant, and af+1 legs are excellent for stab

[Julian]

Since we're in a topic about THF math, I just hit 75 and was wondering about NHead vs Maats Cap.

STR+11 DEX+6 vs STR+7 DEX+7 AGI+7 CHR+7 (4 str vs 1 dex 7 agi 7 chr basically)

I figured for just SA+WS, Heca cap would be better, except maybe for DE? (Depending if the 1 dex and 7 chr outweighs the 4 str), and then for SATA or just TA, Maat's cap would be the winner?

I don't have NHead yet anyway so it's not really urgent, but curious about when I would use it when I eventually do get it.

[Raen Ryong]

Since we're in a topic about THF math, I just hit 75 and was wondering about NHead vs Maats Cap.

STR+11 DEX+6 vs STR+7 DEX+7 AGI+7 CHR+7 (4 str vs 1 dex 7 agi 7 chr basically)

I figured for just SA+WS, Heca cap would be better, except maybe for DE? (Depending if the 1 dex and 7 chr outweighs the 4 str), and then for SATA or just TA, Maat's cap would be the winner?

I don't have NHead yet anyway so it's not really urgent, but curious about when I would use it when I eventually do get it.

1DEX 7AGI 7CHR vs 4STR

soloDE: Maat's
SADE: Maat's
TADE: Maat's
SATADE: Maat's
soloEV: Heca [this is assuming the 1dex doesn't significantly increase critical rate]
SAEV: Heca [this is assuming the 1dex doesn't significantly increase critical rate]
TAEV: Maat's
SATAEV: Maat's
SASB: Depends on what that 1dex is giving you in WSC...
TASB: Maat's
SATASB: Maat's
SAMS: Depends on what that 1dex is giving you in WSC...
TAMS: Maat's
SATAMS: Maat's

DE = Dancing Edge
EV = Evisceration
SB = Shark Bite
MS = Mandalic Stab

Assuming you're not gonna use SB/MS unstacked cause they're puny if used like that.

1000th post hurray!