What's Better?

[Gun-it]

WS in Atheling, +2body Rancor collar or w/e as well.

[Darkmagi]

Been out of it for a while on RDM, besides Maat's Cap, are there any good options for RDM nuking headpiece besides AF1? I really, really, really want to avoid doing the stupid AF quests if I can.

Edit: I'm retarded, I didn't even look at AF3+1/2. Well, since I brought up the subject, anyone want to share their 90 RDM nuke sets?

AF1 hat isn't replaceable despite being outdone as a nuke piece. 10% fast cast for precast on everything.

[BerenTebogo]

AF1 hat isn't replaceable despite being outdone as a nuke piece. 10% fast cast for precast on everything.

Forgot about that, goddammit.

[Kuishen]

No he meant that beside being an "SA round" it's also a normal melee round and lowering your chance for additional TP and damage from DA/TA to improve main hit is not always better.

Correct.

[noodles355]

SA in brutal? o_O I was SAing/TAing in merman's earring x2. Are 2/3 dex earrings superior to mermans or no? Wiki also says each point of dex is +1 weapon damage, +5 weapon damage seems a lot better than 11 attk...

If you're continuously engaged, I believe Shamaya showed a while ago that Suppanomimi is one of the best SA (And TA) earrings. Better than Brutal if I recall.

Until a piece of equipment with a high attack value comes along or something with 10+ dex for the ear slot comes along, Brutal is always going to be best in slot for SA/TA. As for DEX earrings vs. mermans, that I don't know. Both are relatively low in their respective values so it'd be close. I personally use pixie earring just to save space.

See above, Suppanomimi should beat Brutal. I SA in Pixie/Suppa, Pixie essentially for same reason as you.

No he meant that beside being an "SA round" it's also a normal melee round and lowering your chance for additional TP and damage from DA/TA to improve main hit is not always better.

Don't forget that SA and TA also make any Double/Triple/Quad procs 100% accuracy as well (on regular swings, not WS).

If you're trying to really do it right, you should have 2 SA sets, one for pure high as possible spike damage (for when running in just to SA/TA) and one for damage/speed when you're constantly engaged. At 75 you had choices between Hecatomb and Enkidu's for example. At 90 some of these options were replaced by one piece that bested both (Eg Hecatomb Cap vs Relic Hat/Skadi, both being replaced by Aias, Hecatomb vs Enki Mittens both replaced by AF3+1/2, Heca vs Enki feet replaced by Aurore), now the main differences would be things like AF3+2 legs vs Tumbler/Whatever, Suppanomimi vs Att/Dex Earring/Brutal, Twilight Belt vs Cuch/Warwolf/Etc. Also potentially AF3+2 body vs Loki's, but I'm not so sure on that last one.
Bit of a bitch to write in though. My old spellcast was basically: if marches, use speed set, if not, use power set. Not great, but in ls events it worked as DD parties would have a bard and when you just ran in for SA/TA you wouldn't.

Edit: I was also lead to believe that the Thf AF3 earring beats brutal, but that was when there was confusion about DA/TA priority so i'm not sure now.

[Kuishen]

If you're continuously engaged, I believe Shamaya showed a while ago that Suppanomimi is one of the best SA (And TA) earrings. Better than Brutal if I recall.
See above, Suppanomimi should beat Brutal. I SA in Pixie/Suppa, Pixie essentially for same reason as you.
Don't forget that SA and TA also make any Double/Triple/Quad procs 100% accuracy as well (on regular swings, not WS).

If you're trying to really do it right, you should have 2 SA sets, one for pure high as possible spike damage (for when running in just to SA/TA) and one for damage/speed when you're constantly engaged. At 75 you had choices between Hecatomb and Enkidu's for example. At 90 some of these options were replaced by one piece that bested both (Eg Hecatomb Cap vs Relic Hat/Skadi, both being replaced by Aias, Hecatomb vs Enki Mittens both replaced by AF3+1/2, Heca vs Enki feet replaced by Aurore), now the main differences would be things like AF3+2 legs vs Tumbler/Whatever, Suppanomimi vs Att/Dex Earring/Brutal, Twilight Belt vs Cuch/Warwolf/Etc. Also potentially AF3+2 body vs Loki's, but I'm not so sure on that last one.
Bit of a bitch to write in though. My old spellcast was basically: if marches, use speed set, if not, use power set. Not great, but in ls events it worked as DD parties would have a bard and when you just ran in for SA/TA you wouldn't.

Edit: I was also lead to believe that the Thf AF3 earring beats brutal, but that was when there was confusion about DA/TA priority so i'm not sure now.

I recall reading something like that on Shamaya's blog. I'm pretty sure Brutal/Suppa was best overall combo for both.

It's a shame he's dropped off the face of the earth, would love to get his opinion/maths on shit now + @99.

[Shiyo]

Yayyyyy thanks, knowledge is power~ This would make eponas > 5 dex/5agi rings then? Probably assassin's bonnet +2 too(3% TA 6% haste).

[Manque]

With the way TH procs now though, sometimes wouldn't it be better to just keep SA/TA'ing in your haste gear? I know even for a SA/TA build some slots are better used with haste gear than pure AGI or DEX (depending on stats of course). For example, Denali bonnet. Or, am I crazy?

Switching back and forth would be hurting your chances at proccing TH, would it not?

[cdgreg]

With the way TH procs now though, sometimes wouldn't it be better to just keep SA/TA'ing in your haste gear? I know even for a SA/TA build some slots are better used with haste gear than pure AGI or DEX (depending on stats of course). For example, Denali bonnet. Or, am I crazy?

Switching back and forth would be hurting your chances at proccing TH, would it not?

Can apply TH in max +TH gear, then switch to full DD or whatever for the remainder of the mob. TH will continue to build off your max hit earlier.

[Ocara]

Can apply TH in max +TH gear, then switch to full DD or whatever for the remainder of the mob. TH will continue to build off your max hit earlier.

I think they mean do SA/TA in haste to increase the number of hits you get, and therefore the number of potential proc increases.

But the proc rate on melee hits is really shitty anyway.

[Manque]

What Ocara said.

With the proc rate being as shitty as it is, isn't that all the more reason to get in as many swings as possible?

I used to have a SA/TA setup, and still do of course for WS, but I was advised not to use it for SA/TA for proc on TH. Instead, when TH is what's needed (90% of the time in a group for myself), I'm usually SA/TA'ing in a haste set-up to fit in as many swings as possible.

[Kalima]

Since we're talking THF I'll just ask my lil question. Considering trading Agasaya's + Tumbler trunks for Rancor Collar + AF3+2 legs for evisceration. Basically +2 DEX and 9% crit hit rate for 2 acc and 26 attack.

[Shiyo]

Rancors collar always unless using GH inside abyssea! Both outside imo.

[Nightfyre]

If you're fulltime meleeing it's generally better to SATA in at least some haste for DPS anyway, no?

[TSFFXI]

Well, since I brought up the subject, anyone want to share their 90 RDM nuke sets?

Ammo: Witchstone
Head: +2
Neck: Feud Pendant
Ears: Hecate's, Novio
Body: Morrigan's
Hands: Eradico
Rings: INT
Back: Potentia (Hecate's is probably better)
Waist: Cognition
Legs: +2
Feet: Relic

Not the greatest, but it's cheap and easy to get.

[Mikus]

Ammo: Witchstone
Head: +2
Neck: Feud Pendant
Ears: Hecate's, Novio
Body: Morrigan's
Hands: Eradico
Rings: INT
Back: Potentia (Hecate's is probably better)
Waist: Cognition
Legs: +2
Feet: Relic

Not the greatest, but it's cheap and easy to get.

I'm still working a ton on mine as well and would like to use this example for some compare/contrasting.

Body: Top 5 nuking body for Rdm? I'm currently using Teal.

Waist: Witch Sash and Obi's better then Cognition?

Feet: This one I'm mainly not sure on. I'm currently using Nebula Pigaches (+6int). What are peoples opinions looking at: Nebula Pigaches +1 DEF: 13 INT +6 Magic Accuracy +4
Magic Critical Hit Rate +2
Lv. 87 MNK / WHM / BLM / RDM / THF / DRK /
BRD / RNG / SMN / BLU / COR / PUP / DNC / SCH

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...7s_gaiters.png

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...rgia_clogs.png

[Rellikard]

SS/GH/RR

vs.

SS/AoA/RR

WAR w/ Emp+2 body/legs/feet (TP)

[Neisan]

I'm still working a ton on mine as well and would like to use this example for some compare/contrasting.

Body: Top 5 nuking body for Rdm? I'm currently using Teal.

Waist: Witch Sash and Obi's better then Cognition?

Feet: This one I'm mainly not sure on. I'm currently using Nebula Pigaches (+6int). What are peoples opinions looking at: Nebula Pigaches +1 DEF: 13 INT +6 Magic Accuracy +4
Magic Critical Hit Rate +2
Lv. 87 MNK / WHM / BLM / RDM / THF / DRK /
BRD / RNG / SMN / BLU / COR / PUP / DNC / SCH

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...7s_gaiters.png

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...rgia_clogs.png

Best body should be Morrigan's (haven't seen anything better from VW for pure damage, Anhur if resists are a problem, if no Morrigan's depending on MAB atma Teal/Augur's/Anhur would be your next best bet), Clogs is same as NQ relic feet and did comparable damage to Augur's the last time I did math but possibly varies abit depending on atma (haven't gone over it again since 85 cap). Relic+1 was best for damage last I checked.

Artemis depending on Moon phase/MAB neck from VW beat Feud, Hecate's Cape came out better than Potentia outside Abyssea with no MAB atma obviously.

Obis if day/weather is up. Until Magic Crit gets better I wouldn't even bother with pieces with it unless they have other good nuking stats i.e. Hecate's. Both Augur's and Theurgia/NQ Relic should beat Nebula for nuking.

SS/GH/RR

vs.

SS/AoA/RR

WAR w/ Emp+2 body/legs/feet (TP)

Use RR/AoA/SS for pure damage and VV instead of SS for red procing.

[Mrbeansman]

Gorget or Rancor for Jishnu's inside and out?

[noodles355]

I recall reading something like that on Shamaya's blog. I'm pretty sure Brutal/Suppa was best overall combo for both.

I seem to recall it was too, however with the higher triple attack we now have, brutal weakens off a bit. And I think someone mathed a dex or attack earring as better. Also possibly Raider's Earring too.

Regarding to SA/TAing in full haste gear, I'm not so sure. I've been wondering if the chance to proc a level up is dependant on the damage you deal on that hit. It would explain why there's an increase in level ups on SA when using the AF3+2 gloves, and also why it's easier to proc on weaker mobs. As mentioned melee hit proc rate is shit anyway, it might be worth going for power for if that is the case and stronger hit = higher chance at proc.
For general DDing, as mentioned some pieces there are tradeoffs of dex/agi/att vs haste. Things like AF3+2 legs vs tumbler trunks, etc as mentionedin my last post. I still use Denali Bonnet for Trick Attack. Intend to replace it with Skadi's Visor when I do some more SSR and LAC puts out. Fairly sure they're pretty equal but the latter gives me inv-1 as i can ditch aurore beret for solo SATA.