DRG Gear question

[Dathus]

I did a search of the forums on Thalasso vs Mezzy, and I know it's a long dead discussion, but I was on my RDM full-time at the time both came out, so I didn't see it as an important argument at the time.

Now, I'm just re-gearing my DRG after a few years of being away from it. LS events and just my general enjoyment of RDM toys brought me away from it.

The debate of Thalasso vs Mezzy: Who won, and why?

Gear question: I have a Salvage/EG LS, and I was wondering, what gear should I be shooting for in the TP/WS department. Being away so long, I'm not really 100% outside of knowing the Heca gear, which I am coming up next in line for. I just want a little direction on what gear I should be aiming for now, since re-gearing myself.

[Siralin]

Not a DRG, but I think it's fairly obvious that Thal will be marginally better. They're about the same price on my server at the moment, so why not pick up Thal for one base damage higher. Looks purty too.

[Akanei]

I think the way I coined it, last time was:

Thal+1>Mez+1>Thal NQ>Mez NQ
Valk Fork > Jesus

[Tordall]

I think the way I coined it, last time was:

Thal+1>Mez+1>Thal NQ>Mez NQ
Valk Fork > Jesus

The trick is that Thal+1 & Mez+1 have lower delay, which means that you may loose your WS + 5 hit build if you 'upgrade.' Of course, you can compensate by adding more Store TP (aurum or askar body).

The new wrench is that supremacy earring + Skystrider appears to be better than Thal or Mez + assault earring. And skystrider (w/o supremacy) may or may not be better than Thal or Mez depending on if it lets you shave off 2 hits from a TP cycle by using one jump.

Atm, the pokey-stick order is more like:

Valk Fork + Assault earring > Skystrider + Supremacy earring > "Sh*t is situational"

[Akanei]

The trick is that Thal+1 & Mez+1 have lower delay, which means that you may loose your WS + 5 hit build if you 'upgrade.' Of course, you can compensate by adding more Store TP (aurum or askar body)

Assuming you're even subbing SAM, in the first place. Otherwise, that statement has no bearing.

[Dathus]

Ok, thanks for saying which is better, but I'm still curious as to exactly why? Wouldn't the STR serve a slightly better purpose than the DEX? Is the 1 DMG better?

And about the skystrider, is it, with the earring, worth having vs Thalasso+Assault now? I was looking at the earring and polearm and I was VERY curious as to their effects vs known polearms and gear sets.

[Eticket]

Valk Fork + Assault earring > Skystrider + Supremacy earring > "Sh*t is situational"

Why the Assault Earring for V Fork?

[Siralin]

Oh hmm, didn't notice Mez was STR+2 while Thal was Dex+2....I guess it would be a lot closer than I had originally thought. I guess whichever is cheapest. /shrug

[Therin]

Assuming you're even subbing SAM, in the first place. Otherwise, that statement has no bearing.

SAM sub is a no-brainer for almost everything on DRG.

I say almost because there are a few exceptions to the rule, but it's better to gear for what you'll be doing a majority of the time than to gear for what you'll only be doing in rare circumstances.

[Mabubeezareel]

Why the Assault Earring for V Fork?

Brutal + Assault or you're doing it wrong if you're not /mage or using Skystrider.

[Eticket]

Brutal + Assault or you're doing it wrong if you're not /mage or using Skystrider.

Yeah, that's usually what I use. I was just curious why it got mentioned here like there was something unique about the combination.

[Rhealana]

Base DMG 1 iirc is equivalent to STR+4.

DEX affects acc, can help crit tiers.

VIT affects jumps.

However small the difference, there IS a difference, and Thal ends up being cheaper anyways. Mezraq is completely trumped in every way by Thalassocrat, except for material costs.

[Akanei]

SAM sub is a no-brainer for almost everything on DRG.

Not even going into this debate.

[Starr]

4-6 STR is 1fSTR so the Polearm will always give +1 then you really have, ignoring the extra TP from jumps, 5 Attack Vs 2 Accuracy when comparing Thallo to Skystrider, depends what gear you're using elsewhere etc but I definately think it is worth building around the Skystrider.

[Dathus]

So, I should be looking for Skystrider/Earring > Thalasso? I don't plan on doing Einherjar anytime soon, so I should get Thalas and wait until I get the earring for Skystrider's set bonus?

[ClarkSammich]

After Skystrider came out I took a look at hits to 100% factoring a jump with 2 pieces of barone and Skystrider. Unless I did something terribly wrong, you're still at a jump and 5 hits to 100%. Also looked at conte; one piece won't do it, and I don't remember if two will put you at a jump + 4 hits to 100%, I don't think so though.

But! I forgot to see what WS then a Jump would put you at.

Anyways, in my opinion Thalassocrat is just fine; Skystrider would probably win out with Supremacy earring. If anyone wants to try and figure out how to make Skystrider work for a 5 hit build, please do.

[Furoris]

So, I should be looking for Skystrider/Earring > Thalasso? I don't plan on doing Einherjar anytime soon, so I should get Thalas and wait until I get the earring for Skystrider's set bonus?

I would say yes, mostly because no one has even gotten into the BC for the earring, last time I checked. Personally I logged the wood and quested one of the adman ingots and had a Thala crafted for me before the end of the first week it was out.

[Eticket]

I would say yes, mostly because no one has even gotten into the BC for the earring, last time I checked. Personally I logged the wood and quested one of the adman ingots and had a Thala crafted for me before the end of the first week it was out.

The BC is pretty easy to get to. It drops from the beastmen god BCs, not the Campaign Ops BC. My ls did the Orc BC about 2 weeks ago and got the Fenian Ring. No earring dropped. We didn't get the Skystrider from the NM along the way either.

[eva00r]

Forget about the weapon for now, and buy the crap out of Zahak's mail if you get Drakesbane. This piece is fucking win.

[Kaeko]

BUMP

Tested Supremacy Earring + Catalyst on BLM. Assuming the bonus is same for any weapon + earring...

STR boost = +6 STR
Attack Boost = +5 Attack

My attack went from 154 to 162 putting the earring on. So I'm guessing +3 attack from the +6 str and +5 extra attack boost.

Hope this helps you guys pick weapon choice!

EDIT: seems others have tested and have differing attack boosts... % maybe?