What's Better?

[mdkuser]

That's pretty interesting on the birdbanes, I really didn't have any idea how to compare 1.25x damage against other stats, or knew anything about mnk +DMG, weapon rank etc.

I'm assuming Hades Santi are also better, right? Coulda been fun for a pup on colibri (if any fight colibri) otherwise.

NQ are better only if you do not cap accuracy ( typically birds, but it should be better to spam crab sushi with destroyers anyway). HQ are better if you make use of those extra 9 acc by increasing your hit rate ( uncaped acc), or if you can free an acc equipement somewhere in favor of an equivalent +att or str etc (typically MMJ). For example pcc > faith, Black T > white T, torreador > flame ring, cuchu > cerb+1 etc). Typically to give an example, hades+1+str ring > destroyer + torreador , for caped or uncaped accuracy.

[noodles355]

Ok, so if Hades NQ are better only if you use the 7Acc, and pup can't use Destroyers, after the update when pup gains it's a+ H2H skill (or was it A-?) do you think these would replace hades on colibri? or would hades still be best? (I'm guessing apart from shenlongs/KKK, hades are the best anyway?)

It's purely for general interest so a "X is probably better/worse/about even" would do if you don't wanna do the math again

[Callisto]

Looking for some opinions on DRK merits, was looking at something around the lines of:

5 LR Effect
5 LR Recast
5 Diabolic Eye
4 Desparate Blows
1 Dark Seal

but would still like some input

[Khajit]

That looks about proper but i personally cant think of any useful situation for dark seal outside of soloing in campaign since you lost damage on drain 2 in zergs and if you can drain2 beforehand on something else its weak enough to not resist normally.

[StevenW]

I'm trying to get some new sea items to help me out on PLD, and even SAM.

My question is, between Locquacious Earring and Boxer's Mantle, which one would be more effective for helping to getting shadows back up if they're down? Loc. seems directly useful for either job, while boxer's seems situationally (base on luck) helpful, and won't aid recast either.

I do intend to get both, but which should I get first?

[Callisto]

Boxer's > Loq

[StevenW]

Even for sam/nin?

[Chen]

can't see 2% FC(or is it 1?) making much of a difference for SAM/NIN getting ichi up

boxers would be very useful on pld for the shield blocks since you have a realistic chance of shield block proc'ing

[StevenW]

can't see 2% FC(or is it 1?) making much of a difference for SAM/NIN getting ichi up

boxers would be very useful on pld for the shield blocks since you have a realistic chance of shield block proc'ing

Yeah I suppose, it brings my shield skill on ichi up to 315

[Gosyac]

Recently hit 75Thf and still a little confused on what to wear for SA,TA, SAWS, TAWS. So, among body pieces, what are the top 3-4 to use for each of the four aforementioned situations?

[noodles355]

For low level non-2H users, sort of 40-50 (maybe -60?) range, Rajas or a 2nd Sniper's Ring?
When Rajas is only giving 2-3 str/dex, will the STP sitll put it ahead of a 5Acc ring on jobs like Nin/Mnk/etc? (lvling subs to 49)

[Raen Ryong]

Recently hit 75Thf and still a little confused on what to wear for SA,TA, SAWS, TAWS. So, among body pieces, what are the top 3-4 to use for each of the four aforementioned situations?

Leaving Rapparee Harness out of it though it can be the best in high haste situations,

SA and TA: Dragon Harness is your most affordable/obtainable one. Denali Jacket is better than it for TA and Skadi's Cuirie is the best for SA.

SAWS and TAWS vary a lot depending on weaponskill, but for SB/MS Dragon Harness or that line are good and for DE/Evis, Hecatomb/ACP/Dragon Harness(if acc is still capped) are good. Skadi's Cuirie is pretty much win universally here.

[noodles355]

Recently hit 75Thf and still a little confused on what to wear for SA,TA, SAWS, TAWS. So, among body pieces, what are the top 3-4 to use for each of the four aforementioned situations?

SA + Stab/Bite is the same as solo SA body. TA/SATA + Sab/bite will be DH+1 > Skadi/Dragon Harness > rest.
SA/TA/SATA + DE/EV = Skadi > Antares/Mirke Augmented with Acc+10 > Heca/Dragon purely depending on Acc.

For solo SA/TA, I will quote you a section from Shamaya's LJ:

Relative Rankings, by Gear
The following gear comparisons have been made via the statistical ratios shown above. Slow/Haste values used are for double-march.
(updated Sep.25th, 2009)

SA
(head) Maat's Cap (26.46) > Skadi's Visor (25.41) > Gnadbhod's Helm (13.84) > AF2 (12.9) = Turban (13.25) > Emp.Pin (7.74) > Heca+1 (0.84)
(neck) Love Torque (20.04) > Kubira Bead Necklace (15.08) > Spike Necklace (11.34)
(ears) Suppanomimi (10.8) > Pixie (7.74) => Merman's (7.14) > Hollow/Adroit (5.16) = Coral (5.95) = Brutal (5.0)
(body) Dragon Harness+1 (32.34) > Skadi (26.59) = DH nq (27.38) > Anatares Harness (20.64) > BlueCote+1 (16.32) > WarAketon +1 (12.9) > Rapp (10.6)
(hand) ANNM Dragon Mitts (20.44) > Skadi Bazubands (17.9) > Dusk+1(2xMarch) (17.74)* > Enkidu's (15.12) => Tarasque Mitts +1 (14.28) => Dusk(2xMarch) (13.9)* > Merman's (8.94) > AF (7.74) > Heca +1 (4.02)
(rings) Rajas Ring (18.9) > 5Dex Ring (12.9)
(back) Charger's (23.8) => Cerberus Mantle +1 (22.65) > Forager's (21.45) > Amemet +1 (20.25) > Cuchulain's (15.12) > Commander's (11.34) > AF2 (10.32)
(waist) Cuchulain's Belt (27.38) > Ninurta's (23.04) > Warwolf (18.9) > Speed Belt (15.9) > Swordbelt +1 (14.28)
(leg)Enkidu's (18.9) > Dusk (16.66)* > Hecatomb Subligar +1 (12.44) = Heca nq (12.76) > Dragon+1 (12.9) = Barbarossa's (12.75) > Dragon nq (10.32)
(feet) Enkidu's (17.8) > Dragon +1(13.89) > Dragon (10.12) => Dusk (10.06)* > Leapers (7.74)

TA
(head) Maat's Cap (35.21) > Skadi's Visor (33.02) > Denali Bonnet (31.18) > Dragon+1 (16.75) > Turban (17.5) > Dragon (13.4) > Emp.Pin (11.22)
(neck) Hope Torque (16.75) > Crocodile Collar (13.4) > Love Torque (9.51) > Agile Gorget (6.7) => Justice Torque (6.45) => Tiger Stole (6.3) > Spike Necklace (5.04)
(ears) Suppanomimi (19.65) > Genin (13.4) > Drone (10.05) > Merman's (7.56) > Coral (6.3) => Brutal (5.0)
(body) Denali Jacket (44.84) > Dragon Harness +1 (41.3) > Skadi (36.22) > DH nq (35.04) > Antares Harness (26.8) > BlueCote+1(24.76) > Rapp (14.0)
(hand) AF+1 (?, ~54.77) > Skadi (35.8) > Dusk+1(2xMarch) (21.56)* = Dragon+1 (20.53) > Dusk(2xMarch) (16.8)* = Dragon (15.92) => Tarasque Mitts +1 (15.12)
(rings) 5Agi Ring (16.75) > Rajas (8.4)
(back) Charger's (25.2) => Cerberus Mantle +1 (24.06) > Forager's (22.77) > Amemet +1 (21.48) > Commander's (15.09) = AF2 (14.96)
(waist) Ninurta Sash (28.56) > Speed Belt (21.0) > Grenadier Belt (18.87) > Swordbelt +1 (15.12) => Scouter's (13.4) > Ryl. Knight's Belt (10.06) > Vanguard Belt (10.17) > Warwolf Belt (8.4) => Swift Belt (7.7)
(leg) Dusk+1 (18.9)* > Dusk (17.64)* > War Brais +1 (16.75) > Barbarossa's (15.66) > WarBrais/AF (13.4) > Heca nq (-13.68) > Hecatomb Subligar +1 (-17.77)
(feet) Enkidu's (23.26) > Dragon +1 (18.74) > Dragon (13.74) > Dusk (13.3)* > Leapers (11.22)

http://shamayaasura.livejournal.com/7505.html

[RyaWHM]

For Randgrith:
- Single-hit WS
- 40% STR
- 40% MND

http://www.happyhappyd.com/blog/imag..._redingote.jpg

or

http://www.happyhappyd.com/blog/imag...duksJubbah.png

... I can't believe it took me this long to realize Jubbah may be better >.>

I feel silly now ... it seems pretty clearly better, isn't it?

[Raen Ryong]

Awkward actually. 10 Attack is likely to beat 7 MND even there assuming that the WS gains no pdif/attack boost and that you are /nin and eating sushi (a fair assumption?); Attack buffs would weaken the Attack to the point that the 7MND would win but there's no clear-cut winner there.

[Nightfyre]

I'm actually not so sure... WHM has very low base Attack, so I could see the 10 Attack winning. You're Hume with MND merits, correct?

Going by your FFXIAH set, 65+21 STR and 72+34 MND (STR+4 augment seems a reasonable assumption )

((65+21)*.4+(72+34)*.4)*.83=63 and let's say 5 fSTR for 68 base damage plus Mjollnir's 57 is 125 base damage. Repeating the process for Marduk's Jubbah yields 127 base damage for a 1.6% increase in damage.

As for 10 Attack... well, it's never going to be that small of an increase Not for a 1-hander job anyway, unless you're capping Attack on the mob. Given your naturally low Attack, I feel pretty confident saying that won't happen except on weak mobs and that you're doing it right by using the ACP body.

EDIT: Raen: you sure about that? I ran it using Greater Colibri DEF with Dia II and even when the 10 Attack brought her to cap (which I don't think could actually happen? 600 Attack is a lot for a WHM), I still got a 2% increase. Sure it could happen for weaker mobs, but when your attack before food is 350... Even when you can Dia II the mob any time, that's a pretty weak mob to have ~190 or even 220 (pizza) defense before debuffs.

On the other hand, if you could squeeze out one more base damage from the Jubbah it would be more valuable (2.4%)... but you'd still need a decent chunk of Attack depending on the level of the target (~1.20 ratio after level correction). EM- mobs may have you reaching that number, but ~VT+ it wouldn't happen without buffs. You're not close to adding another point of base damage though (need 5 more MND or STR even after the Jubbah, alpha is a bitch), so I don't know that you could actually reach a point where you're getting more damage out of Marduk's Jubbah than my initial figure.

Sorry for all the edits!

[RyaWHM]

Hume with 5/5 STR merits, should be 70 on /NIN

gearsets --> here

I usually have 400-ish at events (~one att buff?), but even with extreme rotated buffs I'm in the low 500's IIRC. So yeah, even if I could use att food (no!) I would have trouble hitting 600.

Does that help figure it out?

(thanks for your help guys!!)

[Nightfyre]

Don't know why I thought you had MND merits... STR instead of MND doesn't change WSC since they're equal and floored later but it would contribute to fSTR, which actually weakens the Jubbah very slightly as a result. Your attack is also increased slightly but again... that's pretty low DEF. Going with your ~400 number, moving to 410 gives you less than a 1.6% increase if pDIF is above... well, above the cap If the mob is at least T to you I'd feel safe always using the ACP body. EM or weaker, using your 400 attack number (since you could eat attack food without any problems on such a mob) the mob would have to have only 200 defense for you to cap without the ACP body.

[Tuna]

For PUP!

Lava+Kusha ring (acc+12 att+6) or Rajas+Iota

[noodles355]

For PUP!

Lava+Kusha ring (acc+12 att+6) or Rajas+Iota

Rajas+Toredor/Sinper+1/Sniper