Fusionstrike
12-12-2012, 01:09 PM
I've done some comparing of the options for the BSM str set and have concluded that there's really no case for ever using the dragon master blade (the crafted 2H) over the scythe and shield. Usually the sets are designed to give players an offensive and defensive option, allowing them to make trade-offs for the situation. However, the blade is so underpowered that there's basically no reason ever to choose it over the 1H set option.
Here's a picture of how the sets compare. On the left I am wearing the scythe+shield set and showing the change if I equip the blade. On the right is the same thing except I'm wearing the fossilized dragon egg as my shield.
21516
Compared to the shield set, the blade does up the hit some and of course the damage as well, but the downside is harsh. Losing all that armor, dodge and H/s is just crippling, not to mention the DPS drop. Compared against the egg set, which is already a more "offensive" option, the trade-off is even starker. It's solely a damage boost with losses everywhere else (though not quite as much, it's still a significant hit).
Now the usual argument is that the reason to use a 2H set is not just the regular damage but the boost to skill damage output as well. So let's look at the comparison for damage output for all three options.
21517
The gain for the blade set is only 9 damage for super mega slash, the highest damage potential skill for a bear. The boosts for the other skills are similarly anemic. I don't know how much this set helps pally or warbird, but for bear it's definitely a meaningless improvement to use the 2H set for skill damage output.
So my conclusion is there's absolutely no case to be made ever to use the crafted 2H str set. The 1H set is a clear winner in performance where it counts, and those with the egg have even that much less incentive to use the 2H set given the nice offensive boost from just using the egg shield. Hopefully STS will consider boosting the dragon master blade in some way to make it relevant.
Here's a picture of how the sets compare. On the left I am wearing the scythe+shield set and showing the change if I equip the blade. On the right is the same thing except I'm wearing the fossilized dragon egg as my shield.
21516
Compared to the shield set, the blade does up the hit some and of course the damage as well, but the downside is harsh. Losing all that armor, dodge and H/s is just crippling, not to mention the DPS drop. Compared against the egg set, which is already a more "offensive" option, the trade-off is even starker. It's solely a damage boost with losses everywhere else (though not quite as much, it's still a significant hit).
Now the usual argument is that the reason to use a 2H set is not just the regular damage but the boost to skill damage output as well. So let's look at the comparison for damage output for all three options.
21517
The gain for the blade set is only 9 damage for super mega slash, the highest damage potential skill for a bear. The boosts for the other skills are similarly anemic. I don't know how much this set helps pally or warbird, but for bear it's definitely a meaningless improvement to use the 2H set for skill damage output.
So my conclusion is there's absolutely no case to be made ever to use the crafted 2H str set. The 1H set is a clear winner in performance where it counts, and those with the egg have even that much less incentive to use the 2H set given the nice offensive boost from just using the egg shield. Hopefully STS will consider boosting the dragon master blade in some way to make it relevant.