Question about Vow of Strength...

Hey guys, I have a question about the elite skill Vow of Strength: Would I have higher damage output with 16 Earth Prayers or 16 Scythe Mastery?

Another unrelated question to VoS is if I wanted to maintain an attack speed increase as much as possible, which would be the best skill to use? I was thinking of using Whirling Charge...From what I understand, I can maintain Whirling Charge forever as long as I have an Enchantment on me, or did I misunderstand the skill description?

Also, if anyone knows of a build that could fit my wants, VoS w/ attack speed increase as long as possible, please point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

Edit: Yeah I just tried it and figured out Whirling Charge will end even if I have an enchantment on me... So if anyone could show me a build for VoS w/ as much attack speed increase as possible, thanks!

I run a VoS build on my dervish as a D/R using beast mastery, earth, mysticism, and scythe mastery. heket's rampage synergies perfectly with VoS. I would put at least 9 in beast mastery, and at least 9 in scythe mastery, and a multiple of 3 on mysticism(i think i have 6) and as much as you can get in earth with the rest of your points.

Well, according to what I've read, damage from a weapon with 12 in the weapon mastery is 100% of the weapon damage (if you're level 20). At 16, it's ~115%, so 15% more damage. VoS, at level 12, gives 41% damage increase, and at 16 it gives 53%, so 12% more damage. As far as I can tell, weapon mastery increases damage more than VoS does, even above 12 mastery. Heket's Rampage probably is the best IAS you could use, and to use it effectively, you need 9 BM. I would suggest 11+1+3 scythe, 8+1 earth, 8+1 myst, and 9 BM. It'll give you 143% damage (plus anything like 15>50 and customization) and a near-constant IAS. There's probably a better way to do it, but for getting in the most damage with an IAS and some e-management through myst, it seems pretty good to me. The rest of the build is up to you though.

Oh, and I'd never suggest putting a superior rune on a melee character, even in PvE, but you'll probably be fine, and it'll do a little more damage. I'm just obsessive about having high hp.

You should also try to find Ensign's article on weapon mastery if you have any spare time. I would, but I gotta do my work...

superior runes on a dervish arent as bad as they are on an assassin or warrior because of their +25 hp that comes with their armor, but if you dont absolutely need to reach a breakpoint minors are better.

Well that and any dervish that isn't running at least one of the many awesome self heals available to dervishes needs to be shot. A superior rune won't hurt a dervish.

Originally Posted By whobitz
Well, according to what I've read, damage from a weapon with 12 in the weapon mastery is 100% of the weapon damage (if you're level 20). At 16, it's ~115%, so 15% more damage. VoS, at level 12, gives 41% damage increase, and at 16 it gives 53%, so 12% more damage. As far as I can tell, weapon mastery increases damage more than VoS does, even above 12 mastery

Your statistics there are correct, but you neglected to include one bit of information. Vow of Strength improves ALL damage by the % relative to your level in Earth Prayers, so if you have 12 you will gain 41% damage increase from the base damage of a scythe, if you have 12 mastery. The damage increased multiplicatively meaning if you have 12 Earth Mastery and 16 Scythe Mastery your base damage will be 1.15(9-41) x 1.41, 1.15 being the increase in damage from the increased Scythe Mastery and the 1.41 being the increase from VoS. I'm going to check now, but I believe the Weapon Mastery Damage Multiplier is actually even higher. I'll edit this post if it is.

Hope This Helps
Istari Reaper