DB or VA?

Mortal Amongst Mere Gods

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

Riding the spiral

W/

So I'm running the usual Death Blossom+Moebius Strike build in PvE right now. I just came across a dual attack from EotN that seems really good for the Moebius Strike build: Vampiric Assault.

My build is as follows:
15 Dag Mast.
14 Crit. Strikes

Unsuspecting Strike
Wild Strike
Critical Strike
Moebius Strike
Death Blossom
Critical Agility
Critical Eye
Sunspear Rebirth Signet


I'm wondering if I should switch out Death Blossom for Vampiric Assault? While there is much more damage from AoE with Death Blossom (And not the hassle of Moebius possibly not recharging it), whereas VA is excellent damage and sufficient self healing. Combined with Moebius, VA will repeatedly hit through Protection Prayers and heal me with enough efficiency to give my monk heroes some spare energy and time.

Which one should I go with?

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

DB would be the easy answer as it doesn't require investment into the DA line and the benefits of its AoE damage are obvious. VA is probably the pro choice in PvP... but for most PvE sections DB will serve you better, I think.

Mortal Amongst Mere Gods

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

Riding the spiral

W/

Hmm, I'll take this into consideration. I'm testing VA right now and it's not bad, but in regards to damage it's not as effective as DB. It's just advantageous in it's excellent self healing.

LightningHell

LightningHell

(????????????)???

Join Date: Aug 2005

Hong Kong

Guildless

Mo/

I'd say DB for both. In PvE you have monks to cover up for you; in PvP if you need the healing from VA you're probably asploding anyway.

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

Vampiric Assault is more to smooth over Deadly Arts spikes trying to get to a max-damage Impale than for Moebius spam. The idea's inventive, but I agree, other duals would likely serve you better for a dagger-fighter.

Nyktos

Nyktos

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2007

The Nyktos Guild [win]

8s recharge is ftl. The reason DB is so popular is the fact that you can spam it.

MBP

MBP

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2007

Arizona

Clanless Fraggers

R/Mo

and that it's named Death Blossom..

Last Starfighter ftw!

Mortal Amongst Mere Gods

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

Riding the spiral

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyktos
8s recharge is ftl. The reason DB is so popular is the fact that you can spam it. Regardless of it's recharge, I can spam it because of Moebius Strike--assuming my target's health is below 50%. DB can be spammed even if I don't hit something under 50% because of 2s recharge.

I've been using VA for a little bit now, and yeah. I'm pretty sure now that DB is better than VA.