Underestimated Lead Attack?

Targren

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2007

Primeval Warlords[wuw]

R/

(Sorry, don't know the BB code for showing the skill Icons)

A lot of Sin dagger build threads suggest GPS (5E, 4sec Rc) as an opener, since most sapient dagger-sins will be running Crit Agil and/or Crit Def.

I ran into some... issues with this approach recently. I'm trying to work my Sin through Proph now and the Meguuma Jungle has these wonderfully irritating little buggers that like to throw around "Shatter Enchantment", shutting me down pretty well until it recharges.

So I swapped it out with Jagged Strike (5E, 1sec) and I found two advantages to it. Primarily, losing my enchant doesn't lock me in auto-attack land. Another thing was, the faster recharge means I can start a new chain when those low-level creeps go down after my first DB.

Obviously, it's not a huge concern in the later portions of the campaigns where you don't have to worry about quick slaughters, but I'm just curious as to the lack of love for JS, considering the short recharge, other than non-fleshies are immune to bleeding.

I'd love to hear thoughts from other PvE sin players.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

GPS deals +damage, and doesn't fail to hit if you are not enchanted.

And when you hit Moebius Strike, all your skills should recharge.

Targren

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2007

Primeval Warlords[wuw]

R/

I can see how that makes sense... OTOH, though, if you're fighting something with skin, the bleeding isn't bad. Makes for a decent cover condition and, assuming the target lives for 5 seconds, does more damage than GFS [0] at any Daggers >=15.

In the lower-level areas I was going through this past weekend, the recharge effect of MS was worthless, since no one lived long enough for me to hit them with it.

Still, thanks for the food for thought on the GFS. Might be worth trying to swap out for those #$! Desert missions...

[0] (We both mistakenly referred to GPS, which is an offhand that does miss if not enchanted. Ooops *g*)

Self-edit: Ooooh... I definitely have to try this now... GFS non-blockable can come in real handy when those #$! rangers throw up Dryder's Defenses et al on me, too...

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

The damage from degen can be healed up, and is over time. Damage straight off is far stronger.

And what exactly are you covering with it?

Breakfast Mc Rit

Breakfast Mc Rit

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2008

[Sin]

Me/

That's the thing about PvE; some skills fair better in some areas than in others. I'd rather have straight out damage for something I'm going to spamming (applying bleeding on a foe that's already bleeding is a waste of energy), but if it works in low level areas and you don't have to spam it all that much, more power to you.

Targren

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2007

Primeval Warlords[wuw]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyla

And what exactly are you covering with it?
Depends on the team and the target.

Dazed is my favorite, with a Crit Agil sin flipping out. Himiko loves travelling with BHA's



Quote:
Originally Posted by Breakfast Mc Rit
That's the thing about PvE; some skills fair better in some areas than in others. I'd rather have straight out damage for something I'm going to spamming (applying bleeding on a foe that's already bleeding is a waste of energy), but if it works in low level areas and you don't have to spam it all that much, more power to you. Thing is, with an MS/DB build, you're not really spamming your lead attack unless something unpleasant happens (the aforementioned blocking stances, for instance, although GFS wins there too). Once you hit your dual attack, as long as your chain isn't broken, you shouldn't have to throw the lead again until the target snuffs it and you move on to the next one.

Zena Starlight

Zena Starlight

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2007

CBE

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Targren
(Sorry, don't know the BB code for showing the skill Icons)
So I swapped it out with Jagged Strike (5E, 1sec) and I found two advantages to it. Primarily, losing my enchant doesn't lock me in auto-attack land. Another thing was, the faster recharge means I can start a new chain when those low-level creeps go down after my first DB. The damage is the most important part of GFS with unblockablitiy as a bonus. On your second point, a faster recharge does absolutly nothing when the fastest offhand to recharge is 4 seconds. (Wild Strike and Golden Fang Strike) (Not counting Moebius Strike since that follows a dual)