I did some very crude VS work on the test server to at least get some taste for the nerf. I was fighting Pil as MNK99/SAM49.
-Impetus/boost not used on any WS's/throughout testing (Impetus up would have been pretty much pointless since I could only survive for 60 seconds with fanatic's and was barely auto-attacking the whole time anyway).
-Champion's/Stalwarts/Braver's Tonics all used
-Food: Sole Sushi

-Gear-
Weapon: Verethragna 90
Ammo: Potestas Bomblet
Head: Shura+1: Augmented with 4 DEX/5 Attack/3% WSD
Neck: Rancor Collar
Ear1: Aesir Ear Pendant
Ear2: Brutal Earring
Body/Feet: Tantra+2
Legs: Shura+1: Augmented with STR+4
Hands: Heafoc Mitts
Ring1: Epona's Ring
Ring2: Rajas Ring
Back: Atheling Mantle
Waist: Thunder Belt

VS Damage: 18 WS's Total; Average = 1477
762
773
831
-----
1117
1150
1255
1329
1395
1474
1502
1582
1659
1707
1720
-----
1891
1944
2035
-----
2456

I have only done maybe 16-20 Pils total on the normal server, and sadly have not parsed myself on any of them. From memory, and as I am sure many others can attest--the lowest smites I ever saw were ~1150, and my highest on Pil was 3098. The most common numbers I recall seeing were the 1300-2700 range, with 1300-1999 comprising maybe 50% of the WS's, another 40% in the 2000-3000 range, and then 10% either below 1300 or above 3000. Again, I'm obviously just going off of memory on the numbers without the nerf present-and these numbers also include impetus/full DD drinks applied, and other times with no impetus/DD drinks applied.

Using that exact same gear set, I tossed out a couple of spirals for shiz, which ended up being 703, 764, 813, and 870. Obviously this is FAR from anywhere near an ideal Shijin set. I'm wondering if an ideal set + the increased base dmg from spharai could pull Shijin up to ~1400, or possibly even more.