unlocking WSs

[saevel]

Huh... what the ...

Ok stop for a moment. There are two WS's in question. CDC and Req (KoTR is weaker then both). CDC is a 3+1 hit critical hit WS with 60% DEX mod. Req is a 5+1 hit WS that has a -20% attack penalty and a 100% MND mod. CDC is 5.25 fTP while Req is 7.2. The primary difference between them is attack, crits give a +1.0 ratio with a cap that we won't be seeing on anything worth a damn. Req on the other hand has a crippling -20% attack penalty. As a WS CDC piss's all over Req in damage, provided you have sufficient access to DEX gear, kinda of like BLU. If instead you have access to tons of MND/STR gear but little DEX gear then Req will be better. @100 TP the AM effect of CDC + Almace is 30% proc of a 2x damage multiplier, at 300% (starting a big fight) it's 50% proc. This is much better then the bonus damage and the 40 attack on Excal put together.

As of right now 99 Excal + Req barely beats 99 Almace + CDC, even with RDM's crippled DEX selection. Also the higher your weapons base DMG the more powerful CDC becomes vs Req due to effect of Req's superior WSC being diluted. This is what I mean by "depending on the weapons new DMG values". If their large enough then Almace + CDC wins even with current poor gear options due to CDC gaining a greater damage percentage then Req. If tomorrow SE snapped their finger and put RDM on all the light melee gear BLU is on (I know it's a pipe dream) then Almace + CDC would instantly become the best option.

The -20% attack on Req is absolutely crippling on anything that's not trash. This is only compounded by RDM's lack of a native attack boost ability.

Finally just giving Xcal CDC won't fix the issue as it immediately loses 30% of it's melee damage vs Almace, 50% if you have time to prepare for the fight. Those AM values are really important, don't ever forget about them. Almace also has a decent size accuracy bonus from it's 20 DEX, that also translates into a dDEX crit bonus.