Staff or Wand + Shield

I've been trying to use both Staff and Wand + Shield, and have been getting better results regarding magic damage using Staff.

As i am usually on party i do not use block so much, but i still see everyone using their shields on party.

I'd like people sharing what do you think is better.

I'd like some answers on this too. If the hidden stats on DoM shields are correct, you should be able to get higher mag. potency and accuracy with a wand+shield. I did some basic testing on marmots, but the damage was way too variable to determine anything conclusive. Anyone have more info?

I've gone through both CON and THM to cap with mixed results. I can say as advice from personal experience that practically speaking since it fluctuates a bit on both sides (and even if the wand damage had been slightly lower on average) that it makes good sense to simply leave a shield on until you cap Sentinel and after that you can do w/e you like in earnest.

In terms of current "endgame" gear:

Jade Crook
Mag Potency: 145
Mag Accuracy: 151

Walnut Wand of Gales + Vintage Square Shield
Mag Potency: 135
Mag Accuracy: 138

For the most part the comparisons are similar regardless of current level.

Unless you are soloing hard hitting mobs/NMs, two-handed staff all the way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aiko

In terms of current "endgame" gear:

Jade Crook
Mag Potency: 145
Mag Accuracy: 151

Walnut Wand of Gales + Vintage Square Shield
Mag Potency: 135
Mag Accuracy: 138

For the most part the comparisons are similar regardless of current level.

Unless you are soloing hard hitting mobs/NMs, two-handed staff all the way.

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Right, these numbers will show up in your screen, but YG lists 'hidden' stats with asterisks, bonuses of up to a few dozen points of mag. potency on shields. If these work then an elemental Walnut Wand with a Raptorskin Targe should have higher mag. potency. I was testing a Jade Crook+2 and a Walnut Wand of Flames+1 with Raptorskin Targe by simply casting fire on Star Marmots and couldn't find anything conclusive, damage for both was between 3600 and 4000 (Poor marmots!). I am going to compare the two with tougher mobs when I get the chance.

The asterisked stats are in the .dats, but are currently not implimented in-game.

Until then, two-handed staves remain the better option.

From what I understand, the hidden stats were stats used when you equipped an action to your sub weapon, so if I were to say equip Aero to my sub weapon (my shield) then it would use that weapon's stats instead of my main weapon's.

However because of the changes in the battle system, I don't think you can equip actions to your sub anymore, so the hidden stats don't matter.

Ah...thanks to both of you for clearing that up. What am I gonna do with this wand of flames...

Cap out sentinel then shelve it.

Staves all the way. The only thing that needs tested now are elemental-aligned wands against mobs weak to it versus the staves that have 0-35% element affinity.

So for instance, Want of Gales versus Jade crook on Braggodocios, using aero as the nuke of choice. You'd need at minimum the maximum critical damage value and minimum resist damage value in the fight to make any sort of call. Otherwise, only a parser will detect differences we're talking about in crit%, average damage, and accuracy.

My guess is that Jade crook still wins.