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.

I don't think shields work beyond off hand skills. My Jade Crook +1 heals for more than my old Jade Crook, and both staves heal for more than a wand and shield combination.

Yes, healing is a good way to check potency. A few shields give MAcc, which is worth quite a bit. Potency is a wash with Ele Brands/Crooks, for example, staves typically give more crit.

From testing constantly on my con, it depends on how you play in. For instance, for shield you do not get the stats nor hidden stats UNLESS your guard ability is up. Now during casts your shield is still counted as up. So if you constantly keep your shield up, then wand+shield is better as far as accuracy goes, as for M. pot I still find Staves to be better. Now if you never raise your shield, then no wand and shield is not better. Now it really comes down what ya want to do, on normal mobs it makes a difference, not a huge difference on NM unless one is HQ and the other is not. But if your like me and you general just heal as CON, then it really does not matter if you use wand and shield of a stave.

So in recap accuracy wise, keep guard up and cast spells and you have a higher accuracy, maybe lil less m.potency then stave. But if you do not want to bother with that, just stick with staves for DDing. For healers, it does not matter.

Staffs have much more magic acc!, I preffer using staffs =)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AngryNixon

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.

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This. Only use a shield if you're soloing.

Logically speaking, wouldn't a staff be much more potent because if you have a shield on, you have more defense? So essentially you're trading offensive power for defensive power between the 2 options?

protect and shell is your shield, actually.

On a topic unrelated to Magical Potency or Accuracy...

Unlike gladiators, who can parry with their swords, conjurers can't parry with the wand (that would be a funny sight).

Wand + Shield : Can BLOCK, when guard is up
Staff : Can PARRY, at any time

Block and parry rates and amounts are based on different stats (STR for block, DEX for parry I believe?), so how your stats are set may also affect your decision.

This is all for solo play, or small enough parties where you may be attacked occasionally, of course.