Age Old Question: VIT vs. STR

[LukeyP666]

People say that going full VIT while learning is the better option, but being able to deal enough party-wide DPS to push phases or kill adds quickly is more important than an extra 400-500 HP. But even worse than going full VIT is the failure of tanks to swap stances in Titan EX or T6. That alone would increase your DPS in fights about 40-50 DPS. I see a lot of burn party PUGs in T6 fall just short of clearing even when the DDs do a good job for their ilvl.

Swap stances and put some effort into your DPS and you'll be much more useful than your average run of the mill meat shield.

^THIS^

My group and I used to struggle to push the phases quick enough on T6 until I re-specced 30 STR. We could clear it but we had to take 2 Honeys a lot of the time depending on the RNG with the Bulbs, and then stand around like lemons so we didn't then push it before the Honey was gone. Once I re-specced and started actually stance-dancing, it really helped.

Same for T7 - We were struggling to kill the first adds quick enough before the next one spawned, and my extra DPS helped push things that little bit more to get them down in time.

Now that our DPS all have better gear, it's no problem, but it definitely helped in the beginning.

I'm starting work on some Ruby/Topaz accessories now, but haven't made up my mind which way around to do them yet, as the Vitality IV and Strength IV Materia markets are all over the place at the moment.

[Praesul]

Hmm, quick question about i90 pentamelded accessories since I've been considering it recently...

Does the loss in ilvl from, say full 110 on your left side, down to i90 from the crafted accessories you're going to replace them with, affect anything? If so, is the loss from dropping your ilvl worth the gain you get from the mix of primary stats?

[stoxastic]

Loss of iLvl doesn't matter outside of some party finder group requiring i105 or something for their party. Warrior makes good use of the pentamelded accessories because both Str and Vit are good. Not only do you get a mix of primary stats (total of 28 vs 21 from i110 accessory), but if you meld good materia you can also get more secondary stats as well.

My topaz bracelet is melded DET IV, ACC IV, STR IV, STR IV, DET II, so I have 15 VIT, 16 Parry, 13 STR, 9 DET, 9 ACC. Compare that to high allagan bracelets of fending (21 VIT, 19 Parry, 13 ACC), the crafted i90 has more cumulative stats.

So it's -6 VIT, -3 Parry, -4 ACC for +13 STR, +9 DET. I think in most cases the i90 accessory wins out here. Just don't cheap out of your pentamelds and it'll be good.

[SirTaint]

^THIS^

My group and I used to struggle to push the phases quick enough on T6 until I re-specced 30 STR. We could clear it but we had to take 2 Honeys a lot of the time depending on the RNG with the Bulbs, and then stand around like lemons so we didn't then push it before the Honey was gone. Once I re-specced and started actually stance-dancing, it really helped.

Same for T7 - We were struggling to kill the first adds quick enough before the next one spawned, and my extra DPS helped push things that little bit more to get them down in time.

Now that our DPS all have better gear, it's no problem, but it definitely helped in the beginning.

I'm starting work on some Ruby/Topaz accessories now, but haven't made up my mind which way around to do them yet, as the Vitality IV and Strength IV Materia markets are all over the place at the moment.

30str on a tank is not helping you push phases. We are talking a 3-4 DPS increase.

Edit: Definitely do Ruby. Parry is pretty lackluster in general and you can always use tank (VIT) accessories if you are taking that kind of damage. Ruby with a mix of ACC and DET would be good. I'm personally going to wait for 2.4 before sinking money into i90 accessories since they are not needed at all except in the few groups that are doing Savage coil. Once 2.4 ACC caps are estimated I'll know how to melt them correctly.

[MythToken]

You guys are starting to get into some really specific situations while discussing this very broad topic.

Ultimately it boils down to this.
Do you have enough HP to survive?
no? = +30 Vit yes = +30 str somewhere in between 15/15

You want to squeeze out as much STR as you can, while not sacrificing your survivability.

How much VIT you need is largely based on your skill, your healers, and the encounter. So it varies wildly from player to player.

The argument that STR is not worth it, has long been over and decided that more str is most def worth it. But again, before you switch to +30 STR you need to consider the above factors.

I would also consider playing around with accessory swapping before I made any adjustments to my bonus stats. This will help you find a comfortable level of VIT/STR without wasting a bunch of seals.

[Empressia]

+30 STR is only worthed it if u play offensive OT like WAR OT with DPS accesories on t9, heck if u really need +30 STR badly that means ur like that arrogant but scrub PLD MT in my static considering how often my DRG steal aggro and i have to MT the boss!

[MythToken]

505 str and 505 vit warrior, pulled a 1350 IB crit last night. Was all like :0

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

505 str and 505 vit warrior, pulled a 1350 IB crit last night. Was all like :0

I apologize if I'm mistaken, but Inner Beast still heals 100% of damage dealt? That's kinda nice.

Curious if 2.0 IB could have healed for 4000, seems mad sauce.

[Warrlordd]

yes, it could have, and it would have.

I usually allocate +30 VIT, since I pug a lot and try help other groups pass primals. Also, in T9, the amount of times you will be sub 400 HP is actually fairly regular while learning... So if you are MT i'd go +30 VIT, if OT, +30 STR

[MythToken]

I apologize if I'm mistaken, but Inner Beast still heals 100% of damage dealt? That's kinda nice.

Curious if 2.0 IB could have healed for 4000, seems mad sauce.

Yep yep, i actually got the full heal too, was at about 50%, most of the time i see that going to overheal a bit though.

This was on REX so im not sure what my highest IB has been on Coil 6 and 7.