War opener question (for OT, Alex Savage inside...)

[EdgeFayth]

Hi folks,
my team is currently having troubles with A1 Savage. We are hitting enrage around 15%, rather frustrating... We noticed we really have to push in p1 (before the second boss appears) cause the HP of the first one are copied, and this phase is time based. SO the more dps in p1, the shorter the fight is. We usually are around 62-63% left at split. Our best try was at 60%. So I wonder how to improve my opener, in order to really provide a large dps in p1 (p2 is more complicated, since I have to tank, I only go to dps stance for a duo of Fell Cleave under Berserk before going back to tank stance).
Here is my opener (stuff between brakets are OGCD):

HS/(BS)/Maim/Eye/Fracture/HS/Skull/BB/(IR)/HS/(Pot)/(Berserk)/Fell Cleave/(Infuriate)/(BS)/Fell Cleave/Maim/(Vengeance)/Eye/(Raw Int)/HS/Skull/Fell Cleave/BB/Fracture/*end_of_berserk*/(BS)/HS/Maim/Eye

Any way to do more damages?
Thanks!

Fayth

[stoxastic]

Is your co-tank a PLD? If so it's better DPS for you to open with defiance->unchained, then swap to deliverance for berzerked fell cleaves. When pacified the PLD provoke it from you and keep it for the rest of the phase. This allows PLD to open with Goring->RA->RA instead of halone which is way better for their dps.

Triple fell cleave is nice but it's a bit awkward in practice because berserk comes really late which by that time Trick Attack and Battle Litany both wears off. It's still good but I think the raid gets more mileage with a PLD using Goring->RA->RA with FoF and Sword Oath. Also putting vengeance that far down you risk not having it up for first tank buster and definitely won't have it up for preys.

[Donjo]

Is your co-tank a PLD? If so it's better DPS for you to open with defiance->unchained, then swap to deliverance for berzerked fell cleaves. When pacified the PLD provoke it from you and keep it for the rest of the phase. This allows PLD to open with Goring->RA->RA instead of halone which is way better for their dps.

Triple fell cleave is nice but it's a bit awkward in practice because berserk comes really late which by that time Trick Attack and Battle Litany both wears off. It's still good but I think the raid gets more mileage with a PLD using Goring->RA->RA with FoF and Sword Oath. Also putting vengeance that far down you risk not having it up for first tank buster and definitely won't have it up for preys.

Some good points here, but I can add that if you do use Vengeance in your opener for Wrath it will be up just in time to absorb the first buster. The Prey missiles are Physical Damage too, so they're great fodder for Foresight and Raw Intuition since they won't help with the magical Tank Buster.

For reference, I've been opening with Eye combo -> Block combo -> Heavy Swing -> Berserk/Release -> Cleave -> Infuriate -> Cleave -> Vengeance/Intuition -> Eye Combo -> 3rd Cleave eventually. Vengeance pops up again mere seconds before the first buster.

As for the worry of party buffs falling off because of Berserking late... it'll be worth some work to figure out whether starting immediately with a double cleave Berserk is optimal over waiting a moment to get a triple. Or said buffs could just be staggered through group communication, but that brings lots more variables into the equation!

[Phoenicia]

Umm, why do people blow BOTH RI and Vengeance in their openers when they can still fit in BB and Fracture after the third cleave. Is it so the third cleave lines with the potion or something?

I'm not 60 yet so I haven't experimented with inserting the potion into my opener. But it can go like this:
HS > Zerk > Cleave x2 > RI > finish SE > BB > Fracture > Cleave *Pacified*
inversely: HS > Zerk > Cleave > RI > finish SE > BB > Fracture > Cleave x2 *pacified*

Yes SE will fall off. You can change the BB with another SE to keep it up. I just think blowing off a major CD just to move FC 1 GCD is too much of a price to pay. Specially if you are MT or going to MT soon.

[Abbul_Stonecleaver]

Vengeance should be back up in time for the tank buster, and RI would be up in time for next Berserk. Not wasting them using both in opener. I've only been using RI, but Vengeance would supply an extra stack to get FCs a small bit ahead throughout phase 1. Phase 1 dps is hugely important.

My static too is wondering if I should open with Unchained and have our Drk provoke during Pacification. Does Drk benefit more outside Grit than Warrior using Unchained opener vs triple Cleave in Deliverance opener?

[Phoenicia]

Unchained openers are only 5% damage behind deliverance. Having DRK doing 25% more DPS while outside of Grit + you doing an unchained opener has an overall DPS increase for the whole raid.

But if you can stance dance while MTing, you might as well go in as the main tank on the boss and let the DRK DPS until add comes into play. DRK does competitive DPS compared to WAR granted you're applying SE. A stance dancing WAR will probably have the highest MT DPS.

[Abbul_Stonecleaver]

With an Unchained opener, I'd only be able to get in one Fell Cleave though. 2 if I do the pre pull shenanigans which I won't be doing.

The difference in potency over Berserk's duration (adjusted with buffs added would be ~5593 vs ~4326). I didn't use Fracture in the math, but in practice I would use it as OT). Would a Drk gain 1200 potency over the first 20 seconds, starting a couple GCDs in, as OT?

[AnimaS]

HS/(BS)/Maim/Eye/Fracture/HS/Skull/BB/(IR)/HS/(Pot)/(Berserk)/Fell Cleave/(Infuriate)/(BS)/Fell Cleave/Maim/(Vengeance)/Eye/(Raw Int)/HS/Skull/Fell Cleave/BB/Fracture/*end_of_berserk*/(BS)/HS/Maim/Eye

getrid of fracture it does no dmg relative to tp usage and time, 20potency it ticks for about 120dmg avg .........

Try to literally open with the berserk/ir trigger RIGHT after eye is up, (5 stacks) <potions> so ..... now you have eye up and a potion/berserk/ir ....... just double Fell Cleave (I crit Fell Cleave for 7.1k now but crit not alwaysgonna happen)


DROP the last fell cleave and BB COMBO TWICE you are wasting a massive amount of damage by hitting Raw int/Vengance

You can burst around 25 to 35k this way (dependent on crits)

[AnimaS]

BTW I am using 4 penta melded str accessories and a 190 slay ring,.... 2x fell cleave gives you a larger chance to crit Brutal Swing, Heavy Swing, Skull Sunder BB x2 and 1k AUTO ATTACK CRITS

[stoxastic]

Having DRK start out of grit in the opener gives Blood Weapon, which easily allows for constant DA->SoulEater during the duration.

In about 20 seconds, you can fit in a scourge + 3 DA SoulEater combos. (3335 potency in Darkside, 2668 potency in Darkside + Grit)
You also have DA->C&S, plunge, low blow, DA->DP, and salted earth (1868 potency in Darkside, 1495 potency in Darkside + Grit)

I'd say it's about a 1000 potency increase outside of grit.

You can actually fit 2 Fell cleaves in an Unchained opener:

Unchained -> Tomahawk -> HS -> Maim -> Storm's Eye -> HS -> IR + Berserk -> Skull Sunder -> Pot -> Butcher's Block -> Deliverance -> Fell Cleave -> Vengeance -> HS -> Raw Intuition > Skull Sunder -> Butcher's Block -> HS -> Maim -> Fell Cleave -> Pacification

9 Weaponskills between Berserk and Pacification