The Proper Use of Gauss Barrel

[Daethanil]

Hello fellow Machinists!

This is NOT a post to complain about MCH damage or conditions. This is a post to try and theorycraft and test for our maximum damage.

I've noticed that most of the guides have not been updated since the last updates. With the change of Gauss barrel to +30% damage, I have been attempting to maximize my damage. I am not the top of my class. But I am interested in improving.

What I would like to work on is the proper time to activate and make use of Gauss Barrel. Obviously, this will not be during a movement intensive phase/battle.

I open with the normals. Hot Shot --> Lead Shot, Activate Reload --> 1, 2, 1 (now Slug and Clean shot are both procced and glowing) --> Gauss Barrel up (fire Gauss Round and Ricochet) --> Quick Reload, 3 --> 2, Reassemble, 3.

Also including the oGCD attacks once Gauss Barrel is active. Remove Gauss Barrel at the end of this rotation. Return to 'standard' methods until I have Reload prepped for another round.

[Humorless]

...I hope you mean using quick reload after the 3.


And there's absolutely no reason to leave Gauss barrel off for lead shot.

[RiceisNice]

Full uptime on gauss barrel is a DPS gain. People do have varying numbers with stance dancing, but there's so many variables with MCH DPS that you can get a variance of 10-30 dps on parsing unless the proc/crit rates are nearly identically to each other.

To me, trying to stance dance in and out of GB when you can otherwise fulltime it (given that the fight allows for it) is putting more burden on yourself for little to no gain.

[Lavieh]

Full uptime on gauss barrel is a DPS gain. People do have varying numbers with stance dancing, but there's so many variables with MCH DPS that you can get a variance of 10-30 dps on parsing unless the proc/crit rates are nearly identically to each other.

To me, trying to stance dance in and out of GB when you can otherwise fulltime it (given that the fight allows for it) is putting more burden on yourself for little to no gain.

Stop this. The Math has proven that GB off at time is beneficial and it isn't really all that difficult. What is difficult is adjusting to it and you will never adjust to it if you hide behind such petty excuses for your laziness.

[RiceisNice]

Stop this. The Math has proven that GB off at time is beneficial and it isn't really all that difficult. What is difficult is adjusting to it and you will never adjust to it if you hide behind such petty excuses for your laziness.

Yet my numbers show relatively similar, if not lower numbers with nearly identical procs on a straight test. Math and actual practice are two entirely different aspects. It's not more difficult but it certainly allows for more slip ups, and some fights won't go your way to justify locking yourself into GB for the remaining 15 seconds after the fact.

[Lavieh]

Yet my numbers show relatively similar, if not lower numbers with nearly identical procs on a straight test. Math and actual practice are two entirely different aspects. It's not more difficult but it certainly allows for more slip ups, and some fights won't go your way to justify locking yourself into GB for the remaining 15 seconds after the fact.

Even given good RNG taking GB off when there are no buffs up, oGCD's to pop and lead shot is up there will never be a downside to taking off GB. Math is reliable, testing things out in actual practice is where you will find inconsistencies while the Math on the matter is absolute.

Just as BLM's have to learn Fights, MCH and BRD's need to learn fights and you can easily figure out the moments where you have to pull GB off to specifically handle mechanics and when you can take it off just to deal more damage. Worst case you can easily just use Feint if you have to dodge and completely miss a cast. I have yet to find a situation where I feel pressured to use Feint and I stance dance when I find the moment opportune.

[Daethanil]

GCD is 2s, Gauss Barrel cast time is also 2s. So 4s are used, one shot base (for example) 400 damage. GB gives +30% (30% of 400 = 120) total shot value 520.
Comparatively, 2 shots in 4s without GB. Each shot base 400 damage. 800 damage total.
How is maintaining a 100% uptime a DPS gain? Just due to the fact that our Split shot is such a minuscule percentage of our total damage (assuming random proc doesn't screw us)

[RiceisNice]

2.5 GCD with a 1.5 cast time. I don't follow your train of thought, but you have the wrong idea on how cast times work.

Your GCD starts ticking down at the start of cast, not when the cast finishes.

You can do 2 split shots in two GCDs (5 seconds) regardless of if you have GB on or not.

[Humorless]

GCD is 2s, Gauss Barrel cast time is also 2s. So 4s are used, one shot base (for example) 400 damage. GB gives +30% (30% of 400 = 120) total shot value 520.
Comparatively, 2 shots in 4s without GB. Each shot base 400 damage. 800 damage total.
How is maintaining a 100% uptime a DPS gain? Just due to the fact that our Split shot is such a minuscule percentage of our total damage (assuming random proc doesn't screw us)

......

:')

[Typhoria]

You will also have TP issues in longer fights with Gauss Barrel off.