Gladiator Attribute Build

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

I did quite a bit a testing with various stats last night after logging in. I fought the same monster over and over, the level 50 Ixali outside the gates of Natalan. I largely wanted to determine the differences between STR and MND on auto-attack damage and healing potency. I began with my +28 STR Cobalt Winglet and 3 +7 STR rings, before switching to my +30 MND Cobalt Winglet and 3 +7 MND rings. All other gear remained unchanged.

The easiest thing to test was healing potency. I stood in one spot in passive mode and cast Cure on myself 20 times with each gear set, taking the average of all 20 minus critical cures (of which there was only 1 cast during the STR test). I found that Cures cast with a total of +51 MND were only an average of just under 9HP stronger than those cast with +49 STR. The average Cure with +MND was 459.6 while the average cure with +STR was 450.9.

It was clear that MND and STR grant an equal bonus to Auto-Attack damage. The range of Auto-Attack dmg over the course of 10 battles with STR gear was 123-146 with an average of 137.4, excluding criticals and attacks while the Ixali had sentinel up. The range of Auto-Attack damage over the course of 10 battles with MND Gear was 123-144 with an average of 136.8. The difference is really negligible and the difference is not really statistically significant based on the relatively small sample size. I do think the numbers are enough to say that there is really very little difference between the two stats when It comes to Auto-Attack. Just for comparison, when swapping out to a +29 VIT Cobalt Winglet the range of Auto-Attack damage was 112-135.

The biggest difference between STR and MND came in the form of WS damage. I performed a total of 20 Fast Blades on the same level 50 Ixali. The range of damage with STR gear was 325-346, with an average of 339.1. The range of damage with MND gear was 312-331, with an average of 324.5. So STR gear was responsible for approximately a 15 point difference in WS damage.

In the end, it came down to a choice between higher HP cured or higher WS dmg. Obviously, these tests are based on relatively low sample sizes and there is some margin for random statistical error, but I believe that the results would remain fairly close based on a more extensive test.

Hi Fenrir!

I'm curious to see the STR vs MND testing in other Gladiator-exclusive weapon skills or abilities.
i.e. Phalanx. Shield Bash. Aegis Boon amount HP restored.

[SwordCoheir]

I went full on VIT and DEX. While Damage does help with Enmity generation, being able to block more often and take overall less damage has more advantages. One, mage's cure less often helping them keep enmity down, two for the times mages cannot cure (such as running from Ifrit's Eruption) you have increased survivability until they have the opportunity too, and three since the overall damage is reduced (from more VIT and increased blocking) your enmity loss is much lower.

[Viridiana]

I went full on VIT and DEX. While Damage does help with Enmity generation, being able to block more often and take overall less damage has more advantages. One, mage's cure less often helping them keep enmity down, two for the times mages cannot cure (such as running from Ifrit's Eruption) you have increased survivability until they have the opportunity too, and three since the overall damage is reduced (from more VIT and increased blocking) your enmity loss is much lower.

Incoming damage hasn't affected enmity since 1.18 or so.