STR/DEX/PIE/ATK Testing

[Estellios]

ARC/BRD can use PIE to strengthen both their debuffs as well as their damage, so it's fine to make it reliant on PIE because you are going to want your debuffs being consistent. The only other class that can make as much use of PIE is LNC/DRG, GLA, MRD and PGL need to decide whether they want better and more consistent debuffs or more damage, whereas ARC and LNC can have both.

[Spider-Dan]

ARC/BRD can use PIE to strengthen both their debuffs as well as their damage, so it's fine to make it reliant on PIE because you are going to want your debuffs being consistent.

You wouldn't want debuff consistency (on a DoW) at the expense of damage, and that's exactly what PIE reliance does.

Specifically, if ARC were STR-based instead of PIE-based, all the STR you'd be stacking would also give additional ATK (which increases your damage). However, under the current system, instead of extra ATK from primary stats, ARC gets extra debuff accuracy (which is not as good as ATK) and extra accuracy (which is practically useless).

It's true that PIE-based damage makes gearing for debuff accuracy not-quite-as-detrimental as it would for a non-PIE-based DD. However, it's still significantly worse than being STR-based.

[Coglin]

Personally, depending on how the buffs themselves work, in relation to bard, I have entertained the idea of going STA heavy. Who knows though, it could have a very limited value. Its kind of oe of those wait and see how the buffs work.

All and all though, I envision BRD more as a focused buffer then debuffer.

[Asai]

This thread is like a big middle finger to all the people that said my setup was retarded even as I proceeded to out-DD them for months.... Hahahah. Thank you for this.

[Mihana]

I can attest to that boosting Piety helps so much. After getting Piety to about 290 on my Archer now when I go against Ifrit I'm finding that my debuffs stick a great deal more, especially Bloodletter. One fight I must have had it stick at least 60-70% of the time I used it. Sometimes he resisted, but it usually stuck.

[Medura]

Hmm, im not sure if the stats is the same in this case, i added 65 dex to my gear (dont know what is it atm) when i got 50 after doing some testing without. I got 40% higher normal shot damages and 30% higher tp shot damages from doing so.

[Technyze]

So from what I am reading and what I have experienced is that Dex does not affect WS damage but Pie does? Does this hold true for all classes Bonus #1 and Bonus #2 stat?

Edit: Nvm read the edit on the OP.

[Maxxx1mus]

So this means I don't have to re-spec for PIE? I wasn't too excited to have to do that. I have a ton of DEX and would rather keep i that way

[Estellios]

Yea according to Seiken the cap on DEX is lower than PIE but it at least influences all your damage now.

[Meatdawg]

I would take dex to 300, then Piety to 330.

After you hit those caps, I would either raise ATK or possibles the new TP store materia.