Dragoons: A Rotation Reborn

[ProphetMagnus]

Weapon Damage: 8.732
Strength: 1
Determination: .325
Crit: 0.204
Skill Speed: .178

I would love some help with this information as I'm very new to raiding and min/maxing. I've just beaten t5 with my FC and we're working on t6+ from now. I was hoping I could get some questions answered by the Dragoon Community:
1 - With weapon damage (WD) being the best stat - and reading what it says about the stat weights - if I lose 8< Strength but gain 1 WD then it's better to do the swap? I guess I'm asking if the highest possible WD spear I have should always be a priority to equip (at this stage it's the Allagan Spear).
2 - I'm focussing my build on DET>CRIT, but I've been told by other Dragoons in my LS (in other raid parties) that I'm doing it wrong by doing this. Basically I work my choices in this order: ACC (Cap)>STR>DET>CRIt>SS. Am I doing it right or do I need to go back to the drawing board? (I get that in some cases I'd have to sacrifice some points in STR/DET/CRIT for some reason but that's basically how I plan my gear).
3 - With my limited grasp on WD, and it's place in stats, is this the way I should plan my gear from now on: WD>ACC(Cap)>STR>DET>CRIT>SS?

http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...racter/269046/ This is my character profile (hoping it updates soon but if not I've equipped the Allagan Spear and Hero's Bracelet of Slaying). For my crafted gear I'm planning on maxing the ACC DET CRIT in that order (I've seen a few examples in this thread so I might look at those more for guidance)

Thanks in advance for your help!

[PArcher]

SNIP

Whenever you have the chance, go for the highest Weapon Damage. Always. Each point is I think about 9 points of STR, so you can see its value from there.

As for everything else; yes, always hit the Accuracy cap; that goes without saying. Whether you do this through gear or also using food is up to you. Now, you do want to be as close as you can be; don't stack Acc too far over your target or you are losing DPS. As of the last I heard, T6/7 is around 472, T8 is about 490, and T9 is about 495.

STR is your main attribute; in general, more STR = better. However, there are some pieces where that is not true. Look at the Wyrm's Mail vs Weathered Astrum Mail. You use the Sol gear is you need the Acc, otherwise the Wyrm's is better (has a lot more weight, as Acc has none)

For secondaries, DET > Crit > SS. However, DET is weighted differently than Crit and SS (Crit and SS can be applied 1:1 on gear, DET is not) so you do have to make the calculations whether the Crit or DET on the gear you're looking at is better

[Xanthe]

I would love some help with this information as I'm very new to raiding and min/maxing. I've just beaten t5 with my FC and we're working on t6+ from now. I was hoping I could get some questions answered by the Dragoon Community:
1 - With weapon damage (WD) being the best stat - and reading what it says about the stat weights - if I lose 8< Strength but gain 1 WD then it's better to do the swap? I guess I'm asking if the highest possible WD spear I have should always be a priority to equip (at this stage it's the Allagan Spear).

As things stand now, you'll never find yourself in a situation where you have to decide between WD or STR on a weapon. An increase in iLvl will see a formulaic increase in both WD and STR. The only difference between weapons of the same iLvl is the allotment of secondary stats (Determination/Critical Hit Rate/Accuracy/Skill Speed/Elemental Resist). So yes, your highest WD spear is going to be your best option. Just remember your other equipment choices may need to be modified to accommodate accuracy requirements.

2 - I'm focussing my build on DET>CRIT, but I've been told by other Dragoons in my FC (in other raid parties) that I'm doing it wrong by doing this. Basically I work my choices in this order: ACC (Cap)>STR>DET>CRIt>SS. Am I doing it right or do I need to go back to the drawing board? (I get that in some cases I'd have to sacrifice some points in STR/DET/CRIT for some reason but that's basically how I plan my gear).

This is where the stat weights come in. Stat weights are a way of comparing stats that affect your damage output in different ways. Best in Set (BiS) guides are determined using these weights and a target accuracy based on the content being challenged. Sometimes these weights will counter-intuitively make a lower-iLvl piece of gear better than one with a higher iLvl. A good example would be Wyrm's Mail versus Weathered Suit of Astrum Mail. Assuming accuracy needs have been met in other slots, Wyrm's Mail is actually the better body.

Wyrm's Mail: STR: 29 DET: 24 CHR: 24 | 29 + (24 * 0.325) + (24 * 0.204) = 41.696
Weathered Suit of Astrum Mail: STR: 34 SKS: 26 ACC: 38 | 34 + (26 * 0.178) = 38.628

If accuracy is unable to be met without accuracy on the body, iLvl 90 melded gear comes into play, in this case a HQ Wolfram Cuirass melded with 1x Savage Might IV, 3x Savage Aim IV, and 1x Savage Aim III.

Wolfram Cuirass: STR: 29 DET: 17+6 CHR: 0+33 ACC: 34 | 29 + (23 * 0.325) + (33 * 0.204) = 43.532

Even though the melded cuirass has 1 less DET, the extra CHR greatly outweighs the loss. The piece of gear with the highest point value will have the greatest direct contribution to damage output. Accuracy doesn't figure into this point value because it only increases your damage via guaranteeing a greater chance to actually hitting. That is why BiS is calculated based on a predetermined accuracy level.

3 - With my limited grasp on WD, and it's place in stats, is this the way I should plan my gear from now on: WD>ACC(Cap)>STR>DET>CRIT>SS?

http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...racter/269046/ This is my character profile (hoping it updates soon but if not I've equipped the Allagan Spear and Hero's Bracelet of Slaying). For my crafted gear I'm planning on maxing the ACC DET CRIT in that order (I've seen a few examples in this thread so I might look at those more for guidance)

Thanks in advance for your help!

More or less, the priorities you have stated are correct. This is my profile. I haven't finished melding my Wolfram Cuirass yet as Savage Might IV is pretty expensive on my server at the moment. Even with the melds as they are, it lets me continue to use Buttons in a Blanket instead of Switching to Stuffed Cabbage to meet T8 accuracy requirements, and the stat weights of the cuirass and buttons outweighs Wyrm's Mail and cabbage. Don't forget that food should be considered in your stat weights.

[max1995]

HI just wondering if were to use off gcd in between abilities, wouldnt it affect the combo therefore reducing the damage. For example, f were to use sweep before full thrust, wouldn't the damage of full thrust be lower?

[SeraviEdalborez]

HI just wondering if were to use off gcd in between abilities, wouldnt it affect the combo therefore reducing the damage. For example, f were to use sweep before full thrust, wouldn't the damage of full thrust be lower?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, test* it yourself. Training dummies are all over the place.

*Damage skills have a variance of ~5% so one "test" for with and without is not sufficient.

[max1995]

thanks for the help!!!!