Sharpened PVE

xRichh94

Is sharpened still the way to go? I've been seeing a few people use infused so I was just curious whether the power has shifted or not. Thanks.

Turelus

It shifted with the Horns of the Reach patch. However the gaps between them are not as big as before it just comes down to needing to change some CP or sets to counter different areas of traits.

Asmael

To clear things up, the traits you use depend on 2 factors: whether you have reached maximum penetration or not, and whether you have a vMA bow or not. We are only considering DW on the front bar and a bow on the backbar, since it's currently the best performing setup in PvE.

Full penetration not achieved with no vMA bow backbar:
DW - Main hand => Sharpened
DW - Offhand => Sharpened
Bow => Sharpened

Full penetration not achieved with a vMA bow backbar
DW - Main hand => Infused
DW - Offhand => Sharpened
Bow => Sharpened

Full penetration achieved without a vMA bow backbar
DW - Main hand => Infused > Nirnhoned (extremely close results)
DW - Offhand => Precise
Bow => Nirnhoned > Precise (extremely close results)

Full penetration achieved with a vMA bow backbar
DW - Main hand => Infused
DW - Offhand => Precise
Bow => Nirnhoned > Infused (extremely close results)

Few reasons behind this:
- vMA bow gets empowered based on your main hand weapon. When you are on your bow bar, it is the bow, when on your DW bar, it is your main hand weapon that's taken into account.
- Sharpened still outperforms other traits if you don't achieve full penetration with the only exception being the synergy with a vMA bow.
- Having a trait that's not the best for a given situation isn't going to make a noticeable difference since the trait revamp from HotR. If you get your hands on a vMA bow, be it Precise, sharp, Infused or Nirnhoned is going to outperform any crafted bow, regardless of the trait.
- Nirnhoned doesn't get its full value on your offhand, only on your main hand
- Infused doesn't work properly if used in the offhand of your DW bar, make sure it is always on your main hand if you are using it

On a side note: Infused on the main DW hand was already the best trait possible before HotR as soon as you had a vMA bow, it was simply not known to the general public.

SoLooney

magicka dps seems to do best with infused on both staves assuming your group is fully optimized. otherwise sharpened if not.

stam didnt really change too much, still infused main hand, precise off hand if optimized or sharp. vma bow in infused, nirn, sharp or precise. i personally get higher numbers with infused or nirn bow

solo content or even 4 mans, sharp is still good but, you will have to calculate the necessary pen from weapons, cp, mundus stone, and other debuffs

xRichh94

So infused is ahead by a small margin?

Asardes

Weren't Maelstrom weapons changed a few weeks ago in a way that made the infused trait carry over on front bar?

xRichh94

That really clears things up, I appreciate the very detailed answer, thank you.

xRichh94

Alright, I'm stam and I only ever do 4 man dungeons so I'll stick with sharpened. Thanks for the help.