PSA: Queuing for a dungeon does NOT actually grant L50/CP160+ characters a damage bonus

code65536

TL;DR: Despite what your character sheet and ability tooltips tell you, queuing for a dungeon does not actually give you a damage buff if you are a max-level character.

This is a pet peeve of mine: I'd join a pre-formed group for a specific dungeon, and instead of simply porting into the dungeon by wayshrine, the group members insist on queuing for the dungeon, claiming that we will get a damage bonus--a damage bonus that I have long argued doesn't actually exist. I don't mind queuing a pre-formed group if we are far from a wayshrine, but if we are all in town, I much rather prefer the freedom of just porting in normally, which prevents the group from being converted into a Group Finder group with all the accompanying restrictions and downsides.

In any case, the merits of queuing vs. wayshrining is irrelevant to the topic of this thread. My aim with this thread is solely to dispel the common myth that queuing grants a damage bonus.

To demonstrate that this damage bonus is indeed a myth, I gathered some people and went to Spindleclutch II. At the entrance of this dungeon is an enemy that is being tanked by a friendly NPC, making it a convenient in-dungeon test subject.

Test #1: Max-level character, normal entrance by wayshrine

Just establishing the baseline. Ported in, attacked the enemy with light attacks and hard-casted frags. Additionally, I included the results from hitting a target skeleton. The numbers for a target skeleton should be identical, and indeed, they are. (Also, LOL at that crit RNG--I wasn't using Acuity.)

Test #2: Max-level character, Group Finder queue

When you queue in for a dungeon, you'll see that your Spell and Weapon Damage are 25% higher than usual. The tooltips for your abilities are correspondingly higher, too. But when you actually hit the enemy, you'll notice that you're doing the exact same amount of damage as before, and you'll see this with both the in-game Combat Text and with combat log addons. The character sheet and ability tooltips are incorrect.

Test #3: Low-level character, normal entrance by wayshrine

This is a character from one of my bank mule accounts. Level 50, CP 13 with random low-level gear.

Test #4: Low-level character, Group Finder queue

Notice how the character sheet has a buff called "Looking For Group"? This buff exists only if you queue with a character that's below level 50 and/or below CP160. You don't see this buff on your character sheet with a character that can wear max-level gear. And you'll notice that in this case, the damage boost actually does work.

The Takeaway:

• Yes, there is a Group Finder stat boost, designed to help characters who are below level 50 and/or below CP160. If you're eligible for this stat bonus, you'll see the "Looking For Group" buff on your character sheet.
• This stat boost does not apply to characters who can wear max-level gear.
• The character sheet and ability tooltips are bugged and incorrect: They indicate that max-level characters will get a damage boost, but actual combat reveals that you are doing normal damage.
• This is not new. I first tested this during the One Tamriel patch in 2016; this most recent demonstration is to show that this is still the case during the Dragon Bones patch in 2018. It's possible that it's been like this even before One Tamriel.
• If you do have a non-max-level character, though, it's worth queuing for the damage buff.
• I believe that the bug is with the character sheet and tooltips reflecting the Spell/Weapon Damage buff and that the lack of a buff for max-level characters is intended. It makes no sense to hand out a buff this strong to max-level characters. Something like this would've eroded the challenge of difficult content and devalued difficult dungeon achievements.

code65536

Also, @ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom I know this is a long-standing (and minor) bug that's at least 1-2 years old, but it would be nice if you guys could fix the character sheet and ability tooltips so that max-level characters are not misled into thinking that they have a damage bonus that does not actually exist. And so that I can finally stop having to argue with people who, despite not having done any combat testing, insist otherwise.

WrathOfInnos

Thanks for posting, I suspected the bonus was missing or negligible given the lack of DPS increase on bosses when using the queue. Hadn't gotten around to proving it myself though.

cicisch

Thank you for this - I've long been telling people it doesn't work but no one believes me! Nice to see some actual screenshots of the fact that this buff doesn't actually exist.

Nestor

I never use the Group Finder for a Pre-Made Group. Waste of time vs porting in and having the rest of the group travel to me. It has been so long since I have taken a non vet character into a dungeon, it was probably before the group finder was part of the game.

Besides, at least on the PC, we can hang out in the Dungeon exploring, looking for chests and enjoying some of the views for as long as we want after the final boss is killed.

Apache_Kid

Always wondered about this. Great info OP.

Nox_Noir

Thanks for clearing that up! We've been living a lie

Stinkyremy

bumping because this keeps coming up