I specifically built my mDK for getting as much damage as I could from the vMA lightning staff. 5 Infallible Aether + 5 Sergeant's Mail + precise vMA lightning staff ( 5 light 2 heavy setup). Highest I have recorded is 87k ( all four critical ticks added together) without group buffs http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Toast STS/video/21425150 ( last 10 seconds of clip).
So that's a potential burst of 40k dps. It's not sustainable and depends on crits and the enemy to be off balance. For DPS in trials or dungeons I will carry a charged lightning staff on the back bar and use shock reach and impulse to force enemies off balance. Charged gives 220% to apply concussed and concussed enemies standing in wall of elements will be set off balance and off balance enemies take more damage from heavy attacks. All three sets I have equipped also add damage to heavy attacks. It's a pretty nifty combo that allows for some serious damage.
this will be nerf , at the next maj ( one tamriel ) they delete damage over time and keep only damage at the end of the heavy attack of the lighting staff .
Why they nerf this ? ---> wrobel .