Flame Staff vs. Lightning Staff backbar

MLGProPlayer
MLGProPlayer
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I know everyone switched to double flame staves as of the Dragon Bones patch. I haven't played much over the past few months, but I've started to theory craft now for Summerset.

I'm just trying to understand the reasoning for this shift now.

I typically keep AOE DoTs (WoE and Winter's Revenge on my warden) and buffs on my back bar. Switching to flame staff back bar means I lose 8% DPS on these abilities. That is made up somewhat by the increased flame damage to burning foes. I know there is also engulfing flames that boost WoE damage, but I'm still not sure that makes up for the flat 8% DPS loss to Winter's Revenge.

Am I missing something?
Edited by MLGProPlayer on May 20, 2018 4:17AM
  • Lightspeedflashb14_ESO
    Lightspeedflashb14_ESO
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    . Switching to flame staff back bar means I lose 8% DPS on these abilities.

    The ancient knowledge passive only applies when you are on that bar, it does not persist, as in cast winters revenge on a lightning staff back bar, you will lose the 8% if you swap to a fire staff front bar regardless.
  • Solariken
    Solariken
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    On a Dk double fire is probably BiS, but results probably vary for everything else depending on a bunch of variables.

    In my recent magplar testing with dual wield front bar, lightning was giving about 1.5k more DPS than fire on the backbar. I thought this was pretty odd considering I was using Zaan and Vampire's Bane with NO heavy attacking in any of the tests, but I'm not sure I care enough to math out why lol.
  • MLGProPlayer
    MLGProPlayer
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    . Switching to flame staff back bar means I lose 8% DPS on these abilities.

    The ancient knowledge passive only applies when you are on that bar, it does not persist, as in cast winters revenge on a lightning staff back bar, you will lose the 8% if you swap to a fire staff front bar regardless.

    Ah gotchya, that makes sense.
  • getemshauna
    getemshauna
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    Solariken wrote: »
    On a Dk double fire is probably BiS, but results probably vary for everything else depending on a bunch of variables.

    In my recent magplar testing with dual wield front bar, lightning was giving about 1.5k more DPS than fire on the backbar. I thought this was pretty odd considering I was using Zaan and Vampire's Bane with NO heavy attacking in any of the tests, but I'm not sure I care enough to math out why lol.

    Test was inflated by minor vulnerability coming from lightning staff.

    @OP: People switched due to offbalance changes.
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  • WrathOfInnos
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    I’ve found that lightning front bar works best on my magwarden, mostly for deep fissure and ground DoTs. I like to keep inferno back bar for the flame wall of elements, and I also activate the bear ultimate while on back bar so it hits 8% harder.

    If you use a lot of single target abilities like force pulse, cliff racer, or imbue weapon then double inferno might be best, but I do not slot any of the spammables.

    The other thing to consider is off-balance. If you have 75 points into thaumaturge then it is beneficial for someone to run lightning wall of elements. Preferably this would be a healer, tank, or sorcerer, but if nobody else has it then you should use it. It only takes one person to keep near maximum uptime on off-balance now (25%).
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