2% ST with flame staff doesn't make up for the 2% Total behind daggers, HOWEVER most trials and organized 4 man's are running encratis, so you're gaining 5%, and if there is a DK you gain 10% additional flame damage. That's an additional 15% that you're getting on your wall and light attacks that you're not getting with daggers. On a dummy, poison main hand appears to be ever so slightly better, but add that 15% flame dmg the dummy doesn't buff, and flame enchant wins everytime.

Staff will be very close in actual content. Daggers will give more crit, more spell damage, and the physical damage proc deals more dmg than magic damage proc.

If going for meta, daggers probably wins in most content since you're up close with your spamable anyways, but a staff provides range and given the fight situation, you could always use elemental weapon for a ranged spammable if needed.

Also, of you're planning on using kilt, daggers let's you add some pen while still using nirn main hand of you choose to go 2 medium 5 light, and nirn/sharpened.

TL;DR
meta = daggers
Staff is easier and most content unnoticeably weaker (less than a percent)

Mag dagger builds were buffed this patch, at least as much as Inferno Staff going from 8% to 10%. Light Armor now gives Physical Penetration (5.6k with 6-1 builds) which means dual wield weaving hits harder.

As far as Poison/Flame Glyphs, I don’t think it matters which goes on which hand. I think you’re correct to keep both on front bar, and fit Infused Berserker back bar. Full strength glyphs doesn’t matter as much with Fire or Poison because a significant portion of the damage comes from the status effects.

Amerises wrote: »

TL;DR
meta = daggers
Staff is easier and most content unnoticeably weaker (less than a percent)

Thank you for the comprehensive breakdown that makes more sense!

I play mostly solo with random dungeons but just wanted the most optimal / fun gear.

danno8 wrote: »

Dual wield bonuses are just better because they are all general stat bonuses while staff is overly specific.

I like the fact that we have some flexibility in our weapon choices again. Certainly for some encounters I would stick with staff, but for encounters where I know I can melee for the duration, or just running around in overworld I can look badass again sporting some dual daggers or even swords/maces depending on the build.

I'll keep the inferno staff on hand and switch out depending on the situation. Definitely enjoying the flexibility of using both (and not to mention DW just looks badass haha)

I get around 350 more base spell damage with daggers plus an extra 1% crit. I'll try upload some screen shots!

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

Mag dagger builds were buffed this patch, at least as much as Inferno Staff going from 8% to 10%. Light Armor now gives Physical Penetration (5.6k with 6-1 builds) which means dual wield weaving hits harder.

As far as Poison/Flame Glyphs, I don’t think it matters which goes on which hand. I think you’re correct to keep both on front bar, and fit Infused Berserker back bar. Full strength glyphs doesn’t matter as much with Fire or Poison because a significant portion of the damage comes from the status effects.

Currently running 7 light and when using Valkyrn Skoria spell pen hits 8761. I may try the get the mythic kilt and give it a try!

Ippokrates wrote: »

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

Mag dagger builds were buffed this patch, at least as much as Inferno Staff going from 8% to 10%. Light Armor now gives Physical Penetration (5.6k with 6-1 builds) which means dual wield weaving hits harder.

As far as Poison/Flame Glyphs, I don’t think it matters which goes on which hand. I think you’re correct to keep both on front bar, and fit Infused Berserker back bar. Full strength glyphs doesn’t matter as much with Fire or Poison because a significant portion of the damage comes from the status effects.

So in this case shouldn't be shock a priority? Extra dmg from shock status seems most valuable.

@Ippokrates Shock can be good for solo content, but Minor Vulnerability is typically applied by a healer with Fetcher in group content. It’s also pointless to test with Shock glyphs on a trial dummy because it has 100% Minor Vuln applied.

Dual or duel? :P

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

If memory serves, which hand the enchant is on doesnt matter, but it does matter with certain weapon traits. Might totally be making that last part up.

With traits it certainly does. Don't want Nirnhoned on the offhand for example when the offhand only accounts for a small amount of Dual Wields total power stat.

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

Honestly, the only place I use Daggers are on a trial dummy, if forced to post a parse for a new guild. Are they technically more damage, yes, but that assumes your nose in on the boss's arse the entire fight. In the vast majority of actual content, you are better off with a staff. Carry them, and certainly equip for true stack and burn fights, but I wouldn't leave home without a staff as well.

I literally had this experience the other day in a VRG group. On the second boss (decent amount of movement and target shifting) one of the guys on the lower end of the DPS list asked how I was doing so much more damage then him with his "meta" daggers when I was using a staff. I had like triple the light attacks on my parse than he did when we compared notes. The second you start missing light attacks, daggers are trash.

If memory serves, which hand the enchant is on doesnt matter, but it does matter with certain weapon traits. Might totally be making that last part up.

Completely agree! Can't do no damage if you can't stay in range so I'll definitely keep the inferno staff on hand!

I'm only doing random dungeons but it seems to shred with Grothdarr equipped!

danno8 wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

If memory serves, which hand the enchant is on doesnt matter, but it does matter with certain weapon traits. Might totally be making that last part up.

With traits it certainly does. Don't want Nirnhoned on the offhand for example when the offhand only accounts for a small amount of Dual Wields total power stat.

Made this mistake once won't do it again haha!