U53 Ranged Showdown: Damage Calculations for 17 Builds

[Carpone]

What is this?

Master at Arms is a damage-per-second calculator for DDO. The downloadable links (below) are the spreadsheet output of that calculator. The included 17 ranged builds represent 250 hours of discussions, analysis, coding, debugging and optimization. Also included are the numbers against Favored Enemies ("FE") for a subset of builds, which are relevant versus raid bosses. The detailed version of the spreadsheet has exhaustive breakdowns about the sources of damage.

Why?

While DDO has a combat log, there is no way for players to export the combat log to a file to perform analysis. So the next best thing is to calculate what the damage should be, based on the values imported from the character sheet.

Most players want to know if a build is worth playing before they make a huge investment of time and resources into it, whether it is farming gear or augment sets, feeding minor artifacts and using consumables like Sentient Kits and Jeweler Kits. In essence, it is a chicken and egg problem.

Many players like myself want to play the most effective characters. Far too often build discussion devolves into feels before reals. This analysis replaces emotion and confirmation bias with a data driven approach.

How do I use this?

Read through the Compatibility and Readme tabs first, in that order. Frequently Asked Questions have been addressed there.

Several DPS modes are modeled and each has its own tab, reflecting damage inflicted during a 30-second period without reaper damage reduction:

Epic Moment: Damage done when all boosts including the epic moment are active. Any boosts with a 3 minute or longer cooldown are only included here. Examples: Wellspring of Power, Ninja Spy Diversion.

Full Boosts: Damage done when all boosts excluding the epic moment are active.

Charged Boosts: Damage done when only Ranged Power, Melee Power, Doublestrike, Doubleshot or Haste Boost plus a Reaper Boost are active. While technically a boost with charges, Sneak of Shadows is not included here due to its limited charges.

Renewable Boosts: Damage done when only Ten-thousand Stars, Multitude of Missiles, or Cut the Strings is used.

No Boosts: Damage done when no boosts are active.

Notes about Excel compatibility: If the Readme, Limitations and Changelog tabs appear distorted or cut-off to you when viewing in Google Sheets, then you will need to either download the file and open it locally with your Excel desktop client or copy the spreadsheet to your own Google account and edit the textbox within Sheets. The text within the textbox should then appear normal. This is a known issue with textboxes in Google Sheets for which there is no solution. The link is non-editable, so you need to download the file in order to resize the columns.

After you spend time looking over the numbers, you are going to have questions. That's when you should read through the Limitations tab to see if it's been addressed there.

U53 Ranged Showdown (Summary)
U53 Ranged Showdown (Detailed)

The analysis is focused on optimized level 30 ranged builds for a completionist character. If you’re looking for a ranged build to solo or for a past life on your way to unlocking all epic destiny points with minimal gear investment and DDO Point cost, then check out this thread.

[Ulfo]

If you’re lucky enough to roll a Gem of Many Facets with both Vulkoor’s Might and Vulkoor’s Cunning, then you can replace the Litany with it and use Bracers of the Claw for the additional sneak attack and crit damage.

It's impossible, both sets from one set slot - Red Fens. You mean Vulkoor's Chosen set instead one from listed?

[Carpone]

It's impossible, both sets from one set slot - Red Fens. You mean Vulkoor's Chosen set instead one from listed?

Good catch. I meant Chosen. It's been corrected.

[biterolf]

Equipment list is the same for Great Crossbow and Light Repeater, the Great Crossbow build is armed with Legendary Stormreach Guardians Crossbow. What is the correct Great Crossbow to use?

[Monkey_Archer]

Nice work.

A small criticism:
It appears that you are only applying debuffs if the build has them (ie solo dps). It would be nice to also see the raw dps without debuffs, and/or with full raid debuffs to get a more accurate comparison of how the builds stack up against each other. If this is in there then disregard, but I cant find it.

[Carpone]

Nice work.

A small criticism:
It appears that you are only applying debuffs if the build has them (ie solo dps). It would be nice to also see the raw dps without debuffs, and/or with full raid debuffs to get a more accurate comparison of how the builds stack up against each other. If this is in there then disregard, but I cant find it.

I mention raid composition/debuffs briefly in the Limitations tab. Modeling a raid group for optimal damage is way beyond what the calculator has been created to do. I could generate numbers with every single debuff available, but how realistic is that going to be for most people? That requires quite a bit of coordination which my guild does during reaper raid pushes, but the average player is not going to ever think about.

You're not the first to ask about Total Non-Debuffed numbers for a base level kind of comparison. Let me see what I can do to generate that.

[Carpone]

Equipment list is the same for Great Crossbow and Light Repeater, the Great Crossbow build is armed with Legendary Stormreach Guardians Crossbow. What is the correct Great Crossbow to use?

Whoops. It's been updated with the correct gear set using Volley.

I've also updated the Shiradi Bow Monk build with the missing Adept/Master of Forms feats. Thanks to Djinn and Grun for bringing that to my attention.

[Carpone]

Guides have been updated to include Favored Enemy: Elf instead of Giant to reflect the new raid.

Here are damage numbers without debuffs applied. Caveat: Inquis numbers still include Vulnerability from T5 Divine Crusader, since there's no way to turn that off without substantial changes.

U53.0.2 Ranged Showdown - No Debuffs

Unrelated: People keep asking me privately what's the "best" ranged build. It's an unanswerable question since it's lacking context, and highly depends on your typical raid composition, resources, preferred playstyle and skill. All ranged builds have tradeoffs:

* Misty Step is annoying AF to refresh every 12 seconds.
* Same goes for Warlock splits and upkeeping Taint the Aura.
* All shuriken builds suffer from requiring the Doubleshot augment set from RSO.
* Any build with No Step Missed has a difficult time recharging this ability.
* Any build without Hunter's Focus is going to have a much more difficult time to gain/maintain Archer Focus stacks.
* Any build not utilizing Hunt's End + Sniper Shot lacks "delete this mob now" power projection.
* Monk builds suffer from MRR caps, which matter if you're pushing skulls in KT, or doing the maze optional in HoBH.

Piloting a build with 100% efficacy that does less damage is going to net higher damage than the top damage build piloted poorly. For example: While it's inspiring to see so many people play the 12/6/2 bow build, the number of people not using Consume and not refreshing Misty Step vs raid bosses makes me sad.

Also, Kobold Time is not indicative of the highest damage build. It's simply a familiar yardstick to demonstrate how front-loaded the damage is. By its very nature, Fatesinger builds are always going to have a faster Kobold Time. That doesn't mean they do more damage over the long haul though.

[TFerguson]

. . . and upkeeping the Taint . . .

Have you tried waxing?

[Brac]

Guides have been updated to include Favored Enemy: Elf instead of Giant to reflect the new raid.

Here are damage numbers without debuffs applied. Caveat: Inquis numbers still include Vulnerability from T5 Divine Crusader, since there's no way to turn that off without substantial changes.

U53.0.2 Ranged Showdown - No Debuffs

Unrelated: People keep asking me privately what's the "best" ranged build. It's an unanswerable question since it's lacking context, and highly depends on your typical raid composition, resources, preferred playstyle and skill. All ranged builds have tradeoffs:

* Misty Step is annoying AF to refresh every 12 seconds.
* Same goes for Warlock splits and upkeeping Taint the Aura.
* All shuriken builds suffer from requiring the Doubleshot augment set from RSO.
* Any build with No Step Missed has a difficult time recharging this ability.
* Any build without Hunter's Focus is going to have a much more difficult time to gain/maintain Archer Focus stacks.
* Any build not utilizing Hunt's End + Sniper Shot lacks "delete this mob now" power projection.
* Monk builds suffer from MRR caps, which matter if you're pushing skulls in KT, or doing the maze optional in HoBH.

Piloting a build with 100% efficacy that does less damage is going to net higher damage than the top damage build piloted poorly. For example: While it's inspiring to see so many people play the 12/6/2 bow build, the number of people not using Consume and not refreshing Misty Step vs raid bosses makes me sad.

Also, Kobold Time is not indicative of the highest damage build. It's simply a familiar yardstick to demonstrate how front-loaded the damage is. By its very nature, Fatesinger builds are always going to have a faster Kobold Time. That doesn't mean they do more damage over the long haul though.

All fact. People trying to build top ranged dps should reread this post multiple times.

[Oliphant]

Currently trying out the latest 14/6 Monk Ranger HE + Sniper shot build. The build feat selection has Weapon Focus: Ranged but not Weapon Focus: Throwing, not sure why, but also seems to have Overwhelming Critical without taking pre-req Improved Critical. I ended up taking Weapon Focus: Throwing and Quick Draw (was too late when I figured out I could not take Overwhelming Critical). Also curious about other gear sets for this build that don't need Quickblade augments. I may look into it but I was using a third party gear planner that has not been updated for a while.

[Oliphant]

There is simple solution to the problem of your builds not actually being the most DPS like you claim instead of having your butt buddies at SSG delete forums posts the challenge you. If we were to all use the same DPS calculator then all would be equal despite the flaws of whatever calculator used has. I think it is pretty distasteful for you post these builds which are fine even good possibly but when other people suggest other builds that they made might be better you only say "no mine is better because I am right you're wrong"

He's posting builds, he's not our dad.

[Swimms]

Thanks again for the builds, really appreciate it. Few quick questions/comments, why not use Raptor Teeth Necklace in place of Family Blessing on the 12/6/2 Rog/Rgr/Lock build? You can slot deadly 10 with an augment and you already have ins AP on the Lionheart ring. Also you have ins Dex in an augment slot but you already have it on the cape . Thanks again, you have saved me a ton of time on the gearing/thinking front!!

[Carpone]

Currently trying out the latest 14/6 Monk Ranger HE + Sniper shot build. The build feat selection has Weapon Focus: Ranged but not Weapon Focus: Throwing, not sure why, but also seems to have Overwhelming Critical without taking pre-req Improved Critical. I ended up taking Weapon Focus: Throwing and Quick Draw (was too late when I figured out I could not take Overwhelming Critical). Also curious about other gear sets for this build that don't need Quickblade augments. I may look into it but I was using a third party gear planner that has not been updated for a while.

Fixed the Improved Critical/Weapon Focus feats.

There are less optimal gear sets you can use for shuriken that don't require Quickblade aug sets. Take a look at any of the bow gear sets that use Suulomades + Tinkerer. The 30 MRR from Suulomades isn't going to get used on a shuri due to MRR caps. Not using a perfected artifact also changes up the filigree.

Thanks again for the builds, really appreciate it. Few quick questions/comments, why not use Raptor Teeth Necklace in place of Family Blessing on the 12/6/2 Rog/Rgr/Lock build? You can slot deadly 10 with an augment and you already have ins AP on the Lionheart ring. Also you have ins Dex in an augment slot but you already have it on the cape . Thanks again, you have saved me a ton of time on the gearing/thinking front!!

Either works. Raptor Teeth Necklace doesn't proc as much on a ranged compared to a melee.

Note that the cape is setup to be swapped out for spell absorb items, which is why Insightful DEX is in an aug slot as well.

[Swimms]

Fixed the Improved Critical/Weapon Focus feats.

There are less optimal gear sets you can use for shuriken that don't require Quickblade aug sets. Take a look at any of the bow gear sets that use Suulomades + Tinkerer. The 30 MRR from Suulomades isn't going to get used on a shuri due to MRR caps. Not using a perfected artifact also changes up the filigree.


Either works. Raptor Teeth Necklace doesn't proc as much on a ranged compared to a melee.

Note that the cape is setup to be swapped out for spell absorb items, which is why Insightful DEX is in an aug slot as well.

Makes perfect sense, wasn't thinking about the spell absorb swap. Also I still do not have a Family Blessing so I am sort of looking for an excuse not to have it in my build . Looks like I can at least get by with the Raptor Teeth in the short term until I acquire a Family Blessing. The buff seems to be up nearly all the time for me, I have never used it on a melee so I have no basis for comparison.

[Oliphant]

Thanks again! Very impressed you went the extra mile to deal with ranged holistically

[Carpone]

Thanks again! Very impressed you went the extra mile to deal with ranged holistically

Regardless of how many bow builds I post, I have zero vested interest in one ranged build performing better than another. I will play the version that suits my needs. I'm still playing the 12/6/2 bow build because I'm too lazy to farm RSO for the Quickblade augment set. If I had the set, I'd play 13/6/1 shuri and spend a nebula frag on the perfected Golden Guile. I wasn't around for RSO's heyday, and it doesn't get run regularly on Khyber. YMMV.

[grohgredin]

Thx for sharing. Very nice work, its a great help and reference.

Why the MA acid ring ?

[Swimms]

Thx for sharing. Very nice work, its a great help and reference.

Why the MA acid ring ?

It used to be prowess ring but you can slot ranged power in an augment now which frees up the ring slot for more DPS. The stacking acid dot on the MA ring makes it the ring of choice. I do not currently have the the +2 profane augment so I am using a celestial sapphire ring until I get my hands on one.

[grohgredin]

It used to be prowess ring but you can slot ranged power in an augment now which frees up the ring slot for more DPS. The stacking acid dot on the MA ring makes it the ring of choice. I do not currently have the the +2 profane augment so I am using a celestial sapphire ring until I get my hands on one.

Makes sense thx !