Well the math shows that at endgame the value of AQC is small as weapon damage stacking much higher than any flat pierce you get from 5 or 8/8, and the frame penalty brings down the value further. Whilst it isn’t particularly efficient to invest in any wps after reaching max activation, I think AQC is one of the lowest ranking (plus it competes with execution for skill investment).
I think the description should at the very least be amended as it is currently suggests no attack delay.
For reference just because most people don’t invest to 18/8… the values are 110% wd, 40% CD, and 170 flat which is almost 4 times the flat value at 5/8
Not the skills that impact the test of course. Pulled it from Inquisitor Seal which wasn’t used during the test.
Did about 7ish kills with each setup
I’ve never seen setups (except your Trickster) that have the luxury to invest into AQC beyond the soft cap. And your Trickster does not have steroided wps like Belgo so AQC’s slower animation delaying those steroided WPS procs is not an issue there.
Well, given the extra frame delay. @banana_peel should be correct that taking these wps (and shears) will reduce your dps of other wps such as execution. This would be a further penalty to the overall value that these wps provide (I think AQC increases average attack frames by ~5.8% ((14.4 x 0.8)+(18.7 x 0.2) = 15.26 average frames / 14.4 = 5.9%)
Just as a comparison. using 546 pierce weapon damage: Damage per hit of 5/8 execution is 2890 (assuming full conversion to pierce), a 5% dps loss equates to ~115 flat damage. Quite substantial detraction.
If you then consider that the build in fact starts with 9/8 execution for one point (5% loss is 128, whereas AQC costs 5 skill points to hit 8/8). So the Belgo infiltrator has spent 5 skill points for a net dps gain of 297 - 128 = 169.
The impact of those same 5 skill point taking execution from 9/8 to 14/8. The dps gain is 338 (if 14.4 frames), if it has higher frames like AQC then ~235.
It seems like taking AQC is a relative loss compared to simply investing more into execution. Maybe I am wrong though. The point is extra frames has significant consequences, as well as the low investment value for a single target wps. I think this inherent detraction should be addressed even in the lower skill ranks, and AQC should have value without requiring significant investment or significant item mods (perhaps we need more +skill bonus for endgame, or the values should be increased due to frame penalty).
Edit: One last point is that AQC fills the same role as execution, single target is the purpose, and so they compete with each other for investment. However AQC list values are almost always worse than execution if sheet flat weapon damage is 325 or higher (which is very attainable at endgame), the point when 4% WD is greater than the 13 additional flat AQC provides (only very last rank is comparable).
To be clear I wasn’t arguing the point that AQC is undervalued on belgo. (Due to the mentioned mods for belgo and execution) Actually this disparity will become even worse with the coming 1.7 WPS changes. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I think specializing in WPS feels more rewarding than the 1 point and forget path 90% of AA builds go now.
I just wanted to present all relevant information, and point out that it is functional given certain gearing options.
With all of that said, I still believe a baseline small increase of ~5% weapon damage and a slight buff/redistribution of the flat values would make it a more appealing option for more builds.
There also is no mention of acid builds here with high levels of hidden hand + aqc which actually is quite powerful.
Maybe some Venomblade specialists can make few quick tests for this thread and tell us. @ya1?
I suspect that AQC there is net damage breakeven at best because bulk of Venomblade’s damage doesn’t even come from AA but from Amarasta’s Blade Burst. As far as I know @grey-maybe who has recently posted pure AA double misery two-piece Venomblade doesn’t even have AQC.
Specialisation is fine so long as the player is given the information, but this is quite an obscure advanced mechanic with potentially negative implications to overall dps. 5% less attacks per second is quite a big deal (e.g non-pierce build takes 5/8 AQC thinking wps hitting with both hands is a boost). Even something simple like “this wps is 30% slower than a basic attack” would be nice.
Does attacks per second on the character sheet reduce when a player specs into AQC or BS?
According to my dummy tests a while ago, it was minimally worth it depending on free ranks in NHH. With NHH at 7-9/8 for 1p, why not? The flat bonuses from NHH go to each strike. And as opposed to the blademaster, there are no problems with polluting the pool on a dervish or witchblade.
I don’t know about the new green amulet. And I didn’t test it on MQ Claws which seem to be good for wps. But on no acid melee except maybe double Miseries do you ever have points for such extravagance.
What changes?
My shattered set + double queen claw was very close to double misery times on dervish. Granted I took an unorthodox devotion path with scales and fully converted blades of wrath proc… it was very easy to get 18/8 hidden hand which made those WPS skills very strong.
Anyone mind clarifying what the max attacks per second is?
Using the value Z provided returns 4.16 attacks per second (30/(14.4 / 2))?
Is the max attacks per second with 20% of AQC 3.93 attacks per second. 30/((14.4x0.8)+(18.7x0.2)/2)?
Is the max attacks per second with 20% AQC and 20% BS 3.72 attacks per second. 30/((14.4x0.6)+(18.7x0.4)/2)?
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