Simple tip: how to compare gear/builds dmg wise ingame

Grim Dawn Gameplay Discussion
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Solution: Targetdummy

the targetdummy resets its hp bar at a fixed hp% amount, looks like ~10%. only important thing here is, that it resets always at the same amount of %hp.

so, the simple idea is to grab a stopwatch, grab your gear start the timer and dpssing the targetdummy, once you brought its hp bar down and it resetted to full, stop the timer. note the needed time.

now do the same with the gear/build you want to compare with.

obviously the one that took less time has the higher singletarget dmg output.
nice thing is, that the measurement should take more than 20 seconds*, so you have a nice timeframe and meaningful value to compare (if you want to compare different characters, they need to be same level b/c the td adapts to your level)

*dont know how uber builds perform, my current build needs around 40s for a lvl99 dummy.

just to give an example (and by far not a reference), i compared 4 different relics by this way, all values in seconds and maybe +/- 200ms margin of error, depending how good one reacts

42,55 deathchill
42,26 bane
40,55 ignaffar
39,87 iskandras

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Problem with the dummy is 1) doesn’t account for AoE, 2) doesn’t account for variety of resistances and DA levels, 3) doesn’t debuff, 4) doesn’t proc on hit procs and 5) doesn’t require mobility (and 6) doesn’t hit for retal). So it’s not necessarily the best tool for comparing build performance. Crucible times are imo the best that’s available - and it’s also flawed in many ways.

Record is 6s afaik by @banana_peel ‘s Rah’Zin. But to support the point above, there are builds that kill the dummy in 4 times as long but boast overall better performance than that Rah’Zin.

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the suggestion was never meant to have an overall performance tool. just to have at least something to measure and compare pure damage output over a longer period of time. its definitely useful to find out e.g what piece of gear gives you more damage. ofc it does not give you the complete picture, since as you said, the dont hit back. Crucible clearing times are not helpful in this case, since there are way more factors that count in - like positioning etc.