4.0 Stat Dist. with Augments

[Valikk]

With new tiers of gear and a rework on formulas gearing has taken a complete 180. Gone are the days of augmenting and stacking as much power as possible, now it most tertiary stats are king over power and mastery (main stat).

With the new changes to critical and the higher stat budgets the best choice for augmentation has drastically changed.
The result of this change is that all class will want to have tertiary stat augments NOT Mastery nor Power.
The reason for this is that tertiary stats represent multiplicative increases while Power and Mastery represent additive increases.
In the same vein, Eviscerating Crystals are actually stronger than Hawkeye crystals.

Conclusions:
1) Only Augment with Accuracy, Critical, and/or Alacrity (for all DPS and all healers)
2) Only Use Eviscerating crystals

As for other classes there will be slight variations in numbers, but for now this will get us close enough till we can play with numbers a little more.

Pre-Augments, a character in all 220 ilvl would have the following Stat Budget including an active purple Versitile Anodyne Stim, all Datacrons and all class buffs:

Concealment Operative
5158 Mastery (4912 before buff)
2779 Power (does not include crystals)
1600 Tertiary (Critical + Accuracy + Alactrity)
82 Crystals (Power or Critical)
1022 Augments (any stat)

To show that Critical and Alacrity Augments are now the best augments to use, I will go through a character's augment choices one by one until all 14 augments and both crystals have been chosen. The augment chosen will always be the augment that provides the largest DPS boost. I consider the following augments each time: Mastery, Power, Alacrity and Critical. If the Accuracy rating is below the 684 threshold, an Accuracy augment is used instead.


The tertiary stat enhancements are pre-distributed in the following arrangement:

2 Accuracy Enhancements
4 Alacrity Enhancements
4 Critical Enhancements
The split between Alacrity and Critical here is arbitrary. It just gives us a base starting point.


Gear Comparison:

Operative - Concealment || Scoundrel - Scrapper
220 Item Level (Exarch)

Optimal Gearing:
6474.14 DPS | 45.7 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy | 1174 (4xAugs) (2xCrystals) Critical | 845 (5xAug) Alacrity
1745.2 Bonus Damage | 2521.7 Bonus Tech | 110.01% Accuracy | 37.50% Critical Chance | 67.05% Critical Bonus | 8.91% Alacrity

Mastery Augments and Hawkeye Crystals + 5 Accuracy Augments:
6406.71 DPS | 44.3 APM | 5847 (9xAug) Mastery | 2861 (2xCrystals) Power | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy | 800 Critical | 480 Alacrity
1918.9 Bonus Damage | 2686.4 Bonus Tech | 110.01% Accuracy | 34.55% Critical Chance | 63.19% Critical Bonus | 5.44% Alacrity
DPS loss of 67.43 (-1.04%) versus Optimal Stat Gear


For clarification, where I list "685 (5xAug) Accuracy" and other subsequent phrases, it does not mean 5 accuracy augments would give you 685, but rather you take the amount you got from the 2 accuracy enhancements and adding the 5 accuracy augments gives you the total of 685.

4.0 Combat Changes

Stat Consolidation
Willpower, Strength, Aim and Cunning were all combined into a single stat: Mastery. Mastery behaves the same as the previous main stats and benefits from all of the datacrons (Legacy based now). The biggest change from this is the removal of an offstat that would allow for slightly higher crit values due to differing main stat diminishing returns curves. This always was a minor boost and is counterbalanced by the additional datacrons.
The Secondary slot that previously held Power, Critical, Absorb and Defense has been consolidated to only hold Power and Defense. Both Critical and Absorb have been moved the the tertiary stat slot. The net effect of this is that all secondary slots in the gear can only be Power or Defense.
Surge has been removed from the game and its previous effect has been added to Critical.
These changes removes a lot of the customization options gearwise from the game. Enhancements (and implants and earpieces) and augments are now the only sources of choice. This reduces the number of unique combinations a much lower level.

Accuracy
Two changes have been made to Accuracy.
The first change is that all basic attacks that previously had a 10% accuracy penalty now no longer have an accuracy penalty and now behave in the same way as every other move.
The second is that the curve has been slightly adjusted so less accuracy is needed to reach the goal of 110%. The new goal at level 65 is 684.

Critical
Critical is now in the tertiary stat slot and now affects both critical chance and critical multiplier. The curves have been adjusted for both and are exactly the same. This new curve allows for more points to be put in than before and thus keeping its usefulness even with very high values.

Super Crit!
Super Crit is an addition that finally makes Critical Chance matter even for classes that use Autocrits. What Super Crit does is increase the Critical Multiplier for any move that has greater than 100% chance to crit. This bonus is based on Critical chance. This is not a straight addition of the two numbers, instead it is multiplicative increase.The bonus is [Critical Multiplier] * Min(100%, [Critical Chance %] + [100% Autocrit] ). This change makes critical chance always useful and buffs any class that has autocrits (including the 6 set for most dps)

BIS Augmenting:
Because of all of these changes, the following modifications should not be used in PVE:
Overkill (Power) Augment
Versatile (Mastery) Augment
Redoubt (Defense) Augment
Hawkeye (Power) Crystal

As posted above, the only augments that should be used will be tertiary stats IE: Crit, Alac, Accuracy, Shield, and Absorp

Now for the nitty gritty, find your class and spec below to figure out what your stats should be heading towards

Defiant (216 ilvl), Storymode Gear

Marauder - Annihilation || Sentinel - Watchman
6650 DPS | 47.8 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1122 (8xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 821 (5xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Marauder - Carnage || Sentinel - Combat
6400 DPS | 52.2 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2680 (1xCry) Power | 1233 (8xAug) (1xCry) Critical | 669 (5xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Marauder - Fury || Sentinel - Concentration
6260 DPS | 44.6 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1183 (13xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 760 Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy


Juggernaut - Immortal || Guardian - Defence
1280 DtPS | 4933 Mastery | 1022 Power | 2639 Defense | 1216 Absorb | 1326 (14xAug) Shield

Juggernaut - Vengeance || Guardian - Vigilance
6340 DPS | 39.5 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1122 (8xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 821 (5xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Juggernaut - Rage || Guardian - Focus
6310 DPS | 43.9 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1183 (13xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 760 Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy


Assassin - Darkness || Shadow - Kinetic Combat
1330 DtPS | 4933 Mastery | 1022 Power | 2639 Defense | 1338 (10xAug) Absorb | 1204 (4xAug) Shield

Assassin - Deception || Shadow - Infiltration
6560 DPS | 48.8 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1183 (13xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 760 Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Assassin - Hatred || Shadow - Serenity
6430 DPS | 44.8 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1110 (12xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 833 (1xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy


Sorcerer - Corruption || Sage - Seer
8210 HPS | 47 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1335 (13xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 1289 (1xAug) Alacrity | 0 Accuracy

Sorcerer - Lightning || Sage - Telekinetics
6290 DPS | 49.5 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1213 (3xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 730 (10xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Sorcerer - Madness || Sage - Balance
6310 DPS | 41 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1110 (12xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 833 (1xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy


Mercenary - Bodyguard || Commando - Combat Medic
7850 HPS | 43.8 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1511 (5xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 1113 (9xAug) Alacrity | 0 Accuracy

Mercenary - Arsenal || Commando - Gunnery
6370 DPS | 41.7 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1140 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 803 (11xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Mercenary - Innovative Ordinance || Commando - Assault Specialist
6450 DPS | 43 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1128 (6xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 815 (7xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy


Powertech - Shield Tech || Vanguard - Shield Specialist
1330 DtPS | 4933 Mastery | 1022 Power | 2639 Defense | 973 (5xAug) Absorb | 1569 (9xAug) Shield

Powertech - Advanced Prototype || Vanguard - Tactics
6560 DPS | 49 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1183 (13xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 760 Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Powertech - Pyrotech || Vanguard - Plasmatech
6180 DPS | 42.9 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1140 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 803 (11xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy


Sniper - Marksman || Gunslinger - Sharpshooter
6560 DPS | 46.6 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1140 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 803 (11xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Sniper - Engineering || Gunslinger - Saboteur
6700 DPS | 38.4 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1140 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 803 (11xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Sniper - Virulence || Gunslinger - Dirty Fighting
6340 DPS | 36.1 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1110 (12xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 833 (1xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy


Operative - Medicine || Scoundrel - Sawbones
7870 HPS | 43.1 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1450 (2xCry) Critical | 1174 (14xAug) Alacrity | 0 Accuracy

Operative - Concealment || Scoundrel - Scrapper
6240 DPS | 45.6 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1140 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 803 (11xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Operative - Lethality || Scoundrel - Ruffian
6340 DPS | 46.1 APM | 4969 Mastery | 2639 Power | 1110 (12xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 833 (1xAug) Alacrity | 681 (1xAug) Accuracy

Exarch (220 ilvl), Hardmode Gear

Marauder - Annihilation || Sentinel - Watchman
6900 DPS | 48 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1160 (6xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 859 (3xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Marauder - Carnage || Sentinel - Combat
6640 DPS | 52.5 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1275 (1xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 744 (8xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Marauder - Fury || Sentinel - Concentration
6500 DPS | 44.8 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1202 (2xCry) Critical | 817 (9xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy


Juggernaut - Immortal || Guardian - Defence
1260 DtPS | 5141 Mastery | 1022 Power | 2779 Defense | 1252 (4xAug) Absorb | 1370 (10xAug) Shield

Juggernaut - Vengeance || Guardian - Vigilance
6580 DPS | 39.6 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1160 (6xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 859 (3xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Juggernaut - Rage || Guardian - Focus
6550 DPS | 44.1 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1219 (9xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 800 Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy


Assassin - Darkness || Shadow - Kinetic Combat
1310 DtPS | 5141 Mastery | 1022 Power | 2779 Defense | 1370 (10xAug) Absorb | 1252 (4xAug) Shield

Assassin - Deception || Shadow - Infiltration
6810 DPS | 49.1 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1202 (2xCry) Critical | 817 (9xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Assassin - Hatred || Shadow - Serenity
6670 DPS | 44.9 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1146 (8xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 873 (1xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy


Sorcerer - Corruption || Sage - Seer
8420 HPS | 47.1 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1379 (9xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 1325 (5xAug) Alacrity | 0 Accuracy

Sorcerer - Lightning || Sage - Telekinetics
6530 DPS | 49.7 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1247 (5xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 772 (4xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Sorcerer - Madness || Sage - Balance
6550 DPS | 41.1 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1146 (8xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 873 (1xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy


Mercenary - Bodyguard || Commando - Combat Medic
8070 HPS | 43.9 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1553 (7xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 1151 (7xAug) Alacrity | 0 Accuracy

Mercenary - Arsenal || Commando - Gunnery
6620 DPS | 41.8 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1188 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 831 (7xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Mercenary - Innovative Ordinance || Commando - Assault Specialist
6700 DPS | 43.2 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1160 (6xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 859 (3xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy


Powertech - Shield Tech || Vanguard - Shield Specialist
1320 DtPS | 5141 Mastery | 1022 Power | 2779 Defense | 1005 (5xAug) Absorb | 1617 (9xAug) Shield

Powertech - Advanced Prototype || Vanguard - Tactics
6810 DPS | 49.2 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1219 (9xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 800 Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Powertech - Pyrotech || Vanguard - Plasmatech
6420 DPS | 43 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1174 (4xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 845 (5xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy


Sniper - Marksman || Gunslinger - Sharpshooter
6810 DPS | 46.7 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1188 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 831 (7xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Sniper - Engineering || Gunslinger - Saboteur
6950 DPS | 38.5 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1188 (2xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 831 (7xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Sniper - Virulence || Gunslinger - Dirty Fighting
6580 DPS | 36.3 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1115 (1xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 904 (8xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy


Operative - Medicine || Scoundrel - Sawbones
8080 HPS | 43.2 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1494 (4xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 1210 (10xAug) Alacrity | 0 Accuracy

Operative - Concealment || Scoundrel - Scrapper
6470 DPS | 45.7 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1174 (4xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 845 (5xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

Operative - Lethality || Scoundrel - Ruffian
6580 DPS | 46.4 APM | 5158 Mastery | 2779 Power | 1115 (1xAug) (2xCry) Critical | 904 (8xAug) Alacrity | 685 (5xAug) Accuracy

[Kaurix]

I knew it! This is it, that situation where our math teachers told us Algebra would save our lives one day!

[Windemere]

Some additional useful info for DPS. To get 110% accuracy, your goal is to have a total of 684 points in accuracy. Here is a breakdown on how you can get it.

[Raybenn]

I knew it! This is it, that situation where our math teachers told us Algebra would save our lives one day!

I'm saving this as an example for the next round of homework complaints!

[Windemere]

Here is another very detailed and helpful information on gearing on a class by class basis. I would say this is the "go to" thread for the time being:

Optimal Stats For All 24 Disciplines, KOTFE Edition

[Valikk]

Edit: updated to add more in detailed stats and budgets, since original post was more focused mainly on augments.

[Briennia]

Ok, the switch back to DPS from healing is not coming without a few bumps in the road.

In other words, you have suffered my n00b healz...and now beware my n00b DPS!!!11!!

Lightning Sorc/TK Sage, I am not hitting anywhere close to the 6k dps target indicated above with 216 in about half my gear slots.

Are there some class guides and/or a suggested rotation that folks are using to hit that target?

There have been some pretty significant changes to the Sorc/TK since the dulfy 3.0 guides I had been using were published. I haven't run across a 4.0 guide for Lightning/TK that takes the changes into account. I know dulfy has started to post some 4.0 guides, but Lightning/TK aren't among them (that I see).

[Windemere]

Keep in mind that the target DPS listed above is assuming full 216 gear from operation token drops, not from commendations gear, the latter of which is not optimized as well as token gear. How different is your power/accuracy/crit/alacrity distribution from those recommended for your spec? When you parse, how close is your APM to that listed for your class? What relics are you using?

I haven't done much with lightning/TK since the expansion. I do know that there is a question over why thundering blast auto-crits are not benefiting from the new crit bonus damage boost under recklessness and whether it is a bug or by design. Either way, I'm pretty sure the 4.0 rotation is pretty close to 3.0. I would start with that, upload one of your parses to parsely (http://parsely.io/) and look at a few things:

1. First. double check you were using a stim, had the armor debuff on the dummy, set its health to 1.5 million, and used attack adrenals where appropriate (you should be able to fit in 2 uses per fight).
2. Compare your APM to the target listed for your spec. Usually, low APM is the first thing to fix if parses seem low and all the above were followed.
3. Parsely has an ability to compare your rotation with another parse. Look at some of the leading parses and compare your rotation to theirs. See how they prioritize abilities compared to you, and if you don't understand why they do things in a certain order, take another look at the 3.0 class guide on dulfy and read up on that particular ability again and see if there was something you missed in terms of its importance.

That's about all I can come up with for general advice. Good luck!

[Briennia]

Keep in mind that the target DPS listed above is assuming full 216 gear from operation token drops, not from commendations gear, the latter of which is not optimized as well as token gear. How different is your power/accuracy/crit/alacrity distribution from those recommended for your spec? When you parse, how close is your APM to that listed for your class? What relics are you using?
[\quote]

Ok, time to betray my utter n00bishness. I am assuming APM = "actions per minute"? In other words, the button clicks that I make in a minute when going through the rotation? That was never a stat I tracked in WoW, so I want to make sure I am looking at the right things.

I will check, but I think that my stats are close-ISH (BIG emphasis on the ISH) to the listed stats. But it most definitely token gear, not raid gear. I am still using 3.X relics.

But although my stats are close-ISH my dps isn't ANYWHERE close-ISH. When I hit the rotation just right, with a good change to just stand and blow the heck out of the target, I get around 4.1k dps. Usually it's closer to 3.5k.

I haven't done much with lightning/TK since the expansion. I do know that there is a question over why thundering blast auto-crits are not benefiting from the new crit bonus damage boost under recklessness and whether it is a bug or by design.

Ah...I had wondered. I didn't realize that this was a known bug (or known feature, as the case may be). I am glad I brought it up.

In fact, it lead me to stack more alacrity than crit, since TB wasn't hitting as hard as I expected it to.

Either way, I'm pretty sure the 4.0 rotation is pretty close to 3.0. I would start with that, upload one of your parses to parsely (http://parsely.io/) and look at a few things:

1. First. double check you were using a stim, had the armor debuff on the dummy, set its health to 1.5 million, and used attack adrenals where appropriate (you should be able to fit in 2 uses per fight).
2. Compare your APM to the target listed for your spec. Usually, low APM is the first thing to fix if parses seem low and all the above were followed.
3. Parsely has an ability to compare your rotation with another parse. Look at some of the leading parses and compare your rotation to theirs. See how they prioritize abilities compared to you, and if you don't understand why they do things in a certain order, take another look at the 3.0 class guide on dulfy and read up on that particular ability again and see if there was something you missed in terms of its importance.

1. Ok, I haven't been using the attack adrenals. I'll do that. I've actually been debuffing the dummy to lower than 1.5 million. Int had to remind me to debuff the armor (doh!), but I am doing that now.

2. Groovy. I will check APM <cough> once I know what it means <cough>.

3. That is very good advice, and I will do it. I think I have a pretty good feel for why the rotation works the way it does. I do have some kinks to work out, but they are pretty minor, assuming that 4.0 and 3.X are roughly equivalent. I have cut Lightning Storm out of my rotation completely, unless I am facing a number of small mobs. For single target, it doesn't seem to make much sense anymore.

That's about all I can come up with for general advice. Good luck!

And good advice it is. Thanks very much!!

- Pop/Ci'erra/Bri/Tart

[Windemere]

Ah yes, I believe lightning storm was taken out of the rotation during 3.0 when it got a nerf and perhaps the old guide was never updated. My understanding is that recklessness is typically used before lightning flash and chain lightning now (in that order so as not to have a recklessness consumed on a forked lightning proc).

APM means actions or attacks per minute. It measures how quickly you're making decisions during your rotation. Besides simply getting quicker reaction times with practice, adjusting your ability action queue can really help with that too (especially for channeling classes like yours where increasing the value allows you to queue your next action without clipping your current one). You can take a look at this post to find out more information on APM and how the ability action queue relates to it.

Enjoy.

*edit* - Also keep in mind that one of your most important pieces for DPS is the mainhand hilt. Not sure what you have right now, but if you're using something like an old 186 hilt, upgrading to the latest 208 to 216 will help a lot. Having the 6 piece set bonus will also add a few percentage points in output.