Metalgrid vs Highlords Frost Zealot

[hackedagainanda]

The IAS on Highlord's would send me to 4 frame zeal, but without Metalgrid I lose about 4k attack rating lowering me from 14k to 10k.

Does Highlord's beat Metalgrid in terms of efficiency? Its nice that I get more hits in but what good does it do me if the hits aren't landing?

 

[Gripphon]

So, 14k AR and 5 frame zeal vs 10k AR 4 frame zeal and ~35% extra deadly strike?

I don't know what targets are you running with him, but there are very few builds who can profit from such high AR. If we assume you and your opponent are same level, and lets assume opponent has massive defense of 5000, we are talking about 73.7% vs 66.7% chance to hit, or you would lose ~10% damage output because of AR. Now, if we compare 5 frame zeal vs 4 frame zeal, we talk about increasing damage output of ~25% just because you attack faster. Now, to combine both, you lose damage because of lower AR, but increase damage per second because of faster attacks, overall your damage will increase by ~13%. That is if you attack target with 5k defense, while monsters usually have much less. Against 3k defense target you would increase damage output by 17% by getting faster Zeal. That is not including higher deadly strike %, faster applying of crushing blow and other things. My calcualtions are not precise, they are rather clumsy. But, fair to say that I would go for faster Zealing and don't really see a point in having such huge AR since most monsters have "low" defense compared to it.

 

[hackedagainanda]

I'm running Baal and 10k ar drops me to 73% chance to hit him. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but I seem to miss very often with AR that low.

 

[pharphis]

What weapon are you using? -% enemy def may help you a bit, and can be acquired with an eth rune or is already a part of some weapons. This difference isn't shown on the LCS

 

[hackedagainanda]

I'm using Grief so I have -25% target defense which is halved to give me 12.5%

 

[japanzaman]

Break points are almost always more important than AR, as there are other things that also play a part in the chance to hit calculations like character/enemy level difference, the standard 5% penalty, etc. As was pointed out, the extra frame boost will probably make up for any lost AR with a fast attack like Zeal, plus that nice little DS bonus means more damage output over time.

I assume you are also getting Enchant somehow, but if not that would solve quite a few issues. If your character lvl is 90 or below, Baal is going to be tougher to hit. As you gain levels, you'll this will get better.

Honestly, you might as well test both setups out (100 runs a piece) and see which produces the best overall time/is safest.

 

[Gripphon]

From information I found, Baal has only 2847 defense. According to that, having insanely huge AR makes no sense. So, you take 12.5% defense away because of Grief and that leaves Baal at 2491 defense. With level 90 character (I assume your is 89 or **) and 10k AR your real chance to hit should be 76%. With 14k AR your "real" chance to hit Baal is 80%. Difference of 5% average damage output, which is nothing.

Why you think you miss Baal so often, truth is you don't, but Baal has 55% chance to block your attack. So, even with 14k AR you only have 36% to hit Baal at all. Or 34.2% with 10k AR. Difference because of higher AR is so small it's almost non-existent. So going for faster Zeal and higher damage output is more beneficial.

 

[hackedagainanda]

Thanks for the information, Highlord's it is. Especially thank you all for having the numbers to back it up.

 

[japanzaman]

This is why Smite generally rules when it comes to 1 on 1 situations- that skill when combined with Grief is just absolutely ridiculous.

 

[zaphodbrx]

Just popping in here to say that using zeal vs Baal is a terrible idea. Use smite- it ignores defence and blocking making it much easier to kill him.

 

[Greebo]

Just a hint: If you do have CtA, using Battle Cry from it on Act Bossess and some high life Superuniques which are harder to hit is what I do.

Usually you carry it around anyway... Also, crushing blow. Also, DtD. But for Baal, mostly CB. With Zeal to make it arrive ASAP.