Warrior Boost

[Drago Goldenwing]

drago said:

Nemu, I have seen no evidence since I've gotten the IronThorn that it boosts damage by enough to be called 'signifigant'. I have yet to see IronThorn providing a signifigant, regular increase to my DPT and I do not think it works at advertised.

I've already gave my answer to that response before you even gave it, Nemu.

[Faye]

Still the Aq staff says it does so if it doesn't, they'll fix it...

[firextreme]

Im a warrior so they will be gr8!!! Although they are gunna cost the roof

[Ithious]

Hey Drago, would you suggest that I get the IronThorn? I've seen it at work and it seems to increase your damage significantly.

[Drago Goldenwing]

I can't say for sure yet, as I'm still sitting on my numbers. I haven't had time to sit down and start adding/averaging.

However, speaking through personal experience: The IronThorn does indeed increase damage considerably on the majority of Reign Plate's attacks. However, I find myself losing HP at an incredible rate against anything that's actually combat-capable. The end result is that while I do kill things much faster, I also die much faster. It's not something I'd equip to take out a hard-hitting boss mob, but it IS something I'd equip to cut through the hordes of weaker enemies that lead up to the boss so I can get to it faster.
And hope like Hell for an auto-heal before the fight because otherwise you're a walking dead man. I mean it. The IronThorn does allow for some incredible damage output, but for some reason I finish most fights under half my HP at 175 End.

[scgr]

wel, its mainly ment for berserker i think, and they hit more if you are low at hp, so it wouldent be strange. BUT if that is the case, they should lower the price alot..

[xelemental]

With -20 BTH, ironthorn was about 14% less effective, with -10 BTH it was 7%.LV90, Nemesis, Pure Warrior build.

[Drago Goldenwing]

Alright, here we go:

Used Bad-Axe on Demon Knights, Blade of Awe on Tyranna to ensure 100% damage only.

Got results with the first hit of Reign Plate lower than ANY first hit I've ever gotten once IronThorn's doubled damage is accounted for. Something they're not telling us?

34 total attacks against Tyranna using BoA + IT, not counting specials.
34 total attacks against Tyranna using BoA + NMS, not counting specials.
Total of 68 attacks against Tyranna.
44 total attacks against Demon Knights using Bad-Axe + IT, not counting specials.
44 total attacks against Demon Knights using Bad-Axe + NMS, not counting specials.
Total of 88 attacks against Demon Knights.

M = Miss in attack chain.

Total damage output versus Demon Knights using Bad-Axe + NMS, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 1964 1186 572 491
Total damage output versus Demon Knights using Bad-Axe + IT, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 3943 1991 730 765
Average damage output versus Demon Knights using Bad-Axe + NMS, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 45 26 13 12
Average damage output versus Demon Knights using Bad-Axe + IT, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 90 45 17 17

Total damage output versus Tyranna using BoA + NMS, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 1416 935 447 385
Total damage output versus Tyranna using BoA + IT, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 2419 1393 497 623
Average damage output versus Tyranna using BoA + NMS, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 42 28 13 11
Average damage output versus Tyranna using BoA + IT, not counting specials, broken down to four component strikes: 71 41 15 18

Now. I honestly did not expect an actual doubling in average damage in the Demon Knight fights on the first hit. However, it should be plainly obvious that, barring the first strike, IronThorn does not work as advertised on following attacks. There is indeed an increase in damage per hit, but it is nowhere near a 1.5 multiplier, much less x2. I don't think that more sample numbers on the Knights will show any deviation from the established pattern, however I was not comfortable with the low number of samples against Tyranna - I believe that given more samples there, the numbers against Tyranna would even out slightly more and draw closer to the averages from the Demon Knights.
Looking at the recorded damage I think that the reason for such a short increase on the last two strikes is that the melee damage from them is only being doubled on some attacks. The others are, more or less, going unaffected, or not affected as strongly. This is a fairly strong pointer that IronThorn is not worth the price and, indeed, does not fully balance either its own drawbacks OR the melee/spellcaster damage gap unless you intend on using it with Berserker - and a class specific shield is still not worth the incredible price on IronThorn.
In short, IronThorn is a lemon and I advise anyone not intending to use Berserker like they did Necromancer to stay away from it.

[xelemental]

Hmm....Intresting.Maybe it's only random, and not base(RgP has more base damage % than random damage%)?
Or it doubles only weapon's damage, and lefts stat bonuses untouched?This would give some explanation to it, too.

[Drago Goldenwing]

You have to look carefully at the wording on IronThorn. It specifically says that melee and ranged close combat damage is doubled.
This indicates to me that IronThorn comes into the equation after everything else, so that the final number is multiplied, rather than affecting base damage/stat bonuses directly.

[scgr]

they should defently lower the price..

[Xenos Infinity]

...you guys do know IronThorn boosts damage by 50%, right? that makes it 150% not 200%, which is the "double damage" you keep talking about...

[xelemental]

If it doubles really everything, then It's just a static anomaly.I remeber getting same side on a coin 12(or was it 13?) times a row.

[Drago Goldenwing]

elitedragonslayer said:

...you guys do know IronThorn boosts damage by 50%, right? that makes it 150% not 200%, which is the "double damage" you keep talking about...

Read more carefully. "A shield that increases the close combat damage you hand out to your enemies by 50% at the cost of some of your accuracy! Melee and Ranged close combat damage is doubled instead! Berserkers use this well!"

[Faye]

So spells are not affected, only attacks via Magic weapons. Drago, RageBreaker is a formidable weapon for Warriors. High power Equipments can make up for stats.