Better damage? EbotdCB vs EbotdGPA?

[syptem]

Assume the botd rune word has the same damage added.

Case 1:
Act 2 Might Merc with EbotdGPA

Case 2:
Act 5 Merc with EbotdCB

Which one has a better damage?

[Evrae Altana]

The Act 2 Might merc will. CB and GPA have the same average damage (assuming the CB is wielded 2 handed, which it is in the case of the Act 5 merc), so the Act 2 merc's Might aura pushes its damage over that of the Act 5 one.

[dibilo]

and considering the fact that act 5 barb does 2 hits per swing, while act 2 merc jabs at 3 hits, act 2 merc should be wining in the overall damage output department

[Eilo Rytyj]

Act 2 merc's Jab has 2 hits, not 3.

Might merc will deal more damage overall because of the Might aura. But it's not really that much more damage because:

Act 5 mercs have much higher strength, thus more str-based ed%.

Bash and Stun have large damage bonuses. They cap out at level 21 for Bash and 17 for Stun, at level 80. At this level a Barb has 200 str, and 61-65 base dmg.

At these levels, Bash adds 21 damage, and has 235%ed. Stun has 168%ed. Note that these values include synergies.

At level 80, a Might merc has 177 strength, 51-58 base dmg, and a slvl 16 Might, 190%ed. Their Jab is level 23, for 51%ed.


So really, a Barb will have a higher damaging single hit with Bash, and a comparable damage hit with Stun. But a Might merc will have Might running constantly, even on normal attacks. Also keep in mind the base damages of the mercs, only 51-58 for Act 2, 61-65 for Act 5.

[jakotaco]

Barb gets style points for solo play, the might aura may however help you or your party out aswell if you/they are melee chars.