WitchWild String Sockets?

**LeaTelamon** · 22-08-2011, 15:07

Well, wacktapaz and I play on ladder and the prices are quite different there. I got a perfect non-upped WWS for a pul, and I am honestly disappointed in the damage. Running an Atma's and a Harmory in a ceremonial bow I do pretty much the same damage if not more as I do with WWS, even though I socketed it with eth and some ed and max damage jewel.

**droid** · 22-08-2011, 23:16

...did you up it though?

obviously it makes a huge difference, boosting the base damage to Elite level. Ceremonial bow's base damage (30) is closer to an upped WWS (36) than a nonupped (21.5), which is why the Harmony is so much more impressive. However, by the time you get to Hell, the big elemental boost from Harmony ceases to be as useful and you'll want the big physical/magic attack from WWS and its much higher rate of proccing Amp.

And yeah I always assume SC Ladder unless the OP states otherwise, and they usually do

**LeaTelamon** · 23-08-2011, 11:09

Yes, I upped it. First thing I did. WWS still does less damage.

**hhhrobi** · 30-11-2011, 15:26

It does less damage but it has a big chance to do double damage (crit) and chance to cast amplify damage = double the damage again.

**hubb** · 30-11-2011, 16:45

Bowas already have 70% crit from CS, so any other bow is gonna do double damage most of the time in any case. Amp will double and often triple your damage in Hell but the proc chance is just too tiny in my experience. Your mileage may vary

**droid** · 30-11-2011, 16:46

More precisely, by the time you're in Hell, most monsters have at least some Physical resistance, so Amp actually is usually closer to tripling your damage than doubling it.

(ie. 100%->200% is double, 50%->150% is triple)

but Hubb is right, the 2% on WWS is not very reliable. You need 100% pierce and Eth in the bow to really get the hitrate you need to see regular procs. Even better yet, pair it with an Atma's Scarab for a 6.9% chance to proc Amp.

I'm running with a Blood Ravens Charge that I found this ladder until I get my Windforce. Its pretty comparable to what an upped WWS will do, paired with Atma's for Amp and Cleglaw's for KB. The ED takes the place of the crit chance, and the AR bonus takes the place of the Eth. I switched to a Buriza briefly, then I really noticed that the loss of that to-hit bonus was significant; I was leeching and killing faster with BRC. Harmony's going to have the same trouble, with the added trouble of having lower base physical damage, so you leech less. Amp and Crit from WWS will both enhance your leeching as well.

**sinub** · 30-11-2011, 23:59

So, for strafer, IAS is not that important? I'm trying to reach the 105% bp w/ 2xshaels treachery & a 20% glove. She shoot like a machine, I reckon a huge different before the 2 shaels. Should I get rid of that or this is just a personal taste?

**omgwtfbbqpwned** · 01-12-2011, 02:52

As long as most of your arrows are firing at 3 frames you won't be noticing much difference. What bow are you using?

**sinub** · 01-12-2011, 03:48

Witchwild string w/ 2x shaels.
i prefer mostly on the chipmc's guide.

**Dacar92** · 01-12-2011, 14:03

Originally Posted by hubb

Bowas already have 70% crit from CS, so any other bow is gonna do double damage most of the time in any case. Amp will double and often triple your damage in Hell but the proc chance is just too tiny in my experience. Your mileage may vary

In practical terms, the proc chance on Amp, using a skill like strafe, is pretty high. I have played several bowazons using WWS and it procs on many-a-monster mob. Procs enough that I was never worried about my damage not being high enough.