Sidearm vs Maniac, but considering EQ

[AlexanderBarin]

I can subscribe to the idea that Sidearm can be better than 20% Maniac on single target, before the actual line AOE comes into play.

But the reason I'm hesitant to switch to Sidearm is because of EQ. 20% extra EQ damage is pretty nice, especially considering that I use EQ on every single boss pack, no exceptions.

But, in the end, is it worth it? How big is the gap between single target Sidearm and Maniac? Is it worth giving it up even knowing that EQ is going to be 20% weaker?

[DarlosND]

Personally I prefer Maniac since it powers up all of your other attacks, rather than just Frenzy. Then for crowd control I use my secondary (Hammer of the Ancients, right now), which does more damage after hitting with Frenzy 5 times.

Basically, sidearm only helps Frenzy. Maniac helps everything.

[Muggs]

Sidearm also procs LOH so you are getting more of a return from LOH. Even with fighting one mob I regularly see double LOH returns from using sidearm which with my build (dual wielding) is extremely important.

Have you thought about switching EQ to WotB w/ insanity because it seems to work better with sidearm too and still an excellent champ pack killer. In act2 I can kill a whole pack in one WotB with time left over unless they are shielding. I am also running 49k dps without WotB so it pushes me over 140k.

[torand]

Maniac makes up the [About 5%] extra damage that sidearm does on a single target almost solely with its bonus to Revenge, and if you use ANY other abilities, that 20% on those make it far superior IMO. I switched to Maniac with Whirlwind recently, and haven't looked back .

[torand]

Sidearm also procs LOH so you are getting more of a return from LOH. Even with fighting one mob I regularly see double LOH returns from using sidearm which with my build (dual wielding) is extremely important.

I am pretty sure Sidearm procs do not grant LOH (At least when I tested - I havn't had LOH in a while).

[Muggs]

I am pretty sure Sidearm procs do not grant LOH (At least when I tested - I havn't had LOH in a while).

Sidearm does proc LOH on hit it has been tested and proven many times now. You can see other ratios here but I have personally tested sidearm and can confirm this is the case.


http://i.imgur.com/57kGJ.png

[torand]

Sidearm does proc LOH on hit it has been tested and proven many times now. You can see other ratios here but I have personally tested sidearm and can confirm this is the case.


http://i.imgur.com/57kGJ.png

That table is awsome, but seems to indicate that frenzy with the rune still gives the same amount of LOH per hit, not that the actual proc adds LOH. If you have tested it yourself, I am not doubting you, just saying that table doesn't seem to indicate it to me. It has been a while since I tested it, and I did it more by feel than by actually having a control case. I have a whopping ZERO Life on Hit now, so what do I know anyway ?

[Muggs]

That table is awsome, but seems to indicate that frenzy with the rune still gives the same amount of LOH per hit, not that the actual proc adds LOH. If you have tested it yourself, I am not doubting you, just saying that table doesn't seem to indicate it to me. It has been a while since I tested it, and I did it more by feel than by actually having a control case. I have a whopping ZERO Life on Hit now, so what do I know anyway ?

If you read the bottom of the table it confirms it in the general notes it also was a big talking point on the blizzard barb boards for a while and that is where the confirmation came from as well as the table.

[Karth]

That table is awsome, but seems to indicate that frenzy with the rune still gives the same amount of LOH per hit, not that the actual proc adds LOH. If you have tested it yourself, I am not doubting you, just saying that table doesn't seem to indicate it to me. It has been a while since I tested it, and I did it more by feel than by actually having a control case. I have a whopping ZERO Life on Hit now, so what do I know anyway ?

Check down below the table in the notes.

[hubb]

The newer/updated version says something different though:

Sidearm axes grant no LoH; possible bug? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EScuohD6qo&t=0m45s