what increases physical damage more, STR or ATT?

[Dtec]

I tried doing a search for the answer, but I was unsuccessful. So if I'm playing a Melee class and I want to maximize the damage of my normal attacks, should I focus on STR or ATT stats? Thanks.

[Omena]

1 str will always be better than 1 atk.

Str and atk work differently, though. Atk suffers from diminishing returns, so when your atk is much higher than your opponents def you no longer benefit much for increasing your atk further.

[Dtec]

Ok so STR+ items are better than ATT+ items? Hmm... never knew that, thanks! I played a mage almost all my FFXI life so I'm kind of new to damage dealing.

[Thark601]

1 exception... ATK gives your weapon skills more umph than str.. So a sam should concentrate on more +ATK, DRK also may do better with +ATK than +STR

Talkin for monks, or other jobs that are just brute force dmg concentrate on +STR tho

[Thelps]

DRK also may do better with +ATK than +STR

Pre-60 a DRK is far better off with +STR than +Att simply because DRKs don't hit often so build TP relatively slowly. A DRK's main form of damage dealing is basic, unmodified (except maybe for Berserk) attacks. Post 60 +att matters a certain amount more because Guillotine becomes available at which point DRKs start stacking abilities on that WS to go for single-hit, huge damage results.


Tbh tho, unless you're a SAM +STR can almost always be considered better than +att.

[Mistress Kimba]

1 str will always be better than 1 atk.

This is somewhat misleading. 2 strength = 1 attack. So in actuality, 1 attack is better as it is like having 2 more strength. Strength only effects the damage you do, so having more of it is essentially for pumping up your Attack ability. I would say that attack is more important than strength.

Pre-60 a DRK is far better off with +STR than +Att simply because DRKs don't hit often so build TP relatively slowly.

This sounds as if you are trying to say that strength effects hit rate which is not true. Accuracy is the influential stat of hit rate, and Dexterity is the influential stat of accuracy.

The most common items I see on experienced players is either +accuracy or +attack. Focus on stats are primary only for abilities that rely on stats (i.e. Sneak Attack/Trick Attack). More focus should be put on accuracy so you hit more and attack so you hit for more if those are your concerns.

[Narru]

http://ffxi.crgaming.com/interviews/...iew.asp?Id=209

[bside]

boosting too much of one and forgetting the another doesn't help u much in achieving more total dmg. the best is to have the balance of both. reading the above linked site, u should be able to understand this.

as in chossing the equipments, having 2 STR is never equal to 1 ATK. likewise, 1 ATK isn't better nor worse than 2 STR. they serve 2 different purposes.

[Thark601]

Originally posted by bside
boosting too much of one and forgetting the another doesn't help u much in achieving more total dmg. the best is to have the balance of both. reading the above linked site, u should be able to understand this.

/\ says it best...

my reasoning behind focusing on +str is because +atk is so easy to obtain..

[Omena]

Originally posted by Mistress Kimba


This is somewhat misleading. 2 strength = 1 attack. So in actuality, 1 attack is better as it is like having 2 more strength. Strength only effects the damage you do, so having more of it is essentially for pumping up your Attack ability. I would say that attack is more important than strength.

Wrong.

Str has its very own effect on your damage. The 1 more atk for each 2 str is just a nice side effect.

[Zaroc]

Woah Valkrum!

Woah this person recenlty took me to valkrum because she said lvls 12-20 should be there. All the monsters are really hard. Should i really be there? as u ca nsee im lvl 13. BTW is there a AH in selbina or near by? i havent been in windhurst in months.

Thanks

[Omena]

Re: Woah Valkrum!

Originally posted by Zaroc
Woah this person recenlty took me to valkrum because she said lvls 12-20 should be there. All the monsters are really hard. Should i really be there? as u ca nsee im lvl 13. BTW is there a AH in selbina or near by? i havent been in windhurst in months.

Thanks

Yes you should be in Valkurm, but if you want to avoid partying with lots of newbies like yourself, I suggest you go to Korroloka instead. But please don't do that. Leveling new jobs will be hell if the newbies take over Korroloka too.

I don't know why you posted this question here, but there's your answer anyway.

[Mikeb]

STR increases your damage curve - your minimum damage will increase, and you potential to do good damage.

ATK increases the likelyhood that you will reach your damage potential, so there is a point where more ATK won't be doing much more damage for you.

If you're a Monk then STR also increases the damage of your 'weapon' (fists), so it's a good idea to pimp out your STR.

If you're a Thief then DEX increases your Sneak Attack damage, and AGI increases your Trick Attack damage.

I've found that 5 STR helps your damage alot more than 5 ATK, but if your damage varies alot then it's good to have some ATK (typically they come on different pieces of armour anyway so you can increase both).