Traits Ranking List

Happy Holidays from a warmer side of the world!

Now that I’m done with majority of my work commitments and taking some much deserved time off, here is a long-overdue post which I wanted to do – one that focuses on ranking of traits/attributes/magical properties.

Inspired by mostly posts on plenty of social media channels (eg. band, forums, facebook) about “which item should I pick?” or “which item is better?“, this blog entry will cover the list of preferred traits which are good in a ranking system.

Of course, as much as I say that this will ranking be done ‘objectively‘, the fact that its coming from personal experience makes it nonetheless inherently ‘subjective’…so yes, if you have any other opinions about this list, do comment down below.

Hopefully, this list would clarify some of the much asked traits and save on time for doing comparison posts.

*Edit (28/12/16): From the feedback gathered thus far, I’ve attempted to make clear the purpose of why I ranked certain traits as they are in this list and highlight (in clearer detail) the potentials of the traits which I’ve ranked low.  After careful consideration, the current ranking list shall stay as it is.

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Design of Traits

A while back when I was talking to the devs about proposing a replacement of ‘Health Potion Damage‘ (HPD) with another trait altogether (esp. so for the Legendary Light armor). While the attempt was unsuccessful, they did explain briefly how they would mix-and-match the different traits for their items.

Essentially, every trait is weighted and input as one of the many traits of an item. Each gear has a maximum ‘weight‘ capacity (not to be confused by the physical weight to determine whether you can equip certain different gears) in terms of how many good traits can occupy its setup. This ‘weight‘ would also have a multiplier bonus based on the written % or value attached to the trait, in order to not make it too overpowered.

For the case of Legendary light Armor, the traits that excel are HP/Hit (a high-ranking trait) and a higher than average Light attack bonus. These had to be balanced by Health Potion Damage, a low-ranking trait. Furthermore, to ensure that HPD would not be seen as too underwhelming, it was given a higher than average damage % boost.

HP/Hit with high light attack bonus were balanced by Health Potion damage

Moreover, while this was not mentioned, I have also observed that there is a higher ‘weight’ capacity for different items (ie. in descending order, Legendary > WC > Normal gear), effectively meaning that Legendary has the highest potential for holding the best traits in the game.

This capacity is also affected by the base stats of the item, meaning that an item with higher stats, would have possibly weaker traits compared to a similar item of lower stats. However, that is a general observation and there are a good number of instances where the higher stat item has same (or even better) traits setup (eg. Legendary Nature Armor vs Legendary Dark Armor).

However, there are unique instances where the stronger item does have comparatively stronger traits. This sometimes happens for WC themed gear

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Basis of Ranking

Instead of doing a weapon/armor/skill item trait list (as some traits will overlap), the organisation of this list will be sorted based on offensive and defensive traits. In an attempt to make this ranking seemingly objective, considerations for this ranking are based on the following (arbitrary) parameters:

• Function – how effective it is in boosting offence/defence
• Versatility – how universally it can be used
• Reliability – how consistently it is triggered

These parameters are assuming that you have the right setup to make the traits effective (eg. having both crit hit chance and damage to maximise the full potential of critical hits). 

Moreover, this post is written to appeal to a larger audience of players within DH5. While some may debate against the order put forth below in terms of end-game strength, kindly do be reminded that this takes into account that not all players are rich/ willing to pay, competitive, or have good luck in chest pulls.

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Offensive

1a) Attack Speed

On the same level as DOT, having this means attacking is sped up, buffing your glaive to be as quick as your dual blades. Also, more speed means more chances to regen quicker (HP per Hit) or getting in crowd control debuffs (eg. stun, slow, pushback etc.)

Function    Versatility    Reliability 

Belts are often the source of certain unique much-favored traits at T6

1b) Damage over 3s (DOT)

Great for hit-and-run instances and delivers damage that partially ignores the enemy’s defence. Applied upon first contact, it will keep going for 3s (like a burn or poison tick damage) and you can run off to do something else.  This, however, is not ignored by an enemy’s element and regular elemental weakness/strengths modifiers still apply (50%/200%).

Function   Versatility    Reliability 

Might not be so useful if DOT is applied on an enemy which goes invulnerable when attacking

2) Attack Bonus

Nothing much to say here. This trait adds directly to your base attack (to be modified to global attack by other bonuses).

Function    Versatility     Reliability 

3) All Weapon Bonus/Specific Weapon Bonus/ Elemental Attack Bonus

This trait is a multiplier to your base attack stat to determine your global attack. However, this trait is only useful if you have the correct setup for it (eg. glavie bonus with a glaive; water bonus with a water weapon), if not it will be a space-filler. Moreover, as mentioned in my Combat 2.0 post, global values do not contribute a great deal to your raw damage output.

Function    Versatility     Reliability 

4a) Berserker

A direct Damage modifier trait that boosts your damage according to the % written, and triggered upon critical HP (screen flashing red at sides). It’s quite reliable for high damage output if you like living life on the edge.

Function    Versatility     Reliability 

4b) Bloodrage

Another direct damage modifier trait that multiplies your damage output by 10(!) and lasts for 6 seconds triggered upon killing a monster (based on the % written). Typically, you’ll only get one chance to activate this during raiding but it would almost guarantee you an instant win (if you’re not stunned).

Function    Versatility     Reliability 

4c) Brawler

Yet another direct damage modifier trait that gives a bonus damage (reportedly up to 90% extra) based on the number of enemy units around you with a chance to trigger (based on % written). Not a common trait but useful nonetheless.

Function    Versatility     Reliability 

Interestingly, one of the few armor with entirely offensive traits

5a) Elemental Skill Cooldown/ Damage

This is really a wild card as some skills perform much better than others with this around, especially those with high damage output/ DOT damage or long long cooldown timings (eg. Fire Cone, Ice Stalagmites, Immortal Justice etc.). While the cooldown reduction and damage increment are not immediately noticeable, a one second quicker refresh or +200 increased damage might be the difference between a win or loss.

Function    Versatility     Reliability 

5b) Critical Hit Damage/ Critical Hit Chance

While not entirely bad, critical hit damage and chance are interdependent and need to work hand-in-hand. This reduces its versatility as not every item has this dual setup of both coupling traits (excluding most legendary gears). If one trait were to be missing, relying on the base values (5% Chance; 50% Damage) wouldn’t help you much. Moreover, the direct damage modifiers (rank 4), are much more consistently activated in comparison unless you have a substantial value of critical hit chance.

It is, nonetheless, extremely powerful at end-game if you build both up equally…though that might come at an expense of other much-needed or more easily triggered traits.

Function    Versatility     Reliability 

6) Fear

Situated here as I’ve observed a number of Champions being susceptible to fear (eg. Lord of Eve, Succubine, Ethera etc.) Technically, this disables them for a good few seconds or so, giving you time to finish off the other monsters. However, the chance for trigger is rather low (especially against champions) so that makes it less reliable in combat.

Function    Versatility     Reliability

7) Stun/Slow/Pushback

Basically the other crowd control skills which are not as effective as fear. While they are useful for staff users and in Trial of Elements (ToE), these traits aren’t quite as useful as before, now that higher tiered strongholds are flooded with Champions

Function    Versatility     Reliability

8) Health Potion Damage

Remarkably underwhelming. Essentially increases your damage (based on written %) for 6 secs after you drink a potion…which probably wouldn’t be very useful unless you chug potions like water (ie most likely ToE only).

Function    Versatility     Reliability

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Defensive

1a) Dodge

Undisputed defence trait. As the name suggests, high dodge users don’t get hit often, which is useful in any setup. Definite must-have. To not break the game, it is not possible to attain 100% dodge (with maximum observed dodge being a bit over 70%).

Function    Versatility     Reliability

While high dodge keeps you alive for more attacks, it certain doesn’t help much against a trio of Spirius

1b) HP per Hit

Ultimate survival trait that keeps your character alive much longer through any scenario. Definitely a must-have for any weapon type and only found on the legendary light armor (in terms of high stat armors). Additionally, you can get healed from attacking the enemy regardless of using a regular melee/ranged attack or using skills.

Function    Versatility     Reliability

Somehow, the harder it is to use the skill, the rarer the traits it has at T6

2a) HP Bonus

Adding a % to your total HP, this trait gives you more survive-ability but not quite as effective as Dodge. Basically, it means you being able to take more hits, but not reducing the amount of damage taken by them.

Function    Versatility     Reliability

2b) Elemental Defence Bonus

Similar to the elemental attack bonus, this trait is a modifier for your global defence value that reduces the amount of damage you take. Likewise, you need to wear the right element for this to work.

Function    Versatility     Reliability

3) HP/Kill

A less effective healing trait than HP/Hit as you gain HP whenever a kill is made. This is particularly beneficial in ToE but less so in raiding due to the limited number of minions on the field. Nonetheless, it’s a decent skill to have to keep yourself alive longer.

Function    Versatility     Reliability

4a) Damage to Attacker (DTA)

A direct damage reflect to attacking monsters that ignores enemy defence. However, the base return value is rather low and in the face of monsters with invulnerability status (eg. guardhouse, colossi), this doesn’t work very well.

Function    Versatility     Reliability

Generally in low values, DTA is more useful when the accumulated figure is substantial

4b) Attacker Fear Chance

This trait causes fear upon monsters when they attack you. While rather effective in keeping you alive longer by making the enemy flee, the trigger rate is rather low (as written in %).

Function    Versatility     Reliability

5) Run Speed

Not a particularly useful trait for the inexperienced that increases your pace in running. Maximum limit is 50%. Being the trait that is most debated about after posting this entry, the main three reasons why I slotted run speed here is due to the following:

(A) One needs to be experienced to use it well, meaning that while it does help a lot in late-game scenario (after memorizing enemy attack patterns). Also, it takes a recognizable amount of skill to handle a fast character (especially if you’re not used to haste) and this does take practice.

(B) Physically escaping/engaging enemies at a high speed requires mental stamina and thus can be draining for difficult raids. Imagine having to constantly run from the bombardment of 3 colossi, watch for the teleporting sin and get close enough to a Mezzo firing chains of bolts at your face. Not sure about you, but for someone without legendary armor for all elements, this can get mentally draining really quickly, especially if battles drag out long.

(C) Disabling skills (freeze, bound, stun, knockdown) render run speed useless. With the high number of minions which possess these abilities, running is definitely negated once your character is on the floor. These situations are worsened by certain trap rooms which possess these abilities themselves (eg. Ruby Temple, Seashore Retreat, Xinkashi Spring).

Fortunately, despite the flak given, this is definitely great end-game skill. When used properly, this is a fairly reliable escape mechanism from projectiles, getting out of enemy fire, outrunning fast monsters, closing into enemies and useful in certain events (eg. Armory Raids, Valenthian rooftops).

Not only being useful in most scenarios, this trait effectively extends to reducing the use of dodge rolls, which is especially useful in instances where there is a high chance of being binded/frozen.

Function    Versatility     Reliability

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TL;DR

Just in case you missed any of those traits, here is an entire TL;DR segment dedicated for your reference.

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How to Choose your gear

Although the suggested ranking list is shown, there is no ‘objectively good‘ traits setup. Sure, a dual blade with HP/Hit, DOT, Attack Speed would be highly useful, but if you’re not skilled in fighting in close-combat then the weapon would be rather redundant to you.

Useful nonetheless in the much-hated nightmare pits, but it won’t kill Harbringers before they take off

Ultimately, experience is the key and it is best to try out all of the traits for yourself first before making an informed decision of which is good/bad for your play style.

For example, if you’re great at handling combat at low HP, then Berserker would be a better option than the less reliable Bloodrage. If you prefer attacking from afar, then a high run speed might actually be more beneficial in escaping from incoming projectiles without having to dodge too often.

Hence, trait selection is ultimately based on experience. While there are a number of favored traits that many claim are ‘objectively good’, the choice of combination is up to your play style and availability of your draws.

TL;DR: Select traits based on what your play style is most comfortable with.

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Hope this helped you and happy hunting for the incoming new year! 🙂