2 dps math questions

cptmassive1

Not really related but don't want to create 2 threads. I also don't want to pay a for respec unless I have to.

1) Pulse Beam Rifle vs. Assault Rifle - searching around and not seeing numbers on updates in the last few months (since I don't play much during winter and spring). Last I had checked, PBR's abuse of high crit % kept it ahead of AR dps-wise. Is this still true or did something change with muni updates a few months ago? I have a toon that used AR but got much more out of PBR at the time, so I switched. AR fits the theme better but, cosmics, slim edge on dps checks and all that. Has AR caught up or is PBR still the way to go?

2) Gear - Justice vs Distinguished vs Virtuous - I have two pretty basic dps toons that need gear- one fire (debuffs/incinerate) and one triple-toggle PA/circle. I have the tokens for one set of justice and am working up the SCR for gear for both of them. Which toon would benefit the most from the justice and what gear combo should the other get? I've seen some chats about 2 pieces of distinguished and one virtuous for dps or something like that. If there is nothing powerset-specific here then it doesn't matter but I don't want to commit 1500 SCR and then wish I had it switched around. It seems to me that PA can get over 5K easily on just heroic/legion and fire needs more help to get that high a result but if PA damage would increase more with the justice as a result, see what I mean. Looking for best bang for the buck.

flowcyto

Full Justice is usually taken for dps builds overall, afaik. 1 piece of Virtuous doesn't give you any set bonuses, and 2-set Distinguished is +15 SSs and +10 non-SS (vs. +25 SSs for Justice 2-set, and +147 offense for 3-set). I guess a case could be made that the other sets can have better energy generation for dps, if you have more energy stats as non-SSs and the efficiency helm's +35 energy proc works well, but I'm not sure on that.

Maybe if you can only get one full Justice set, then you can get settle on full Distinguished on the other, as +42 defense can convert to offense w/ The Best Defense specs.

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From quick parsing w/ just R1 of AR and PBR (no SSs, talents, or dps-supporting powers, etc- in Hybrid role) I get PBR being ahead by about 10% (262 dps vs. 239 on Regen dummy, accounting for PBR's higher crit)- but that's just one round of parsing. Now, AR can get 10% more base dps when optimized w/ 3x Furious and its special adv (and 3% crit from 3x Furious), and an extra 15% via -resist if you throw in the AP debuff. Boosting PBR would prob be w/ something like Chest Beam's Burn Through for 15% extra via -resist.

So, I think they're pretty comparable dps atm. PBR is atm easier to build around and use (lower cost, lower tier, can move fully when channeling), but its max dps takes full channels- so interruptions hurt its dps more. Optimizing AR takes stacking Furious to 3x, and using Gatling to apply and refresh AP and Furious (assuming ur dpsing from >50ft out, else you can use stuff like Frag Nade.. though using Chest Beam for PBR also is limited to 50ft).