R8 vs NV2 confusion

Bearleeable - Lost City

so, I got my EP the hexstar http://www.pwdatabase.com/pwi/items/25671
yesterday getting ready to go to foundation of the world nv3.
when i check the mag attack UNBUFFED between the R8 wheel of light +5 http://www.pwdatabase.com/ms/items/12648 he's been using to the hexstar +0 there is a 3k spike difference with R8 winning... I TOTALLY do not understand this.
the hextar came out chan +6, vit +18 & reduc +2% .
Can anyone please explain this?
He's purely support EP except for during NW and he mainly buff's / heals in there.
if it helps any he's demon.
has some vit ( 45ish? ) lvl 101

Sakubatou - Sanctuary

You're confused why a +5 r8 has better damage than an +0 G15 with no damage add-ons? Rank gear has notoriously bad refine rates, both weapons and armor, but rank gear usually has higher base stats. If you look, wheel of light doesn't refine as well as G15, even though it starts about 300 damage higher.

So take that 300 difference, add in the +5 refine of +148 magic attack, then you probably have 500-600 magic so time it by 5 or 6. 450 x 6=2700. More when you count masteries.

Was comparing my +7 r8 glaive and my G16 swords and even G16 heals don't catch up till +4 (since attack levels don't matter).