Klava

i've been toying recently with my Virtue Guard and comparing it to the best tower shield i have atm Arcane Greatwall. i didn't have any luck on Green Dragon yet, and i'm still too far from getting my mythical, so i'm trying to cope with what i have at my disposal. i do think my dps is higher with VG and, assuming 8% riposte/parry from STA line is uncontested, i'm at least as good on uncontested avoidance with VG as i'm with AG, even better probably. but i'm wandering if having 70%+ double attack is really that good, so my questions are:

1. are 8% riposte/parry from STA line really uncontested? basically, is this kind of avoidance as good as block?
2. does the extra attack from DA trigger procs from items and buffs? i'm told haste does increase number of procs - does DA too?
3. does the extra attack from DA trigger negative effects, like ripostes, damage shields, reactive buffs (like those of clerics and sk's)?

my spec with VG:
str 448
agi 44861
sta 4488
int 41

with tower:
str 4485
agi 44861
int 46841

i'd really appreciate some input.

Chumann

1) Yes.
2) No. It's easier to think about a double attack as a proc, and procs can't proc other procs.
3) This is actually a good question. I would have to say no, but even if it did the downside is negligible when comparing it to the dps/hate benefit form DA.

My personal opinion is that yes, double attack really is that good. If your healers are competent, an offensive tanking approach is really the only way to go, especially if you have average or better dpsers.

For what it's worth, my buckler spec is exactly the same as yours.

Conqueror_Beld

I've had great success going from the Arcane Greatwall to the VG about a month ago.

Trollita

Double attack can be riposted, will trigger negative effects and such things.

I am buckler spec'ed with VG, except that i have the full int line instead of the agi line.

DA gives you a really good aggro bonus, as for the avoidance, parry and riposte are much more reliable than the shield in this configuration.

On overking, Block was around 12% on parse, where parry was at 23% and riposte at 14%.

This is wearing avoidance stuff and adornments, and still no T1 helm / shoulders, no luck on these, yet.

On fights like Venril when you get hit from behind a lot more, block can go as low as 5 or 6% and parry around 30%.

Rizzel

yes the stamina line is worth it... im surprised this question is being asked, but im not a noob basher so i wont like, insult you....

8% riposte is uncontested avoidance. and should be better for you than a tower shield. make a macro to switch in tower shields for ToS and use virtues guard the rest of the time. your aggro will be a thousand times better.

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