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Is Savage Attacker worth it?
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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 6621569" data-attributes="member: 2629"><p>DPR is not the tool to evaluate Savage Attacker. Savage Attacker has an impact on average damage per round, but it isn't really about increasing your average damage, it is about reducing the chance you do minimal damage. A flat bonus of +1 to damage shifts the amount of damage you do per strike up by 1 no matter what you roll. When you use Savage Attacker, you get a chance to redo a bad roll. </p><p></p><p>Is that a meaningful difference? In some games, yes. In others... not so much.</p><p></p><p>For example, let's say I'm in a game where I'm a 3rd level fighter (not a champion) that has just been told to level up to 4. I have the duelist feature and an 18 strength with a d8 one handed weapon. My current attack bonus and damage is +6 for d8+6. Which is better: +2 strength (taking me to a flat +7 for d8+7) or Savage Attacker (keeping me at +6 for d8+6, but letting me reroll damage once per turn). Most people would jump at the +2 strength. </p><p></p><p>However, what if I told you that I was going to be facing exclusively one monster in battle after battle - a fodder monster with AC 15 with 11 hps. I would only get one attack per round in almost all circumstances? </p><p></p><p>Any 2 blows will be a kill and one blow might kill the enemy, regardless of which option I choose.</p><p></p><p>If I go with the +2 strength, I crit 5% of the time (killing in one blow 95.3125% of the time I crit) and hit 60% of the time (killing in one blow 62.5% of the time). Chance of a kill on one attack: 42.265625%. If I hit and do not kill, the chance of a kill on the second attack is the chance I hit: 65%. </p><p></p><p>If I go with Savage Attacker, I crit 5% of the time (killing in one blow 95.3125% of the time I crit) and hit 55% of the time (killing in one blow 50% of the time, and rerolling on the other 50% raising the chance of a kill to 75%). Chance of a kill on one attack: 46.015625. If I hit and do not kill, the chance of a kill on the second attack is the chance I hit: 60%. </p><p></p><p>Net effect: Savage Attacker makes me a better fodder clearer, but if I fail to clear the fodder in one blow the advantage reverts to the flat bonus to hit/damage.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 6621569, member: 2629"] DPR is not the tool to evaluate Savage Attacker. Savage Attacker has an impact on average damage per round, but it isn't really about increasing your average damage, it is about reducing the chance you do minimal damage. A flat bonus of +1 to damage shifts the amount of damage you do per strike up by 1 no matter what you roll. When you use Savage Attacker, you get a chance to redo a bad roll. Is that a meaningful difference? In some games, yes. In others... not so much. For example, let's say I'm in a game where I'm a 3rd level fighter (not a champion) that has just been told to level up to 4. I have the duelist feature and an 18 strength with a d8 one handed weapon. My current attack bonus and damage is +6 for d8+6. Which is better: +2 strength (taking me to a flat +7 for d8+7) or Savage Attacker (keeping me at +6 for d8+6, but letting me reroll damage once per turn). Most people would jump at the +2 strength. However, what if I told you that I was going to be facing exclusively one monster in battle after battle - a fodder monster with AC 15 with 11 hps. I would only get one attack per round in almost all circumstances? Any 2 blows will be a kill and one blow might kill the enemy, regardless of which option I choose. If I go with the +2 strength, I crit 5% of the time (killing in one blow 95.3125% of the time I crit) and hit 60% of the time (killing in one blow 62.5% of the time). Chance of a kill on one attack: 42.265625%. If I hit and do not kill, the chance of a kill on the second attack is the chance I hit: 65%. If I go with Savage Attacker, I crit 5% of the time (killing in one blow 95.3125% of the time I crit) and hit 55% of the time (killing in one blow 50% of the time, and rerolling on the other 50% raising the chance of a kill to 75%). Chance of a kill on one attack: 46.015625. If I hit and do not kill, the chance of a kill on the second attack is the chance I hit: 60%. Net effect: Savage Attacker makes me a better fodder clearer, but if I fail to clear the fodder in one blow the advantage reverts to the flat bonus to hit/damage. [/QUOTE]
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