Lancer Knightz (Guild)/Swords

These sword measurements are part of the Lancer Knightz data collection project. We also have some handgun data. If you'd like to help us collect such measurements, then please contact the project administrator, Donkeyhaute. Thanks to Squamph and Bopp for some of the data.

Combo: Speed and DPS

This table shows the combos per minute of various swords, at various levels of attack speed increase (ASI). To collect such data, the tester goes to a safe area, such as Moorcroft Manor. He (or she) executes combos for a minute straight against thin air, turning as necessary to avoid obstacles. The test is repeated until it seems to settle on a single answer, for the combos per minute. However, even then the answer should be regarded as approximate.

Some remarks:

• In most cases, each increment of ASI results in a 3%-4% increase in the number of combos per minute. The average increase is about 3.5%.
• Either Dread Venom Striker reaches a speed cap, or the tester just can't swing fast enough to exploit ASI: Maximum!.
• Contrary to their displayed statistics bars, Gran Faust is not significantly faster than Divine Avenger.

The following table computes the damage per second (DPS) that results from carrying out combos as fast as possible. In detail, we take the ASI+6 data from the table above. For swords with no data (e.g., Voltedge), we use the available data from similar swords (Glacius). We look up the depth-28 damage on the wiki. We total the damage for all of the strokes in the sword's combo. Then we compute

damage per second = damage per combo * combos per minute * minutes per second,

where minutes per second is obviously 1/60.

Charge: Speed and Movement Speed

This table shows two kinds of data about sword charges: how fast the user can move while charging, and how many charges per minute (CPM) the sword allows.

The Dash and Penalty columns show movement speed data. To collect such data, the tester goes to the train platform on the west side of Moorcroft Manor, with no movement speed increase or decrease. The tester runs from the north end of the platform to the south end three times, with the sword charged. The average of the three times is shown in the Dash column. When not charging a weapon, this dash takes a baseline 6.8 seconds. The Penalty column shows how much longer than baseline the observed dash time is; it's a measure of how much charging the sword slows down the user.

The 0 to +6 columns of the table contain CPM data. To collect such data, the tester goes to a safe area, such as Moorcroft Manor. For each level of charge time reduction (CTR), the tester executes charge attacks for a minute straight against thin air, turning as necessary to avoid obstacles. Each test is repeated until it seems to settle on a single answer for the CPM. However, even then the results should be regarded as approximate. Also, we should note that all tests are carried out with ASI: Maximum!, because ASI has a small effect on charge attack speed. For example, Combuster CTR High does 16 charges per minute at ASI: None, but 17 charges per minute at ASI: Maximum!

Almost-Combo: Speed and DPS

An almost-combo is a combo that stops one stroke short. Gunners perform almost-combos frequently, to avoid reloading. Claims have been made that almost-combos lead to high DPS on swords as well. So let's collect data about how many almost-combos per minute (APM) a sword can perform, and what sort of DPS this generates against each monster family. To keep the table manageable, let's study just ASI: Maximum!.