Bane, Expel, Etc...

[Quimey]

Hi i'm wondering if..... is worth to use the bane, expel, etc.. mod (+30% to a faction) over a maxed elemental mod damage? lets say Bane Grinner over fully Cryo Rounds

[Klazik]

In some cases. Since The bane works against a faction, and some elements got -dmg against some types of enemies.

[(NSW)Omgwtfl9lbbl]

Here's a raw damage perspective, assuming all elementals are +90% versions.

 

One elemental will let you do 190% damage over 100% damage, or +90% damage, over no element.

A second elemental lets you do 280% damage over 190% damage, or +~47% damage, over one element.

A third elemental lets you do 370% damage over 280% damage, or ~32% damage over two elements.

A fourth elemental lets you do 460% damage over 370% damage, or ~24% damage over three elements.

A fifth elemental (+60%) lets you do 520% damage over 460% damage, or ~13% damage over three elements.

 

Thus, from a raw damage perspective, Bane (which always provides +30% extra damage) would be superior to a fourth elemental.

 

However, that is a raw damage perspective. You have to factor in elemental weakness and elemental dilution. Adding a fourth element could allow you to create a second combo that has +75% damage to another surface type, for instance, giving you superior overall damage when taking all surfaces into account. Using Bane instead will concentrate your damage and likely make you more effective against whatever your primary combo is compared to adding another elemental (and if going for this kind of thing, Bane can be superior as a third choice despite having less overall raw damage than a third elemental), but you may do less overall damage against the other types of enemies in that faction.

 

It is definitely better to use Bane over a 5th element.