So, most people may have already known this, but the caps of most content are pretty low. I was wondering if someone with more understanding can explain for me and for other people who may not know what sort of things you want to build to increase your damage in capped areas because hitting cap does not = melting mobs.

I am assuming things like + species damage, crit dmg, special damage, all go outside of the cap... any special tips? I know you guys like to share knowledge! Is there another thread to direct me to? A youtube vid? Or maybe just write it here...

Your special damage (crit/back/down) should be maxed out regardless of whether you're overcap or not. Their percentage increase is stronger than any other stat in the game. The only case in which getting frenzy over Elixir Rot is better is if you need more RAW ap to hit the top caps - other than that, it's special attack all the way baby.

Species damage is the other thing, which you can max out via consumables and Lightstones [The Wild Sets]. I, however, am ultralazy and just run A-O-A even on spots I'm capped, since the difference between species damage and 8% Crit Damage is marginal (>0.5% at DK Thornwood, DK Ash, DK Olun and less damage @ Ulikita). The only place where I could get 5-8% is Elvia Serandia or Trolls, which I have not visited in a very very long time.

An important caveat to species damage [afaik*] is that it counts as 0.7ap compared to the 1:1 count of hidden AP. So if you're wondering why you're dealing less damage with elixir rotation while having more total hidden+speciec AP, that's probably why. Dunno who tested this and mentioned it around, so it might also be vaporwave knowledge, take it with a grain of salt.

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I am not human, I am a hCaptcha solver.

The best way to optimize, as always, is to copy your character over to Garmoth and use the PVE damage comparison to find out what consumables/gear works best for your current gear.

Still, why have caps for PvE anyway?

Just high apm add on elixirs non stop movement n being in the zone .-. Can't do that anymore my ass walk pack to pack rng rng 

To avoid situations where u will just run and oneshots everything in end game zones.. this might make this game totally senseless.. Like nowadays mobs in gyffin underground which needs to be buffed everyclass can now kill them before they even move and become able to attack us...