Hybrid Assault: Core or Radial

Is there a clear consensus on which one is better? If it matters, the character I'm debating this on is a DM Scrapper who has a buzzsaw build.

I'm ready to make one of the t4s as soon as I know which one to make.

You will probably have a larger DPS increase from Core, unless you team with a Kin or are otherwise boosting yourself well above the +200 (enh, maxed perma soul drain, and misc buffs) I'm basing my estimations on. You have a higher potential damage with Radial, and the higher your global damage buff is already, the better it will work for you.

See my sig.

For fast-recharging attacks, and for Scrappers in general, Core tends to be more favorable, assuming you can build and maintain stacks reliably. Since Core is more backloaded, it doesn't do as well in shorter fights. But those are just generalizations, and not accurate in every case.

According to the chart, core is better, My only issue is that I thought PPM was based off actual recharge, not base recharge. Or is that only the PPM formula for enhancements?

PPM operates only on base recharge. Come issue 24, it will operate on slotted recharge, but i24 is still at least a couple months away.

Considering I have a recharge heavy buzzsaw build, Core is looking better and better. Thank you for your help.

I've always worked under the assumption that Core's damage damage buff compliments a Scrapper, while Radial and its double hit compliment a Brute, but this all depends on how you play the game.

I can see the appeal behind a Scrapper or Stalker with Double hit. Coupling it with Critical hits would be like having attacks that deal the damage three times in one strike, effectively.

It's really a toss up between more consistent, yet slightly lower damage, or a fairly slim chance at terrifyingly high damage.

Additionally, Core on a Scrapper with a damage aura is quite fun, as simply standing next to an enemy can promise a steady 5 stacks.

Core on a Brute would be absolute garbage due to their low base damage. They have the lowest of any melee AT in order to compensate for Fury, which functions in the same way as damage enhancements or inspirations.

More like "two-thirds as good as Scrappers" than "absolute garbage". 1.125 isn't THAT much larger than .75, after all. Also, the way Radial double-dips on recharge and on the area factor penalty tends to make it poor for fast attacks and large AoEs, so for certain tasks (especially farming), Core can be preferable even for a Brute.

Kangstor is right that doublehit is equally good for any AT, though. It doesn't care at all about AT modifiers, only the activation time, recharge time, arc, and radius of the power.

Just tossing out, having tested T3 of both on broadsword, claws, and dual pistols... the fact that double hit (radial) is energy damage and those all do lethal (so core is boosting lethal not adding a new damage type) makes an enormous difference. Even on claws (fastest attacks of the three sets) against most enemies I had more bonus damage from double hit than core. Ban Pan, Carnies etc core all the way, but malta, freakshow, and most everything else with high s/l resist, the double hit was performing better. It was especially noticeable against bosses/elites taking as much as one-and-a-half less rotations through my attack chain against EBs like the Keres or a high lethal resist boss like a Zeus Titan.

Granted, I'm not the best player out there, so I'm sure most could maintain more stacks on the core side that I did (I also understand that damage auras help the stacking a lot and I don't have any on my lethal damage characters). But all my smashing/lethal characters are packing radial now based on how it impacts my playstyle. For my fire/fire dom the core was significantly more helpful than doublehit.

Also, can anyone tell me if I understand total damage buffs correctly?

My understanding is that slotted (and alpha) damage enhancements are subject to ED, but the after-ED amount, plus set bonuses, buildup-style effects, outside buffs (fulcrum shift etc) all combine and that is the max % you can benefit from. So, say 125% slotted after Alpha, then 100% with buildup active, 25% sets, 10% passive hybrid assault, 100% from the base power damage itself. If I'm on a scrapper with a 500% damage cap, I only have 150% potential buff remaining (Ie coming in from teammates and active hybrid core, assault, etc) before anymore is wasted yes?

I bump into this situation from time to time as I have a lot of teammates who love defenders and corrupters, and who also love leadership (and often one or two VEATS with double assaults). In the right team if double hit can get me bonus damage while I'm at the damage cap when core would just mean over-cap-thus-wasted damage buff, that's something I'd consider on some of the characters I play mostly teamed that currently have core.

Thanks Kangstor!

I also thought it might be helpful to the OP and others with the same question to point out, before you make the T4 you have to make two T3s anyway. Make the far right and far left (all buff and all doublehit but neither of the two that give a little of both).

Then test them for yourself and see. You don't waste a single thread doing this and you will know for your build and your play style which one works better.

The way I tested was I oroboros'd the final mission from Max's DA arc using each version. There's so much fighting in that mission, plus an EB at the end, that you'll know pretty quick which one is helping more.