Why is Decimate Defenses > Soul Eater?

[Josiah.2967]

Hi everyone,

I keep seeing that Decimate Defense for Open World PVE. I took Soul Eater, most things seem to die fast, my damage feels great, and I like the sustain (healing) that comes with Soul Eater.

Does Decimate Defense just do a lot more damage? Even if things die quick? I would assume for world bosses Decimate Defense would take over. Just trying to figure it out. Thanks.

[RisenHowl.2419]

Depends on how much crit you have, DD can give you up to 50%. If you don't need the crit, SE is better

[Lahmia.2193]

DD is dead to me since the Soul Eater buff (was my favourite trait during beta, and is again at last). Unless you are running Bitter chill as well, then I can't see how DD would be any better in a solo environment, since things would die too quick to build up 25 vuln to gain full benefit of DD. And in group content, like world bosses, the boons and buffs you get from allies should be more than enough to make up for the lack of the bonus crit chance from DD. And then there is soloing Hero Points in HoT. Soul Eater still wins there due to the sustain it gives.

[Anchoku.8142]

For open world, burst potential is important. By leading off with a big stack of vulnerability to increase precision, subsequent power attacks will crit allowing a good burst that may Insta-kill mobs.