Is there a definitive answer for Marksmanship vs Skirmishing for Power Soulbeast?

[Arklite.4013]

The closest I've gotten is "if you can consistently flank the boss, skirmishing is way better". Does anyone know the approximate difference if you aren't able to flank? Can anyone with a lot of experience using them solo/in open world weigh in? How easy is it to flank while playing solo, and is it worth giving up the convenience of things like one-shotting trash mobs with Maul and opening strike?

[OGDeadHead.8326]

4 hours ago, Arklite.4013 said:

How easy is it to flank while playing solo

I'd say that to some degree depends on whether you have your pet out or not.

[AlexndrTheGreat.8310]

I typically focus on instanced PvE (raids, fractals), but I think in open world Marksmanship would be better?

Skirmishing is good for raid builds because:

-flanking for 10% damage

-Spotter

-Vicious Quarry for Ferocity and 10% Crit from Fury

These conditions are commonly met in instanced content, but things like Crit capping and permanent fury aren’t as common or needed in open world.

Marksmanship meanwhile can give:

-minimum 5% damage increase at all times

-Opening Strike for 100% Crit

-Can more easily regain Opening Strike since you’re no longer in combat for extended periods of time

-Other situational traits like Hunter’s Gaze to self stack might (which increases your damage *significantly*)

[Leonidrex.5649]

raids + open worlds skirm is better, marksmanship is only usable in fractals, where you get free crit chance due to a potion, but even then people want you to run 5% crit for team anyways.
You CANT go wrong with skirm

EDIT
Skirm gives : 
1 : 10% crit chance and 250 ferocity from vicious quarry ( 16,6% crit damage )
2 10% crit chance and 10% crit damage from hunters tactics ( it triggers 270 degrees around the target, as long as you move around while hitting enemies in open world it WILL always trigger )
3 spotter ( 5% crit chance )
All together -> 25% crit chance, 16,6% crit damage, 10% damage.
Marks gives : 
Predatory onslought -> 15% damage
Farsighted -> 5% damage ( sometimes 10 on things like rapid fire/barrage from range )
Opening strikes are useless as you cant refresh them, and you gonna want to have 100% crit chance anyways.

Edited November 12, 2021 by Leonidrex.5649

[Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582]

If you are running OW, then Marks is by far the most beneficial. Stowed pet, Pack Runes, Moa Stance, CotW, auto attack procs Clarion Bond, enter beastmode with Fresh Reinforcement and you have 23 might, 30s Fury, 8s Quickness, 1 minute of Swiftness + Protection + Regen. 

Skirmishing is better if you have other people to generate boons for you, but if you are using LB in OW, then you want to be using Marks with LtW. If you are doing OW bosses, swap Clarion for Hunter's Gaze.

I use this.

Flanking is a term that you imagine you are behind the mob, but it is actually nowhere near that far and is very easy to fulfill that requirement.

Edited November 12, 2021 by Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582