Specs
Our cookie cutter build
3/31/5. Free 2 points into whatever other talents you want, nothing else contributes to direct DPS.
Some recommendations:
-2 points into Fleetfooted. This is more of a PVP talent, it may also be helpful in encounters where a boss snares you or does an AOE snare.
-2 Points into Quick Recovery. This is for encounters where AOE damage / CC is heavily needed. 1 force cost Cyclone Sweep is definitely helpful in those situations.
-2 Points into Master Focus reducing Master Strike by 3 seconds. Within a 5 minute fight with a 27 sec Master Strike CD, we can do 11 Master Strikes as opposed to non talented 10 Master Strikes. Further testing will tell us whether or not we'll be using Master Strike in our rotation.
Relics
Under Construction
Abilities
Force Generating Abilities
Strike (No CD) - 2 Force
Zealous Strike (4.5 sec CD) - 4 Force (2/2 Righteous Zeal)
Force Leap (15 Sec CD) - 4 Force, Requires 10m-30m Range
Saber Throw (30 Sec CD) - 3 Force, Requires 10m-30m Range
Combat Focus (2 min CD) - 5 Force over 6 seconds
Force Spending Abilities
Blade Storm (6 Sec CD) - 4 Force(2/2 Swift Blades)
Blade Rush (No CD) - 3 Force, REFUNDS 1 Force when used (3/3 Focused Slash) In other words, you need to have at least 3 force in order to use this ability, not 2 force.
Precision Slash (15 sec CD) - 3 Force
Mericless Throw (<=20% HP) - 3 Force
Force Kick (8 Sec CD) - 1 Force
The Force Abilities listed above are not all of the abilities a Jedi Knight has but, these will most likely be the abilities that are going to be used in their rotation. This is subject to change once more testing is available.
Overview
Ataru Form is the form of the Combat Sentinels nothing else. Using other forms, Juyo or Shii-Cho will greatly reduce DPS otherwise.
Using the Cookie Cutter build maximizes Ataru Form DPS for Combat Sentinels.
1.) 10% Move speed
2.) Increased Ataru Form Strikes by 40%
3.) Melee Attacks increase chance of Ataru Form Strikes by 30%, with a total of 50% chance to proc an Ataru Form Strike.
4.) Ataru Form Strikes trigger Combat Trance which has a 100% chance to grant 1 Force after it's duration and grants 100% critical chance for Blade Storm
5.) Ataru Form Strikes trigger Opportune Strikes which makes your next Force Spender do 10% more damage.
Rotation
Single Target
Important: 1.5 Second GCD
We follow a priority list and a rotational list because we choose how much force we generate as opposed to a class which generates their resources automatically.
That being said, here are the proposed priority lists:
FULL FORCE BAR
Merciless Throw > Blade Storm(Combat Trance) > Blade Rush > Zealous Strike > Strike; Using Precision Slash after x3 Combat Trances, best used before a Blade Storm crit.
NO FORCE BAR
Zealous Strike > Strike > Merciless Throw > Blade Storm(Combat Trance) > Blade Rush; Using Precision Slash after x3 Combat Trances, best used before a Blade Storm crit.
Proposed Rotation List, Combat Initiation:
Things to note, this is over a cource of 30 seconds. Numbers in parenthesis is seconds, numbers next to ability is how much Force left. Another thing to note is that I did not take into account the force gain from Combat Trance until the last sequence where there was not enough Force to use Blade Storm.(Too lazy to do that as of now, later in the future I'll get to it.)
Another Important Note:
NEVER use
Blade Storm when Combat Trance is not up.
30/1.5 = 20 GCDS
30/4.5 = 6 ZEALOUS STRIKES
30/6 = 5 Blade Storms
30/15 = 2 Precision Slash
3x GCD before next Zealous Strike, 4x GCD Before next Blade Storm
Force Leap 4 > Zealous Strike 8 (1.5)> Precision Slash 5 (3)> Blade Rush 2 (4.5)> Zealous Strike 6 (6)> Blade Storm 6 (7.5)> Blade Rush 4 (9)> Zealous Strike 8 (10.5)> Blade Rush 6 (12) > Blade Storm 2 (13.5) > Zealous Strike 6 (15) > Blade Rush 4 (16.5) > Strike 6 (18) > Blade Storm 2 (19.5) > Zealous Strike 6 (21) > Blade Rush 4+3 (22.5) > Precision Slash 4 (24) > Blade Storm 0 (25.5) > Zealous Strike 4 (27) > Blade Rush 2 (28.5) > Strike 4 (30) > Blade Storm 0 (31.5)
Multiple Target
AoE for Combat Sentinels is pretty much generate Force and then use 1 Force cost Cyclone Slash
Zealous Strike > 4x Cyclone Slash repeat.
If CC is needed,
Zealous Strike > Sweep > Cyclone Slash > Zealous Strike > 4x Cyclone Slash
Of course, this is still a work in progress and there are obviously many other rotations that can be done and this is still only my theory that is definitely subject to change.
Stats
Primary stat: Strength is king. That is all
Secondary Stats: Power, Accuracy, Critical, Surge
Strength: Increase Melee Attack + Crit
Power: Increases Melee Damage
Accuracy: Increases Hit to abilities and white damage. (Missing is always a terrible thing for DPS.)
Also, 100% accuracy gives armor pen.
Critical: Increases chance of getting a Critical with white damage and abilities.
Surge: Increases Critical damage done.
Which Secondary Stat is most important? This is definitely up for discussion. For me, I'd most likely try to go with full Accuracy for lots and lots of armor penetration. (100% armor penetration brings me back memories.)
Mechanics
-There is a 50% chance for Ataru Form Strikes to proc on both weapons.
Under Construction.
This will involve all kinds of caps. i.e what is the hit cap in order for abilities to never miss a boss. Amongst other things as well.
Observations
Opportune Strike's 10% increase to the next Force Spender does not stack up correctly with Blade Storm and Combat Trance. With or without Opportune Strike, Blade Storm still does the same damage.
I believe this is intended and Opportune Strike is not supposed to stack up along with Blade Storm and Combat Trance. So, it's best to be used on other Force abilities. Thought I'd let everyone know even though it is difficult to align Combat Trance and Opportune Strike together within our rotation.
There was also something that I wanted to mention but, escapes my mind at the moment. I'll get back to editing this post when I come across it again.
The observation is where would Master Strike fall into in our rotation? It does immense amount of damage within 2 GCDS and Zealous strike should be ready when it's done. (3 Sec Master Strike > Zealous Strike) I can say Master Strike definitely is not a useless skill that might be in our rotation with further testing.
