Merc G'Nade question or two

[Q1]

Do you get more damage doing a gas g'nade > g'nade

Or

Gas > g'nade > explosive shot to set off the first two?

Also oil g'nade can be in there somewhere... and I remain a bit on the fence with that one, not sure if it's adding significant dps and setting the ground on fire means the gas g'nades pop instantly in that spot and I'm not sure that's optimal.

So potentially flash > oil > gas > g'nade > explosive ?

[Q1]

Nobody huh?

[Lyote]

The second option is obviously going to net more damage, faster.
Because you're adding the Explosive Shot itself into the mix as not only extra damage dealt but also speeding up the grenades.

Gas explosions are their own damage, its listed on the Gas Grenade itself. It doesn't matter which path you took to detonate it.

The question should be whether or not you want to stack as many explosions in one place as possible before setting them all off for one big boom or doing quicker but smaller booms by just using Oil/Gas > Explosive and skipping the fire grenades.

[Q1]

If it is better to detonate with the shot rather than the g'nades then maybe the talent 'short fuse' isn't worth it

[Orclover]

Originally posted by Q1:

If it is better to detonate with the shot rather than the g'nades then maybe the talent 'short fuse' isn't worth it

It is, usually for clearing trash mobs where you are just running and tossing nades into groups as you sprint past. At level 55 for my merc I use 2 skills (nerfbait). Basic grenade with 4 gems (poor mans cluster grenade) and explosive shot. I toss short fused grenades into packs of mobs and blow them all up. For bosses I pile on 2 or 3 shots of grenades and then ignite them. The screen shakes as cluster bombs and earthquakes knock off a truly impressive amount of boss health while I circle it and then do it again. sometimes I throw out a ballista.....

Thats it.

gas grenades were not this effective
electric grenades were not this effective
using any other crossbow skill was not this effective. I dont even use other crossbow skills unless I get bored.

Nade + Ignite

When I get cluster grenade i'll probably test that out for a bit.

[PaperLiger]

Originally posted by Orclover:

Originally posted by Q1:

If it is better to detonate with the shot rather than the g'nades then maybe the talent 'short fuse' isn't worth it

It is, usually for clearing trash mobs where you are just running and tossing nades into groups as you sprint past. At level 55 for my merc I use 2 skills (nerfbait). Basic grenade with 4 gems (poor mans cluster grenade) and explosive shot. I toss short fused grenades into packs of mobs and blow them all up. For bosses I pile on 2 or 3 shots of grenades and then ignite them. The screen shakes as cluster bombs and earthquakes knock off a truly impressive amount of boss health while I circle it and then do it again. sometimes I throw out a ballista.....

Thats it.

gas grenades were not this effective
electric grenades were not this effective
using any other crossbow skill was not this effective. I dont even use other crossbow skills unless I get bored.

Nade + Ignite

When I get cluster grenade i'll probably test that out for a bit.

Wow the playstyle is super similar to lightning merc. Spam galv shards until you shock then pummel with higher rate of fire shock rounds

[Q1]

Still not clear on how oil g'nades factor in here, I semi dislike the way they set the ground on fire and thus insta-detonate the gas clouds. The slow is alright I guess, but any dps from burn is probably outdone by gas.

[XTazmanianDevilX]

I use the totem with the ballista, then spam a grenade and a gas grenade an use explosive bolts. Works well on mobs but takes a bit time for bosses.

[Caparino]

The secret incredience is "Fuse Time".
Explosive Grenade has 2,5sec
Oil Grenade 1,6sec
So its easier to first use the Explosive Grenade and after that the Oil Grenade.
The Oil Grenade Split its Debuff before the Explosive Detonate.

The Ignite Damage is a matter of the Explosvie Grenade Damage.

Gas Grenade its a little tricky because you need a exact timing. The Poison Cloud growth over time not like the Spilled Oil ground.
In general i think its better to use only one (Oil or Gas) the Cooldowns are only a few seconds.

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Another factor is AoE Size Buffs. You have a Skilltree with a +1 grenade per Ability and Crossbows with +1. You can have 3 grenades minimum for every Ability.
Thats means you have the most damage with Overlapping AoE Grenades.

One support gem gives +2 Projectiles for 20% less. Grenades are Projectiles too. So you can use 5 Explosive Grenades in one ability.

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Flashjbang and Voltaic grenades are more CC.
Flash bang is a has good non Fire ÄDamage and 400% Stunbuildup.
Best use with some Gems which support Stuns.

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I like my grenades but i think for Waystones a little to slow for most people, The grenades projectile Speed and Fuse time looks a little outdated. Thats when Detonator Skills like Eplosive Shot comes into play to fuse the grenades instant.

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In the moment i have given Up Damage grenades. I use Oil and Flashbang for CC and Ignite Buff but shoot with 3 half Screensize Explosive Shots. It has alot of Runspeed and more practical for my Evade Equip. But im Witchhunter and have Dezimator and Culling Strike. Problem is that Mobs only die when "Hit" in the Instant Death HP zones not by ignite or other effects. So its better to shoot alot.

[Q1]

Originally posted by XTazmanianDevilX:

I use the totem with the ballista, then spam a grenade and a gas grenade an use explosive bolts. Works well on mobs but takes a bit time for bosses.

I've been thinking of how to improve single target dps for bigger bosses, probably by taking advantage of the gemlings extra ability slots and throwing in something with those.