So there is a wide collection of daggers dancer can use, and there's also a lot of speculation over what to use and when.
So I'm going to go ahead and take it on to myself to math all this out.
So to start, here's the gearset I'll use for comparison:
Haste: (256/1024) 25%
Dual Wield: (30% Trait + 3% neck + 5% Suppa + 10% body) = 48% DW
Double Attack: (3% Ring + 5% Brutal + 2% Belt + 3% Back) = 13% DA
Haste Samba: 10% Haste
Store TP: 21
Equation I'll use for DPS is DMG * Swings/min
Daggers
Phurba:
DMG: 44 Delay: 190
Twilight Knife:
DMG: 40 Delay: 190 "Quadruple Attack" +3%
Auric Dagger:
DMG: 39 Delay: 201 Dual Wield +5%
Parazonium +2
DMG: 22 Delay: 211 Occasionally Attacks 2-4 times (Averages 2.07 per round)
source
Parazonium +2
DMG: 45 Delay: 211 Double Attack+10(%)
I will use 3 values for Double attack based on Saber Dance, these are 13% from gear, then 30%/50% Double attack+ from Saber dance Max/Min based on average merits. Thus to calculate true double attack rate I will use:
SD%(0~30~50) + (100-SD%)*GearDA
Normal:
0%: 13% Double Attack
30%: 30+(1-0.3)*13 = 39.1% Double Attack
50%: 50+(1+0.5)*13 = 56.5% Double Attack
Magian Double Attack+ Parazonium:
0%: 23% Double Attack
30% 30+(1-0.3)*23 = 46.1% Double Attack
50% 50+(1-0.5)*23 = 61.5% Double Attack
Lets start.
Dagger1+Dagger2
Dual Wield: -48/53%
Haste: -35%
Combined DMG: Dmg1+Dmg2
Combined Delay: Delay1+Delay2
Dual Wield Delay: -(cDelay*DW) = (cDelay-dwDelay)
Individual Delay: dwDelay/2 = iDelay
TP/Swing = 5.0 + [(iDelay - 180) * 1.5 / 180] = TP/S
Hasted Delay: -(0.35*iDelay) = (iDelay -hastedelay)
Swings/min = 3600/hDelay = S/M
Double Attack1+ = 0.13*S/M = +DA1
Double Attack2+ = 0.391*S/M = +DA2
Double Attack3+ = 0.565*S/M = +DA3
Quadruple Attack+ = (0.03%procrate*quadhits)*S/M = +QA
Total Swings/min = 60.3+QA+(DA1~DA2~DA3) = 67.5+(DA1~DA2~DA3)
= TS/M1~TS/M2~TS/M3
TPM = TP/S(TS/M1~TS/M2~TS/M3) = TPM1~TPM2~TPM3
DPS = cDMG(TS/M1~TS/M2~TS/M3) = DPS1~DPS2~DPS3
==================================================
Auric+Twilight
Dual Wield: -53%
Haste: -35%
Combined DMG: 79
Combined Delay: 391
Dual Wield Delay: -207.23 = 183.7
Individual Delay: 183.77/2 = 91.8
TP/Swing = 5.0 + [(91.8 - 180) * 1.5 / 180] = 4.2
Hasted Delay: -32.1 = 59.7
Swings/min = 3600/59.7 = 60.3
Double Attack1+ = 0.13*60.3 = +7.8
Double Attack2+ = 0.391*60.3 = +23.6
Double Attack3+ = 0.565*60.3 = +34.1
Quadruple Attack+ = (0.03*4)*60.3 = +7.2
Total Swings/min = 60.3+7.2+(7.8~23.6~34.1) = 67.5+(7.8~23.6~34.1)
= 75.3~91.1~101.6
TPM = 4.2(75.3~91.1~101.6) = 316.26~382.62~426.72
DPS = 79(75.3~91.1~101.6) = 5948.7~7196.9~8026.4
============================================
Phurba+Auric
Dual Wield: -53%
Haste: -35%
Combined DMG: 83
Combined Delay: 391
Dual Wield Delay: -207.23 = 183.7
Individual Delay: 183.77/2 = 91.8
TP/Swing = 5.0 + [(91.8 - 180) * 1.5 / 180] = 4.2
Hasted Delay: -32.1 = 59.7
Swings/min = 3600/59.7 = 60.3
Double Attack1+ = 0.13*60.3 = +7.8
Double Attack2+ = 0.391*60.3 = +23.6
Double Attack3+ = 0.565*60.3 = +34.1
Total Swings/min = 60.3+(7.8~23.6~34.1) = 68.1~83.9~94.4
TPM = 4.2(68.1~83.9~94.4) = 286.02~352.38~396.48
DPS = 83(68.1~83.9~94.4) = 5652.3~6963.7~7835.2
============================================
Auric+OA2-4 Parazonium+2
Dual Wield: -53%
Haste: -35%
Combined Delay: 412
Dual Wield Delay: -218.3 = 193.7
Individual Delay: 193.7/2 = 96.9
TP/Swing = 5.0 + [(96.9 - 180) * 1.5 / 180] = 4.3
Hasted Delay: -33.9 = 63.0
Swings/min = (3600/63.0)/2 = 28.6 Each Hand
Double Attack1+ = 0.13*28.6 = +3.7
Double Attack2+ = 0.391*28.6 = +11.2
Double Attack3+ = 0.565*28.6 = +16.2
MAINHAND(Auric)
Total Swings: 28.6+(3.7~11.2~16.2) = 32.3~39.8~44.8
DPS: 39(32.3~39.8~44. = 1259.7~1552.2~1747.2
TP/M: 4.3(32.3~39.8~44. = 138.5~171.1~192.6
OFFHAND(Parazonium) (OA2-4 doesnt proc on swing that procced DA)
Proccable swings:
Double Attack1: -3.7 = 24.9
Double Attack2: -11.2 = 17.4
Double Attack3: -16.2 = 12.4
Average hits = Successful proc hits *2.07 + double attack procs*2
Double Attack1: 24.9*2.07 + 3.7*2 = 51.5+7.4 = 58.9
Double Attack2: 17.4*2.07 + 11.2*2 = 36.0+22.4 = 58.4
Double Attack3: 12.4*2.07 + 16.2*2 = 25.7+32.4 = 58.1
DPS: 22(58.9~58.4~58.1) = 1295.8~1284.8~1278.2
TP/M: 4.3(58.9~58.4~58.1) = 253.3~251.1~249.8
Totals:
DPS: (1259.7+1295.~(1552.2+1284.~(1747.2+1278.2) =
2554.8~2837~3025.4
TP/M: (138.5+253.3)~(171.1+251.1)~(192.6+249. =
391.8~422.2~442.4
============================================
Auric+DA Parazonium+2
Dual Wield: -53%
Haste: -35%
Combined DMG: 84
Combined Delay: 412
Dual Wield Delay: -218.3 = 193.7
Individual Delay: 193.7/2 = 96.9
TP/Swing = 5.0 + [(96.9 - 180) * 1.5 / 180] = 4.3
Hasted Delay: -33.9 = 63.0
Swings/min = (3600/63.0) = 57.1
Double Attack1+ = 57.1*0.23 = 13.1
Double Attack2+ = 57.1*0.461 = 26.3
Double Attack3+ = 57.1*0.615 = 35.1
Total Swings/min = 57.1+(13.1~26.3~35.1) = 70.2~83.4~92.2
TPM = 4.3(70.2~83.4~92.2) = 301.86~358.62~396.46
DPS = 84(70.2~83.4~92.2) = 5896.8~7005.6~7744.8
============================================
Phurba+Twilight
Dual Wield: -48%
Haste: -35%
Combined DMG: 84
Combined Delay: 380
Dual Wield Delay: -182.4 = 197.6
Individual Delay: 197.6/2 = 98.8
TP/Swing = 5.0 + [(98.8 - 180) * 1.5 / 180] = 4.3
Hasted Delay: -34.5 = 64.3
Swings/min = 3600/64.3 = 56.0
Double Attack1+ = 0.13*56.0 = +7.3
Double Attack2+ = 0.391*56.0 = +21.9
Double Attack3+ = 0.565*56.0 = +31.6
Quadruple Attack+ = (0.03*4)*56.0 = +6.7
Total Swings/min = 60.3+6.7+(7.3~21.9~31.6) = 67+(7.3~21.9~31.6)
=74.3~88.9~98.6
TPM = 4.3(74.3~88.9~98.6) = 319.49~382.27~423.98
DPS = 84(74.3~88.9~98.6) = 6241.2~7467.6~8282.4
============================================
Parazonium(DA) + Twilight
Dual Wield: -48%
Haste: -35%
Combined DMG: 85
Combined Delay: 401
Dual Wield Delay: -192.4 = 208.6
Individual Delay: 208.6/2 = 104.3
TP/Swing = 5.0 + [(104.3 - 180) * 1.5 / 180] = 4.3
Hasted Delay: -36.5 = 67.8
Swings/min = 3600/67.8 = 53.1
Double Attack1+ = 53.1*0.23 = 12.2
Double Attack2+ = 53.1*0.461 = 24.5
Double Attack3+ = 53.1*0.615 = 32.7
(I am going to assume Quad Attack and Double Attack can't both proc, right?)
Quadruple Attack1+ = (0.03*4)*(53.1-12.2) = 0.12*40.9 = +4.9
Quadruple Attack2+ = (0.03*4)*(53.1-24.5) = 0.12*28.6 = +3.4
Quadruple Attack3+ = (0.03*4)*(53.1-32.7) = 0.12*20.4 = +2.5
Total Swings/min1 = 53.1+4.9(quad)+12.2(DA) = 70.2
Total Swings/min2 = 53.1+3.4(quad)+24.5(DA) = 81
Total Swings/min3 = 53.1+2.5(quad)+32.7(DA) = 88.3
= 70.2~81~88.3
TPM = 4.3(70.2~81~88.3) = 301.86~348.3~379.69
DPS = 85(70.2~81~88.3) = 5967~6885~7505.5
===============================================
Auric+Twilight
TPM = 316.26~382.62~426.72
DPS = 5948.7~7196.9~8026.4
Phurba+Auric
TPM = 286.02~352.38~396.48
DPS = 5652.3~6963.7~7835.2
Auric+OA2-4 Parazonium+2
TPM: 391.8~422.2~442.4
DPS: 2554.8~2837~3025.4
Auric+DA Parazonium+2
TPM = 301.86~358.62~396.46
DPS = 5896.8~7005.6~7744.8
Phurba+Twilight
TPM = 319.49~382.27~423.98
DPS = 6241.2~7467.6~8282.4
Parazonium(DA) + Twilight
TPM = 301.86~348.3~379.69
DPS = 5967~6885~7505.5
Dagger Combos By DPS, Highest -> Lowest
Phurba+Twilight
v
Auric+Twilight
v
Phurba+Auric
v
Auric+DA Parazonium+2
v
Parazonium(DA) + Twilight
v
Auric+OA2-4 Parazonium+2
Dagger Combos by TP/M, Highest -> Lowest
Auric+OA2-4 Parazonium+2
v
Phurba+Twilight
v
Auric+Twilight
v
Phurba+Auric
v
Auric+DA Parazonium+2
v
Parazonium(DA) + Twilight
Synopsis (AKA: TL;DR)
SO we have, for highest TP gain, Auric +OA2-4 dagger offhanded. The TP gain of this combo soars above the rest with fan dance up, however once you put up saber dance its TP rate actually gets caught up to by all the other sets quite quickly. This makes sense as you'll often double attack on OA2-4 swings instead of having the effect proc, slowing TP gain a bit.
The next best for TP gain is Phurba+Twilight, which also happens to have significantly the highest DPS. With Saber Dance up this pair is only 20 TP/M lower than Auric+OA2-4, yet it has nearly triple the DPS.
Auric makes a decent substitute in for twilight or phurba in this deadly combo, ranking in at second and third place for DPS and 3rd/4th in TPM.
Tl;Dr Any combination of Auric, Twilight, and Phurba is a recipe for win. Note: all you dancers with +2 AF3 gear, we're fairly certain Twilight's proc effect cancels out or +2 set bonus so avoid mainhanding Twilight. Tops you lose 1 base DMG in the auric+twilight combo, which seems like a good trade off imo for a "just in case" measure.
If you have any questions feel free to ask. Also if there's an issue in anything I calculated please point it out!
If you have a request for another dagger combo to see how it compares against the rest, feel free to post, though I'd appreciate it if you tried to calculate it yourself, I even posted the equations up at the top. It's not hard, just time consuming. Most of this is grade 7 math.
And if you find a rather notable dagger combo in DPS or TP/M, do post it for us to see!
Finally:
I spent over 4 hours doing all this number crunching, so please, if you're going to post all of this somewhere else (And I will see it, I browse nearly every big FFXI forum out there) take the 15 seconds to give me credit, ok?
~Urat (of Quetz)
