True, Strafe isn't what it used to be but this comes from some game versions ago.
Ok, this is somewhat off-topic but, Strafe is still my choice mainly because some tactical issues:
1. If several monsters in line, there's a real chance to, on a single Strafe attack, make up to 4x damage on some of them.
2. Both the mercenary and the valkyre usually wander around and wake up monster groups when I'm engaged with another(s). Strafe missiles alert me of their presence, number and direction even before they're inside my 800x600 screen.
3. I didn't give much importance to knock-back in earlier versions, but 1.10s' monsters are so fast and lethal that it isn't uncommon to be attacked from 2 opposite angles at the same time. Strafe and knock-back allow me to keep the fire on the front line (mercenary and valkyre engaged in melee) and protect my back at the same time. AFAIK, only Act bosses are knock-back immune.
4. Sometimes my melee army and my missiles aren't enough to hold the ground against several groups attacking from several directions. Strafe missiles tell me where not to retreat.
5. On a fast 8/2 multizon and a medium/large monster group approaching at full speed against me, if the volley misses the front line attacking enemy I have to wait 8 frames to try to knock-back him, while an 8/2 strafazon has another chance to stop him after 2 frames.
6. My experience tells me that Multi-Shot makes more damage/time over medium/large groups, and that the defensive attributes on the skill rely on the the ability to kill the enemies on the firing direction before enemy groups coming from another directions reach me. Strafe, on the other hand, will usually make less damage (even if Blizzard fixes the 3/4 missile damage) but allows me to hold a position better than Multi-Shot because the ability to fire over any direction. Therefore, it isn't the chance to kill faster what moves me, but to control large and tough groups, holding the ground over larger periods of time without risking deaths.
Ok, this is somewhat off-topic but, Strafe is still my choice mainly because some tactical issues:
1. If several monsters in line, there's a real chance to, on a single Strafe attack, make up to 4x damage on some of them.
2. Both the mercenary and the valkyre usually wander around and wake up monster groups when I'm engaged with another(s). Strafe missiles alert me of their presence, number and direction even before they're inside my 800x600 screen.
3. I didn't give much importance to knock-back in earlier versions, but 1.10s' monsters are so fast and lethal that it isn't uncommon to be attacked from 2 opposite angles at the same time. Strafe and knock-back allow me to keep the fire on the front line (mercenary and valkyre engaged in melee) and protect my back at the same time. AFAIK, only Act bosses are knock-back immune.
4. Sometimes my melee army and my missiles aren't enough to hold the ground against several groups attacking from several directions. Strafe missiles tell me where not to retreat.
5. On a fast 8/2 multizon and a medium/large monster group approaching at full speed against me, if the volley misses the front line attacking enemy I have to wait 8 frames to try to knock-back him, while an 8/2 strafazon has another chance to stop him after 2 frames.
6. My experience tells me that Multi-Shot makes more damage/time over medium/large groups, and that the defensive attributes on the skill rely on the the ability to kill the enemies on the firing direction before enemy groups coming from another directions reach me. Strafe, on the other hand, will usually make less damage (even if Blizzard fixes the 3/4 missile damage) but allows me to hold a position better than Multi-Shot because the ability to fire over any direction. Therefore, it isn't the chance to kill faster what moves me, but to control large and tough groups, holding the ground over larger periods of time without risking deaths.
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Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War