Some data I collected a while ago:
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At level 43, repeatedly fighting the exact same level 40 mob (cave with high respawn) with only normal strikes:
Main hand weapon (29.7 dps - 1.5 spd) / offhand unarmed:
342 hits, 395 swings, 40 misses.
10.1% miss rate, 13.4% miss/dodge/etc.
Average DPS (measured by combat stats mod) - 56.3 (low 45, high 70)
Average hits per kill - 31.1
Average swings per kill - 35.9
Average misses per kill - 3.6
Average rage gained per kill (including charge each fight) - 93.4
Main hand weapon (29.7 dps - 1.5 spd) / offhand weapon (29.7 dps - 1.9 spd):
170 hits, 252 swings, 77 misses. (fewer total kills, dinged at the end)
30.6% miss rate, 32.5% miss/dodge/etc.
Average DPS (measured by combat stats mod) - 57.8 (low 53, high 69)
Average hits per kill - 25
Average swings per kill - 38
Average misses per kill - 12.2
Average rage gained per kill (including charge each fight) - 96.8
This was with unbridled wrath only at level 2. All relevant skills maxed.
Unarmed was slightly lower DPS but more consistent. Much less streaky. I'll be using unarmed "dual wield" unless Blizzard changes the miss rate or I get a 1h that offers an improvement in DPS I can't ignore.
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Note: I am now 10 levels higher than when I collected that data, and I still do 1h+unarmed when "dual wielding" almost as a matter of faith. With a 1.3 speed dagger in main hand, and the consistent hitting that unarmed offhand provides, unbridled wrath contributes a reasonable (and dependable) stream of rage.
Dual wield with two weapons will provide better rage bursts when on a lucky streak, but a string of snake eyes is too dangerous in a tanking role. I usually 1h+unarmed the start of fights while tanking and swap in a shield once I feel good about my hold on aggro.
[edit: the mob was a spider, so the miss #s include masked parry events.]
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At level 43, repeatedly fighting the exact same level 40 mob (cave with high respawn) with only normal strikes:
Main hand weapon (29.7 dps - 1.5 spd) / offhand unarmed:
342 hits, 395 swings, 40 misses.
10.1% miss rate, 13.4% miss/dodge/etc.
Average DPS (measured by combat stats mod) - 56.3 (low 45, high 70)
Average hits per kill - 31.1
Average swings per kill - 35.9
Average misses per kill - 3.6
Average rage gained per kill (including charge each fight) - 93.4
Main hand weapon (29.7 dps - 1.5 spd) / offhand weapon (29.7 dps - 1.9 spd):
170 hits, 252 swings, 77 misses. (fewer total kills, dinged at the end)
30.6% miss rate, 32.5% miss/dodge/etc.
Average DPS (measured by combat stats mod) - 57.8 (low 53, high 69)
Average hits per kill - 25
Average swings per kill - 38
Average misses per kill - 12.2
Average rage gained per kill (including charge each fight) - 96.8
This was with unbridled wrath only at level 2. All relevant skills maxed.
Unarmed was slightly lower DPS but more consistent. Much less streaky. I'll be using unarmed "dual wield" unless Blizzard changes the miss rate or I get a 1h that offers an improvement in DPS I can't ignore.
------
Note: I am now 10 levels higher than when I collected that data, and I still do 1h+unarmed when "dual wielding" almost as a matter of faith. With a 1.3 speed dagger in main hand, and the consistent hitting that unarmed offhand provides, unbridled wrath contributes a reasonable (and dependable) stream of rage.
Dual wield with two weapons will provide better rage bursts when on a lucky streak, but a string of snake eyes is too dangerous in a tanking role. I usually 1h+unarmed the start of fights while tanking and swap in a shield once I feel good about my hold on aggro.
[edit: the mob was a spider, so the miss #s include masked parry events.]