The dual wield / 2H comparison becomes interesting when you start adding gear that increases % chance to hit. You can achieve 5% without too many sacrifices (purple crafted helm for 2%, two rings for 1% each, bow for 1%). After 5%, 2H and 1h/shield stop showing significant benefit (as their base miss chance has floored at 0), but dual wield continues to improve.
Just for hypotheticals, take a 58 DPS 2H (Arcanite Reaper with extra attack power folded in) vs. two 40 DPS 1H, assuming 840 post battle shout attack power (+60 DPS).
Base:
- 5% miss 2H (hitting for damage 92% of the time after dodge/parry)
- 25% miss dual wield (hitting for damage 72% of the time after dodge/parry)
- 2H DPS = 0.92 * (58+60) = 108.56 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.72 * ((40+60) + 0.5*(40+60)) = 108 DPS
- Advantage - 2H by 0.5%
+ 1% chance to hit (4% 2H, 24% dual - keep same dodge/parry factor for simplicity)
- 2H DPS = 0.93 * (58+60) = 109.74 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.73* (1.5*(40+60)) = 109.5 DPS
- Advantage - 2H by 0.02%
+ 5% chance to hit (0% 2H, 20% dual - still with dodge/parry fudge)
- 2H DPS = 0.97 * (58+60) = 114.46 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.77 * (1.5*(40+60)) = 115.5 DPS
- Advantage - dual by 1%
+ 10% chance to hit (assuming no attack power loss so very hypothetical - 0% 2H, 15% dual)
- 2H DPS = 0.97 * (58+60) = 114.46 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.82 * (1.5*(40+60)) = 123 DPS
- Advantage - dual by 7.4%
Obviously these numbers will be different based on gear / talents as well as dodge/parry/level of opposing mobs. It's easy enough to run the #s if you have your character stats in front of you, however.
[Edit: list of some gear that improves hit %...
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=26925
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=13198
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19641
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35972
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=27150
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=27772
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35931
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=6448
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=15463
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=13375 ]
[edit: changed dual miss assumption to +20% - thanks playingtokrush]
Just for hypotheticals, take a 58 DPS 2H (Arcanite Reaper with extra attack power folded in) vs. two 40 DPS 1H, assuming 840 post battle shout attack power (+60 DPS).
Base:
- 5% miss 2H (hitting for damage 92% of the time after dodge/parry)
- 25% miss dual wield (hitting for damage 72% of the time after dodge/parry)
- 2H DPS = 0.92 * (58+60) = 108.56 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.72 * ((40+60) + 0.5*(40+60)) = 108 DPS
- Advantage - 2H by 0.5%
+ 1% chance to hit (4% 2H, 24% dual - keep same dodge/parry factor for simplicity)
- 2H DPS = 0.93 * (58+60) = 109.74 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.73* (1.5*(40+60)) = 109.5 DPS
- Advantage - 2H by 0.02%
+ 5% chance to hit (0% 2H, 20% dual - still with dodge/parry fudge)
- 2H DPS = 0.97 * (58+60) = 114.46 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.77 * (1.5*(40+60)) = 115.5 DPS
- Advantage - dual by 1%
+ 10% chance to hit (assuming no attack power loss so very hypothetical - 0% 2H, 15% dual)
- 2H DPS = 0.97 * (58+60) = 114.46 DPS
- Dual DPS = 0.82 * (1.5*(40+60)) = 123 DPS
- Advantage - dual by 7.4%
Obviously these numbers will be different based on gear / talents as well as dodge/parry/level of opposing mobs. It's easy enough to run the #s if you have your character stats in front of you, however.
[Edit: list of some gear that improves hit %...
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=26925
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=13198
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19641
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35972
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=27150
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=27772
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35931
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=6448
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=15463
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=13375 ]
[edit: changed dual miss assumption to +20% - thanks playingtokrush]