Multistrike vs LMP for Lightning Strike

There's a small debate about what's the best gem to use with Lightning Strike between Multistrike and Lesser Multiple Projectiles. From what I read, most seem to prefer Multistrike.

Personnally, I was sceptical and turned down by the multistrike 180% mana multiplier (vs 150% for LMP), so I decided to run some numbers.

To simplify the analysis, let’s imagine a character attack speed of 1 per second doing 200 base physical damage with 100% increased physical damage.
Now, let’s imagine him using a level 20 Lightning Strike Gem (120% damage effectiveness, 30% less projectile damage, +57% increase physical damage).
Without any support gem, this character will deal (200*1.2*0.7) = 168 x (2.57) = 406 damage x 3 projectiles = 1218 damage every second.

Let’s first analyse the impact of a level 20 Lesser Multiple Projectile Support (-30% less projectile damage, 38% increased projectile damage)

The damage per projectile becomes (200*1.2*0. 7*0.7) = 117 x 2.94 = 344 damage. However, it is now multiplied by 5 projectiles for a total of 1720 damage every second.

Now, let’s analyse the impact of a level 20 Multistrike support (+107% attack speed, 36% less damage)
The damage per projectile becomes (200*1.2*0.7*0.64) = 107.5 x 2.57 = 276 damage. The attack speed of 1 per second is multiplied by 2.07 for a total of 2,07 attacks per seconds. So, 572 damage per second x 3 projectiles = 1716 damage every second
Now multistrike is supposed to add 2 attacks and that’s where I have problem figuring out how it works. Are the 2 additional attacks included in +107% additional attack speed or are they added, in addition to it? I have a hard time believing that you’ll do 2 additional attacks for a total of 5148 damage every second with Multistrike compare to 1720 with LMP. In that case, Multistrike is vastly superior. It doesn’t even compare.

However, if the additional attacks are included in the bonus attack speed, then we have 1720 dps for LMP and 1716 dps for Multistrike.

However, Multistrike mana multiplier is 180% vs LMP’150%. Also, Multistrike will lower the dps of the melee portion of Lightning Strike while LMP doesn’t have any impact on it.


So I guess the conclusion of this analysis a question : How does Multistrike damage calculation should be done ?

Regarding the attack speed: The 107% is what causes it to triple hit so quickly. Think of it like a gigantically powerful faster attacks gem, and casting the attack three times (but with one large cost at the start rather than three separate costs)

Regarding the comparison: The problem is that you aren't going to be hitting 5 things with LMP LS even remotely close to consistently. Multistrike giving you higher triple target dps is more valuable than getting lower pentatarget dps in the majority of situations.

HOWEVER: This changes when you start adding pierce, of which you can get 60% just from quality, and the rest from projectile weakness. Pierce turns it from an obvious choice of multistrike, to a more competetive choice between multistrike and LMP.

The reason multistrike is so powerful is because its a multiplicative bonus to attack speed.

That means that ALL your melee attack speed, including passives, faster attacks, attack speed on gear etc. Get more than doubled with multistrike.

Without multistrike I have 153% increased attack speed from gear, passives and gems.
With multistrike I have.. hold on... 425% increased attack speed.

The question is then is LMP better than 255% increased attack speed in my case? I would definately say no. Even IF you hit 5 targets constantly I would say multistrike is superior by a long run.

Another thing to consider is that you shock much faster when attacking faster obviously, which gives you even more damage.

In the end, it's all up to personal experience. Try it out. But in theory and what most people seem to prefer that I know play LS - Multistrike > LMP. Hands down.

People prefer multistrike over LMP now because mana problems arent that bad with it, you crit more often, with a quality lightning strike you pierce very well with it, and of coruse because multistrike selects targets on its own. You only fire 3 projectiles at a time but because of mutlistrike you dont have to aim for each attack anymore it just aims by itself which is why its even a better AoE than LMP.