Lightning arrow or Split arrow?

I've been using split arrow with chain and have been loving it. Today, just for fun, I put in lightning arrow and LMP in place of faster attacks and split arrow - and it seemed pretty powerful.

So my question is which skill should I use?

split arrow w/ chain dps = 35k
Lighting arrow w/ LMP + chain dps = 20k

With lighting arrow, I fire a lot slower however (since it doesn't have faster attacks), so that must mean a lot of my dps is from "pure" damage.

Both are pretty powerful. Use whatever you like as long as you can sustain the cost of casting it :P

yeah I can handle the mana cost for both. I have 11% mana leech off of physical dmg which is enough for both skills.

Both are fine and are powerful when built correctly. Split Arrow hits harder (80% v 70% damage effectiveness and then LA gets reduced again for LMP/GMP) and gives you a little more customization because you don't need a LMP/GMP Gem. Lightning Arrow hits more (each attack can hit an additional 3 targets) and amps damage via Shocks.

They are pretty balanced against each other, it's just preference.

hrmmm, yeah i know its personal preference, I just can't decide.

On paper, a 20k lighting arrow does more dps than a 35k split arrow, but I don't know.

I truly hate LA since closed beta when every damn single ranger were running LA+Chain+Lmp+Even Flashier Effects... with Blood Magic build. So I've got it easy, and run SA from, like always. As for you - cannot you run both? Might be nice for reflect maps (if only thing you change is gem end eq, not passives, ofc)

Well, Assuming an ideal on paper situation. SA/Chain has 6 arrows hitting 3 times each, so in a room chalk full of never ending enemies you'd be at 630k DPS.

Same situation Lightning Arrow 3 arrows, hitting 12 times each so 720k not including any extra DPS from shock.

I have no clue how much any of that matters for actual gameplay...but, yeah...LA would win in that hypothetical of a best case.

LA so OB...

"

Well, Assuming an ideal on paper situation. SA/Chain has 6 arrows hitting 3 times each, so in a room chalk full of never ending enemies you'd be at 630k DPS.

Same situation Lightning Arrow 3 arrows, hitting 12 times each so 720k not including any extra DPS from shock.

I have no clue how much any of that matters for actual gameplay...but, yeah...LA would win in that hypothetical of a best case.

Yeah thats a chalkfull of dps. Hrmm, maybe I'll test out a few maps with each skill and just "feel" which one is more powerful

Lightning Arrow has a built in Chain type effect, right? So if you miss Faster Attacks, switch that in. :)

I like the Shock. I do Lightning Arrow with Cast Fireball and Ice Spear on Critical Strike. I know Split Arrow with Chain is more ideal for my build on paper, but the Shock and lower mana cost seems to up the clear speed for me.