[Guide] Breaker & Phasezerker - Math behind which COM is best

Borderlands 3 Amara the Siren
#1

Hello,

With Mayhem 2.0 right around the corner I wanted to get this build/guide(?) out there. While we don’t know what exactly Mayhem 2.0 will be, we do know the gear will scale with each Mayhem level. That means we will stay the same level and rely more on our gear and a high quality build, similar to OP levels from BL2.

So there have been many people since launch that have always talked about how good of a skill Personal Space can be. However, When it comes to actually phasegrasphing or phasecasting all anyone ever talks about is the Phasezerker COM. And for good reason, it’s a very strong COM. However, I want to talk about the times when pairing a Breaker COM with +3 Personal Space, will outperform a Phasezerker COM. Keep in mind Personal Space is +18% per point. Link @DankRafft The Breaker COM, as you will see, can equal or surpass Phasezerker COM at times.

Using the damage formulas developed by the community, @Skwuruhl, and the new level cap of 57, I was able to crunch some numbers to show when and why Breaker is sometimes better than Phasezerker. Link The Damage equation is as follows:

Code:

Base Damage = Blue
Gun Damage = Red
V1 = Green
V2 = Orange
Splash = Pink
Elemental = Cyan
Crit = Yellow
Misc = Gray

[(Gun Card Damage) * (1 + Wrath + Dread + Samsara + Driver Base + Driver Scaled + Jab Cross + Phazeserker + Com Generic Wep Boost + GunDmgAnoint) * (1 + C-C-Combo Bonus + Victory Rush) * (1 + Laid Bare) * (1 + Personal Space + Com Type Boost + Artifact Type Boost) * (1 + Arms Deal + Class Mod Splash Damage + Artifact AOE Damage + Splash Damage Anointment) * (1 + While-Sliding Damage Anoint + While-Airborne Damage Anoint) * (1 Tempest + Tempest Shock + Artifact Elemental)] * 2 * [(1 + SniperBonus) * (1 + WeaponCritBonus) * (1 + ManufacturerBonus) * (1 + Transcend + ClassMod + GuardRank + Anointment)] * (1 + Guardian Rank Gun Damage)]

So lets make a few assumptions to clean up this equation. We are comparing two COMs: the Phasezerker (Gun damage Boost) and the Breaker (V2 Boost). If we assume that both COMs can use a build that can access V1, Laid Bare, Splash, Elemental, Crit, and GR Gun damage, then the equation is reduced as follows:

[(Gun Card Damage) * (1 + Wrath + Dread +Samsara + Jab Cross + Phazeserker + Com Generic Wep Boost + GunDmgAnoint) * (1 + Personal Space + Com Type Boost + Artifact Type Boost)

We are also removing the Driver bonus as we aren’t using this COM. Now, that isn’t to say the other skills and boost don’t matter, this is purely for hypothetical math when comparing relevant COM, skills, and Anointments. It is also completely possible to run a build that lets you swap out the COM when you need to, like for example bosses.

Very quickly, let me first say sorry for the screenshots. I am more accustomed to my double ultra wide monitor set up at work and am using my home Pixelbook. I put the hypothetical for max rush stacks, half rush stacks (13), and no rush stacks. The Breaker side ignores rush stacks all together, labeling it there just to so consistency in equation. Personal space was measured with point blank being max, half distance, and a distance too far to get any benefit. I also didn’t technically include Jab Cross, as it requires a melee to activate which isn’t always possible. Jab Cross would always create a small increase in Breakers favor.

Double Capstone Build This is a build I have put through True TakeDown with a Breaker and Phasezerker. Ties That Bind is such a short cool down that the bonus cooldown from Phasezerker is hardly noticeable. I find more use out of the damage reduction from the Breaker COM.

So, using a build that can be double capstone, as I have been running lately, we are able to get Wrath, Dread, and Personal Space. Assuming Wrath and Dread is active we are able to make the following assumptions:

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In a situation like this, most of the time the Phasezerker will come out ahead with an average damage increase of 3.04%. This is no surprise. If you have General Gun Boost the Phasezerker has an average of .34% increase in damage.

Now you’ll see there are a few gear boosts and skill boosts. COM type boost and Artifact type boost are not always going to be included. Oftentimes, running a full build with only one gun type isn’t very ammo healthy. You might have it on your COM or artifact and only have it affect one or two guns. When this happens Phasezerker tends to pull out a head, but keep in mind the damage equation for “Bonus Elemental” projectiles does not include COM or Artifact type boost in V2, or anywhere. Personal Space is the only V2 for “Bonus Elemental”

Now we’re going to say you have a weapon that has the 100% ASE anointment. This can still be used with the Bonus Element next 10 seconds anointment found on Grenades and Shields. You also get a Bonus Element for the Capstone Forceful Expression. So by having the 100% ASE instead of an additional Bonus element you can get the following:

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In this situation Breaker comes out ahead with an average damage increase of 5.29%. Without the General Gun boost Breaker has an average damage increase of 4.06%.

Now for situations where you might be fighting a single boss or large target you want to maximize damage and can’t rely on ricochets. The most common thing people will do is carry some 250% after Phasecast anointed guns. In this situation we lose Dread, as we are no longer Phasegrasping anything. The results are as follows:

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In this situation Breaker is greatly outperforming the Phasezerker with an average damage increase of 9.22%.

Currently as of this moment, this increase of damage, which can be as much as 23.54% with the previous buffs mentioned, isn’t exactly needed. Mayhem 2.0 might change that, or not. We don’t know yet. Another thing to consider is the Phasezerker gets slightly better Action Skill cooldown rate. This can help for keeping the buffs up when mobbing or using Phasegrasph to control the area and avoid damage. Breaker on the other hand has increased damage mitigation. Both can be used interchangeably with a double capstone build when killing mobs vs bosses.

Another build I wanted to briefly talk about is a full Phasecast build. A build that goes down to Avatar capstone, and halfway on the other two trees. This build will never make use of Dread, so no point getting it. Instead we aim for Samsara. A skill that doesn’t always work with some Action skills. However, if we are using Phasecast with Avatar then we can hit targets more often and the stacks last for 20 seconds.

If we are putting 3 points into Samsara and lining up our spammed Phasecast to stay at max 5 stacks with 250% ASE guns, we get the following:

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In this situation Breaker is on average 9.72% stronger than Phasezerker. However, since Samsara is hard to build up and keep at max stacks. Let’s say we can only maintain a single stack, even if we have Avatar and that guarantees us at least 2. We get the following:

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With just 1 stack of Samsara we are getting on average 9.32% more damage from Breaker. Not having General Gun damage on COM still averages 9.05% increase in Breakers favor.

Now, a lot of this is going to come down to preference and situation, but even if you just throw on the breaker with Phasecast for some bosses, with a regular Phasezerker build you can still increase your damage. If you build around it with Phasecast, then you can greatly expand on what I think is one of the strongest skills Amara has, Personal Space at 6/3. If Mayhem 2.0 increases the challenge with each Mayhem level, there is a good chance these small increases will have a larger impact.

Please feel free to reply if you have any questions. This is all hypothetical situations. What guns you have, anointments, the exact build, and the number of enemies is always going to be a factor.

8 Likes
#2

Thanks for taking the time with the Math, when comparing these COMs. It really adds a lot of substantial evidence to the discussion.
I’d like to just point out one thing: You did not consider, how each COM impacts your gameplay. The reason I want to add this, is that this is still the only reason why I do not use the Breaker instead of a Phasezerker.
The Phasezerker adds a crazy amount of Reload Speed and even adds Conflux for free, which works really well with Harmageddon. The Breaker only adds passive buffs, that do not really contribute much to your playstyle. Damage Reduction seems not that great, when I can just abuse Sustainment/Health Gate to stay alive and still play as aggressive as I want. Usually a tanky shield like the Stop Gap or Transformer will suffice to keep you safe, even in True Takedown. And let’s say you run guns that greatly benefit of having good Reload Speed, like the Hellwalker, you will still get higher DPS with the Phasezerker.
I just wanted to add that Damage is not everything, how each COM impacts your gameplay should always be considered when choosing the right COM for any build.
PS: I still learned that I should keep a Breaker in my inventory for Boss fights to maximize my damage on a single target and that was definitely something I did not consider so far. Thanks for the thread!

2 Likes
#3

I kind of mentioned the difference in playstyle with the benefits of Action Skill Cooldown. Depending on your grenades and shield anointment, grenade element, gun element, and action skill element, you might not even need conflux as you already can have all 5 elements.

I’m not sure where you are getting the reload buff from Phasezerker, though. Fast hands and Alacrity give reload. If you are referring to Phasezerker putting you at max stacks, then yes that is nice, but you’ll have stacks anyway when mobbing with Do Harm and Violent Tapestry.

#4

I tried the Breaker, but I did not get the same results as the Phasezerker with Alacrity. With the Phasezerker and Avatar, you constantly get 25 Stacks Alacrity on your second Phasecast - grasp. That leads to a change in gameplay, as well as the cooldown. I usually use a lot of Jakob’s shotties and especially there, you feel the difference immediately. I just wanted to mention it, still cool that you took the time to compare these two COM’s based on damage in different situations.

1 Like
#5

How does this compare with +5 tempest COMs, since they can also give more damage than the zerker when using damage anointments?

#6

You would have to include the elemental buffs, assuming all thing consistent and test the math with every elemental gun on every color bar. Cryo and Radiation would be weaker though, but you then have to factor the utility they bring when mobbing and not having to switch weapons as much. There would be more variables out side the damage equation than the above math.

#7

I’ll have to try a Breaker COM for comparison in my current build. But, like was mentioned, I think it depends largely on play style, even with your math (very nice work, btw). I only have two points in Personal Space and my current build feels better than when I had more.

Do we know the distance used to determine when Personal Space starts to work? And what are the percentages in relation to distance from the enemy? I run a sniper and AR mostly, so I’m killing at more of a distance, depending on the situation.

#8

Link was in first post.

#9

Well, with that info being pretty old, here’s my quick test video with both COM’s. I do have matching +51% Jackobs Crit bonuses on both and my Breaker COM adds 1 point into Personal Space.

In my quick testing, with my current setup, the Phasezerker still has higher damage at all distances with just 2 points in Personal Space as compared to 3 with the Breaker COM.

#10

But you have wpn dmg on Phasezerker. Shouldn’t be tested with the same bonuses?

#11

I think you may have missed what I was testing.

I was comparing when buffs are actually activated with both a phasezerker and a breaker COM with +3 personal space. The boost from phasezerker is additive with wrath, dread, samsara, weapon damage on the COM, and ASE 100%/250% anointment. More is always good, but at the expense of reducing what you are multiplying it by. In this case Personal Space, assuming all others constant.

You have a COM with +1 PS which is only adding 18% damage in one bucket. You also aren’t activating your buffs or anointments. In your example you have 3 in Personal Space with a Breaker COM. I have 3 in personal space with a Phasezerker COM and 6 with a breaker COM. 6/3 Personal space gives my a 108% increase max (point blank) that is then multiplied by what ever additive gun buffs I am using.

As I stated, and as the math shows, when you aren’t using a 100% ASE anointment then Phasezerker is about 3% stronger or about equal if you have weapon damage on your COM. The Breaker is 4-5% stronger when using a 100% ASE anointment. However, as I said, this can be offset by the increased Action Skill Cooldown rate and, as pointed out above by @kevin.gloth, Reload speed from the phasezerker. This makes the boost from Breaker negligible for mobbing.

Where the +3 PS Breaker shines is when you have 250% after Phasecast or 300% after phaseslam, which I didn’t include but would be even higher. Now as it stands right now, we can just use any COM with just about any build and spam a good gun like the Seventh Sense and kill any boss. Mayhem 2.0, the reason for this post, might be different and force us to squeeze every drop of damage out of a build.

#12

You’re right… I’ll have to find one

#13

I’m going to do some more testing. I’m all for maxing DPS, so if the Breaker does give me more damage overall, I’ll definitely switch!

#14

You don’t have to switch completely. The build I posted is a build I’ve been using that is basically a standard double capstone build. Switching would only be for when you feel you need more tankiness and if you are using 250% anoint weapons for a boss. Often a boss will spawn adds and then it depends on what weapon you have. If you have a Recursion with +50 element N2M, use Phasezerker. If you have a 250% ASE Recursion start playing the lottery.

#15

Well, I did another quick comparison with COMs that had nearly identical stat rolls. Here’s what I got by doing nothing but switching them:

So the Breaker does do more crit damage in this situation. I’ll have to put it through the paces in SS and Maliwan Takedown.

#16

FYI, I don’t see any link to the build in first post.

#17

Is that not a link for you?

#18

Nope, the cursor will change when I try to click it, but there is no link.

#19

It should work now. Sorry about that.

1 Like
#20

With the new anointment 300v2, breaker just lost the fight. Sad day friends.

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