Quote from kuronogami;1296350:
I may do this at a later date but for the time being I won't be however if the goal is to purely test how much difference the max does. Have 0 max damage (0 str + hamster set) to reduce your max to 0~0 with a wand equipped but leaving your magic attack alone testing that then equipping something which gives a bit of max to see how much is added.
It's not a hard line formula but my main point to things is to gauge the difference and how much of a difference things are. It's worth testing and I probably will when I get around to it but since my main curiosity was how much I loose out by switching to max titles (in the event that I wanted to FH) is fairly clear.
Max from strength = nothing
So that's thrown out to begin with unless you're using BFO, then that's a max * BFO% * .4
Matk is always 2 matk = 1 firebolt damage.
End coeff with heb/circ/ALO is 6.5 * (1 + .15(fire) + .15(bolt) + 1.5(MWM) + .15(Hebona) + .2(Bolt mastery) + .02(ALO)) = 3.17 * 6.5 = 20.605 multiplier.
With just masteries it ends up being 2.8. Most people don't get much past 3.0 because making a heb set gimps you in some ways. Attack speed enhance is a pain, can't use the fancy new pierce robe or g20 sets. Only options are getting mana reduction with karis+enchants or using langu armor+enchants for attack increase. Which ends up gimping your damage further(Hawk and Baron aren't the best enchants for damage).
Anyways. It ends up being that 2.5 enchant damage = 18~20 firebolt damage, and 2 matk = 18~20 firebolt damage. Your maximum amount of matk in a set is ~60 and gimps your max damage to hell. A solid max damage set runs around 100. This is 30 vs 40. Simple math in the end, and remember that max damage enchants echo the BFO so add in for a standard 40% a bonus 16 firebolt max from the additional 40 max. 30 vs 56.
Matk enchants really only matter if you're doing LR or Blaze, as neither benefit from BFO/max damage. So 9/10 using just your max damage gear does wonders for firebolt. If you're a nutcase like me you specialize in this and are built to abuse it to the limit(heb set, Viv reforges, Mana reduction set effect, etc.)
In NA there is no way in seventh hell while FH is up that you as a firebolter can match that. I've tried, I've done the math, I've even used Rynn's stupid good firebolts under similar conditions w/o BFO and w/ Viv. You just can't match it and in cases where brio shear is involved(BD, Duke) its just not able to keep up. However from the downtime of ~50 seconds, your firebolt wont actually stop. Additionally, FH/Bash outdo firebolt in boss situatons, but are rather lackluster in most shadow mission/extended battle situations. See: Brio shear. KR doesn't have that much of a disparity, but brio shear turnabout still exists and so long as the situation isn't hazardous for FH(ADV HS gimmicky bullshit, High damage reduction, massive amounts of walking), FH>Firebolt in a good portion of relevant content. Rabbie Phantasm is dangerous enough that Master of Spellwalk is considered a good idea and FH is probably suicide.
I did a garbageload of theorycrafting, refining the process, the works, Rynn's thread did wonders to help. My main point is that unless you're using BFO the ego's average damage is still higher or equal to a step6 tribolt, and likely gives a step7 a run for its money. Viv Reforges are stupid broken even in NA. They're worse in KR.
TL;DR: In most circumstances you're better of with max damage and max damage titles. Limit Breaker/Merlin(or the fancy new free title) if you're REALLY in need of that dank matk, otherwise go damage or go bard/utility like I do. I'm a professional elf scum firebolter and my 2nd title is almost always ALO Asuna or starlet, and my main title cycles between BFO/Viv/Maestro/Snap Cast Master/Spellwalk Master/Hydra Master. I haven't touched Blood master in months, I don't get Girg Slayer because VHM might as well be anti-elf, and Limit breaker is a waste of a heroic stone for me. I don't even have Meteor Strike Master as I'll likely never really use it.