For pure casters (Avril, Cleo, Vallari), would Zen Cauldron or Hand of Wisdom be best? From first glance, you would say Zen Cauldron would be better as it has about 10 more magic vs the Hand of Wisdom. But I really question whether it's better than the Hand of Wisdom as in a typical fight, only one offensive spell is cast per fight. Avril's Blizzard damage is terrible and is really only useful to lock down troops. Cleo and Vallari could certainly benefit from the magic but would +20 magic really out value the stats that two Hand of Wisdoms provide for army bonuses? I can't imagine that +20 magic for one offensive spell out values 12 command (army attack speed) and 18 stamina (army health).

Hand of Wisdom
+4 Magic (Reduces magic damage taken by hero, who cares..?)
+11 Command (+Troop Attack Speed)
+9 Stamina (+Troop Health)

Zen Cauldron
+13 Magic
+5 Command

Thoughts?

I was under the assumption that caster damage increases with magic rather than attack. Look at their passive abilities that have the 25% proc chance. That damage is increased by magic so I would argue their base damage increases with magic.

That being said, you bring up 2 separate points in my opinion. If you had the resources to craft 2 of both trinkets, wouldn't you equip 2 hands of wisdom when you need the extra troop space, then switch to Zen Cauldron when you wanted more damage?

Croft wrote:

I was under the assumption that caster damage increases with magic rather than attack. Look at their passive abilities that have the 25% proc chance. That damage is increased by magic so I would argue their base damage increases with magic.

That being said, you bring up 2 separate points in my opinion. If you had the resources to craft 2 of both trinkets, wouldn't you equip 2 hands of wisdom when you need the extra troop space, then switch to Zen Cauldron when you wanted more damage?

Yes caster damage increases with magic but the passive ability of magic when PVP'ing is 'Increases magic damage dealt by hero and troops. Reduces magic damage taken by hero'. So in your typical PVP fight, only one offensive spell (2x Blizzards if using Avril) is cast per fight. Avril's Blizzard does terrible damage and isn't meant to do anything besides lock troops down. Cleo and Vallari do decent damage but again, only one offensive cast may or may not be used as the fight is typically decided after you use Favor/Firestorm. The other two magic stat passives 'increase magic damage by troops' is useless (as human) and reduces magic damage taken by hero is useless.

So that begs the question here, is +20 magic (using 2x Cauldrons over 2x Hands) on one potentially offensive spell more useful than the 13+ command and 18+ stamina passives that your whole army benefits from by using 2x Hand's instead of 2x Cauldrons.

Command passive 'Increases troop attack speed during battle'
Stamina passive 'Increases troop health during battle'

There is no bigger deal than hero stats -- if your command is heavily favored over your opponent, your whole army has 30%+ attack speed.

Pvping is probably the smallest part of the game. Stats which help breaking a base are better imo which is why i would personally go for the zen cauldren.

I would probably only use zen cauldron on vega the rest I would use wisdom

Pick the heros which abilitys you want to use in a PvP fight and put zen cauldron on them if they need magic, and put HoW on everything else.

Magic stat card is important. But magic is the least important stat when it comes to stats on items.

I will go for Might, Stamina or Command over magic all the time.

LIke Vriana said, magic is probably only useful for Vega. I am equipping the +2 all stat dice to all of my magic heros except Vega.

the secret is exactly what the OP is implying .... the stamina is the key as there is only a defined amount u can field...the 'army' bonuses far out weigh any % magic gain for exactly the stated reasons above ... individual hero vs full army boost cant even be compared if u really think about in terms of impact ....the only exception would be vega heal boost maybe a all-in Gaz soulless build but in most situations your far better off boosting stam / command in every situation possible...gives some more depth to those so called tier 4 garbage wands boosting exactly those stats instead pure magic...