Table here

Excel file:

File-Upload download here(VERSION 5)

Google Drive Link(VERSION 1) thanks /u/themadevil

Just to give a quick (detailed?) look on how the meta 7★ physical chainers goes head-to-head with each other. The table is self-explanatory. The box on the damage per turn table denotes the "rotation" part of the skills (except for Enh. Sephiroth)

My default approach is to use 30% ATK IW bonus for any weapon and try not to use STMR (weapon).

And if you're interested how did I get the number, feel free to download the excel file, nitpick (if you spot mistakes), change the gearing/ATK to your custom need, etc.

Orlandeau is there just to serve as baseline.

Had some fun doing this, especially when doing Akstar.

I originally had it only for 9 turns, but when I did Akstar's, it seems the table doesn't do enough justice to see how freaky his damage is on turn 10 (if there's any target that can withstand that)

Some quick notes :

1. Hyou

   His big damage comes from the T-Blade nd LB, then after that the damage falls down and eventually had no-damage turn to rebuff himself

2. Raegen

   A rather underrated unit by most people, due to being DW unit (while he can hold his own and somewhat outdamage Hyou by a bit), with certain gearing. His 2 CD skills, while not as strong as Hyou's LB and T-Blade, Raegen doesn't have a stop-to-rebuff turn like Hyou. So he can take advantage on the damage race scenario.

3. Enhanced Sephiroth

   Thanks to /u/CyberGhost42 to provide alternative skill building for Sephiroth here. Now his number is significantly higher, but still lacking a bit on 10 turn race because of his slow-ramping Earthshaker skill.

4. Jecht

   The first physical chainer that pulls much farther than Hyou. It's to be expected with 5 months barren of strong physical chainer.

   With more available triple cast and skill enhancer, he easily takes the crown until the next meta unit, which comes 2 months later

5. Akstar

   On a first glance, we can't really see how high his potential can be with tons of "enhancing skill" written in 5~6 skills obfuscating the real potential of his skills. But once you know the skill enhancing mechanics(they stack!), compute the numbers, and finding the optimal rotation yourself, you will see how absurd this guy is.

6. Randi

   Added to table per /u/CyberGhost42 suggestion here.

   He's great. Definitely as potent as Jecht with FD's average case. But being time-limited unit and a collab that hasn't returned for 1 year . He's usually outside of newer players' radar.

7. Enhanced Raegen

   Added to the comparison to showcase his new LB effect, increased chain modifier cap, and small boost on his passive

8. CG Lightning

   The era of the new TDW meta has come. She comes with 100% TDW TMR and 50% TDW STMR sword, this materia weapon combo made up 75% of the value needed for reaching the enhanced TDW cap (200%).

And notes about the damage race itself:

1. Jecht and Akstar may do more than the damage displayed on table on turn 1. Because this is a 10-turn damage race, the first turn damage won't be reflected accurately, particularly on these 2 units.

2. Jecht actually holding pretty well on 3 turn battles

3. Akstar just blows everyone's damage away by turn 5, and even further on turn 10.

4. Enhanced Raegen show that dual wielder still can compete with all other TDH units.

5. With CG Lightning comes, we hope to see more and more TDW unit dominating the field.

Q&A :

Q : Why didn't you upload the excel file to G Drive?

A : I'm not exposing my real name. If someone can receive it from discord/whatever p2p file transfer service, I'll transfer you have the excel file directly, upload to your own GDrive, I'll put the link in this post and credit your name.

Q : You should use Vincent's materia on Hyou/Raegen!

A : You can go to FFBEEquip, enter your own ATK value and see how the number change on table

Q : Why you don't allow imbuer for Hyou?

A : I don't forbid it. I just think it's easier for everyone to get the benefit from 7★ Nichol over imbuer like Ace. If you think an imbuer is added on top of 7★ Nichol, then you are asking for 1 more spot to enhance your damage. Then everyone else can ask for a DEF debuffer (if DEF break applicable) or a finisher.

Q : I don't think your skill rotation for unit X is optimal

A : Let me know your version. If it's indeed yield higher damage (in particular rotation damage), I'll change the default rotation and credit your name.

Q : Would you add unit X ?

A : Sure, as long as you provide me the skill rotation and the gearing. I don't claim to be well-versed on all unit. But it took quite a while to study the unit and re-check that the numbers in rotation is optimal (especially for Akstar's case)

UPDATE :

• Version 5 uploaded

  • Added CG Lightning.
  • Added 1 new setup for Raegen, when he equip CG Lightning TMR and STMR

• Version 4 uploaded

  • Added enhanced Raegen into the table, with the consideration of higher chain modifier cap (6x). The number on some of his build still isn't quite accurate due to builder still cap his TDW mod at 100% (instead of 110% when using Nagi's STMR)

• Version 3 uploaded :

  • Added Sephiroth's alternative skill cast and optimized his gearing (credit to /u/CyberGhost42 here)
  • Stretched Sephiroth's damage per turn to turn 13 on default skill cast, just to show the final number he can output from 3-turn skill rotation
  • Added Japanese skill name on Raegen/Sephiroth/Akstar
  • Cleared up some notes on the DmgComparison table

• Version 2 uploaded :

  • Added FD Randi into the comparison (rotation and gearing as per /u/CyberGhost142 suggestion here)
  • Fixed Hyou's turn 1~3 ATK computation (In case ATK buffer has <100% buff)
  • Fixed Hyou rotation. Now LB is performed after 2 T-Blade cast. Lower burst damage, but higher DPT. (as per /u/carnivoroustofu suggestion here)
  • Added Hyou (alt) rotation. Just to show alternate route to get higher damage by turn 10 (but lower at certain turn)

• There's Google Drive link now. Thanks to /u/themadevil