Phat Loot Phriday: Crossfire Carbine
by Michael Gray 
Feb 25th 2011 at 3:00PM
"Mmmhmm," the blood elf agreed. Lolegolas sat on a barstool using an oiled rag to clean the chamber of his massive gun. The weapon was incredibly masculine, covered in duct tape and saw blades.
"We need to talk," Throgg said, sitting down next to his friend. He rested a massive hand on the elf's shoulders. "The Crossfire Carbine ... it's not what you think it is. There's something you should know."
Lolegolas cocked an eyebrow at the orc, tilting his head slightly to the side. "It's an immense DPS increase, is what it is. What's to know about that?"
"It's not for hunters," Throgg commiserated. "It has a lot of strength. It's only a hunter weapon in the sense that it's a 'hunter weapon,' you know?"
"Oh, dear," Lolegolas responded, massaging his temples. "Here we go again."
- Binds when equipped
- Type: Gun
- Damage: 1,309 - 2,432 (623.3 damage per second)
- Speed: 3.00
- Strength: 107
- Stamina: 161
- Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 72
- Equip: Increases your mastery rating by 72
How do you get it: It drops from trash mobs in the Bastion of Twilight.
How do you get rid of it: You can sell this fine piece of machinery for 25 gold, 26 silver, and 25 copper.
Phat Loot Phriday brings you the scoop on some of the most ... interesting ... loot in the World of Warcraft, often viewed through the eyes of the stalwart Throgg and indelible Lolegolas. Suggest items you think we should feature by emailing mikeg@wowinsider.com.
How do you get rid of it: You can sell this fine piece of machinery for 25 gold, 26 silver, and 25 copper.
Phat Loot Phriday brings you the scoop on some of the most ... interesting ... loot in the World of Warcraft, often viewed through the eyes of the stalwart Throgg and indelible Lolegolas. Suggest items you think we should feature by emailing mikeg@wowinsider.com. Filed under: Phat Loot Phriday
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Pyromelter Feb 25th 2011 3:04PM
Needs more expertise and spirit to be a true Hunter weapon.
Kunikenwad! Feb 25th 2011 3:07PM
This is a sexy gun for a Tauren Warrior.
Grovinofdarkhour Feb 25th 2011 3:08PM
"I don't care about strength.
I don't care about expertise.
I care about AWESOME."
Grovin
Wielder of the Awesome
Galestrom Feb 25th 2011 3:14PM
Didn't Frostheim say something not too long ago about how this weapon is marginally acceptable for hunters, given the high amount of weapon damage?
Galestrom Feb 25th 2011 3:16PM
Ahh; found it:
"Finally, if you are a dwarf -- and this is so sad, yet again -- your best ranged weapon is the Crossfire Carbine heroic ilvl 372 version. It's a BoE, so you don't need to be doing heroic content to get it; just keep looking for it on the AH. Yes, it's a tank weapon with strength on it, and yes, it's much faster -- but it's still going to increase a dwarf's DPS more than any other ilvl 359 or lower ranged."
I guess us non-Dwarves can feel the proper shame at the mere idea of equipping the thing. =)
Revynn Feb 25th 2011 3:22PM
It is. Given how important Weapon Speed and Weapon damage are to hunters, this gun is still a viable option for non-raiding or gearing hunters. It's not -ideal- and should therefore go to a warrior first if it drops and should also be replaced by any agility weapon of the same iLevel, but if a hunter decides to buy one off the AH, he's not automatically a bad player.
Vladeon Feb 25th 2011 3:25PM
I don't see how. The only useful stat on this weapon is mastery. You'd be better off with a 318 agility weapon than this. The only good thing about this gun for hunters is that it does in fact shoot projectiles. It works. If you're carrying around a throwing axe, then yes, this is an upgrade. Otherwise, please give it to your warrior tank.
Vladeon Feb 25th 2011 3:28PM
Also that quote was made before the heroic versions of epic boe items were taken out. There aren't any 372 versions of this weapon or of any boe item.
Grovinofdarkhour Feb 25th 2011 3:48PM
As has been said a million times, a hunter's #1 stat is Ranged DPS. It's even ahead of agility.
I had a blue 346, and this dropped on our first trash run in BoT. Everyone said, take it, you're the only hunter here.
I accepted, I equipped it, and my raw DPS went up.
Everything else is irrelevant.
TheAngryMongoose Feb 25th 2011 3:53PM
Let's be honest, the main issue with this weapon is looking like a complete huntard.
Zanathos Feb 25th 2011 3:55PM
You're not better off with a 313, 333, or 346 agility weapon, because other than mastery, there's a massively useful stat that makes it worthwhile. The actual damage per second of the weapon. There could be no stats on it and it'd still be better than a heroic gun.
icepyro Feb 25th 2011 3:55PM
Given that many abilities work off weapon damage then a percentage of AP (including white attacks). Let's compare 2 weapons: KB 5k and this
Kickback 5000 gemed +40 agi = 125 agi = 250 AP + 1082-2011 damage
This: 1309-2432 dmg + no bonus
The question then becomes whether 227-421 extra damage > 250 AP?
Oh my, the majority of the time it is.
Grovinofdarkhour Feb 25th 2011 3:56PM
@ Vladeon
Raid leaders want their DPSers to max out their DPS. Don't stand in the poo, yes, and all the other mechanical stuff... be mobile, aware and competent... but they need to be able to pour out as much damage as possible, if they want to see bosses die.
If this is a flat DPS upgrade for any hunter in your raid, you give it to them. If you give it to a tank for whom it's only a stat stick when it would improve one of your DPSers' DPS, you should not be leading raids.
MattKrotzer Feb 25th 2011 4:02PM
The only time this weapon is acceptable to hunters is if there's no warrior around. Otherwise let's not get back to the Vanilla "hunter gear" mentality.
Vladeon Feb 25th 2011 4:08PM
Alright, you guys got me. I'm stupid. You're smart. I was wrong. You were right. You're the best. I'm the worst. You're very good-looking. I'm not attractive.
KyoKenshin Feb 25th 2011 4:29PM
The only person I'd give this to over a hunter is the Warrior MT. The best WarTank ranged option prior to it is the Muffled Blunderbuss(a 318 green quest reward from Highlands)
http://www.wowhead.com/item=63736
I'd increase the survivability of my MT over giving a hunter a DPS increase any day(especially if tank death is causing wipes.) It's BoE so it can really go to either and in the long run you'll forget about it. My first instinct would be to get my MT away from that damned 318 first though.
Grovinofdarkhour Feb 25th 2011 4:30PM
Jo - this gun is acceptable to every hunter for whom it is a flat increase in our #1 stat - Ranged DPS.
There was a warrior tank in the group when this dropped. He wasn't even interested. It went like this:
"That's a gun. You're a hunter. Is it a DPS upgrade?"
"Not sure."
"Well equip it and find out."
Galestrom Feb 25th 2011 4:31PM
IF
You're a hunter
THEN
you're uncommonly good looking.
ELSE
... at least you're in the epic position to witness such incomparable eye-candy.
Regardless, a winner is you. =)
Mortenebra Feb 25th 2011 4:39PM
What MattK said. If there were no warriors in the group, it would go to a hunter, hands down.
That being said, though... I hope this piece o' crap drops soon. I'll be damned if I have to listen to my warrior tank (who is also my husband... so I get to hear it in-game AND out) complain about not having a ranged weapon itemized for him. Or that warriors should just use relics like the other tank-capable classes. Or that Blizzard hates warriors.
Or... -gets carried off to a room with soft walls-
Hih Feb 25th 2011 5:18PM
@KyoKenshin: The last boss in VP drops a 346 tanking gun now. Blizzard realized the gaping hole in their items and put one in in 4.0.6.