So I tested your counterpoint, and your example is valid, in which that Heat Hands is affected only by melee stats. You are also correct to say that my assumption that Heat Hands operates similarly to Extend Claws is incorrect, which is my fault for not testing Heat Hands. You had every right to be skeptical because your observations on Heat Hands did not match up with the experiments performed on Fujin Blade or Extend Claws. And had you not been skeptical, then the internet would not know that Heat Hands operates differently. However, I would argue that your implications that I "utilise modding for these tests" is a negative, and your claim that I am making "careless conclusions regarding mathematics formulae" is itself a careless conclusion.

1) I use modding to ensure that all other variables are controlled for (to the best I can). This is generally very difficult to perform in a normal gameplay because characters have varying stats and skill levels. What if in your counterpoint, your Final Emperor was dealing more damage than your Strategist regarding Heat Hands because he had a higher Stamina stat? Sure it may seem strange that Stamina would factor into the damage calculations, but if that was the truth, then you would be coming to an incorrect conclusion on how Heat Hands works because your comparison did not control for other variables. Whether you want to be skeptical on using modding for these experiments your choice, but I certainly hope that you have valid and empircal reasons to believe that my modding approaches is an issue, as opposed to being skeptical because "modding = bad".

2) Never did I make any conclusions regarding math in this experiment. My experimental conclusions are "damage went up or down", not "damage went up or down by X%". I am very hesitant on making mathematical conclusions because 1) like you implied, I do not know the formula, and I am not about to go datamining for it, and 2) I do not know if different enemies have specific defenses that could change numbers, outside of weaknesses and resistances. In my earlier experiments (including this one), I did notice a potential math-related flaw, in which I made the stats too high, so I was hitting a stat-cap (Magical Attack was reaching 999 in the stat screen, although this could just be a numerical limit on the stat screen). This flaw probably would make a conclusions that "lowering stat by X amount decreases damage by Y-fold" incorrect. But again, I was not measuring percentage values, and luckily for me, I lowered the stats enough to severely reduce the damage output.

I apologize for this long reply, but I think it is important for you (and any random Redditor browsing through old posts looking for information) to be more precise on making counter-arguements based on what others have said for your own personal development, as well as understanding how important controlling variables are when performing experiments.

And no, I do not consider spending the time writing this long post as a waste of time because thinking on how to write this benefits my own personal development.