If you want to look at creating good effects and dynamics I would look at learning Houdini (https://www.sidefx.com/).

I have been learning it the last few weeks and It is really is amazing. It does have a Steep learning curve, but there are lots of resources on the Sidefx site to learn form and the forum at odforce.net is also a great.

I still stick with maya for all my modelling and UVing as I find this is better and faster, to create in then Houdini.