Shields! +45hlth(ench) or -2dmg(ench)-2(stance)? - Guild Wars Forums

Death by Ooga Booga · Aug 30, 2005, 06:38 PM // 18:38

So the question is in your opinion or by testing which is better? +45hlth(ench) or -2dmg(ench)-2(stance)? I know that of course the best would be +45hlth and -2dmg but they are hard to find. Plz post and let me know what ya think.

Blue Steel · Aug 30, 2005, 07:01 PM // 19:01

I will give you a few thoughts:

Background
I have a shield that is +45 health while enchanted and -2 damage while enchanted, which is my primary shield and used in almost every circumstance.
However, I do have a number of -2 enchanted/-2 in a stance shields that I use for specific situations.

Principles
1. Equipment choice should be tailored to your build and skill selections, and your anticipated opponents
2. If you have frequent healing (a constant mending or other regular healings), health bonus versus damage reduction is roughly a toss up
3. If you do not have regular/constant healing, damage reduction is generally superior, though it can still be a close call.
4. The longer fights last, the more useful damage reduction is versus health
5. Health is superior to damage reduction in areas or against opponents who use intense health degeneration effects (crippling anguish with conjure phantasm, for example, a popular combination for anarchists that is devastating to most runners).
6. Enchantments are often constant until shattered or removed, whereas stances do not last as long, but are not as easily prematurely terminated.

Recommendation
Keep one of each on hand, a massive health bonus (and hopefully damage reduction, too) for situations where you will be facing archanists or mesmers and necros, and a "double damage reduction" shield for situations where you know you aren't. If you have a +45/-2, use that most the time, unless it is contingent upon stances and you don't use stances (or only use stances while running).

Important Final Note
I have several of those very rare double damage reduction shields, so if anyone would like to purchase one, let me know. I have also been looking everywhere for a double damage reduction shield that is max armor req 10 or less that is a TALL shield style. If anyone has one like that, I will pay a lot for it.

Cobalt · Sep 04, 2005, 02:19 PM // 14:19

I almost purchased one of those double ??? dmg shields -2 enchanted and -2 stance yesterday in Lion but he wanted to much gold and I already have a +26 health -2 dmg while enchanted shield that I use for most areas .

Besides, it seems to me that a single ???dmg with some good health would be superior to a double ??? dmg shield. You would have to be fighting two or three at a time and spamming stances like mad to get more use out of the second ???dmg than you would the extra health mod.

One and Two · Sep 04, 2005, 05:51 PM // 17:51

i think the collector outside camp rancor gets a 16, req9 shield, +45hp, -2damage while something. what i hate is people sell this for like 7k saying its rare.

aB- · Sep 04, 2005, 07:47 PM // 19:47

My advice would be to use the -2 damage reduction shield.

As long as you stay above 45 health the +HP from the shield is not helping. If you are under 45 health, you are probably going to die anyways.

Red Sonya · Sep 04, 2005, 08:19 PM // 20:19

Stance or Hexed Shields suk, you get the benefits from enchanted shields more often than not. Of course there is the occassional disenchant, but, there's plenty of quick cast enchants to throw back up when that happens. I will always go with the w/enchanted shield over any other. If you're playing stances you aren't doing much damage anyway. Maybe for a monk/warrior stances would be fair, but, I'd still rather have the w/enchanted model over any of the others.

Aug 30, 2005, 06:38 PM // 18:38	#1
Death by Ooga Booga Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: TBMF	Shields! +45hlth(ench) or -2dmg(ench)-2(stance)? So the question is in your opinion or by testing which is better? +45hlth(ench) or -2dmg(ench)-2(stance)? I know that of course the best would be +45hlth and -2dmg but they are hard to find. Plz post and let me know what ya think.

Aug 30, 2005, 07:01 PM // 19:01	#2
Blue Steel Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: The Blue Empire [BLUE] Profession: W/Mo	I will give you a few thoughts: Background I have a shield that is +45 health while enchanted and -2 damage while enchanted, which is my primary shield and used in almost every circumstance. However, I do have a number of -2 enchanted/-2 in a stance shields that I use for specific situations. Principles 1. Equipment choice should be tailored to your build and skill selections, and your anticipated opponents 2. If you have frequent healing (a constant mending or other regular healings), health bonus versus damage reduction is roughly a toss up 3. If you do not have regular/constant healing, damage reduction is generally superior, though it can still be a close call. 4. The longer fights last, the more useful damage reduction is versus health 5. Health is superior to damage reduction in areas or against opponents who use intense health degeneration effects (crippling anguish with conjure phantasm, for example, a popular combination for anarchists that is devastating to most runners). 6. Enchantments are often constant until shattered or removed, whereas stances do not last as long, but are not as easily prematurely terminated. Recommendation Keep one of each on hand, a massive health bonus (and hopefully damage reduction, too) for situations where you will be facing archanists or mesmers and necros, and a "double damage reduction" shield for situations where you know you aren't. If you have a +45/-2, use that most the time, unless it is contingent upon stances and you don't use stances (or only use stances while running). Important Final Note I have several of those very rare double damage reduction shields, so if anyone would like to purchase one, let me know. I have also been looking everywhere for a double damage reduction shield that is max armor req 10 or less that is a TALL shield style. If anyone has one like that, I will pay a lot for it.

Sep 04, 2005, 02:19 PM // 14:19	#3
Cobalt Krytan Explorer Join Date: Aug 2005 Profession: Mo/W	I almost purchased one of those double ??? dmg shields -2 enchanted and -2 stance yesterday in Lion but he wanted to much gold and I already have a +26 health -2 dmg while enchanted shield that I use for most areas . Besides, it seems to me that a single ???dmg with some good health would be superior to a double ??? dmg shield. You would have to be fighting two or three at a time and spamming stances like mad to get more use out of the second ???dmg than you would the extra health mod.

Sep 04, 2005, 05:51 PM // 17:51	#4
One and Two Jungle Guide Join Date: Aug 2005	i think the collector outside camp rancor gets a 16, req9 shield, +45hp, -2damage while something. what i hate is people sell this for like 7k saying its rare.

Sep 04, 2005, 07:47 PM // 19:47	#5
aB- Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jun 2005	My advice would be to use the -2 damage reduction shield. As long as you stay above 45 health the +HP from the shield is not helping. If you are under 45 health, you are probably going to die anyways.

Sep 04, 2005, 08:19 PM // 20:19	#6
Red Sonya Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2005	Stance or Hexed Shields suk, you get the benefits from enchanted shields more often than not. Of course there is the occassional disenchant, but, there's plenty of quick cast enchants to throw back up when that happens. I will always go with the w/enchanted shield over any other. If you're playing stances you aren't doing much damage anyway. Maybe for a monk/warrior stances would be fair, but, I'd still rather have the w/enchanted model over any of the others.