Why run with a spear and shield? - Guild Wars Forums

WhiteAsIce · Jul 03, 2008, 08:09 AM // 08:09

When I observe some battles, I notice that many players, when running between fights, switch to a spear & shield combo. Are there reasons why specifically a spear is held with the shield? I understand running with a shield, but I don't understand why a spear and not a sword or axe.

miskav · Jul 03, 2008, 08:13 AM // 08:13

Range, doing 1 dmg helps :3

Panais · Jul 03, 2008, 08:16 AM // 08:16

GW is all about how u look, they like spear, they use spear

Unreal Havoc · Jul 03, 2008, 08:34 AM // 08:34

Zealous defensive set for regaining energy at range (Assassins use this to good effect when paired with high Critical Strikes).

Furious defensive set for building up adrenaline at range.

Some specific builds may use a specific spear head to lengthen the duration of a condition, like cripple from Hidden Caltrops for example.

Also you obviously benefit from more health and armour while doing so.

Artisan Archer · Jul 03, 2008, 08:36 AM // 08:36

mainly for range attacks, if the enemy monk is dazed you can keep hitting and thus interrupting him.
And also for cosmetic reasons

Niila · Jul 03, 2008, 08:58 AM // 08:58

I find it funny that no-one has mentioned the +8 armor you get from the shield, even when you don't meet its required attribute. It is also rather useful when it gives +30hp and +10 armor vs slashing damage.

N1ghtstalker · Jul 03, 2008, 09:31 AM // 09:31

running with a spear just of some benefits, like ranged damage to trigger certain hexes like [mark of pain] or something
you can run with a sword of axe if you have no hexes to trigger
i dunno how it works like that but i think it's kinda like that

Lady Raenef · Jul 03, 2008, 09:33 AM // 09:33

Personally, I believe it's all part of costume. Voltiac spears look awesome. No sword matches it's power! Except maybe the Eternal blade as there's hardly any about.

GaaaaaH · Jul 03, 2008, 10:02 AM // 10:02

I'd say for the range (casters are squishy don't forget).

Axes/swords will still trigger barbs etc., but a spear means tat you dont have to be close.

Icy The Mage · Jul 03, 2008, 10:35 AM // 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Raenef

Personally, I believe it's all part of costume. Voltiac spears look awesome. No sword matches it's power! Except maybe the Eternal blade as there's hardly any about.

Ahem, Crystalline Sword, Ahem...

buckscrib · Jul 03, 2008, 12:16 PM // 12:16

Some of the spears are really cool looking.

jiggles · Jul 03, 2008, 12:47 PM // 12:47

mai necro uses a voltaic + she also has a chaos axe. The main reason i use a spear is because i can trigger things like [barbs] and MoP without actually taking more damage than i should be. Which is good.

sixofone · Jul 03, 2008, 06:30 PM // 18:30

A spear lets you use the shield benefits w/o getting into melee range. NF has a +5 e spear, and you can add +hp as well.

anonymous · Jul 03, 2008, 09:13 PM // 21:13

Because it is a ranged attack, if you accidentally press space or something on an enemy you won't start running into melee range.

HawkofStorms · Jul 04, 2008, 04:42 AM // 04:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymous

Because it is a ranged attack, if you accidentally press space or something on an enemy you won't start running into melee range.

That.
Its mostly about not accidentally moving out of position and screwing up your kiting. Posts talking about this and how spears would become the new caster weapon of choice appeared within hours of the first NF PvP preview event.

Sai Rith · Jul 04, 2008, 01:50 PM // 13:50

It is generally because of looks, however in the case of Warriors, it is because that Warrior has a Hammer. With a Spear and Shield (assuming they both have +30 HP), that will lead to having 30 more HP than just having a Hammer equipped. A Spear is also used to build up adrenaline, although a Wan can do the same. All in all, it is just visual preferance, as a Wand can pretty much do the same thing.

Savio · Jul 04, 2008, 02:14 PM // 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sai Rith

A Spear is also used to build up adrenaline, although a Wan can do the same. All in all, it is just visual preferance, as a Wand can pretty much do the same thing.

Wands are slower than spears and can't have +5 energy unconditionally or +30 health.

moriz · Jul 04, 2008, 02:15 PM // 14:15

nor can it have the all-important furious mod for warriors, nor the crippling mod for casters using epic return madness.

Tyla · Jul 04, 2008, 03:26 PM // 15:26

You can spear from range to hopefully hit RoF or something.

Guna · Jul 04, 2008, 11:04 PM // 23:04

they use a shield and a spear for 3 reasons

1) more armor
2) more hp and extras 30 on shield 30 on spear double adren/zealous/reduce cripple/blind/any other condition
3) keep meleeing. it may not do a lot of damage but its constant pressure for casters while dazed

Jul 03, 2008, 08:09 AM // 08:09	#1
WhiteAsIce Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2008 Profession: R/	Why run with a spear and shield? When I observe some battles, I notice that many players, when running between fights, switch to a spear & shield combo. Are there reasons why specifically a spear is held with the shield? I understand running with a shield, but I don't understand why a spear and not a sword or axe.

Jul 03, 2008, 08:13 AM // 08:13	#2
miskav Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: None Profession: Mo/	Range, doing 1 dmg helps :3

Jul 03, 2008, 08:16 AM // 08:16	#3
Panais Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2008 Guild: Binge And Purge [HET] Profession: D/W	GW is all about how u look, they like spear, they use spear

Jul 03, 2008, 08:34 AM // 08:34	#4
Unreal Havoc Guest Join Date: Dec 2007	Zealous defensive set for regaining energy at range (Assassins use this to good effect when paired with high Critical Strikes). Furious defensive set for building up adrenaline at range. Some specific builds may use a specific spear head to lengthen the duration of a condition, like cripple from Hidden Caltrops for example. Also you obviously benefit from more health and armour while doing so.

Jul 03, 2008, 08:36 AM // 08:36	#5
Artisan Archer Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2007 Guild: Free Wind Profession: R/	mainly for range attacks, if the enemy monk is dazed you can keep hitting and thus interrupting him. And also for cosmetic reasons

Jul 03, 2008, 08:58 AM // 08:58	#6
Niila Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Oct 2006	I find it funny that no-one has mentioned the +8 armor you get from the shield, even when you don't meet its required attribute. It is also rather useful when it gives +30hp and +10 armor vs slashing damage.

Jul 03, 2008, 09:31 AM // 09:31	#7
N1ghtstalker Forge Runner Join Date: Dec 2007 Profession: E/	running with a spear just of some benefits, like ranged damage to trigger certain hexes like [mark of pain] or something you can run with a sword of axe if you have no hexes to trigger i dunno how it works like that but i think it's kinda like that

Jul 03, 2008, 09:33 AM // 09:33	#8
Lady Raenef Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon, USA. Guild: Zero Mercy [zm] Profession: W/	Personally, I believe it's all part of costume. Voltiac spears look awesome. No sword matches it's power! Except maybe the Eternal blade as there's hardly any about.

Jul 03, 2008, 10:02 AM // 10:02	#9
GaaaaaH Krytan Explorer Join Date: Mar 2008 Profession: W/	I'd say for the range (casters are squishy don't forget). Axes/swords will still trigger barbs etc., but a spear means tat you dont have to be close.

Jul 03, 2008, 12:16 PM // 12:16	#11
buckscrib Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jan 2006 Guild: COL	Some of the spears are really cool looking.

Jul 03, 2008, 12:47 PM // 12:47	#12
jiggles Desert Nomad Join Date: Sep 2007 Profession: N/	mai necro uses a voltaic + she also has a chaos axe. The main reason i use a spear is because i can trigger things like [barbs] and MoP without actually taking more damage than i should be. Which is good.

Jul 03, 2008, 06:30 PM // 18:30	#13
sixofone Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2007 Profession: P/	A spear lets you use the shield benefits w/o getting into melee range. NF has a +5 e spear, and you can add +hp as well.

Jul 03, 2008, 09:13 PM // 21:13	#14
anonymous Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jan 2006	Because it is a ranged attack, if you accidentally press space or something on an enemy you won't start running into melee range.

Jul 04, 2008, 01:50 PM // 13:50	#16
Sai Rith Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jan 2006 Profession: W/	It is generally because of looks, however in the case of Warriors, it is because that Warrior has a Hammer. With a Spear and Shield (assuming they both have +30 HP), that will lead to having 30 more HP than just having a Hammer equipped. A Spear is also used to build up adrenaline, although a Wan can do the same. All in all, it is just visual preferance, as a Wand can pretty much do the same thing.

Jul 04, 2008, 02:15 PM // 14:15	#18
moriz ??ber t??k-n??sh'??n Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Canada Profession: R/	nor can it have the all-important furious mod for warriors, nor the crippling mod for casters using epic return madness.

Jul 04, 2008, 03:26 PM // 15:26	#19
Tyla Emo Goth Italics Join Date: Sep 2006	You can spear from range to hopefully hit RoF or something.

Jul 04, 2008, 11:04 PM // 23:04	#20
Guna Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Profession: W/	they use a shield and a spear for 3 reasons 1) more armor 2) more hp and extras 30 on shield 30 on spear double adren/zealous/reduce cripple/blind/any other condition 3) keep meleeing. it may not do a lot of damage but its constant pressure for casters while dazed