Best Sword Mod to Use? - Guild Wars Forums

Aug 18, 2007, 10:55 PM // 22:55

it seems mainstreem considers Sundering the "perfect" but what in your opinion is this best sword mod to use? And If u say vampiric what should ur other weapon be?

lacasner · Aug 18, 2007, 10:57 PM // 22:57

Is this pvp or pve directed?

If pvp, yea vamp is quite good, your swap isnt that crucial imo so it doesnt really matter.

PvE, i prefer zelous, but thats just because I like to run hybrid warrior builds which sometimes require more energy.

Stormlord Alex · Aug 18, 2007, 10:58 PM // 22:58

For PvE?
Vampiric, for sure. Sundering adds pathetic damage on such a low critical weapon vs. PvE monsters.
The switch weapon is Fiery, so's I can trigger Mark of Rodgort or run Conjure flame.

Malice Black · Aug 18, 2007, 10:59 PM // 22:59

Zealous and +5 = FTW
20/20 and +30 = LOL

Enough said TBH

Xx_Sorin_xX · Aug 18, 2007, 11:10 PM // 23:10

Depends doesn't it?

you always want to use a physical damage (instead of like ebon/fiery/etc) against rangers because they have a great elemental defense. the damage change is very noticable

Usually i just use vamp, except for something w/ a high physical defense (like paragons and wars). sometimes i switch to ebon. but tbh in PvE, the damage difference isnt great enough for me to care. though in PvP the switch CAN be the difference between an opponent dead and running around w/ 5 life and then being healed.

Sundering is alright too, but i prefer vamp. vamp is gauranteed damage. i like that over a chance of more damage.

Martin Alvito · Aug 18, 2007, 11:13 PM // 23:13

Malice oversimplifies, but there's a great deal of truth to what he says.

First, you need more than one sword.

What mods to use?

Sundering on a sword is a total waste due to the damage calculations. 80-85% of the time you'll get a much harder spike out of a Vampiric than you would out of a Sundering, plus the damage over time is much higher.

So you'll want to take a Vampiric sword with you.

Zealous is an excellent mod on a sword; many sword bars tend to consume a bit more energy than their Axe counterparts, and function much more effectively with a bit of extra energy. Also, PvE tanks tend to burn through quite a bit of energy.

Furious is essential if you ever run Enraging Charge; double adren on that swing is FTW.

And, of course, you'll want an elemental damage sword if you ever hit other warriors; IDS is the most common choice there.

As for your pommel: Malice is correct that mindlessly applying +30 HP isn't the way to go. What you want there depends on what you're doing. +5 armor is never a poor choice; there may be choices that are more optimal for the monsters/meta you're facing, but +5 armor is extremely flexible.

However, it's never a bad idea to have one +30 HP pommel in your equipped weapons that you can switch to at any time. (Put it somewhere other than your Vamp weapon...)

Aug 18, 2007, 11:17 PM // 23:17

anyone have any opinions on furious?

Malice Black · Aug 18, 2007, 11:19 PM // 23:19

Malice doesn't like long winded posts, they generally tend to get ignored

short and simple is the best way in this forum

Swapping weapons out is all well and good if you like to do it, but Zealous and +5 is pretty much good anywhere.

Edit:

Furious and +5 is my preferred choice for axe, as I generally run an adrenaline build.

Dr Strangelove · Aug 18, 2007, 11:26 PM // 23:26

Everything else has a use, but sundering on a sword is terrible. Sundering belongs on big crit damage weapons, like hammers and scythes.

Furious is fine for Dragon slash/enraging charge builds and the like.

+30 health and +5 armor are both fine, it really depends on who you ask. Personally, I'd say warriors have >100 armor already anyway, so +5 doesn't make as big a difference as it would on a squishy caster, and the +30 health makes you harder to spike.

ZenRgy · Aug 18, 2007, 11:28 PM // 23:28

I run one zealous, one furious and one elemental (to kill warriors, or if I run conjure X). I find a furious better than a vampiric for the extra chance to get off more attack skills, however if you wanted a "damage" mod, then I'd run a vampiric over a sundering.

I run +30s on my swords (I just prefer health, looks better. =P) But +5 works just aswell and is A LOT cheaper.

Malice Black · Aug 18, 2007, 11:34 PM // 23:34

+30hp just doesn't make big enough of a difference in PvE. If your health really does get that low then you're screwed anyway.

JeniM · Aug 19, 2007, 01:12 AM // 01:12

I have a FDS for my Conjure Flame build so my opinion a Firey mod
Also it has a +7 Armor vs Ele but thats just how it came lol

Divinus Stella · Aug 19, 2007, 01:13 AM // 01:13

I always use armour mods on main weapon sets with a +30HP weapon/+30HP shield on weapon set 4, if you swap when your getting low you get the HP benefit when it matters.

As a rule furious and sundering are pretty crap, people will strive to justify them but most are just lame scenarios.

Coloneh · Aug 19, 2007, 10:20 PM // 22:20

vamp with crippling, furious or elemental.

October Jade · Aug 19, 2007, 11:30 PM // 23:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloneh

vamp with crippling, furious or elemental.

What are you saying, exactly? Those mods are all exclusive with respect to each other. There can be no "with," only "or."

moriz · Aug 20, 2007, 12:13 AM // 00:13

depends on whether you are playing a spike oriented character or pressure. for spike, vampiric is the way to go because of the consistent damage increase.

for pressure, i'm going to break with the pack and say sundering. in pvp, consist damage (as in a pressuring warrior) generally won't kill anything. what will score you skills are sudden bursts of damage, the kind you'll get from sundering. as a pressuring warrior, you are really punching out quick minispikes in rapid succession. if just one of those hits yielded more damage and caught a monk off guard and scoring you a kill, then it's all worth it.

for pommels, it's fortitude all the way. you can never go wrong with more hp.

lasty, coloneh is refering to 4 different weapons. you're supposed to have all of them (or at least 3 of them).

Lagg · Aug 20, 2007, 12:43 AM // 00:43

Sword Hilts

Vampiric / Zealous = Guaranteed lifesteal (damage + slight healing) or Energy gain (for Energy heavy builds), just switch to something else when you're not fighting (or hitting).

Elemental = Excellent for bypassing 20 Armor on the usual 100 Armor against Physical Damage of Warriors. Indispensable for Conjure builds.

Furious = Tiny chance at getting twice worth of adrenaline. Can be marginally useful during "For Great Justice!" downtime in a Dragon Slash build.

Sundering = Small chance at doing some extra damage, worthless compared to Vampiric. Looks good on Swords you're trying to sell.

Barbed, Crippling, etc. = No. Fail.

Sword Pommels

Fortitude (+30 Health) = Along with a full Survivor's set and a Fortitude mod on your Shield, you have 100 extra Health. Using this with Superior Swordsmanship and Superior Vigor will net you 555 Health. Never forget: Health is your last line of defense.

Defense (+5 Armor) = Not bad to offset tiny amounts of physical, elemental or non-Armor ignoring damage which also isn't physical or elemental (such as Light damage from a wand or Holy damage from Avatar of Balthazar). But since most Warrior-hate is Armor ignoring anyway and there's a nifty little shout called "Save Yourselves!" now, I'd go for Fortitude, a safer choice.

+20% vs X = Keep a Charrslaying handy for those Charr-heavy GWEN areas (there's even a discontinued +25% vs Charr). Dwarfslaying is also useful in Sorrow's Furnace. It's gimmicky at best.

Enchants last 20% longer = MY ECHOED MENDING LASTS LONGER NOW!!! Marginally useful for some builds (don't bother packing one for Conjure). This is mostly a caster mod.

+1 Swordsmanship (20%) = Pretty crap. Use it if you MUST do more damage and can't use a slaying mod.

Shelter / Warding = Inferior to Defense, which also offers Armor against non-Armor ignoring types of damage other than physical and elemental. Avoid.

Inscriptions

15% above 50 = Accept no substitutes for regular fighting.

+5 Energy = Emergency or extra Energy when you need it. Mostly a caster mod.

15% -5 = If for some reason you need to hide Energy.

All others = Inferior.

Malice Black · Aug 20, 2007, 01:03 AM // 01:03

All other are inferior to 15^50 now due to inscriptions making 15^50 cheap and common.

I remember the good ole days when 15/-10 and 15/-5 where used on a regular basis.

HawkofStorms · Aug 20, 2007, 02:02 AM // 02:02

Yeah... those were the days Malice.
+5 defense mods are very nice for PvE (statistically, its better for you then +30 fortitude against non-armor ingoring damage, non-degen damage).

Only time I ever use Furious is with Dragon Slash/"For Great Justice" builds on swords.
Axes are almost always zealous for me (because I love triple chop). But with executioners/eviserate, furious isn't TOO bad, but it depends on how you play I guess.

Coloneh · Aug 20, 2007, 02:30 AM // 02:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by October Jade

What are you saying, exactly? Those mods are all exclusive with respect to each other. There can be no "with," only "or."

that would be a weapon swap. you cant run a vamp weapon without a switch to a weapon that dosnt kill you while you arent attacking.

Aug 18, 2007, 10:55 PM // 22:55	#1
Revamped Healer Guest	Best Sword Mod to Use? it seems mainstreem considers Sundering the "perfect" but what in your opinion is this best sword mod to use? And If u say vampiric what should ur other weapon be?

Aug 18, 2007, 10:59 PM // 22:59	#4
Malice Black Site Legend Join Date: Oct 2005	Zealous and +5 = FTW 20/20 and +30 = LOL Enough said TBH __________________ Old Skool '05

Aug 18, 2007, 11:19 PM // 23:19	#8
Malice Black Site Legend Join Date: Oct 2005	Malice doesn't like long winded posts, they generally tend to get ignored short and simple is the best way in this forum Swapping weapons out is all well and good if you like to do it, but Zealous and +5 is pretty much good anywhere. Edit: Furious and +5 is my preferred choice for axe, as I generally run an adrenaline build. __________________ Old Skool '05

Aug 18, 2007, 11:34 PM // 23:34	#11
Malice Black Site Legend Join Date: Oct 2005	+30hp just doesn't make big enough of a difference in PvE. If your health really does get that low then you're screwed anyway. __________________ Old Skool '05

Aug 20, 2007, 12:43 AM // 00:43	#17
Lagg Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jun 2005 Profession: W/	Sword Hilts Vampiric / Zealous = Guaranteed lifesteal (damage + slight healing) or Energy gain (for Energy heavy builds), just switch to something else when you're not fighting (or hitting). Elemental = Excellent for bypassing 20 Armor on the usual 100 Armor against Physical Damage of Warriors. Indispensable for Conjure builds. Furious = Tiny chance at getting twice worth of adrenaline. Can be marginally useful during "For Great Justice!" downtime in a Dragon Slash build. Sundering = Small chance at doing some extra damage, worthless compared to Vampiric. Looks good on Swords you're trying to sell. Barbed, Crippling, etc. = No. Fail. Sword Pommels Fortitude (+30 Health) = Along with a full Survivor's set and a Fortitude mod on your Shield, you have 100 extra Health. Using this with Superior Swordsmanship and Superior Vigor will net you 555 Health. Never forget: Health is your last line of defense. Defense (+5 Armor) = Not bad to offset tiny amounts of physical, elemental or non-Armor ignoring damage which also isn't physical or elemental (such as Light damage from a wand or Holy damage from Avatar of Balthazar). But since most Warrior-hate is Armor ignoring anyway and there's a nifty little shout called "Save Yourselves!" now, I'd go for Fortitude, a safer choice. +20% vs X = Keep a Charrslaying handy for those Charr-heavy GWEN areas (there's even a discontinued +25% vs Charr). Dwarfslaying is also useful in Sorrow's Furnace. It's gimmicky at best. Enchants last 20% longer = MY ECHOED MENDING LASTS LONGER NOW!!! Marginally useful for some builds (don't bother packing one for Conjure). This is mostly a caster mod. +1 Swordsmanship (20%) = Pretty crap. Use it if you MUST do more damage and can't use a slaying mod. Shelter / Warding = Inferior to Defense, which also offers Armor against non-Armor ignoring types of damage other than physical and elemental. Avoid. Inscriptions 15% above 50 = Accept no substitutes for regular fighting. +5 Energy = Emergency or extra Energy when you need it. Mostly a caster mod. 15% -5 = If for some reason you need to hide Energy. All others = Inferior. Last edited by Lagg; Aug 20, 2007 at 12:49 AM // 00:49..

Aug 18, 2007, 10:57 PM // 22:57	#2
lacasner Desert Nomad Join Date: Jun 2006	Is this pvp or pve directed? If pvp, yea vamp is quite good, your swap isnt that crucial imo so it doesnt really matter. PvE, i prefer zelous, but thats just because I like to run hybrid warrior builds which sometimes require more energy.

Aug 18, 2007, 10:58 PM // 22:58	#3
Stormlord Alex Grotto Attendant Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beyond the Forest of Doom, past the Cavern of Agony... on Kitten & Puppy Island Guild: Soul of Melandru [sOm] Profession: W/E	For PvE? Vampiric, for sure. Sundering adds pathetic damage on such a low critical weapon vs. PvE monsters. The switch weapon is Fiery, so's I can trigger Mark of Rodgort or run Conjure flame.

Aug 18, 2007, 11:10 PM // 23:10	#5
Xx_Sorin_xX Krytan Explorer Join Date: Dec 2006 Profession: W/	Depends doesn't it? you always want to use a physical damage (instead of like ebon/fiery/etc) against rangers because they have a great elemental defense. the damage change is very noticable Usually i just use vamp, except for something w/ a high physical defense (like paragons and wars). sometimes i switch to ebon. but tbh in PvE, the damage difference isnt great enough for me to care. though in PvP the switch CAN be the difference between an opponent dead and running around w/ 5 life and then being healed. Sundering is alright too, but i prefer vamp. vamp is gauranteed damage. i like that over a chance of more damage.

Aug 18, 2007, 11:13 PM // 23:13	#6
Martin Alvito Older Than God (1) Join Date: Aug 2006 Guild: Clan Dethryche [dth]	Malice oversimplifies, but there's a great deal of truth to what he says. First, you need more than one sword. What mods to use? Sundering on a sword is a total waste due to the damage calculations. 80-85% of the time you'll get a much harder spike out of a Vampiric than you would out of a Sundering, plus the damage over time is much higher. So you'll want to take a Vampiric sword with you. Zealous is an excellent mod on a sword; many sword bars tend to consume a bit more energy than their Axe counterparts, and function much more effectively with a bit of extra energy. Also, PvE tanks tend to burn through quite a bit of energy. Furious is essential if you ever run Enraging Charge; double adren on that swing is FTW. And, of course, you'll want an elemental damage sword if you ever hit other warriors; IDS is the most common choice there. As for your pommel: Malice is correct that mindlessly applying +30 HP isn't the way to go. What you want there depends on what you're doing. +5 armor is never a poor choice; there may be choices that are more optimal for the monsters/meta you're facing, but +5 armor is extremely flexible. However, it's never a bad idea to have one +30 HP pommel in your equipped weapons that you can switch to at any time. (Put it somewhere other than your Vamp weapon...)

Aug 18, 2007, 11:17 PM // 23:17	#7
Revamped Healer Guest	anyone have any opinions on furious?

Aug 18, 2007, 11:26 PM // 23:26	#9
Dr Strangelove Furnace Stoker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wasting away again in Margaritaville Guild: [HOTR]	Everything else has a use, but sundering on a sword is terrible. Sundering belongs on big crit damage weapons, like hammers and scythes. Furious is fine for Dragon slash/enraging charge builds and the like. +30 health and +5 armor are both fine, it really depends on who you ask. Personally, I'd say warriors have >100 armor already anyway, so +5 doesn't make as big a difference as it would on a squishy caster, and the +30 health makes you harder to spike.

Aug 18, 2007, 11:28 PM // 23:28	#10
ZenRgy Zookeeper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Australian Discussion Posse HQ - Glorious leader Guild: ҉ ̵̡̢̢̛̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟&# Profession: N/E	I run one zealous, one furious and one elemental (to kill warriors, or if I run conjure X). I find a furious better than a vampiric for the extra chance to get off more attack skills, however if you wanted a "damage" mod, then I'd run a vampiric over a sundering. I run +30s on my swords (I just prefer health, looks better. =P) But +5 works just aswell and is A LOT cheaper.

Aug 19, 2007, 01:12 AM // 01:12	#12
JeniM Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2007 Profession: W/E	I have a FDS for my Conjure Flame build so my opinion a Firey mod Also it has a +7 Armor vs Ele but thats just how it came lol

Aug 19, 2007, 01:13 AM // 01:13	#13
Divinus Stella Desert Nomad Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wales Guild: Steel Phoenix	I always use armour mods on main weapon sets with a +30HP weapon/+30HP shield on weapon set 4, if you swap when your getting low you get the HP benefit when it matters. As a rule furious and sundering are pretty crap, people will strive to justify them but most are just lame scenarios.

Aug 19, 2007, 10:20 PM // 22:20	#14
Coloneh Furnace Stoker Join Date: Nov 2006 Profession: D/W	vamp with crippling, furious or elemental.

Aug 20, 2007, 12:13 AM // 00:13	#16
moriz ??ber t??k-n??sh'??n Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Canada Profession: R/	depends on whether you are playing a spike oriented character or pressure. for spike, vampiric is the way to go because of the consistent damage increase. for pressure, i'm going to break with the pack and say sundering. in pvp, consist damage (as in a pressuring warrior) generally won't kill anything. what will score you skills are sudden bursts of damage, the kind you'll get from sundering. as a pressuring warrior, you are really punching out quick minispikes in rapid succession. if just one of those hits yielded more damage and caught a monk off guard and scoring you a kill, then it's all worth it. for pommels, it's fortitude all the way. you can never go wrong with more hp. lasty, coloneh is refering to 4 different weapons. you're supposed to have all of them (or at least 3 of them).

Aug 20, 2007, 01:03 AM // 01:03	#18
Malice Black Site Legend Join Date: Oct 2005	All other are inferior to 15^50 now due to inscriptions making 15^50 cheap and common. I remember the good ole days when 15/-10 and 15/-5 where used on a regular basis. __________________ Old Skool '05

Aug 20, 2007, 02:02 AM // 02:02	#19
HawkofStorms Hall Hero Join Date: Aug 2005 Profession: E/	Yeah... those were the days Malice. +5 defense mods are very nice for PvE (statistically, its better for you then +30 fortitude against non-armor ingoring damage, non-degen damage). Only time I ever use Furious is with Dragon Slash/"For Great Justice" builds on swords. Axes are almost always zealous for me (because I love triple chop). But with executioners/eviserate, furious isn't TOO bad, but it depends on how you play I guess.