Customizing your weapons, shields, energy items, armor, runes, and upgrades? - Guild Wars Forums

Kamel407 · Aug 14, 2005, 08:34 PM // 20:34

Forgive Me for my NooB question.

However through my research I am still having some trouble figuring all of this out.

Here is what I have learned so far

Weapons - Can have as many as 2 upgrades
Shields - are not customizable
Energy Items - are not customizable
Armor - Can be purchased in pieces and runed
Upgrades - for weapons

Background -

I have a W/Mo that just reached 20th level
I have not really given thought to runes or upgrades to my items, I just use what I have acquied so far
I feel now is the time to learn more about customizing so I can get a better feel for the game.
I've read a couple of guides on here, however I found most of them are outdated now.
I'd like to know what the possibilities are for customization

Since I'm a W/Mo lets talk about what I use the most (attributes)
I use Strength, Swordsmanship, Tactics, Healing, and Smiting for the most part.
Lets say I had a Duelist Helm with +1 Swordsmanship
I know I can put a minor rune of swordsmanship on to add a +1 bonus
If I add a superior rune to a +1 duelist helm, will it become +4 Swordsmanship with -75 health? I cannot seem to find a superior rune of swordsmanship, so the same question could be applied to the gladiator helm with +1 tactics

Lets say I have all Ascalon armor, would using 1 superior rune of absorption add to the damage reducer? or is that already maxed out?

I've noticed that 1.5k Gladiator armor has a +8 Energy for the entire combo, and that there is a sword that provides +5 energy. Are there shields with + to energy as well?

I would imagine 20 +8 +5 +10(or more / energy item) would work quite well for any of the W/Mo or W/E out there

What upgrades are best for a sword and why?
Can I find shields out there with more than 2 benefits?

If this has all been covered, links to the latest guides would be appreciated since I've been finding the out of date ones.

justinkim · Aug 14, 2005, 08:56 PM // 20:56

1) Yes, you would have +4 to Swordsmanship and -75 health
2) From what Ive read and hear, You really only need 1 piece of "Reduce Damage" armour. So you should only have 1 piece of ascalon or Knights Armour since the "Reduce Damage" is universal. You CAN add a Superior Absorption and it WILL reduce damage. So 1 piece of knights/ascalon armour and Sup. Absor. will STACK
3) From my own experience Ive never seen a shield with energy
4) Most people use +30 health and 10/10 Sundering ( armour pentration) upgrades. Some people like Furious hilts but I prefer them on Axes since they use more adren.
5) I've never seen a shield with more than two mods on it.

Kamel407 · Aug 14, 2005, 09:13 PM // 21:13

Thank you for the quick reply

another question

if each piece of gladiator armor has a energy bonus, why wouldn't each piece of ascalon armor reduce damage?

justinkim · Aug 14, 2005, 10:24 PM // 22:24

Well, Energy is WAY different than "Reduce Damage". Just test and stuff have been done, and they concluded that only 1 piece of ascalon/knights armour is need. Just the way Anet made things.

Aug 14, 2005, 08:34 PM // 20:34	#1
Kamel407 Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Aug 2005 Profession: W/Mo	Customizing your weapons, shields, energy items, armor, runes, and upgrades? Forgive Me for my NooB question. However through my research I am still having some trouble figuring all of this out. Here is what I have learned so far Weapons - Can have as many as 2 upgrades Shields - are not customizable Energy Items - are not customizable Armor - Can be purchased in pieces and runed Upgrades - for weapons Background - I have a W/Mo that just reached 20th level I have not really given thought to runes or upgrades to my items, I just use what I have acquied so far I feel now is the time to learn more about customizing so I can get a better feel for the game. I've read a couple of guides on here, however I found most of them are outdated now. I'd like to know what the possibilities are for customization Since I'm a W/Mo lets talk about what I use the most (attributes) I use Strength, Swordsmanship, Tactics, Healing, and Smiting for the most part. Lets say I had a Duelist Helm with +1 Swordsmanship I know I can put a minor rune of swordsmanship on to add a +1 bonus If I add a superior rune to a +1 duelist helm, will it become +4 Swordsmanship with -75 health? I cannot seem to find a superior rune of swordsmanship, so the same question could be applied to the gladiator helm with +1 tactics Lets say I have all Ascalon armor, would using 1 superior rune of absorption add to the damage reducer? or is that already maxed out? I've noticed that 1.5k Gladiator armor has a +8 Energy for the entire combo, and that there is a sword that provides +5 energy. Are there shields with + to energy as well? I would imagine 20 +8 +5 +10(or more / energy item) would work quite well for any of the W/Mo or W/E out there What upgrades are best for a sword and why? Can I find shields out there with more than 2 benefits? If this has all been covered, links to the latest guides would be appreciated since I've been finding the out of date ones.

Aug 14, 2005, 08:56 PM // 20:56	#2
justinkim Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto Guild: NES	1) Yes, you would have +4 to Swordsmanship and -75 health 2) From what Ive read and hear, You really only need 1 piece of "Reduce Damage" armour. So you should only have 1 piece of ascalon or Knights Armour since the "Reduce Damage" is universal. You CAN add a Superior Absorption and it WILL reduce damage. So 1 piece of knights/ascalon armour and Sup. Absor. will STACK 3) From my own experience Ive never seen a shield with energy 4) Most people use +30 health and 10/10 Sundering ( armour pentration) upgrades. Some people like Furious hilts but I prefer them on Axes since they use more adren. 5) I've never seen a shield with more than two mods on it.

Aug 14, 2005, 09:13 PM // 21:13	#3
Kamel407 Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Aug 2005 Profession: W/Mo	Thank you for the quick reply another question if each piece of gladiator armor has a energy bonus, why wouldn't each piece of ascalon armor reduce damage?

Aug 14, 2005, 10:24 PM // 22:24	#4
justinkim Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto Guild: NES	Well, Energy is WAY different than "Reduce Damage". Just test and stuff have been done, and they concluded that only 1 piece of ascalon/knights armour is need. Just the way Anet made things.