To chop, to slice or to crush? - Guild Wars Forums

Merrial · Jul 26, 2005, 12:34 PM // 12:34

I've been wanting to start a warrior for the last few days put have put it off for now, because I haven't yet decided if I'm going for an axe, sword or hammer wielding warrior. Altought I don't really know why, I can't say that the hammer one really appeal to me, but I'm considering all posibilities

Each must have their strenghts and weaknesses, so I'd like to have some comments from those veterans warriors out there as to what they are. Also, is one or the other more usefull in PvE or PvP?

Thanks.

Lorelei · Jul 26, 2005, 02:12 PM // 14:12

This should go to Riverside Inn, I believe. Hammer is the most favorite weapon to play PvP, as it allows hammer warrior to interrupt spell-casters more often with knock down.
Sword is the most prefer PvE because... it looks cooler.

Am an axe person. I chop off what sticks out

Merrial · Jul 26, 2005, 02:20 PM // 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorelei

This should go to Riverside Inn, I believe.

It does... doh!

Could a mod move this then, please?

Weezer_Blue · Jul 26, 2005, 04:17 PM // 16:17

Hammer or Axe ftw. Swords are overrated. Hammer has knockdown, which doubles as an interupt and a period of helplessness, and spike damage. Axe has disrupting chop and stuff, as well as good damage output.

Epinephrine · Jul 26, 2005, 04:43 PM // 16:43

The debate rages between the various styles; for starting a character out though I would suggest sword or axe - the hammer skills aren't very good in the beginning of the game while Axe starts with cyclone axe, the only really decent area attack you'll get for a long while, and both axe and sword get some decent attacks quickly. If you wish to go hammer I'd make the change once you have a few more skills.

TeamEllis · Jul 27, 2005, 12:47 AM // 00:47

Go with the hammer. Know down owns!

Aniewiel · Jul 27, 2005, 12:53 AM // 00:53

Actually, given that it's a question asking for advice, I've put this in the Questions & Answers Forum.

Avantos · Jul 27, 2005, 01:11 AM // 01:11

Swords work well for "on-demand" effects. For example, while an axe would have to charge adrenaline to use disrupting chop, sword's savage slash would interrupt a spellcaster (or otherwise) immediately, if within melee range. The same applies for hamstring over axe rake.

Also, sword has an easy time applying all of its conditions in rapid succession (perhaps not in theory, but in practice) with hamstring, sever, and gash one after another.

In this way, swords are better against single enemies, such as PvE bosses, or enemy players, where they can apply their conditions and use their very tightly controlled skills to their advantage.

However, most sword skills require energy, and with a warrior's meager energy pool and regeneration, energy denial can easily disable a sword warrior.

Axes work well for pure damage. The increased chance for critical hits with higher axe mastery makes the normal damage above and beyond what a sword would do. Also, its various adrenal damage skills like cleave and executioner's strike make for easily usable (especially with an adrenaline increase of some kind, as with battle rage or berserker's stance) for higher damage along those lines as well.

Since axes don't truly rely on energy all that much, they are able to continuously hit for very powerful adrenaline attacks--this combine with many options for deep wound makes damage come very quickly for an axe.

The problem lies, of course, in the fact that it requires adrenaline to charge and something like sympathetic visage and the like that disable adrenaline can negate an axe warrior. However, fewer enemies carry anti-adrenaline, compared to the number that carry anti-energy. Usually, though, this adrenaline reliant attacking is an advantage rather than a disadvantage, especially with, as said, faster adrenaline charging.

As a final note, regarding mostly PvE, axes are better than sword against multiple enemies with just cyclone axe. Even beyond that though, axes with something like For Great Justice quickly charge and quickly eliminate opposition--and even without such a skill, enemies are plentiful in PvE to charge from.

Finally, hammer is used primarily in PvP at this point due to its knockdown ability. Although it attacks slower than the above two, which makes Strength of Honor and the conjures less useful (Monk and Elementalist secondaries, respectively) its primary goal is denial of action, which like sword, works far better against single enemies.

However, Earthshaker and Aftershock have worked excellently when I tried it. The problem is, of course, it isn't a combination that you can trigger all that often with Earthshaker's high adrenaline cost, which is more troublesome for a hammer due to its slower attack. Of course, that was a test and it did work for some damage, if not as effective as axe damage.

Overall, although I have some experience with hammers, I don't have nearly as much as I do with axes and swords. Though from what I've seen from them, hammers also rely on adrenaline highly like, if not more, than axes.

XENOGEARSHARINGAN · Jul 27, 2005, 01:50 AM // 01:50

ahhhhh

some good points but depends on your build its easy to cast my succecion of attacks with my axe. since most people are expectin hammer i surprice them. one of the previous skill i would use would be executioner, penetration, eviscerate, axe rake, disruption axe, bersker. i can usualy cast all this attack in about 4 seconds. i start with
eviscerate which will do 120+damge to caster that are unprotected, or like 90 to protected that leat ive done anyways. i do 80 damge to warrior with this attack. so now target has deepwound and took damge. follow up with axe rake(70damge) hes criplled. now bust out penetration and keep attacking by the time you use all skills exept executioner you cast beserker again. but your target is proabbly runing and as all warrior know if they run you do more damge so bust you your executioner.

another build i tried was applly poison with cyclone. i know waht you think pretty standard but add. eviscerate, and axe rake. now you got a poisoned, 20%less healht and 20% less healing target, and his criplled. so he will loose health fast and deepwound only heals him some and not full heal. and by then you can bust out the moves again to further increase damge i killed a monk in 4 seconds it was funny he wasnt prepared for poison, crippled, deepwound, and my friend made him bleed. so taht was funny.

things i try out, oh yeah axe has greater armor penetration thatn sword. ive fought 2 warrior with swords and they will only be doing a max damge of 30, and there regular attack do like 3-6 damge.

Merrial · Jul 27, 2005, 12:08 PM // 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aniewiel

Actually, given that it's a question asking for advice, I've put this in the Questions & Answers Forum.

Ah... so that's why I could'nt find my post, this morning!

Thanks for moving it. I had placed it in Game Suggestions, because that's what I was seeking, suggestions on building a carachter.

Thanks for all your replies, guys, I think I'll try for an axe warrior. It'll be a change from all the sword warriors I had back in Diablo.

Jul 26, 2005, 12:34 PM // 12:34	#1
Merrial Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jul 2005 Profession: E/W	To chop, to slice or to crush? I've been wanting to start a warrior for the last few days put have put it off for now, because I haven't yet decided if I'm going for an axe, sword or hammer wielding warrior. Altought I don't really know why, I can't say that the hammer one really appeal to me, but I'm considering all posibilities Each must have their strenghts and weaknesses, so I'd like to have some comments from those veterans warriors out there as to what they are. Also, is one or the other more usefull in PvE or PvP? Thanks.

Jul 26, 2005, 04:17 PM // 16:17	#4
Weezer_Blue Elite Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just a Box in a Cage Guild: Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]	Hammer or Axe ftw. Swords are overrated. Hammer has knockdown, which doubles as an interupt and a period of helplessness, and spike damage. Axe has disrupting chop and stuff, as well as good damage output. __________________

Jul 26, 2005, 02:12 PM // 14:12	#2
Lorelei Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Somewhere unexpected	This should go to Riverside Inn, I believe. Hammer is the most favorite weapon to play PvP, as it allows hammer warrior to interrupt spell-casters more often with knock down. Sword is the most prefer PvE because... it looks cooler. Am an axe person. I chop off what sticks out

Jul 26, 2005, 04:43 PM // 16:43	#5
Epinephrine Master of Beasts Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ottawa, Canada Guild: Servants of Fortuna [SoF]	The debate rages between the various styles; for starting a character out though I would suggest sword or axe - the hammer skills aren't very good in the beginning of the game while Axe starts with cyclone axe, the only really decent area attack you'll get for a long while, and both axe and sword get some decent attacks quickly. If you wish to go hammer I'd make the change once you have a few more skills.

Jul 27, 2005, 12:47 AM // 00:47	#6
TeamEllis Banned Join Date: Jul 2005	Go with the hammer. Know down owns!

Jul 27, 2005, 12:53 AM // 00:53	#7
Aniewiel Smite Mistress Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Land of AZ, USA Profession: Rt/E	Actually, given that it's a question asking for advice, I've put this in the Questions & Answers Forum.

Jul 27, 2005, 01:11 AM // 01:11	#8
Avantos Academy Page Join Date: Jul 2005	Swords work well for "on-demand" effects. For example, while an axe would have to charge adrenaline to use disrupting chop, sword's savage slash would interrupt a spellcaster (or otherwise) immediately, if within melee range. The same applies for hamstring over axe rake. Also, sword has an easy time applying all of its conditions in rapid succession (perhaps not in theory, but in practice) with hamstring, sever, and gash one after another. In this way, swords are better against single enemies, such as PvE bosses, or enemy players, where they can apply their conditions and use their very tightly controlled skills to their advantage. However, most sword skills require energy, and with a warrior's meager energy pool and regeneration, energy denial can easily disable a sword warrior. Axes work well for pure damage. The increased chance for critical hits with higher axe mastery makes the normal damage above and beyond what a sword would do. Also, its various adrenal damage skills like cleave and executioner's strike make for easily usable (especially with an adrenaline increase of some kind, as with battle rage or berserker's stance) for higher damage along those lines as well. Since axes don't truly rely on energy all that much, they are able to continuously hit for very powerful adrenaline attacks--this combine with many options for deep wound makes damage come very quickly for an axe. The problem lies, of course, in the fact that it requires adrenaline to charge and something like sympathetic visage and the like that disable adrenaline can negate an axe warrior. However, fewer enemies carry anti-adrenaline, compared to the number that carry anti-energy. Usually, though, this adrenaline reliant attacking is an advantage rather than a disadvantage, especially with, as said, faster adrenaline charging. As a final note, regarding mostly PvE, axes are better than sword against multiple enemies with just cyclone axe. Even beyond that though, axes with something like For Great Justice quickly charge and quickly eliminate opposition--and even without such a skill, enemies are plentiful in PvE to charge from. Finally, hammer is used primarily in PvP at this point due to its knockdown ability. Although it attacks slower than the above two, which makes Strength of Honor and the conjures less useful (Monk and Elementalist secondaries, respectively) its primary goal is denial of action, which like sword, works far better against single enemies. However, Earthshaker and Aftershock have worked excellently when I tried it. The problem is, of course, it isn't a combination that you can trigger all that often with Earthshaker's high adrenaline cost, which is more troublesome for a hammer due to its slower attack. Of course, that was a test and it did work for some damage, if not as effective as axe damage. Overall, although I have some experience with hammers, I don't have nearly as much as I do with axes and swords. Though from what I've seen from them, hammers also rely on adrenaline highly like, if not more, than axes.

Jul 27, 2005, 01:50 AM // 01:50	#9
XENOGEARSHARINGAN Academy Page Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: AUDE Profession: R/	ahhhhh some good points but depends on your build its easy to cast my succecion of attacks with my axe. since most people are expectin hammer i surprice them. one of the previous skill i would use would be executioner, penetration, eviscerate, axe rake, disruption axe, bersker. i can usualy cast all this attack in about 4 seconds. i start with eviscerate which will do 120+damge to caster that are unprotected, or like 90 to protected that leat ive done anyways. i do 80 damge to warrior with this attack. so now target has deepwound and took damge. follow up with axe rake(70damge) hes criplled. now bust out penetration and keep attacking by the time you use all skills exept executioner you cast beserker again. but your target is proabbly runing and as all warrior know if they run you do more damge so bust you your executioner. another build i tried was applly poison with cyclone. i know waht you think pretty standard but add. eviscerate, and axe rake. now you got a poisoned, 20%less healht and 20% less healing target, and his criplled. so he will loose health fast and deepwound only heals him some and not full heal. and by then you can bust out the moves again to further increase damge i killed a monk in 4 seconds it was funny he wasnt prepared for poison, crippled, deepwound, and my friend made him bleed. so taht was funny. things i try out, oh yeah axe has greater armor penetration thatn sword. ive fought 2 warrior with swords and they will only be doing a max damge of 30, and there regular attack do like 3-6 damge.