What is better Swords or Axes? - Guild Wars Forums

Tyrius · May 21, 2005, 06:40 PM // 18:40

I'm currently a W/N using swords. Not doing very good damange i'm thinking of switchig to Axe. Whats is better and what are the pro's and con's?

Kimpeck · May 21, 2005, 06:45 PM // 18:45

Well, I prefer swords myself, but axe's have several attacks that are very nice, the con is that they all take energy to use and as a warrior you only have 20 so you end up running out quickly, especially if you're using necro as a secondary. swords have several attacks that only require adrenaline so you can still use them and whatever spells you want. But it's really just matter of choice.

Ramus · May 21, 2005, 07:00 PM // 19:00

I prefer hammers over swords, I am a 13 str, 10 hammer, 1 healing Warrior.

I do quite well for myself.

I may go swords in the end, only because the skills way outdo the hammer skills. Its very hard to chain link any good skills in hammer because they all cost all of your focus.

Aaaaagh · May 22, 2005, 05:53 AM // 05:53

From my (limited) experience I find that hammers have the highest damage when using no skills, followed by axes and then swords (yes speed has been accounted for). However, when using skills sword cranks out the most damage per second, followed by axes and then hammers. But! Hammers more interupt skills and they can blind. Axes have deep wound skills, which can be very handy in the right situation. So, as for whats best...depends on play style and situation. Buy one of each weapon and be ready to switch them around often.

JAGeAkurei · May 22, 2005, 01:16 PM // 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramus

I prefer hammers over swords, I am a 13 str, 10 hammer, 1 healing Warrior.

I do quite well for myself.

Just a possible tip Ramus, you may wish to swap that to 12 hammer, 10+str, healing(unless you need some str skill I'm not thinking of)

With hammer at 10 instead of 12, you're missing out on 8.333%(is closer to 10% GW uses fuzzy math sometimes) of the base hammer damage. Which is going to be more than the 3% AP gained via strength.

Think of it like this,
Currently
92% hammer damage/13% armor penetration

Compaired to
100% hammer damage/10% armor penetration

You could then go one step further, and even with healing spec, use Judge's Insight.

Which in the end would look like

100% holy hammer damage/30% armor penetration

Food for thought

HelioTheGreat · May 29, 2005, 10:13 PM // 22:13

Hey guys I have a W/N I use the Axe but I am not sure how to distribute my points between either blood-death or curses and tactics and strength..:: plEASE HELP!!

THANK YOU

http://kagaonline.low-ping.com - [KAGA] - GW.GUILD

Dragothel · May 29, 2005, 10:42 PM // 22:42

Axes have good attak, but have horrible minimum damage. I'd stick with swords if you want pure damage, but hammers are good

bee65n · May 29, 2005, 10:51 PM // 22:51

I used swords and axes, and IMO, axes are the better of the two. Axes have adrenaline intensive skills (actually not that many mana based attacks....), and they all add a healthy sum of dmg for a low price (elite skill cleave adds 22dmg for 4adrenaline). IMO, when using no skills, swords outdo the axe dmg because of their consistent dmg in the long run. However, combined w/ skills (cyclone, cleave, power strike, piercing attack, etc) I believe axes are better. Besides, Hundred Blades is not as good as some people make it out to be.

Rhadamanthys · May 30, 2005, 01:36 AM // 01:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramus

I prefer hammers over swords, I am a 13 str, 10 hammer, 1 healing Warrior.

I do quite well for myself.

I may go swords in the end, only because the skills way outdo the hammer skills. Its very hard to chain link any good skills in hammer because they all cost all of your focus.

Why do you put so much into Strength? Unless you are using skills that require Strength, there is no reason to increase your Strength so much. I just think 13% armor penatration is not worth it.

For me, I am 12 Swordsmanship, 9 Fire, 6 Tactics and 2 Strength. This way I can almost fully make use of my second profession.

Just my opinion. Please correct me if im wrong about the Strength. Thanks.

RepinsMirg · May 30, 2005, 01:56 AM // 01:56

For a nice chain go Mighty Blow, Devastating Hammer, Crushing Blow, Heavy Blow, and if you were a secondary elementalist finish with an aftershock.

Wolf89 · May 31, 2005, 03:06 AM // 03:06

Ramus try things like mighty blow strength attack staggering blow and heavy blow if you wanna chain link. Get your adrenaline to 7 use every move but save heavy blow till last and repeat.

Gauwyn Vorec · May 31, 2005, 03:31 AM // 03:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhadamanthys

Why do you put so much into Strength? Unless you are using skills that require Strength, there is no reason to increase your Strength so much. I just think 13% armor penatration is not worth it.

For me, I am 12 Swordsmanship, 9 Fire, 6 Tactics and 2 Strength. This way I can almost fully make use of my second profession.

Just my opinion. Please correct me if im wrong about the Strength. Thanks.

As per the manual and Prima Guide:

"Strength also improves the effectiveness of skills that keep you alive, as well as those that inflict damage on your opponents"

Therefore, what that's saying is, Strength improves your attack skill effectiveness (amount of damage dealt). So if you only have 2 in Strength, you're not doing NEARLY as much damage as you could be. I myself have 11 in Strength.

To also answer the question started with this thread... I like Swords myself... very quick and powerful (no complaints)... but it all comes down to personal preference.

scorp121 · May 31, 2005, 04:01 AM // 04:01

I would use whichever is better stat-wise.

If you found equal types, ie same bonuses etc, I would use swords, mainly due to gash, severe and final thrust.

No good against non-bleeders though, that's when you get the smash-smash out

eA-Zaku · May 31, 2005, 04:04 AM // 04:04

Chaos axe looks coolest, go axes

Eskimo Bob · May 31, 2005, 04:25 AM // 04:25

Well I have heard people say swords for pve, axes for pvp. Butt I say it is realy what you like. I use axes and I am satisfied with cleave. I pump that baby out ever 4 seconds practicly. And cyclone axe + vigorous spirit + live vicariously + nice vampiric mod + surrounded by enemies= lots of health (around 30 or so each hit if your healing prayers are high). I know you are a W/N but I still love those 3 put together.

Oh also a nice combo is: Dismember (deep wound) + Axe rake (crippled, requires them to be suffering from deep wound) + Axe twist (weakness, requires them to be suffering from deep wound) followed by numorous cleaves = one pretty much dead enemy. They all require adreniline, (quite a bit at that) but I manage to get them off.

eA-Zaku · May 31, 2005, 04:28 AM // 04:28

Ermm..he's a Warrior/Necro

Nlandge · May 31, 2005, 05:16 AM // 05:16

IMO sword > for PvP axes > PvE

Swords have skills that are more usefull in pvp, Axes just deal massive damage, which i guess would be usfull in pvp, but i dont know

Suuk · May 31, 2005, 07:15 AM // 07:15

Hey, why is no-one telling it depends on your enemy? For instance, take your sword skills like sever and gash to an undead mission and they are pretty useless. Also, the end missions have lots of monsters that do not bleed, but can have a deep wound.

Also, 100 blades is elite, cyclone axe isnt...(though they are not exactly the same)

So I prefer axes there (u know that annoying Jades....). So whatever you choose dont sell the other weapon

Samurai Kun · May 31, 2005, 08:09 AM // 08:09

Swords are faster than hammers, and you can make your opponent to bleed and use gash for deep wound. Tho 100 would be a nice skill, but it's so hard to get. Adrenaline recharges lil faster whit swords (they hit faster), so you can use the skills faster, also you can use a shield.
and btw, Axes are ugly! I prefer one of my glassy long sword, tho it makes 4-7 dmg, but it sure is cool

D

TheIrishman · May 31, 2005, 12:12 PM // 12:12

Depends on playing style ENTIRELY.

I'll put them in order for usefullness in catagories.

Skill interupter? Hammer - Sword - Axe

Caster Killer (IE:Monk Killer) - Sword - Hammer - Axe

Conditions (Useful for the melee fragility mesmers, and for curse necros) - Axe - Sword - Hammer

PVE (Overall) - Hammer - Axe - Sword

PVP (Overall) - Sword - Axe - Hammer

Specific Builds:

N/W - Sword. Trust me. I play one of the toughest Meleemancers around, and Swords the only thing that'll do it. To get great combos with the sword you only need 2-3 sword skills, which gives me plenty of room for my lifetaps.

Mo/W - Your choice. My buddy likes Hammer, just because if anyone picks a fight with him in PvP he knocks'm flat on thier arse and runs off to keep casting, but that'd work with a sprint/hamstring combo, too.

R/W - Uncommon, but I reccomend Axe. Combine the many problems the axe causes (Deep Wound, Cripple, Bleeding) with other conditions (Poison) and throw in some dodges for good measure (Lightning Reflexes) and your all good.

Me/W - Axes, Most Definately. Fragility Warriors, though uncommon, are Very powerful, and all the conditions Axe's give are perfect for that.

E/W - Haven't seen any of these, so I wouldnt know.

As for thier reverses:

W/E - Hammer. Knock'm down and cast a quick (But powerful) spell. This is Great for Air, which has knockdown's and Blinds as well, and so the two match up perfectly.

W/N - I. Hate. Nec/Wars. They're a wast of potential. A good N/W is 10 times anything a War/Nec could be, and it's all because of MANA. Enough with the rant, though. I'd hafta say a Hammers/Curses build'd be the only Warrior I'd respect.

W/R - Pretty uncommon in the "tank" (read: Melee) catagory, and I dont really know what to say. Most W/R I've met are archers who use the warrior armor to thier advantage.

W/Mo - Ah, the ol' War Monk. The bane of players EVERYWHERE. Either you guys are the shiz, or you guys suck. I dunno which, cuz just when I'll start to hate your class as a whole, I'll meet one of you who redeem you, and then once i start to like you, I'll meet a streak of you who just plain Suck.

Again with the rant. Anyway, I'd hafta say Hammer - Back in the beta, I was in a guild with plenty of the "Redeemers" of the W/Mo's, and all of them whooped ass with a Beatdown Stick. I guess it's because during the short delays in taking damage while the enemy is in the fetal position, they regen some of the life they lost, putting them two steps ahead of thier foes.

W/Me - Once Again, Pretty Uncommon. Depends on the build entirely, and I dont know enough about mesmers to even pretend I know anything about mesmers.

Noticing a trend in the W/(X) catagory? Hammers Are Good. With the high AP thanks to Strength, each of your attacks is doing Muy Guapo damage. Pile that on top of any skills you brought, and you could be dealing somewhere between 40-80 a hit. Es Muy Bueno, Senor.

Hope my little Guide helped. If you ever wanna start a W/Ele, W/N, or N/W (The N/W especially) send me a PM. I'd be glad to help out with what little I know.

EDIT::: Minor spelling errors.

May 21, 2005, 06:40 PM // 18:40	#1
Tyrius Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2005 Guild: Team Goat Profession: W/N	What is better Swords or Axes? I'm currently a W/N using swords. Not doing very good damange i'm thinking of switchig to Axe. Whats is better and what are the pro's and con's?

May 31, 2005, 04:25 AM // 04:25	#15
Eskimo Bob Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Canada, Alberta Guild: Angelic Knights Profession: W/Mo	Well I have heard people say swords for pve, axes for pvp. Butt I say it is realy what you like. I use axes and I am satisfied with cleave. I pump that baby out ever 4 seconds practicly. And cyclone axe + vigorous spirit + live vicariously + nice vampiric mod + surrounded by enemies= lots of health (around 30 or so each hit if your healing prayers are high). I know you are a W/N but I still love those 3 put together. Oh also a nice combo is: Dismember (deep wound) + Axe rake (crippled, requires them to be suffering from deep wound) + Axe twist (weakness, requires them to be suffering from deep wound) followed by numorous cleaves = one pretty much dead enemy. They all require adreniline, (quite a bit at that) but I manage to get them off. Last edited by Eskimo Bob; May 31, 2005 at 04:30 AM // 04:30..

May 31, 2005, 07:15 AM // 07:15	#18
Suuk Krytan Explorer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: the Netherlands Guild: Lovers of Whisky and Women (LWW) Profession: E/	Hey, why is no-one telling it depends on your enemy? For instance, take your sword skills like sever and gash to an undead mission and they are pretty useless. Also, the end missions have lots of monsters that do not bleed, but can have a deep wound. Also, 100 blades is elite, cyclone axe isnt...(though they are not exactly the same) So I prefer axes there (u know that annoying Jades....). So whatever you choose dont sell the other weapon Last edited by Suuk; May 31, 2005 at 07:17 AM // 07:17.. Reason: Forgot one thing

May 31, 2005, 08:09 AM // 08:09	#19
Samurai Kun Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: May 2005	I like swords... Swords are faster than hammers, and you can make your opponent to bleed and use gash for deep wound. Tho 100 would be a nice skill, but it's so hard to get. Adrenaline recharges lil faster whit swords (they hit faster), so you can use the skills faster, also you can use a shield. and btw, Axes are ugly! I prefer one of my glassy long sword, tho it makes 4-7 dmg, but it sure is cool D

May 31, 2005, 12:12 PM // 12:12	#20
TheIrishman Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Currently: NJ Guild: Wanderers of YS Profession: N/W	Depends on playing style ENTIRELY. I'll put them in order for usefullness in catagories. Skill interupter? Hammer - Sword - Axe Caster Killer (IE:Monk Killer) - Sword - Hammer - Axe Conditions (Useful for the melee fragility mesmers, and for curse necros) - Axe - Sword - Hammer PVE (Overall) - Hammer - Axe - Sword PVP (Overall) - Sword - Axe - Hammer Specific Builds: N/W - Sword. Trust me. I play one of the toughest Meleemancers around, and Swords the only thing that'll do it. To get great combos with the sword you only need 2-3 sword skills, which gives me plenty of room for my lifetaps. Mo/W - Your choice. My buddy likes Hammer, just because if anyone picks a fight with him in PvP he knocks'm flat on thier arse and runs off to keep casting, but that'd work with a sprint/hamstring combo, too. R/W - Uncommon, but I reccomend Axe. Combine the many problems the axe causes (Deep Wound, Cripple, Bleeding) with other conditions (Poison) and throw in some dodges for good measure (Lightning Reflexes) and your all good. Me/W - Axes, Most Definately. Fragility Warriors, though uncommon, are Very powerful, and all the conditions Axe's give are perfect for that. E/W - Haven't seen any of these, so I wouldnt know. As for thier reverses: W/E - Hammer. Knock'm down and cast a quick (But powerful) spell. This is Great for Air, which has knockdown's and Blinds as well, and so the two match up perfectly. W/N - I. Hate. Nec/Wars. They're a wast of potential. A good N/W is 10 times anything a War/Nec could be, and it's all because of MANA. Enough with the rant, though. I'd hafta say a Hammers/Curses build'd be the only Warrior I'd respect. W/R - Pretty uncommon in the "tank" (read: Melee) catagory, and I dont really know what to say. Most W/R I've met are archers who use the warrior armor to thier advantage. W/Mo - Ah, the ol' War Monk. The bane of players EVERYWHERE. Either you guys are the shiz, or you guys suck. I dunno which, cuz just when I'll start to hate your class as a whole, I'll meet one of you who redeem you, and then once i start to like you, I'll meet a streak of you who just plain Suck. Again with the rant. Anyway, I'd hafta say Hammer - Back in the beta, I was in a guild with plenty of the "Redeemers" of the W/Mo's, and all of them whooped ass with a Beatdown Stick. I guess it's because during the short delays in taking damage while the enemy is in the fetal position, they regen some of the life they lost, putting them two steps ahead of thier foes. W/Me - Once Again, Pretty Uncommon. Depends on the build entirely, and I dont know enough about mesmers to even pretend I know anything about mesmers. Noticing a trend in the W/(X) catagory? Hammers Are Good. With the high AP thanks to Strength, each of your attacks is doing Muy Guapo damage. Pile that on top of any skills you brought, and you could be dealing somewhere between 40-80 a hit. Es Muy Bueno, Senor. Hope my little Guide helped. If you ever wanna start a W/Ele, W/N, or N/W (The N/W especially) send me a PM. I'd be glad to help out with what little I know. EDIT::: Minor spelling errors. Last edited by TheIrishman; May 31, 2005 at 12:17 PM // 12:17..

May 21, 2005, 06:45 PM // 18:45	#2
Kimpeck Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	Well, I prefer swords myself, but axe's have several attacks that are very nice, the con is that they all take energy to use and as a warrior you only have 20 so you end up running out quickly, especially if you're using necro as a secondary. swords have several attacks that only require adrenaline so you can still use them and whatever spells you want. But it's really just matter of choice.

May 21, 2005, 07:00 PM // 19:00	#3
Ramus Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Guild: Zero Tolerance Profession: W/Mo	I prefer hammers over swords, I am a 13 str, 10 hammer, 1 healing Warrior. I do quite well for myself. I may go swords in the end, only because the skills way outdo the hammer skills. Its very hard to chain link any good skills in hammer because they all cost all of your focus.

May 22, 2005, 05:53 AM // 05:53	#4
Aaaaagh Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2005	From my (limited) experience I find that hammers have the highest damage when using no skills, followed by axes and then swords (yes speed has been accounted for). However, when using skills sword cranks out the most damage per second, followed by axes and then hammers. But! Hammers more interupt skills and they can blind. Axes have deep wound skills, which can be very handy in the right situation. So, as for whats best...depends on play style and situation. Buy one of each weapon and be ready to switch them around often.

May 29, 2005, 10:13 PM // 22:13	#6
HelioTheGreat Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: May 2005 Location: Roman Empire Guild: [KAGA] Kagai Ryoushi Profession: W/N	Hey guys I have a W/N I use the Axe but I am not sure how to distribute my points between either blood-death or curses and tactics and strength..:: plEASE HELP!! THANK YOU http://kagaonline.low-ping.com - [KAGA] - GW.GUILD

May 29, 2005, 10:42 PM // 22:42	#7
Dragothel Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Location: CA Guild: Shadow of the Forgotten Profession: W/	Axes have good attak, but have horrible minimum damage. I'd stick with swords if you want pure damage, but hammers are good

May 29, 2005, 10:51 PM // 22:51	#8
bee65n Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005	I used swords and axes, and IMO, axes are the better of the two. Axes have adrenaline intensive skills (actually not that many mana based attacks....), and they all add a healthy sum of dmg for a low price (elite skill cleave adds 22dmg for 4adrenaline). IMO, when using no skills, swords outdo the axe dmg because of their consistent dmg in the long run. However, combined w/ skills (cyclone, cleave, power strike, piercing attack, etc) I believe axes are better. Besides, Hundred Blades is not as good as some people make it out to be.

May 30, 2005, 01:56 AM // 01:56	#10
RepinsMirg Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tacoma, WA Guild: First Name Only Profession: W/E	For a nice chain go Mighty Blow, Devastating Hammer, Crushing Blow, Heavy Blow, and if you were a secondary elementalist finish with an aftershock.

May 31, 2005, 03:06 AM // 03:06	#11
Wolf89 Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2005	Ramus try things like mighty blow strength attack staggering blow and heavy blow if you wanna chain link. Get your adrenaline to 7 use every move but save heavy blow till last and repeat.

May 31, 2005, 04:01 AM // 04:01	#13
scorp121 Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2005	I would use whichever is better stat-wise. If you found equal types, ie same bonuses etc, I would use swords, mainly due to gash, severe and final thrust. No good against non-bleeders though, that's when you get the smash-smash out

May 31, 2005, 04:04 AM // 04:04	#14
eA-Zaku Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005	Chaos axe looks coolest, go axes

May 31, 2005, 04:28 AM // 04:28	#16
eA-Zaku Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005	Ermm..he's a Warrior/Necro

May 31, 2005, 05:16 AM // 05:16	#17
Nlandge Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PHX,Arizona Guild: Dragon Blood Profession: Mo/N	IMO sword > for PvP axes > PvE Swords have skills that are more usefull in pvp, Axes just deal massive damage, which i guess would be usfull in pvp, but i dont know