Sword or Hammer!? - Guild Wars Forums

Aborted · May 16, 2005, 02:52 PM // 14:52

I've already spent a few attribute points purely on hammer and none on sword, but now i'm having second thoughts and think i'm making a mistake..

Should i continue building up my hammer attribute instead of sword, or start on sword only? Also, do i get some decent looking hammers as i level up more?

TY!

ChristopherKee · May 16, 2005, 03:02 PM // 15:02

You get so may respec points you can respec twice a day every day. Don't worry about where your points go.

On that note, try both weapons out and see which meets your playstyle the best. Do you want to do slow damage and knockdown or fast damage and blead. And don't forget about axes too.

Max damage for sword is 22, hammer is 39, axe is 28. Axe and swords are faster.

viet · May 16, 2005, 03:04 PM // 15:04

swords look cooler
too bad no spear

Fenix Swiftblade · May 16, 2005, 03:15 PM // 15:15

It depends on what you want to do with the weapon.

Swords are great because of the conditions they can inflict, instant bleeding or crippled, and then a deep wound soon after, and because of the high attack rate.
Hammers are great because they cause knockdown and have high single hit damage.
I've never used axes, but you should check them out, they're great too, I just don't know the reason.

From experience, the DPS difference is not that big, and I personally think that the skills for swords more than make up that difference, as hammers only have one straight damage boosting skill, and a few minimal ones that do extra stuff to foes with conditions, and swords have several. Though, if you're a primary warrior and have a high strength, there are a few damage boosters there that you could use. However, if the enemy has Healing Seed on, the sword still might not do enough damage on a single hit to cancel out the healing, where as a hammer would.

It all really depends on what you want your character to do.

All of the weapon types have better looking versions as you get further.

dwarf stomper · May 16, 2005, 04:24 PM // 16:24

ive used all 3, and i like swords better

personally i like the sword skills better, but the axe skills can be nice also, and that cyclone axe is espically nice when ur fighting a group of monsters

i hate hammers, knocking a monster down isnt as helpful as inflicting bleeding i dont think, also keep in mind if you use a hammer you cant have a shield, which is a huge drawback

axes have high max damage abut also a low min damage and that huge range is really annoying

Darkest Dawn · May 16, 2005, 04:29 PM // 16:29

Good information. I have two builds I'm working on. One is a N/R, and the second is a W/E.

My W/E has a sword as his main weapon of choice, but am getting my butt kicked when fighting Elementals. I need to get the hammer skills for these guys. Where do you go to get hammer skills after you return fron the "two year" quest and find yourself in a ruined Ascalon? I'm level 9 and am fairly far along in this scenario, but have been getting beat up by these stone Elementals.

Darkest Dawn · May 16, 2005, 04:31 PM // 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwarf stomper

ive used all 3, and i like swords better

personally i like the sword skills better, but the axe skills can be nice also, and that cyclone axe is espically nice when ur fighting a group of monsters

i hate hammers, knocking a monster down isnt as helpful as inflicting bleeding i dont think, also keep in mind if you use a hammer you cant have a shield, which is a huge drawback

axes have high max damage abut also a low min damage and that huge range is really annoying

It's true you can't use a shield, but you can use some items in that slot that will add armor bonuses. I had some sort of a circlet that gave me +5 armor. While this isn't earth shattering, it is better than nothing. I'd imagine there are even better items out there.

Aloren · May 16, 2005, 04:36 PM // 16:36

I have personally found that I like swords better. I experimented with both hammers and axes in the various BWEs and I have liked swords the best. I suppose this is partly because I figured I'd go swords with my final build anyway, but that's mainly because I like all the different synergy attacks that can be used.
I think hammers would prolly work well with an earth mage sub or something else that would keep you form taking the massive hits.

Redtide · May 16, 2005, 04:38 PM // 16:38

With a hammer you can't have ANYTHING in the second slot...hammers are 2 handed!

Thomasuwoo · May 16, 2005, 04:42 PM // 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redtide

With a hammer you can't have ANYTHING in the second slot...hammers are 2 handed!

True. You should notice a red cirle with a line through it over that item you are using. You can put a sheild there too. it just won't work

Lasher Dragon · May 16, 2005, 04:42 PM // 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redtide

With a hammer you can't have ANYTHING in the second slot...hammers are 2 handed!

Well, that's where the confusion begins. You CAN have items in your second slot while wielding a 2-handed weapon, but you will not gain any bonuses from that item.

Willow · May 16, 2005, 04:43 PM // 16:43

As a warrior, the other warriors I hate fighting the most are Hammer weilders. I hate getting knocked down. Whereas bleeding and damage I can typically live with (Necro secondary).

C-Tzar · May 16, 2005, 04:51 PM // 16:51

You only think you hate getting knocked down as a warrior. As an ele/nec when I get knocked down while trying to cast a nuke, it a) won't cast b) still uses the energy as though it did c) still triggers the timer so i can't just try to cast the nuke again, and d) gives whatever's hitting me a couple free seconds to wail on me in my paper armor while i can't lifetap them (blood secondary rocks) to stay alive. I'll stand my ground against a sword, but I'll run away like a little punk from a hammer.

Darkest Dawn · May 16, 2005, 05:01 PM // 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon

Well, that's where the confusion begins. You CAN have items in your second slot while wielding a 2-handed weapon, but you will not gain any bonuses from that item.

I didn't know that. I stand corrected -- Thanks.

Lasher Dragon · May 16, 2005, 05:14 PM // 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkest Dawn

I didn't know that. I stand corrected -- Thanks.

No prob - I found it out because I ran out of space on a long trek, and then found a neat shield. I threw it into my second slot while using a bow.

Darkest Dawn · May 16, 2005, 05:51 PM // 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon

No prob - I found it out because I ran out of space on a long trek, and then found a neat shield. I threw it into my second slot while using a bow.

It will make me rethink my using the hammers.... I thought I was getting the bonus of the +5 artifact in where my shield was. Is there a place where the total effective armor class/rating is displayed in game?

Adiras · May 17, 2005, 04:40 PM // 16:40

I have a Wa/Me up to level 13 just using hammers and he does awesome in PvP! A must use skill with the big slow hard hitting hammers is Frenzy (or Flurry if you can find it). Frenzied hammer hitting is like a Mack truck rolling over your target, AND you build up adrenaline faster for the knockdown style (which you should keep in reserve as an interupt or finisher IMHO). The drawback is that you dont find very many hammer styles at lower levels. I only have 2 hammer styles atm, with the rest being strength styles or no attribute styles.

Darkest Dawn · May 17, 2005, 04:44 PM // 16:44

Where can you get hammer skills post searing?

Lymix · May 17, 2005, 08:34 PM // 20:34

I've experimented with both hammers and swords and my personal preference is the hammer. A couple reasons being:

1) While they have slower rate of attack, hammers have the highest max damage of all the warrior weapons. That means putting quick end to the nasty foes.

2) Hammer are not as popular as swords, which means you can purchase one for much less money as people tend to sell them cheaply in order to "get rid of them" from storage.

3) With practice on timing, hammers can knock down enemies, which has the wonderful benefit of cancelling any magic skill they were trying to cast at the moment.

May 16, 2005, 02:52 PM // 14:52	#1
Aborted Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2005	Sword or Hammer!? I've already spent a few attribute points purely on hammer and none on sword, but now i'm having second thoughts and think i'm making a mistake.. Should i continue building up my hammer attribute instead of sword, or start on sword only? Also, do i get some decent looking hammers as i level up more? TY!

May 16, 2005, 04:24 PM // 16:24	#5
dwarf stomper Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	ive used all 3, and i like swords better personally i like the sword skills better, but the axe skills can be nice also, and that cyclone axe is espically nice when ur fighting a group of monsters i hate hammers, knocking a monster down isnt as helpful as inflicting bleeding i dont think, also keep in mind if you use a hammer you cant have a shield, which is a huge drawback axes have high max damage abut also a low min damage and that huge range is really annoying Last edited by dwarf stomper; May 16, 2005 at 04:28 PM // 16:28..

May 17, 2005, 04:40 PM // 16:40	#17
Adiras Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: May 2005	Hammers! I have a Wa/Me up to level 13 just using hammers and he does awesome in PvP! A must use skill with the big slow hard hitting hammers is Frenzy (or Flurry if you can find it). Frenzied hammer hitting is like a Mack truck rolling over your target, AND you build up adrenaline faster for the knockdown style (which you should keep in reserve as an interupt or finisher IMHO). The drawback is that you dont find very many hammer styles at lower levels. I only have 2 hammer styles atm, with the rest being strength styles or no attribute styles.

May 16, 2005, 03:02 PM // 15:02	#2
ChristopherKee Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2005	You get so may respec points you can respec twice a day every day. Don't worry about where your points go. On that note, try both weapons out and see which meets your playstyle the best. Do you want to do slow damage and knockdown or fast damage and blead. And don't forget about axes too. Max damage for sword is 22, hammer is 39, axe is 28. Axe and swords are faster.

May 16, 2005, 03:04 PM // 15:04	#3
viet Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Location: cali, usa Guild: The Samurai Demons Profession: Mo/W	swords look cooler too bad no spear

May 16, 2005, 03:15 PM // 15:15	#4
Fenix Swiftblade Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Mar 2005 Guild: Illusion of Competence Profession: R/W	It depends on what you want to do with the weapon. Swords are great because of the conditions they can inflict, instant bleeding or crippled, and then a deep wound soon after, and because of the high attack rate. Hammers are great because they cause knockdown and have high single hit damage. I've never used axes, but you should check them out, they're great too, I just don't know the reason. From experience, the DPS difference is not that big, and I personally think that the skills for swords more than make up that difference, as hammers only have one straight damage boosting skill, and a few minimal ones that do extra stuff to foes with conditions, and swords have several. Though, if you're a primary warrior and have a high strength, there are a few damage boosters there that you could use. However, if the enemy has Healing Seed on, the sword still might not do enough damage on a single hit to cancel out the healing, where as a hammer would. It all really depends on what you want your character to do. All of the weapon types have better looking versions as you get further.

May 16, 2005, 04:29 PM // 16:29	#6
Darkest Dawn Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ohio, USA Profession: W/Mo	Good information. I have two builds I'm working on. One is a N/R, and the second is a W/E. My W/E has a sword as his main weapon of choice, but am getting my butt kicked when fighting Elementals. I need to get the hammer skills for these guys. Where do you go to get hammer skills after you return fron the "two year" quest and find yourself in a ruined Ascalon? I'm level 9 and am fairly far along in this scenario, but have been getting beat up by these stone Elementals.

May 16, 2005, 04:36 PM // 16:36	#8
Aloren Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Darkstalkers Profession: W/E	I have personally found that I like swords better. I experimented with both hammers and axes in the various BWEs and I have liked swords the best. I suppose this is partly because I figured I'd go swords with my final build anyway, but that's mainly because I like all the different synergy attacks that can be used. I think hammers would prolly work well with an earth mage sub or something else that would keep you form taking the massive hits.

May 16, 2005, 04:38 PM // 16:38	#9
Redtide Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	With a hammer you can't have ANYTHING in the second slot...hammers are 2 handed!

May 16, 2005, 04:43 PM // 16:43	#12
Willow Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005	As a warrior, the other warriors I hate fighting the most are Hammer weilders. I hate getting knocked down. Whereas bleeding and damage I can typically live with (Necro secondary).

May 16, 2005, 04:51 PM // 16:51	#13
C-Tzar Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Location: North AL, USA Profession: E/Mo	You only think you hate getting knocked down as a warrior. As an ele/nec when I get knocked down while trying to cast a nuke, it a) won't cast b) still uses the energy as though it did c) still triggers the timer so i can't just try to cast the nuke again, and d) gives whatever's hitting me a couple free seconds to wail on me in my paper armor while i can't lifetap them (blood secondary rocks) to stay alive. I'll stand my ground against a sword, but I'll run away like a little punk from a hammer.

May 17, 2005, 04:44 PM // 16:44	#18
Darkest Dawn Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ohio, USA Profession: W/Mo	Where can you get hammer skills post searing?

May 17, 2005, 08:34 PM // 20:34	#19
Lymix Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas City Profession: W/R	I've experimented with both hammers and swords and my personal preference is the hammer. A couple reasons being: 1) While they have slower rate of attack, hammers have the highest max damage of all the warrior weapons. That means putting quick end to the nasty foes. 2) Hammer are not as popular as swords, which means you can purchase one for much less money as people tend to sell them cheaply in order to "get rid of them" from storage. 3) With practice on timing, hammers can knock down enemies, which has the wonderful benefit of cancelling any magic skill they were trying to cast at the moment.