Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

Ok, as expected, the flame train seems to continue.

Originally Posted by TheOneMephisto

OP = fail.

Mokone >>>>> you.

Learn2play before you make guides like this.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

You guys are funny. First, if your opponent doesn't run, what KDing is bull's strike doing? None.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

Ok, as expected, the flame train seems to continue. Again, I never said that Bull's Strike wasn't good on a bar. What I said was that if no one is running from you, then their is no KD. Is that not truth?

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

As for the speed of a spike, being able to inflict the deep wound quickly has a disadvantage when you use it, just to have it removed by a monk. To reapply it is easy enough, but so is removing it again. So, wouldn't you rather use your wits and apply the deep wound and kill your target fast enough that the monk can't respond? That's what prompted my use of Augury of Death. It's an option, not the staple of change. Also, as for the thought that Augury interupts your action, what it does is move you from one place to another, as do all shadowstep style moves. Have you ever seen an assassin attack directly after using a shadowstep? Augury is no different, just push the damn button and you attack again.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

In Guild Wars, 3 weapons are defined as "warrior" weapons. The hammer,the axe, and the sword. Of these 3 weapons, the sword is looked at as being the more basic of the 3, due to its narrow damage and spike capability that the sword is considered to possess.

This supposed "limitation" gives the impression of inferiority in the case of spike damage in PvP compared to the axe. Yet, what the sword excels at is steady, consistant, rock solid aggression. The use of the sword ingame has many real life niuances that are loosely grasped by those that favor the sword.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

The Basics:

First, one most know the basics of melee combat to excel at it. Those basics principals are as follows:

1) Physical attacks must be fast and consistant, in order to apply pressure and to press the end result of combat. The Kill!

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

2) The swordsman must realize what his place on the field of battle represents. When you clash with another, you must not hesitate. Cut to the quick. Flow through your enemies defenses, or die. The sword is not the threat, but he/she who wields it.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

3) Field awareness is very important. Find your target, and commit to your purpose. Switch targets if need be, but realize usually your original target will shadow you until you end the threat it represents. The monk you didn't kill, will always seem close by, healing your new target. The elementalist that blinded you, will continue to harrass and impede your success. The mesmer that survives your attack will make your life difficult from just out of reach. Try your best to finish what you start.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

4) The things that work against you, also work for you. Snare, blind, hex, spell, blade, or stance. Nothing is off limits. In combat, it's not the pretty warrior that is successful or feared, but the effective one.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

Sword Build Application:

Enough of the romancing of the blade

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

let's get down to the nitty gritty. First, let's talk about the proper use of an IAS(Increased Attack Speed) in comparison to the swordsman. I was involved in a conversation with an alliance member and we brought a topic to the forefront. The use of...

[skill]Gash[/skill]

He wanted to make an argument that gash wasn't needed in a sword build that used this elite...

[skill]Dragon Slash[/skill]

In his argument, he said that with the use of Dragon Slash with [skill]Flail[/skill] or [skill]Frenzy[/skill] that you would be dealing so much damage that you wouldn't need to cause a deep wound. I totally disagree. In order to achieve your goal as a melee threat, one must realize that a simple thing as a deep wound cuts 20% of your target's Health, thus taking roughly 100 hp from your target in one attack. This is the openning of a spike attack. The drop of HP from the DW allows for a major dip in the target's livelyhood.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

For example:

[skill]Flail[/skill][skill]Sever Artery[/skill][skill]Gash[/skill][skill]Dragon Slash[/skill][skill]Enraging Charge[/skill]

This Dragon Slash attacker will give a deep wound within 4 strikes, due to the use of Enraging Charge to power Flail. SA+ Gash will cause the DW and setup for DS. By the second DS, the 4 lead skills will all power up from a dragon slash.

The build he recommended was:

[skill]Frenzy[/skill][skill]Standing Slash[/skill][skill]Silverwing Slash[/skill][skill]Dragon Slash[/skill][skill]Sprint[/skill]

Though, theoretically, the above build deals more damage through pure power, yet, the comparison is akin to a swift killer to a blundering barbarian.
The latter build uses frenzy and Sprint, while the previous uses Flail and Enraging. First, the Frenzy warrior takes double damage unless he cancels the stance with sprint, and is dependent on frenzy to gather adrenaline, while Flail and Enraging both garner adrenaline from both stances, though the swordsman moves 33% slower with Flail activated. This would be a choice of preference, though I personally believe the previous build would be superior overall.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

Another sword attack that seems to be underappreciated is [skill]Hundred Blades[/skill], which paired with the proper build would make this formerly undesired elite into a stellar attack skill.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

[skill=card]Flail[/skill][skill=card]Sever Artery[/skill][skill=card]Gash[/skill][skill=card]Hundred Blades[/skill][skill=card]Sun and Moon Slash[/skill][skill=card]Enraging Charge[/skill][skill=card]Conjure Lightning[/skill][skill=card]Healing Signet[/skill]

More set for AB or PvE, this build is perfect for maximizing the damage output of a swordsman. With Enraging building adrenaline from the opening, hundred blades is then used to complete the needed adrenaline build to activate Flail. The rest is self explanitory.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

This type of comparison is mostly known by more experienced players, but I have noticed that newer players seem to leave Gash behind, and are quite adamant about its uselessness. Yet, these same warriors also die in PvP at my hands, so I apply my knowledge. Now i wish to help others.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

Advanced Applications:

The need for a DW is well documented and known, yet the use of Gash isn't your only option. Sticking to the melee theme, I'll bring an assassin skill to the forefront as an alternative to Gash.

[skill]Augury of Death[/skill]

Augury is certainly a solid alternative to Gash

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

for it doesn't have to be applied through any other reason but by the nature of the swordsman's will. Strike down upon your foe, never bleeding him/her, and they will be caught unaware when the augury is cast. Better still is to bleed, deep wound, then continue the steady pressure of you attacks. All will fall when put under the fast response of AoD when applied. No escape is certain until the hex is removed. In AB and RA, the chances of hex removal are less likely due to the unorthodox manner of team construction in these arenas of combat. Even to apply a cover hex may be desired to make this hex stick. This hex, in particular, is a great setup for what isn't immediately recognized by most players. A swordsman's spike!

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

[skill=card]Augury of Death[/skill][skill=card]Flail[/skill][skill=card]Standing Slash[/skill][skill=card]Sun and Moon Slash[/skill][skill=card]Hundred Blades[/skill][skill=card]Riposte[/skill][skill=card]Healing Signet[/skill][skill=card]Enraging Charge[/skill]

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

This build also brings into play defense for the swordsman in the use of the skill Riposte. The definition of a riposte is roughly a blocking motion that uses the blade to strike at the limb/body of the attacker. This is best known in Fencing(Spanish/English/Olympic) as a more advanced tactic, and thus is included in the tactic line.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

It's counterpart, [skill=card]Deadly Riposte[/skill],has the bonus of also causing bleeding. Though the consensus thought behind the application of the ripostes is that the players who use them are lacking in skill, that can be considered nothing but an obvious pressure tactic to get people to not use the most viable skill applications. The fact is that any melee attacker that strikes against you will be blocked and damaged when it is used, and thus, is a great counter to melee attacks. Though still able to be bypassed by means of hexes and some unblockable skills/attacks, the ripostes will still do their intended damage.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

I totally encourage experimenting with sword skills and tactic/strength stances in order to improve your swordsmanship proficeincy. Other alternatives for sword elites are [skill=card]Quivering Blade[/skill] and [skill=card]Crippling Slash[/skill] whose own applications can very well make for interesting sword combinations.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

Learn the tricks of your foes in order to better defend yourself. Assassins like to use [skill=card]Expose defenses[/skill] in order to get by ripostes and defensive stances while using [skill=card]Critical Defenses[/skill] to escape your blade. Removing a hex may prove to be more beneficial than one may realize when dealing with such crafty opponents, as well as stripping enchantments, so look into those type of skills in order to defend yourself even better.

Originally Posted by Darkpower Alchemist

I have covered the basics of the application of good swordsmanship, and I hope that some get some insight into its further applications by reading this thread. Good luck out there, for if you cross swords with me, I won't hesitate, and neither should you! GG

Originally Posted by RotteN

because your "guide" still fails at life, the universe and everything, i'll comment a bit on it, and not on all the useless garbage you added later to make your sinking ship sink faster.



cute intro, realy, you should start writing novels. Sadly enough, when making a guide, cut the bullcrap and get to the point.



sure, correct, but then why are you mocking bull's strike ? people that sit on their ass don't run further away, so you can continue to apply your pressure ...



romantic bullshit. Belongs in novels, not in game-guides



total crap, realy, switching targets is one of the most important things warriors do. It renders active defenses such as Shield of Deflection, guardian, block stances, ... more or less useless if you switch properly. By switching, you're able to actually apply your damage, rather than getting blocked all the time. Warriors that mindlessly bash one target are foolish.



obvious, and usually refered to as "play2win", instead of a whole paragraph of text



should never have started in the first place



anyone that claims you don't need deep wound should die in a fire, realy. It's a big pile of damage, and reduces healing till it's removed. In other words, it hurts like a bitch. Leave anecdotes out of guides, simply state what's needed.



sure, use enraging to power flail, and then watch your target kite out of range and you won't even get to use your attack skills. Flail is only valuable on a hammer warrior. Cause once again, targets that sit on their ass don't kite.



hundred blades is not "underappreciated", it blatantly sucks balls. end of discussion



once again, your target will simply run away, rendering flail useless. Selfsnares ftw i guess ...



your "knowledge" doesn't show any experience, nor would they help any starting frontline player.



no it's not.



less text please, and augury of death still sucks.



worst skillbar ever ?



go compete in the paralympics if you want to do that, riposte doesn't belong in PvP



they won't do "their intended damage" if you get some lightning orbs in your face and get degened to death. Next, you'll probably also say dolyak signet is good cause it gives you extra defense ...



crippling slash isn't an "alternative", it's one of the best sword elites in the game.



sure, get some enchant and hex removal on your warrior bar, why not ? i mean, you're not gonna kill anything anyway, might aswell go wild on secondary skills ...



you covered the basics on how to NOT play a warrior, yes.

try to write a new guide once you stop being clueless, ktnx

Originally Posted by Age

It is not a bad guide I would revise it edit it and take in what others are saying as Positive criticism and stop flaming.There is nothing wrong with good positive feed back from others.I would just edit it.

Originally Posted by Xiaxhou of Trinity

be the bigger "man" (patriarchal society what do you expect). Instead of flaming back and supposedly "defending" your flawed build, why don't you accept, edit, and learn. AoD on sword spike is uhh....nice? gash gg. You said that the sword=constant melee pressure+spike. Sever+gash=instant pressure. Bull's strike=kneel before me kiters. riposte=AB. If you want to int some sin chain run shield bash >.> Something innovative and a little different from standard warrior spike builds is an interrupt =] I use distracting blow, savage slash is awesome though.

"flamers" (people who CAN play war)>>>>>OP sooooo much. You fail as an OP, warrior, and guide maker. tyvm gg.

Originally Posted by RotteN

romantic bullshit. Belongs in novels, not in game-guides