Is the sword a bit weak in PvE?

In PvE, I love going axe. The unconditional DW is great. However, a sword is dependant on bleeding to get that DW. The problem here is...

Not all enemies bleed.

One could argue that DW is not necessary in PvE, but if you aren't using Crip/Sever-Gash, is it worth using a sword just to use...Galrath, Sun & Moon, and so on? I would like to hear your input on this, as it is unclear to me how the sword can compare to the axe or hammer in PvE.

Why do you need to bleed when you can keep a constant chain going with Dragon Slash?

Sure the DW is more conditional, but the fact that it adds additional pressure/degen with bleeding makes sword an awesome choice too. Plus, hundred blades+fiery dragon sword = ownage

I'd actually say hammers suck more, since the warrior isn't as able to soak up damage anymore.

Untill they nerf Dragon Slash (and, subsequently, the ability to chain +42 sword hits) I shouldn't think that swords are weak in PvE. Besides, in areas with stuff that don't bleed, you can switch to an axe

its up to every i taste .. I love both swords and axes
both have their str and weaknesses

ive always been a sword guy, coz swords look so cool
but damage is very good i think, in comparison with axe, that has larger crits, but lower overal damage becoz of the 6-26.

The sword is not weak at all. You should use it whenever you know the enemies can bleed. The only purpose for bleeding is to trigger gash, degen doesn't matter. I recommend using an axe in tyria, and a sword in elona [I don't have factions ]. more ppl can bleed in Elona,especially at further stages in the game

Quote: Originally Posted by sn0w1337

hammers are amazing. They suffer from similar problems in pve as swords as not all enemies can be KDed, which is the requirement for a hammer Deep Wound. However, a hammer by itself is the highest dps of any weapon. also, as a warrior, you don't have to soak damage if you eliminate the source. That's what you should be focusing on, not beinig an useless slab of retardedness.

overall though, axe is the most versatile weapon if used in pve. however, i'd advise you learn to use all 3 weapon types and keep them all for specific situations where they might be more beneficial.

I appreciate the replies, but the question I really want answered was if the sword was as efficient in PvE as the axe or hammer. My current opinion is that it tends to be less efficient 'in general' than the axe, because the axe CAN cause a deep wound unconditionally, while the sword takes an additional skill to cause that deep wound, and occasionally, can't cause a deep wound, due to foes without blood.

An alternative question...

Can D-Slash, Galrath, Silverwing, Standing, & Sun & Moon compete with an axe or hammer, which can more easily cause a deep wound. (Additionaly, causing more damage with fewer skils)

Also, my underlining of "Not all enemies bleed" seems to have caused people to believe my "sword-hate" as one might say, is because of the -3 degen I'm missing. This isn't the case, the only reason I involved bleeding is because it's necessary to cause a deep wound with a sword...

If the bleeding is really a problem you could go:

[card]enraging charge[/card][card]flail[/card][card]sun and moon slash[/card][card]galrath slash[/card][card]dragon slash[/card][card]"find their weakness!"[/card][card]"go for the eyes!"[/card][card]signet of return[/card]
16 swords
10 command
9 strength
( you can consider the shouts to be attack skills and add more self defense if you like... 'GFTE' will give you roughly 80% chance to critical ..increasing damage by a significant amount and FtW can be considered as a 'dismember' skill.)



@Samcobra... actually the scythe would be highest Dps (barring skills)


Quote: These numbers were determined (auto attacking) with:
~16 mastery
~20% criticals (which is pretty accurate at 16 against same level enemies)
~+35% perfect damage mods
~33% IAS (since the time of attack speeds are .17 percent difference the spear is calculated at 30.17 ias in the guru calculator under sword...)
~Barring skills and the bonus from 'strength', and the 'swathe effect' of the scythe.

scythe dps = 41.80
hammer dps = 41.66
spear DPS = 40.14
axe dps = 37.45
sword dps = 36.59



you can do the math yourself... (again, this is barring skills) here:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/calculators/guru_speed.php

axe has cyclone axe and tripple chop

so probably

axe > sword > hammer for general pve

Crude Swing mantra of resolve imo

I wouldn't say they are weak in pve as ther are lots of fleshies in Tyria even before DS there was still good ole Final and you got that in LA a skill deserved to be an elite.You put sever,gash and final or dragon it will take out a fleshy in no time and there some good skills for non fleshies.

Good point age. Final thrust is what puts sword over the edge for me.

[skill]echo[/skill][skill]power attack[/skill]

Imo

Quote: Originally Posted by B Ephekt

Quote: Originally Posted by Kowlier

I usually run sword builds in PvE. I don't seen any problems with them when there's enemies immune to bleeding. I usually just swap out different skills if thats the case. Otherwise Barbarous Slice and Gash work out just fine. In PvE its not like most enemies last long anyways, most of the time by the time enemies are dead before Deep Wound is applied in sword builds or its applied just before they die.

Quote: Originally Posted by blue.rellik