Which Elemental Mod for axe

I would like oppions on what element to put on my axe. Ive heard that lightning dmg is good because not to many creatures have armor bonus against shocking. Let me know your opinions.



thanks
kyle

Well, to be honest, none of the elemental mods are going to make a huge difference on your effectiveness in combat from my experience. Since the hilts are cheap, you can always swap them (or swap weapons) as needed in different areas. I think for early PvE, up to the start of the jungle, I would probably go fire if I had to pick an element, then probably lightning until I made it back to the shiverpeaks again, at which point I'd go back to fire until the last areas, where you obviously want cold. But really and truly, you're much better off running a zealous, vampiric, heck, probably even furious or sundering, mod over any elemental (even if, as I would guess, you're intending on using conjure <X>)

Rico

Thanks for the input

Edit: no conjure. just wanted to see if i could get more bang for my buck.

I've always been a fan of Zealous or Furious opposed to an element.

Well, in that case, if you aren't using conjure, I wouldn't bother with elemental. I don't think you will really notice the elemental effect, except on monsters with super high elemental resistance. If you use energy skills, zealous is the best hilt by far (I think it works out to 3 extra pips of energy, 4 with frenzy? can someone confirm?). If you don't use much energy, I would go vampiric, or maybe sundering. The funny thing is, vampiric and sundering (max ones) could run up to 50k, while zealous sells for 1-2k. Go figure.

Rico

Just as a second opinion, I've been very pleased with vampiric (you'll want to maintain a second weapon set to avoid the necessity of running mending to offset degen at times when you're not fighting).

Here's what I like about it:

1. It's terrific for farming mobs. When you aggro enough beasties around you and hit them with cyclone axe, you can literally see you health jump to full in an instant.

2. It's really the only way to add significant damage to the axe. And that added damage does make a difference in my opinion.

Many dislike vampiric because of the degen but I think a perfect axe has 3:1 vampiric and +5 armor.

I like using vampiric for farming and such and furious for PVP as the adrenal boost helps even if it is rare.

I use two weapons with separate hafts: one with zealous and the other with elemental (fire for pve, earth for pvp). Against castors/rangers, zealous of course. Against warriors or monsters with +20 physical resistance, having an elemental haft is like having a 20% armor penetration mod (with 100% chance) .

Does the 3:1 on an axe actualy keep you alive if i were to just attack a foe w/out skills. Or would i be losing health slowly or does the +3 keep me full as long as im attack. (1 foe im talking about)

Zealous weapon, if it were to attack once every second, would gain 3 energy in 3 seconds = 3 pips. Subtract the one pip for a zealous mod and it's a 2 pip gain.
An Axe would attack once every 4/3 seconds, so in 12 seconds, it would attack 9 times. 9 energy in 12 seconds, or 9/4 every 3 seconds, working out to 2.25 pips. Subtract one pip and it's a gain of 1.25 pips.
Hopefully my math is right.

If you do want elemental axes, just go out and get 4 collectors 15^50 axes and then chuck the elemental mod on each of them, then add a grip of your choice and have them all in your weapon sets for different situations.

Yup!

Well, I went a little different and just got some non-perfect 14%^50 hand axes for my elementals. I keep a sundering 15%^50 for my main.

Now as far as the OP, I switch around a lot during battles to find out what's best. Today in Sanctum Cay (was doing bonus) I found my Fire Axe outdid my sundering. Why? Because the mantle warriors probably have extra resistance against phys. Not sure why fire did better against the savants (eles) and the rangers. They should typically have higher ele resist. Oh well, it out performed by about 10 damage normally, so I used it.

I always start with my sundering and switch to another and compare damage (and the comparison is done over time, not just a few hits).

Im confused... one poster said that having a Vamp axe haft, and surrounded by foes, you can see your health jump to full in an instant? Are you taking on 50 guys at once? At 3 per foe, plus cyclone axe, even with 10 foes you would only get 30... And lets figure those 10 foes are each hitting you for say, 15 each shot... Hmmm Im thinking you would have to swing 5 times as often with cyclone just to offset the one hit by 10 foes. Not to mention you must keep up an enchantment to avoid the degen, which of course can be shattered. Gosh, Ill run right out and buy Vamp hafts right now!! As far as elemental goes... Try using a fiery axe haft on Titans... your damage sucks. Icy though, does give you a bit more. Furious isnt required when you have cyclone axe, once swipe and Im ready to go. Sundering just sounds neat, it really sucks when you have penetrating blow already. Zealous is fine, unless you are keeping an enchantment, in which case with zealous you would have 0 energy regen. Sure you get it back per swing... but not when you are blind. One poster had a good idea, just get 4 axes and swap them depending on the battle. Youd be safer to go with that.

I like it too:

What kind of remark is that? seriously....
Sundering is the way to go, u want that armor penetration even though theres only 10% chance, its enough.
Theres a reason why many, many people take a sundering axe of fortitude/defense into tombs and gvg...

And that reason is....? Oh holy hell 10% chance for AP.... YAY!!! Come on. 10% means 1 in 10 swings. You might not get 10 swings in some places or against some groups. AP is way over rated. At least with penetrating blow you get what you pay for... so to speak.

Sundering just flat out blows. If you want an explanation here's a good thread:

Search: Key Word(s): sundering ; Forum: Questions & Answers or The Riverside Inn or The Campfire or Gladiator's Arena and child forums

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ight=sundering