How do weapon requirements effect damage?

In the new PVP primer, it explains that the more skill points in your weapon attribute the higher the chance to critical hit. So that got me wondering how the requirement on a weapon effected things like critical hits and damage output. If someone got a req 8 sword through PVE, would that person have that much more of an advantage over the standard req 9 basic weapons offered on a PVP only player?

Weapon req has no effect on damage whatsoever as long as you meet or exceed the requirement.

But you will always need to have at least a 12 in the weapon skill to do 100% of the weapon's listed damage.

Its a old debate. Requirement doesn't effect damage or crit hit chance at all, except for the fact that it makes your dmg minimum if you don't meet it.

So what about being below the requirement?

Does the amount below it you lie influence precisely how much of it can be utilised?

... Or will someone with a pair of 7-17 daggers, req 9 .... and only 8 Dagger Mastery do the same damage as someone with 1 Dagger Mastery?

They will naturally deal more damage, because their higher dagger mastery causes them to be able to deal out more damage.

Doesn't your second statement contradict your first? ...For example, would a max req 9 sword with 9 attrib points do the same damage as a req 11 with 12? I thought they would be equal (or were you referring to skills that are linked to that attribute, which would obviously differ?).

If the weapon requirement is high, then your attribute for the corresponding weapon must be equal or higher to it. Higher Attributes=Higher DPS.

To answer the OP's question: No. Req 8 doesn't do more damage than req 9 if you have say 12 in the attribute.

"They do more damage because they CAN do more damage"

So basically if the requirement is lower than 12 it's all the same? If so, only req 13 would actually be different from everything else and in that case why not simply drop the requirement stat completely?

...I've been playing the game since it came out and still don't know exactly how it works.

nope.
The OP's question and using a weapon where you don't meet the requirement or change your attribute investment are two different things.

If you have 16 invested in your weapon you will do the same damage with a req. 11 as you will with a req. 9 (if the weapon is identical otherwise).

The second scenario changes the total of points in a weapon/attribute. If you put 16 in and use a req.11 you'll do more damage than you will using a req. 9 with 9 points invested, and vice versa.

So, what is being said is that the PvE player using a req. 8 with 16 invested will have no advantage over the PvP player using a req. 9 with 16 invested. If the PvP player drops his attribute to 10 he would then be at a disadvantage.

What the requirement does:
If you do not meet the requirement, you get minimum stats for that line (Damage, energy, or armor) instead of the listed amount. That is all.
What weapon skill does:
What it says it does. Boosts the damage and crit chance of the weapon as stated. This is completely independant of the requirement.

Thus, if you meet the requirement and have 12 weapon mastery, you will do the same damage regardless of the weapon's requirement. If you have 13, you will do a little more, again regardless of the requirement. The only time the requirement has any effect at all is if you don't meet it, and that effect is to reduce damage to minimum. Once you meet it it becomes irrelevent, but the attribute still has the listed effect with each point you put in.

Here's a great read for all your questions:

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...nics-id674.php

Basically there are TWO requirements.

"In simplest terms, if you do not meet the requirements on a given weapon it will deal damage like a newbie weapon of the same type."

Effect of Attributes on Weapon DamageAttribute

Level Percent of
Weapon Damage
0 35.6%
1 38.6%
2 42.0%
3 45.9%
4 50.0%
5 54.5%
6 59.5%
7 64.8%
8 70.7%
9 77.1%
10 84.1%
11 91.7%
12 100%
13 104%
14 107%
15 111%
16 115%

So it's ridiculous that req 8 or lower weapons are so overpriced in PVE. You need at least a 12 in weapon mastery to get the full damage anyway.

So like the Ernada said, if it doesnt make you do more damage and you need 12 points in you weapons attribute anyway, why do people pay so much for a req 8 weapon?

The same reason why people wants golds rather than greens or perfect purples: prestige. The rarity increases the value, and collectors with money will shell out for the real deal.

So here's a question:

If Player A has a Max dmg Axe, Req. 8, with 8 in Axe Mastery...
and Player B has a Max dmg Axe, Req. 13, with 12 in Axe Mastery...

Who is going to do more damage?

If it's the former, then you have your answer as to why people like lower Req. Weapons - build flexibility.

Player A will do more damage in that case and yes build flexibility is nice but having a req 8 in weapon skills is pitiful damage. Which I guess is fine in PVE...another reason why PVE IS easy.

For a warrior, it isn't recommended to have below 12 in a weapon attribute, agreed there. But take this to a Ranger, where utility is more important than damage. Or a Paragon wanting to do a little Command and Motivation, not so much spear-chucking.

Why would build Flexibility be a bad thing in PvP? Especially GvG.

EDIT: Oops, almost forgot the new reason lower Req. is better: the new Weakness. 'nuff said

Running 8 axe is kinda foolish (-30% damage) ... might as well use a candy axe if you're going to skimp on attributes.

Bow is the best example since 8 bow can still interrupt with Choking Gas, Distracting Shot/Savage Shot/Magebane shot.

arcane, player A will do more damage. At best you can do only half damage if you don't meet the weapon's requirements.

The only reason people like lower req weapons is usually vanity/rarity and sometimes you have a specific build were you can only put 9-10 points in your weapon attribute.