Difference between FDS and IDS

I presently got my first FDS of fortitude giving me a fire dmg of 14-19 with a health of +21

but i have a icy longsword of charr slaying that gives me a cold damage of 15-22. DMG +15% vs hexed foes, dmg + 20% (customization) and dmg +20% with charrs

I was wondering if the IDS was the same rating as the FDS if so I would simply keep the icy sword i have now

[wiki]Icy Dragon Sword[/wiki]

Icy Dragon Swords are req 9, dmg 15-22
dmg+15% (while HP>50%)

You can add a sword pommel only

ok so the cold dmg is the same, if I change the pummel would it change the blade design by any change?

No, the mods of a sword have no effect on the appearance. The only thing that will change the appearance is dye, which usually has a small effect.

Firey Dragon Sword

[wiki]Icy Dragon Sword[/wiki]

ok thanks I was just wondering why the fiery had a lower dmg than the icy.

Because it wasn't max and the icy is 15^50.

The way a weapon looks has no affect on stats. IDSs aren't going to do more or less damage then FDSs or any other kind of sword. Some FDSs will have max damage, others will not. You can find any weapon with any skin that has max damage stats.

FDS- Fire Damage

IDS- Ice Damage

Both are elemental damage. The only difference really, is the element type.

Because the one thing that no one has mentioned is that fiery dragon swords (FDS) drop everywhere in the game, they can be white blue purple or gold and the damage they inflict depends on the type of drop and where it was dropped in the game, and the requirements are randomly generated on the item requiring anywhere from 7 to 13 swordsmanship.

Early areas in the game you will probably see white and blue FDSs dropping but they will more than likely NOT be max dmg 15-22 and they might not have a damage modifier, also known as Inscriptions in Nightfall and Eye of hte North.

So, unlike the FDS the Icy Dragon Sword (IDS) is a special item.

It only drops in one location of the game (the Ice Imp cave in the north-east corner of Mineral Springs) and only drops from one enemy, the Ice Imps. They are also always Gold items (used to be blue but Anet changed it due to low drop rates with the new farming code), they always have max dmg 15-22 and always have a requirement of 9 swordmanship, they also always have a dmg modifier of +15% (while Health is above 50%).

also keep in mind that you cannot change the sword hilts on both swords. that means, you can never get a sundering FDS or IDS.

People have already linked to the FDS and IDS pages on the wikis and provided information about them.

Of the two swords that you have mentioned here one is an FDS, however the other is not an IDS, it is just a Long Sword with an Ice Damage upgrade. This upgrade can be changed.

You will find Fiery Dragon Swords throughout the game that are not max, so using the Icy Longsword you currently have is a much better option, you would be best off selling the FDS to a Merchant.

Thank you all for you answer.

I will keep this FDS until I can find a better one as Fire dmg is a lot better on ice based foes than ice dmg

Keep them both. Some enemies have elemental weaknesses, and some have elemental strengths, and it's better to be prepared so that you can deal more damage.

yep thats what I meant.