Sword vs Wand

Arbiter_of_Peril

Arbiter_of_Peril

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Mar 2008

Renegade Souls

Mo/D

Now I just recently put together a casting sword I really would like to know, the pros and cons of the different weapons. So I'll post what weapons I need and if you would help by posting the pros and cons of each and what you like best that would help

Staff
Scepter, Shield/Focus
Physical Weapon, Shield/Focus

Feedback would be appreciated

I D E L E T E D I

I D E L E T E D I

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

[BAAA] guest me NOW

Mo/

you should use all three

assuming you are playing a hybrid.

use a 40/40 healing set

a prot staff

and a defensive set with a caster weapon

Stormlord Alex

Stormlord Alex

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Beyond the Forest of Doom, past the Cavern of Agony... on Kitten & Puppy Island

Soul of Melandru [sOm]

W/E

You use all of them. Weapon swapping is /win and part of getting better. Assuming a standard hybrid bar...

- Dual 20/20 healing wand and offhand set for casting

- Defensive sword (+5e, +30hp) and shield (+10AL vs X, +30hp) set

- Then either a dual 20/20 wand/offhand for prot; or a 20/20/20 staff with +20% enchants for prot

- a +15e/-1e regen wand and offhand for extra energy

Switch between them as needed.

Arbiter_of_Peril

Arbiter_of_Peril

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Mar 2008

Renegade Souls

Mo/D

I'll try to get a hold of these, I'm currently trying get a Hybrid build together because I was previous a Prot dedicated monk

Motoko Kusanagi War

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2007

Team Paradigm [pd]

W/

For GvG, your standard set is a -5 energy weapon with a shield
So on top of your -5e set, you should have a +30/-2regen high energy set.
The other sets are usually a prot staff with 20% enchant with 40% half cast.
And your third will usually be a +hp defensive set.
Hyrids sometimes skip the 2 shield sets and use a prot staff+ a 40/40 for healing spells.

Sword

Sword

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mo/

u dont really need a 2 use a 40 40 heal set in pve , only reason u would neeed a 40 40 was in the past for lod spam . these days u can just use a 30 hp +5 energy weapon with an offhand and a +5 20% enchant if ur protting

shields and staves can be saved for pvp

moko

moko

??uo??o??

Join Date: May 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Motoko Kusanagi War
For GvG, your standard set is a -5 energy weapon with a shield
So on top of your -5e set, you should have a +30/-2regen high energy set.
The other sets are usually a prot staff with 20% enchant with 40% half cast.
And your third will usually be a +hp defensive set.
Hyrids sometimes skip the 2 shield sets and use a prot staff+ a 40/40 for healing spells. the standard set includes +5e by now, considering how rare serious e denial is that you will gain more benefits from it.

sword, i don't agree. i think a 40/40 (if you don't swap) > enchanting/energyhp set. you just get more from it really. :P

V E R A T T A

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

You need to be more specific on whether your playing pvp or pve. If its just pve then who cares as long as you look sexy.

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

Don't forget to swap between you wand or staff if you are going to attack any targets.

ender6

ender6

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Age
Don't forget to swap between you wand or staff if you are going to attack any targets. wha? Oh wait, do you mean swap out of your sword/spear/axe, and into either your staff or wand when going to attack?

miskav

miskav

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

None

Mo/

Age meant, swap TO your wand or staff if you're going to attack.
So yes, ender, that's what he/she meant.

Motoko Kusanagi War

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2007

Team Paradigm [pd]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by moko
the standard set includes +5e by now, considering how rare serious e denial is that you will gain more benefits from it.

sword, i don't agree. i think a 40/40 (if you don't swap) > enchanting/energyhp set. you just get more from it really. :P Sorry, but having a -5e has saved my ass from eburn/esurge damage. There is no problem with running the sets I listed. If you like +5e, awesome, run it. But keep in mind this game is BuildWars, and to always be prepared for even the stupidest crap.

odly

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

N/

Since you can get the same mod's on them a spear is a better choice than a sword for your physical caster weapon. It'll avoid accidentally running up to a foe to whack it.

Also some PvE foe's consider you as a caster when you use a wand/staff and not when you use a spear/sword/... (I remember assassin's only using shroud of ... if you had a wand or staff.)

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

You should really have a -5E Sword. And you should really have both as well.
40/40 sets are nice, and -5E helps you not use as much energy up. Aswell as hiding your energy (on the PvP side of things) so energy denial isn't much use against that weapon set.

kranius

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

France

Me/

Just have all sets on you, and switch for the best

Shields with +60hp while hexed are nice too

Bowstring Badass

Bowstring Badass

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Character selection screen figuring what I want to play...

Purple Lingerie - :D

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
You use all of them. Weapon swapping is /win and part of getting better. Assuming a standard hybrid bar...

- Dual 20/20 healing wand and offhand set for casting

- Defensive sword (+5e, +30hp) and shield (+10AL vs X, +30hp) set

- Then either a dual 20/20 wand/offhand for prot; or a 20/20/20 staff with +20% enchants for prot

- a +15e/-1e regen wand and offhand for extra energy

Switch between them as needed. Well should have ended here. As Alex is right once again.

moko

moko

??uo??o??

Join Date: May 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Motoko Kusanagi War
Sorry, but having a -5e has saved my ass from eburn/esurge damage. There is no problem with running the sets I listed. If you like +5e, awesome, run it. But keep in mind this game is BuildWars, and to always be prepared for even the stupidest crap. i am aware, i carry one in my inventory for the case there is some actual e denial, or for casting through shames, but usually, you'll want those 10 energy more for your normal shield set. it gives you more space to play with.

it looked to me like you only spoke about the 4 weaponsets and not all the weapons you'll be going to have in your inventory, so. :P

Motoko Kusanagi War

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2007

Team Paradigm [pd]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by moko
i am aware, i carry one in my inventory for the case there is some actual e denial, or for casting through shames, but usually, you'll want those 10 energy more for your normal shield set. it gives you more space to play with.

it looked to me like you only spoke about the 4 weaponsets and not all the weapons you'll be going to have in your inventory, so. :P I haven't seriously monked since I went by Lithium Hearts (thats like 4-5 months ago) I pretty much just constantly play warrior or sin now...

Mistakes are bound to happen ^-^

Magikarp

Magikarp

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2007

[HAWK]

my fav sets to carry:

-5 crippling +30hp shield of choice +30hp

+5 crippling +30hp+ shield
+5 crippling 20% ench +shield

40/40 set

40/20/20 staff

+15+15energy set

plenty of room for choices, i like to use all of the spectrums of swapping tbh.

Hundbert

Hundbert

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

I honestly don't see the point of these "caster" weapons. Why would you put a 20% enchantment mod on your weapon instead of +30 hp? What a waste.

Coloneh

Coloneh

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

D/W

because you dont need +30 on a caster? and they cast enchantments?

Squishy ftw

Squishy ftw

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2007

Your backline

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hundbert
I honestly don't see the point of these "caster" weapons. Why would you put a 20% enchantment mod on your weapon instead of +30 hp? What a waste. To make the enchantments you use last 20% longer ?

And when you're done casting you switch back to your defensive set,the one with the +30 hp mods.

majestikk

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Magikarp
my fav sets to carry:

-5 crippling +30hp shield of choice +30hp

+5 crippling +30hp+ shield
+5 crippling 20% ench +shield

40/40 set

40/20/20 staff

+15+15energy set

plenty of room for choices, i like to use all of the spectrums of swapping tbh. thanks for being honest