Why are Swords More Prefered than Axes When not Using an Elite Weapon Attack?

It is well known that swords are often used in builds that don't use a weapon attack as the elite skill. Quoting GWW: "Swords have always been a unique weapon in Guild Wars because they can do lethal damage without an elite skill." Can anyone explain to me why this is so? Because with 11 weapon mastery or higher, axes have higher normal attack dps than swords, so it seems to me that you need to have a good attack skill in order for swords to best axes, but the popular belief says that it's the other way around. Why? Thanks in advance.

Skill-wise sword is better since unlike axe skills which offers limited damage at high adr. cost, sword skills are cheap and can be used at different situations.

Plus sword skins usually>axe skins

Because the skill [Final Thrust] a non elite skill, gives swords the killing power to work well without using sword elite, unlike axes, which really needs something like the executioners strike/eviscerate combo.

Although, I do prefer axes personally.
Also, swords are popular because http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...sAreJustBetter

I thought it may have something to do with Sowrds having a greater damage consistency? 15-22 vs 6-28?

Primarily it's for [final thrust], since that's a non-elite with the punch of an elite. Swords do have more consistent damage, but their dw needs to be paired up. [sever artery][gash] or [crippling slash][gash]

It all comes down to personnal taste really. Max damage axes deal more damage with more ability to hit with aoe. Granted that max damage axes also have lower minimal damage than swords do. I for one prefer axes, and highly disagree that sword skins are better than axes. Skill wise, swords are not better. Again it comes down to personnal taste here. I'm not knocking swords. There are a few skins that I like and ALOT that I don't like.

So it's mainly because of these three skills that make swords more preferable without a elite weapon attack: [final thrust], [sever artery], and [gash]?

What's the point of damage consistency? Isn't average damage all that matters?

Its the same thing as the arguement with vamp vs sundering. It deals with having a more consistant dmg which leads to more pressure for the other monks to heal.

If you started out in Prophecies, it takes a while before you have good axe skills. So most players start out with a sword and try out the axe later when the elites become available (don't forget that elites in Prophecies are in the second half of the game). Not to mention they all want a Fiery Dragon Sword like Prince Rurik.

The axe has more multiple-hit skills available so can do more overall mob damage. [Triple Chop] with [Cyclone Axe] or [Whirlwind Attack] combined with [Splinter Weapon] puts damage numbers up very quickly.

My warrior almost exclusively uses an axe now, but she collected some nice swords along the way, that my heroes are enjoying. Come to think of it, my first green drop was the Quivering Blade. I just gave that away this week.

Average damage doesn't matter when you're comparing swords and axes because they're practically the same.

I have no idea, as far as I can tell, it's all preferance unless you want D-Slash Godmode "lulz".

axes>sword because of unconditional deep wound

Well i suppose since what for me is

Sword = Pressure / Constant Damage

Axe = Low pressure / High Damage capability

So say when i use an elite such as "Coward" its possible to use the Steelfang -> Sever Artery -> Gash , which is quite nice damage.

For axe its mostly Coward - > Dismember -> Executioner -> Dchop(optional) m which is an easy gotten DW and DMG but is more a pure dmg :/

So id say if however your running a non-axe-elite and wanna run axe u miss the point since Evis is tha bast skill evah for axe / pure hihg dmg and dw :/

How does more consistency give more pressure (it just makes the damage rate more predictable)? Damage (dps) gives pressure, and axes have higher dps. So, this end of the arguement definitely doesn't hold up for swords. Well, thanks for your help everyone, though the only thing that has been said that actually makes sense right now is the three skills that make sword better: [final thrust], [sever artery], and [gash]. Anyone has anything else to add? Please stick to my original question, thank you.

Swords are picked because

1. More effort is put into sword skins
-All the New weapon skin contests have at least a few AWESOME looking sword skins
-Generic "knightly" or "paladin" weapon
-ANET plain loves swords as do almost every single MMORPG

2. Back when Prophecies started, the war skills were all sword skills
-you may not agree with me, but this is why is started playing with a sword, since i was lazy to buy new skills and learn new tactics

3.Consistant and Predictable Damage
-15-22 is much better then 8-28 in terms of consistancy, but axes are better for spiking
-Great for PvP where you can afford to do a single digit damage to powerful enemies

4. Good adrenaline skills
-Dragon Slash
-Quivering Blade
-Final Blow
-etc.

I feel the same way lol.

Again, with all due respect, how does consistency help?

it started back in the days of Prophecies when swords didnt have any good elites. the only elite available was and still is [hundred blades] and we all know how useful that skill is... :\
so Sword Warriors used all sorts of elites, [bull's charge] was very common, other used elites were [battle rage] [charge] and sometimes [victory is mine!] mainly in gimmicks though

when factions came out Sword Warriors finally had a good elite in the Sword line: the almighty [dragon slash]

when nightfall came out Sword Warriors had a good alternative as well, the almighty [crippling slash]

so now Sword Warriors have become like other Warriors who use an elite of their weapon line.
however those other elites, and a few additions arent completely gonne so they're still being used mainly by Sword Warriors.

Read the second point, it help because you don't wanna do 8 dmg on high level armor...etc. Its really doesn't make a difference. You can spike on an axe, and not with a sword and you can solo with an axe, not with a sword (in war terms).

Axe. [Dismember].