Why does no-one use hammers??

JediKnight

JediKnight

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

A Galaxy Far Far Away

W/R

I have a Warrior in pre-searing (lvl 9, just about to go Charr hunting).

Thing is I use a hammer & have noticed that no-one seems to like hammers.

Why not, ok I know you lose upto 16AL coz of the shield but you gain +13 max dmg (in fact max dmg hammer base is only 3 less than max dmg sword top)

Any other reasons??? I am not interested in farming.

Former Ruling

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Oct 2005

Cedartown, Georgia

R/

Hammers aren't effective skill wise until later in the game.

In Pre-searing you just don't compare dmg wise with Swords. because swords already have condition skills, and axes have a AoE skill.

in Post - people still dont use hammers because hammer skills are really one minded - Knockdown. And thats not to terribly effective against monsters...the Speed advantage of Sword/axe just out-dmgs it in the long run.

In PvP now..hammers are a common weapon. Knockdown owns monks.

xxSilhouette

xxSilhouette

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Lost in the sands of time...

Blood Of Orr [BoO]

R/Rt

I'm not much for hammers myself, Just don't like how they look.

But everytime i get a really good drop it seems to be a hammer - and I always have trouble selling it

fiery

fiery

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

maryland

InYurFace Gaming [IYF]

R/

Well hammers have slow damage but packs a big blow if you can pull off a good combo.

striderkaaru

striderkaaru

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Retired Officer

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by xxSilhouette
But everytime i get a really good drop it seems to be a hammer - and I always have trouble selling it
i'll take those off your hands. =P

anyway, there are 2 main reasons why hammers aren't as prevalent in pve. one has already been mentioned, and that is the fact that most good hammer skills don't become available till later in the game. i use a hammer for pve every once in a while, but i did not start doing it until after ascension, when i had more options for skills.

the second reason is the fact that pve is centered on a warrior's job tanking mobs of enemies. losing the 16 al and possible damage reduction from a shield is a big deal to some people. also, swords and axes have skills that can damage multiple enemies (cyclone axe and hundred blades) and are good for spiking down single targets with their attacks, while hammers are more for focusing on locking a single target. some people are also turned off by the slower attack speed.

Skuld

Skuld

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Thousend Tigers Apund Ur Head [Ttgr]

A/

I haven't got round to it, thats my excuse, same with swords

Jetdoc

Jetdoc

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Jul 2005

The Eyes of Texas [BEVO]

D/A

I agree that in PvE, Hammers are less prevalent because of:

1. The lack of a shield, which can provide 16 armor, -2 damage AND give up to 45 health. That's invaluable, especially if you're soloing.

2. The use of swords, especially with riposte and deadly riposte.

3. The use of axes, especially given their ability to bring down a target quickly.

In PvP, Hammers really only face competition from #3, because of the normal instinct to "attack warriors last" in PvP. The armor/health bonus has a rather minimal effect in PvP until it's too late, and the ability to spike is generally outweighed by the ability to knock a caster down and keep him down, effectively neutralizing one of the opposing forces (especially when combined with Gale, etc).

Maxiemonster

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

An E/W Hammer build is strong against short range AOE Damage, but very hard to time, and not effective in PvP against teams that know how to spread decently. W/? Hammer builds aren't that great in my opinion, they're just aren't quick enough. Hammer should have real spikes, it's slow, but doesn't deal enough damage to give up the shield and speed.

LordMahal

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

Germany

R/Mo

Axe has cyclone, sword hundred blades... and hammers have a multiple target attack to. That was not a good excuse. But, Id have to agree that my axe is more effective. I only use a hammer if Im messing around.

purebad

purebad

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Kentucky

Du Vrangr Gatas [MAGE]

personally, I started as a sword, now im into axes(best for solofarming), and now I want to switch to hammer, but realize that I havent come across many hammers that peek my interest. I mean i havent seen a hammer that had good enough mods to make me want to use it

Zirv

Zirv

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

Sleen - NL

Guild in Pyjamas [PJs]

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxiemonster
Hammer should have real spikes, it's slow, but doesn't deal enough damage to give up the shield and speed.
Its clear that you haven't played enouth with hammers ^^ If you do it well you can kill any caster or ranger class in 1 spike. for example: W/E with Irrisistable Blow, Hammer Bash, Devistating Hammer and Aftershock.
Use Berserker stance tu build up adrenaline, so you'll be able to knock down within 3-4 seconds, use Devistating hammer, Aftershock, Hammerbash and Irrisistable Blow. *poof* and your necro is dead.

Nothing is harder for monks and other casters then a knockdown-aftershockwarrior

tafy69

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

N/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zirv
Its clear that you haven't played enouth with hammers ^^ If you do it well you can kill any caster or ranger class in 1 spike. for example: W/E with Irrisistable Blow, Hammer Bash, Devistating Hammer and Aftershock.
Use Berserker stance tu build up adrenaline, so you'll be able to knock down within 3-4 seconds, use Devistating hammer, Aftershock, Hammerbash and Irrisistable Blow. *poof* and your necro is dead.

Nothing is harder for monks and other casters then a knockdown-aftershockwarrior
Please dont use that combo, crushing blow owns the hell out of aftershock

Zirv

Zirv

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

Sleen - NL

Guild in Pyjamas [PJs]

Mo/Me

yeah oke agreed, also possible ^^

Renegade ++RIP++

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2006

I like hammers, but consider them to be more or less ineffective in pve, although since the insurection of galewarriors the same can be stated for pvp.

Most times i'm landing my first knockdown when all the mobs are nearly dead. If some of those adrenaline skills were a tad better or recharge a tad faster it would be a bit better. Since at the moment a bunnythumper(r/w) is better then any w/x hammerwarrior, just because it can more quickly spam attacks.

Heck i wouldn't mind seeing all the mods being double as effective on hammers. Since we all know that they are freaking slow, you lose the shield and the extra reduction in dmg and the extra health. So i still wonder why there aren't any grips of fortitude that give like 60 health maxwise or furious mods that give an extra strike in 40% of the cases. A zealous mod that gives 2 energy on every strike and reduces your regen with 1. Heck dmg mods of 30 - 40% vs a certain mobtype. Although my numbers might be a tad over the top, but it was just there as an indication of the idea.

It would at least make hammers more used and usuable. In stead of only as flukes or flavorbuilds.

Heck backbreaker needs to be fixed, earthshaker needs to not have to hit to be effective and lose reduce adrenalineneed with 1 pip. Devestating hammer is allright. Concussion blow or whatever its called needs to apply dazed on hit not if depending on spell being cast. Dazed is to easilly countered by monks to be of any real use on a skill that has a double to tripple dependency, namely having adrenaline build up, catching up to them and catching them in mid spell. Even disrupting chop disrupts any action and is no elite... .

General Surena

General Surena

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Germany

None

W/

My own personal reason for not using hammers in PVE is the lessened "knocked down" duration for high-level mobs. In PVP their awesome, no question, if it's either the KD-Warrior or the KD-Ranger. I like smashing those warrior-hating necros in the face.

Numa Pompilius

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by xxSilhouette
I'm not much for hammers myself, Just don't like how they look.

But everytime i get a really good drop it seems to be a hammer - and I always have trouble selling it
I have five gold max with good enchants & green hammers in my storage. Can't sell them, not even for 1K, and I refuse to merchant items that good. I tried "will trade my green hammer for any other green item" with two hammers I had duplicates of - and only got other hammers.

Yesterday I tried to sell a gold max hammer 14>50 with 10/10 sundering & +27 health, and it wasn't possible. I spammed WTS for half an hour in LA and Droknars, but nooone would buy it even for 500 gold, and as the merchant value was about 400 gold I eventually said "RED ENGINE it!" and merchanted it.

Hammers definitely need a bit of love in the upcoming rebalancing.

Kassad

Kassad

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

W/

Hammers are the most under-rated weapon, yet most effective in pvp.

Swords got old fast, the whole "Liek omagad I have a sword, I look like a knight dude LOLOL" got, and still is annoying.

Axes.. not bad, random dmg is what puts me off, 6-28.. damn that min dmg is damn low.

Hammers.. well, if your being attacked by a hammer war, prepare to die. As most good wars, you'll be on your ass most of the time and unable to do anything.

Elena

Elena

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Belgium

probably one of the most effective combo's in pve is Earthshaker(E) then Aftershock ^^

Mysterious

Mysterious

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2005

FARM

N/

yea, i think that people don't use hammers is because of the -2/-3 damage or health mod from a shield.

taxed

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

arkangels

R/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by tafy69
Please dont use that combo, crushing blow owns the hell out of aftershock
Hammer ownage:
Devistating hammer - Crushing Blow - Heavy blow - Holy strike - Irrestable blow

Burakus Lightwing

Burakus Lightwing

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by fiery
Well hammers have slow damage but packs a big blow if you can pull off a good combo.
Yes. You need to really charge up that Adrenaline and then pull off a good Combo. An Axe can do the damage much quicker. Now with gale axe warriors, you really don't need that hammer. You can do great damage and carry a shield.

Nilator

Nilator

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

Mo/

earthshaker+aftershock+crystal wave+earthquake=d-e-a-d
I use it in PvE.

RazielFirestorm

RazielFirestorm

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

Angels Symphonys [AnSy]

D/A

there are 2 main reasons i dont use hammers in pve:

1. to a warrior, there is a big adavantage in having not just the +16 armour from the shield but the extra mods aswell e.g -2 dmg +45 hp. A hammer cuts the amount of mods a warrior would have as it is 2 handed, heres an example, when i use a victos axe with a victos bulwark i gain -2 dmg +60hp 10/10 sunder. if i used victos hammer i gain less than half the benefit of having 2 things in your hands. in pve it is more adavntageous to a warrior to be able to take more dmg and sacrifice your own output.
2. hammer attacks are not generally as good for pve as sword or axe, eg if u had a zealous hilt nd a multi hit attack you would be gaining enough energy for it to be worth while, with a hammer its just too slow to benefit you in the same way.

i do use hammer in pvp because it is effective against real players, pve monsters in general have more armour and target you for damage thus negating the hammer's effectiveness. in pvp hammers attacks are more useful. and in general people will not buy hammers, rather make one using a pvp slot so hammers dont sell too often unless you get a rich person to buy it.

striderkaaru

striderkaaru

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Retired Officer

W/

for pve, i'll throw out two skills for you guys to consider:
counter blow
belly smash

hammers can be effective in pve as well if you know how to use them properly. and in most cases, a hammer warrior provides excellent support. and hammers don't sell very well because the dedicated hammer warriors have enough sense not to pay 100k+ for a weapon.

Silvergun Superman

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2005

hammers can deal lots of damage by using hammer skills properly and what not. ive use hammer before, i like the amount of damage it deals and the knockdown skills but the attacking rate is just too slow for my liking. this is one disadvantages of the hammer and why there arent many hammer warriors out there.

Soul Shaker

Soul Shaker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Sunshine Coast, Australia

Soul Crusaders

Hammers become great with an elite. They generally suck in pve anywhere before that. Backbreaker...keep someone on their arse for 4 secs, you can get at least 2 other skills offo n em in that time (crushing blow, holy strike...), earthshaker rocks in PvE, monsters can't run from instant AoE, then combine that will an AS and you're set, devastating hammer is good, but you either have a choice of heavy blow, which can ruin your spike, but if used properly, you can slaughter, or hammer bash which is unconditional but it just plain sucks.

You'll see more hammers in PvP and only a few in PvE.

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Soul Shaker
You'll see more hammers in PvP and only a few in PvE.
Agreed. Its almost 1/4 warriors who use the Hammer/Gale build.

For PvE, like the mesmers, we have few of them and we, players, thinking useless. But really, I say they still have a good place in PvE. I write you this little list about sword/axe VS hammer (maybe from others players too) to make some ''differences'' between them...... sorry for my english here

1)Hammers has the highest max damage weapon in game
2)Hammers are slower than Swords/Axes
3)Swords can start a combo with bleeding, Axes are deep wound and hammers are knock down or weakness
4)Swords/Axes can wield a shield, but not for Hammers because they're 2 handed
5)Hammers, unlike the others melee weapons, can blind ennemies which its useful against other warriors in PVP or melee creatures in PvE

Lord Iowerth

Lord Iowerth

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

Atlanta, GA (#guildwarsguru FTW!)

Biscuit Of Dewm [MEEP]

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by striderkaaru
And hammers don't sell very well because the dedicated hammer warriors have enough sense not to pay 100k+ for a weapon.
Shhh!! Don't give the hammer-sellers any bad ideas, Strider

aB-

aB-

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Let's look at the main role of a warrior in PvE: Absorb Damage. Groups want stance tanks and warriors with as much defense as possible while they pummel the mobs with their attacks. When a warrior weilds a hammer, they lose the large armor bonus from a shield, and the damage reduction that comes with it. Now in a good group, some extra damage the warrior is taking isn't a problem for the monk to heal, and can even speed up the killing process. However, in an inexperienced group, problems can arise when your warrior is not reducing as much damage to himself as possible.