Denravi Items; Their values and effectiveness

With the recent trend in the PvP side of the game being focused towards building PvE characters so they're ready, and have advantages for PvP, I thought a little explanation should go into the usefulness and value of certain items - namely, the Denravi ones, though I'll probably go into others too.

The famed Denravi Sword holds a distinctive +5 Energy inherent mod, which is absolutely brilliant. But what makes it better, and far superior to a Wand with the same, is that it can hold a suffix. For Casters, this item is a fantastic one to use in tandem with a focus, still granting a 20/20 asset, as well as 20% longer Enchantment duration, and a bump in energy.
As such, the value of this item should be incredibly high - 100k+50 Ecto seems to be a stable market price at current. However, just over 1 Month ago, it was easy to grab them at 100k a piece. Clearly, the value of this item will keep appreciating, and as far as I see, there is no reason for this item to be sold at 100k+75 Ecto at the moment.

Then there's the Denravi Axe - this is even better. 25 Health in high end PvP is an extra 25 Health to save you from a spike, or an extra 1 second of life when you've got max degen on you. The problem that comes with this item is the insane lack of supply in the market. Few people bought them when they were available, and fewer people are willing to sell them.
At a minimum, I'd sell this item now for 250 Ecto, but I'd be asking for 500 easy, as once again, this item is only going to appreciate in value. People may like their 15^50 Crystalline Swords to look pretty, but this is by far the best PvE item in the game for PvP. It's incredibly more practical, and is even useful in terms of using a tank in PvE. Think about it with the new Shield implemented. 85 Health and a 1/5 chance of recieving 5 less damage. Alternatively you can put on a 20% Enchanting mod, and it would almost be the equivalent of running with an Axe with 2 suffixes. Oh, and don't forget the fact you can be getting 100 extra Health, running with a +45 Shield/Focus under an Enchantment.

Finally, I'll focus on the Fiery Flame Spitter (15%) and the pre-nerfed Rockmolder (20%).
Simply, if you don't have the Rockmolder, get one. It eases up your weapon switching by a long way, and in tandem with the Denravi Sword will give more energy than a normal Staff. Current value seems to be around 40k, but this is, just as with the Denravi Sword, purely because of its supply. If people realised the value of this item, it should probably be getting around 150k.
The FFS on the other hand, is not perfect, and not worth spending too much on. Let's face it - in high end PvP you won't be staying on the same set all match, you'll switch for optimal value of your weapons. Unlike the Rockmolder, this one isn't perfect, and would only really be in optimal usage with skills such as Aegis. However, the value is still high, due to the lack of supply and strength of it with such a skill, and probably valued at around 125 Ecto.

For those who dispute my methods, be weary that these items are all only available from buying from other players, and in high level PvP, where every advantage matters, however small, these items can give you that little edge that may push you over the top.

You must be joking, that axe is trash and no one in serious pvp does, or would, use it.

Also, since you are confused, +25 health is not "13 extra seconds under max degen" its a little bit over 1 second.

That was a typo, and the best response to the other part would be Ensign, leader of iQ, and one of the key people in making these forums popular, requesting to, and buying one, shortly before the GWWC Finals in Taipei.

I've done this before, but a quick analysis of the Denravi Sword/Max Offhand versus a Max Insightful Staff of Enchanting:

+17 Energy HoD; +15 Energy Staff ---> +2 Energy difference
+20% Ench HoD; +20% Ench Staff ---> No difference
+1 Attribute (20% chance) offhand OR +30 HP---> Not possible with staff with enchant
Melee HoD; Range Ench Staff ---> Range attack better with staff

So, you're really looking at +2 energy and the ability to get the +1 to attribute or +30 HP (at the sacrifice of either 20% faster casting or 20% faster recharge).

Worth a little under 1 million? I think not.

Edited for comments on choice for third item above (thanks matt)...

You're forgetting the use of swapping.

Why would you use HoD items for attacking? They're useful for Casters, as I said. Besides that, wanding often puts you in a position where you can easily get spiked out. Not only that, but you can quite easily switch your weapon set to get a 36% chance of fast chance/recharge (20% from Wand, 20% from Focus), and not screw up spikes whilst having a 20% chance of quick recast, too.

Alot of People in high end GvG use them on casters I use it on my monk with no morale I have 630 health on a monk +55 health is very nice and so is 5 energy and 30HP. Its well worth it to buy one of these

I feel you left out the fact that your offhand can have +hp. You stated it could have +1(attribute 20%) but that appears worthless to most people. So your facts though accurate are somewhat slanted against the HoD sword.

So with an HoD sword + offhand its possilble to have
+17 energy
+30hp
+20% enchant
+20%(skill recharge/fast cast)

with a staff its possilbe to have
+15 energy
+30 hp OR +20% enchant
+20%(skill recharge)
+20%(skill fast cast)

So basicly the sword lets you have another hp mod instead of a fast cast/recharge. Also offhands can have +45hp(while enchanted) so for certain builds that keep enchants up all the time(boon monks), the HoD sword would not only get them more energy but it would get them longer enchanting AND more hp at the sacrifice of a fast cast mod.

In my opinion that is why they are priced so high, becuase stats wise they have a slight advantage.

The HoD sword is mainly a collector's item (gratuitous link to HoD sword discussion here). I don't really use mine.

The old FFS is much more interesting than that sword, having 9% half recharge (3% quarter) more than having only a 20% fast recharge. I want one, plain and simple.

Unfortunately for the Rockmolder, its requirement and +1 bonus is in Illusion which not every build can take advantage of. Had it been Inspiration, it probably would have been nerfed by now.


I'm slightly curious as to what happened to the other Denravi weapons, like the Denravi bow. Since I haven't heard much I'm guessing they don't have enough utility or there aren't enough still around to make headlines.

I agree with Vanquisher, 500 ectos for the Denravi axe is a good price. It is by far the most overpowered item in PvE right now, and I'd probably ask for more tbh.

No. You're completely wrong. The HoD axe is the most imbalanced PvE item in the game for PvP, evidenced by its 1m+ price tag.

It's quite simple really. You're a scrub. You say that nobody does use or would use this based on the fact that you think a Warrior is the one wielding it. Casters use them and with great success. Sure you don't absolutely have to have one, but it's an advantage you can gain provided you have the resources to purchase one. If you can even find one.

Lastly, I'll leave you with this line: Play 2 Win

Is that that 1 handed axe that you (can still get) from the colletor in Ascalon (post) for 3 easy to get monster drops... http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Fiery_Flame_Spitter. Then just add the two mods you want on it

What are the stats on the HoD axe?

The FFS is now only 10% faster recharge now but yes you can still get it.

Ah it was altered since the game came out, that makes sense now and why the version OP is talking about is rare.

Yeah, look at all the good it did him.

Rockmoulder does not work on all skills. You can test it with troll uguent if you want.

The recharge will never trigger. I don't know if it was disabled completely or is not functioning right.

It also never triggered with my trapper.

Nothing recharges/casts traps faster.

such bonuses only apply to spells

No "Improves skill recharge" or "Improves Casting speed" ever worked on all skills. They only ever worked on spells, and the mod descriptions were wrong. The Factions PvP Preview Weekend update addressed this by changing all the descriptions to say "of spells." The 20/20 Rockmolder currently states:

I recently bought a 15% FFS off some noob, for 50K. I was quite proud of myself. The only weapon, I repeat ONLY, I would trade my 15% FFS for is an HoD axe. Why? One weapon, +55 HP. Where is the downfall? Also, if you're running a boon prot you can get +45 from your offhand, and then +50 from your sup. That = 630 HP. Now tell me why the HoD axe sucks again? Oh yea, because you're a noob.

The Denravi axe doesnt sell for as much as you all think. 500 ecto would be a waste for an extra 25 hp. I think that the items are overrated, because they really aren't that good. From what I have heard, theres going to be something done about the items soon anyway.

When did you last play and beat EvIL?

Acually that is only a good idea if you are not running Oob. If you run Oob you don't want your life to be that high when you sac. The more life you have the more you sac.

You can switch but that will cost you 1 second to switch items then another to switch back. 2 seconds to switch just to use Oob just doesn't sound appealing to me. Its good if you are on your last leg and need a little boost to get a heal off. Yet again taking 1 second to switch to it. You could have just cast a spell to heal yourself within that time.

If the description on Rockmoulder only affects spells then how would that make it better than a 20% recharge? Since most of your bar is from 1 attribute line anyways that's not a great advantage. You would get less energy if you don't have illusion and the +1 mod is crap.

You do understand that even though the health sacrifice is larger, you still have more health, right?

One attribute line? Do you even play this game at all? My boon prot is; Reversal, Mend ail, Sig of Devo, DI/Prot spirit, Energy management, Veil, CoP Boon. That is 3.

Also, if you had 300 HP, and I had 630, and we had our helth bars right beside each other, they would be at the same height. Why? That is how percentages work. I'm sure you learn about that in grade 9 math.

As for the rockmolder, it is elite.

twicky kid is like the biggest stupid question/argument fountain i have ever seen.
If you play a mesmer you might know that oftentimes you split into various attributes and if you can make the 9 illusion the rockmolder is the best focus you could possibly have. The versatility of having the "right" focus equipped for recharge bonus without switching weapons for every spell you cast is a huge edge in a fast paced game, such as pvp.

For a mes yes it is great but for every other class that wants to use it really eh....

I've used it and I don't see the difference. Mes yes. Other classes no.

Rockmolder is only good if:

1: You can make the requirement

2: Your build skills are spread out


Otherwise 20% specific magic + something else > 20% all +1 Illusion anytime

why would my necro ever need use it?

though yes I do have one


To all the HoD flamers: stuff it guys...yea he's wrong but you're just making yourselves look stupid at this point...I mean really do 4 guys need to flame the same post

I'm wrong? We just played a match against IVEX. They were running degen spike. We had to bodyblock to kill their Lord, and I went down to around 13 HP. My Denravi Axe saved me and the game right there.

Once again, I stress these items are looked at from a PvP point of view. Not only that, but in regards to Casters predominantly, though Rangers could be included, not Warriors.

can sum1 post a SS on the 15% FFS. i just wana see it real kwik

Exactly what i was about to say
If things don't work and time comes for you to kick the bucket, you'll pass away with or without HoD axe, sword, etc...

If it would really make a diffrence anet would nerf the stats on existing items as they did with the helm. IMO the helm was the most overpowered item. Althou I shad a tear when i saw the nerf, still i think it was a good thing for pvp.

Hexes against the 50% HoD helm were useless with a few or just one exception (worry ftw).

That's hardly the point.

Here's a sad tale. A long long time ago I collected 5 of those fiery flame splitters because I saw their potential....

Then my storage started getting cramped so I deleted them all thinking I could always get them again. And now I see that they're worth some ectos? Good thing I'm a fairly stable person... /wristslit.

among the best of the best we are talking victory by degrees...or we should be anyway...so yea...25 more life can make a HUGE difference

The HoD axe is an great weapon to have available against spike builds. When you do survive a spike there it's usually not by much, and every extra HP you can squeeze out helps.

The sword I mostly use for my weapon swap. Combine it with a +15/-1 focus to get a nice jump on energy over your main set without losing the 20% enchanting. On the main I just use a staff with whatever mods are best for the character. I tend to focus swap a lot on a non-elementalist caster and, particularly when monking, being able to cast enchants at full effectiveness even when swapping for energy can be huge.

Peace,
-CxE

Actually, it is the point. You clearly haven't played at the top of the official ladder, so let me inform you of something quite important.

Advantages matter.

Let's put this into some degree of context. Say two of the top teams on the ladder are playing each other. Not only does this extra 25 Health save you from spikes for that fraction of a second longer, allowing your team to successfully negate it, but it also grants your teams Monks with an extra allowance to heal someone else because you're not as close to 0 as that other person. Then we can look at how it may affect Infuse Health if your Infuser is running it. At a 134% Infuse (14 Healing), your Infuser will heal, assuming they're at full, for 824 Health, rather than 791. Of course, you probably don't think that 33 Health matters, but at the top, it does.

If you can honestly say that this item would be useless in high-end GvG, and back it up with strong facts, then maybe I'd actually accept your viewpoint, but I've been there and played in it. I've played against some of the nastiest spikes in the game, and am speaking from experience when I say that in a lot of situations, this item is incredibly desirable.

When did I demonstrate that '"I think a warrior is the one wielding it?" Oh thats right: I didn't. Keep the "scub" talk to yourself, jerk. Since I don't think I've ever GVGed or Tombsed against you, I'm sure how you managed to make any kind of evaluation of me, but whatever...

The Axe, gives a caster ~5% more health against a spike team, I'm not convinced of that being a game breaking advantage at all. Against a tight spike, thats well within the margin of error either way. Plus, I was more reacting to his justification that it helps against degen teams, which he admitted was a typo.

And don't worry about my motivations, I don't play to dick around.

Blah. I really don't care, and this is no where near worth my time any longer.

The point of this thread is probably to promote the items and alleviate their prices

Anyway..I'm not really in favour of these items that give you a stat advantage. I always thought Anet rewards time spent with vanity items only =/

Since these items not in the pvp selection menu, this thread proves that I lost an advantage in terms of stats for not playing enough (not online when the items available to all and not enough grinding to buy one with gold now)

Of course as efficient as Anet is, there is bound to be grinding of some sort, but 500 ectos..thats like way beyond minor grinding =__=