Customizing your weapons, shields, energy items, armor, runes, and upgrades?

Kamel407

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2005

W/Mo

Forgive Me for my NooB question.

However through my research I am still having some trouble figuring all of this out.

Here is what I have learned so far

Weapons - Can have as many as 2 upgrades
Shields - are not customizable
Energy Items - are not customizable
Armor - Can be purchased in pieces and runed
Upgrades - for weapons

Background -

I have a W/Mo that just reached 20th level
I have not really given thought to runes or upgrades to my items, I just use what I have acquied so far
I feel now is the time to learn more about customizing so I can get a better feel for the game.
I've read a couple of guides on here, however I found most of them are outdated now.
I'd like to know what the possibilities are for customization

Since I'm a W/Mo lets talk about what I use the most (attributes)
I use Strength, Swordsmanship, Tactics, Healing, and Smiting for the most part.
Lets say I had a Duelist Helm with +1 Swordsmanship
I know I can put a minor rune of swordsmanship on to add a +1 bonus
If I add a superior rune to a +1 duelist helm, will it become +4 Swordsmanship with -75 health? I cannot seem to find a superior rune of swordsmanship, so the same question could be applied to the gladiator helm with +1 tactics

Lets say I have all Ascalon armor, would using 1 superior rune of absorption add to the damage reducer? or is that already maxed out?

I've noticed that 1.5k Gladiator armor has a +8 Energy for the entire combo, and that there is a sword that provides +5 energy. Are there shields with + to energy as well?

I would imagine 20 +8 +5 +10(or more / energy item) would work quite well for any of the W/Mo or W/E out there

What upgrades are best for a sword and why?
Can I find shields out there with more than 2 benefits?

If this has all been covered, links to the latest guides would be appreciated since I've been finding the out of date ones.

justinkim

justinkim

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Toronto

NES

1) Yes, you would have +4 to Swordsmanship and -75 health
2) From what Ive read and hear, You really only need 1 piece of "Reduce Damage" armour. So you should only have 1 piece of ascalon or Knights Armour since the "Reduce Damage" is universal. You CAN add a Superior Absorption and it WILL reduce damage. So 1 piece of knights/ascalon armour and Sup. Absor. will STACK
3) From my own experience Ive never seen a shield with energy
4) Most people use +30 health and 10/10 Sundering ( armour pentration) upgrades. Some people like Furious hilts but I prefer them on Axes since they use more adren.
5) I've never seen a shield with more than two mods on it.

Kamel407

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2005

W/Mo

Thank you for the quick reply

another question

if each piece of gladiator armor has a energy bonus, why wouldn't each piece of ascalon armor reduce damage?

justinkim

justinkim

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Toronto

NES

Well, Energy is WAY different than "Reduce Damage". Just test and stuff have been done, and they concluded that only 1 piece of ascalon/knights armour is need. Just the way Anet made things.