18 replies to this topic

[Methal11]

Been running this set up since level 15ish. Now that I am level 80 I get trash talked a lot for using a sword in main, and axe in off. And for using a rifle.

However every time someone says I'm "doing it wrong" they all tell me different things.

"GS is the way to go"

or axe main, shield, and a long bow as secondary.

or go axe/mace. and GS.

I just want to deal a lot of dmg, and have a ranged wep to switch to when melee is not a good idea.

I don't PvP at all. Just working on 100% world completion at the moment.

Any thoughts?

[Ninja Battle Lion]

MH Sword and Rifle; I'm guessing you're running a lot of Arms and abusing Bleeds. The problem with this in (organised) dungeon runs is that there's probably already a guy dedicated to keeping Bleed capped on foes and you'll be interfering with that.

As for world completion, who gives a rat's ass. Anything goes.

[axhed]

i love sword/axe for clearing zones, axe/shield for dungeons. tried the long bow a couple times and just did not like it. i figured that when the shit hits the fan i pull out my rifle and kite, so a rifle was the first exotic i bought.

the level 80 rares are only like 3s so it's cheap as hell to experiment with new setups.

[_Breakage_]

I'm running Axe/Mace Axe/axe, and have a Longbow for situations where melee is not viable. I feel i do ok in dungeons. Might try out GS though.

[Mjölner]

I love the sword MH for the mobility: far away from your foe? Leap. See a field that you can use? Leap, and you got a fire-shield, retalliation, or what have you. Plus the auto attack chain is pretty decent. I don't use a lot of bleeds though, which I'm sure is detrimental, but I do good damage and survive, so happy fun times for me =)
In all honesty, don't listen to those people. I've been "trashtalked" by a Signet GS warrior, so I tend to not care about random peoples' opinions.

[Gilles VI]

Well if you're only PvE'ing I understand those people, GS is just so OP...
It has massive damage, when traited and exotic gear, a single 100b pretty much kills everything on your level, and lots of mobility.
There is no reason not to use it.

For dungeons same, most of the high-end warrior builds use a GS for damage, although secondary weapon depends on the situation.
Rifle is very viable for most bosses or just ranged fights, and shield can be usefull in certain fights (lupus,..)

[d_fens]

Don't listen all those elitists who tell you to switch to GS. Play what you like. I finished weapon master achievements for GS, Hammer and Axe long time ago and switched to sword/mace. I don't care what other ppl say, I run those weapons in dungeons all the time and I do well. Not top dps but well enough to finish without problems. When I complete both sword and mace achis, I'll go pure ranged with rifle/longbow

Play what you ejnoy! It's a game after all.

[typographie]

Methal11, on 20 January 2013 - 03:04 AM, said:

I just want to deal a lot of dmg, and have a ranged wep to switch to when melee is not a good idea.

Don't fall into the mindset that you must always have a ranged weapon ready to go; once you know the dungeons, you will know when you need to switch and when you don't. A warrior's melee options are stronger when they are usable.

If you want to maximize warrior DPS, the greatsword and the main-hand axe are the unavoidable best options. Don't confuse "good enough to get by" with "ideal." But if you don't care about that and want to stick with the sword anyway, at least play to its strengths by setting yourself up with a bleed stacking build—its gotta be better than trying to do direct damage with it.

Offhand axe is redundant. A warrior can have 100% Fury uptime without Dual Strike, and Whirling Axe is best-suited to farming builds. Nearly any other offhand choice helps you and/or your party more than axe.

Edited by typographie, 29 January 2013 - 07:51 PM.

[weez]

Mjölner, on 27 January 2013 - 04:23 PM, said:

I love the sword MH for the mobility: far away from your foe? Leap. See a field that you can use? Leap, and you got a fire-shield, retalliation, or what have you. Plus the auto attack chain is pretty decent. I don't use a lot of bleeds though, which I'm sure is detrimental, but I do good damage and survive, so happy fun times for me =)
In all honesty, don't listen to those people. I've been "trashtalked" by a Signet GS warrior, so I tend to not care about random peoples' opinions.

Agreed.. if it is working for you, and its fun, then its good.  It also depends on how you play the warrior... if you are looking to take on LOTS of mobs, then pure damage output must be maximized to survive the encounters.. There just doesn't seem to be enough tankability in any character to allow you to just stand in the fire and go toe to toe with massed mobs (that said, I haven't experimented with higher level defense builds.. not there yet!).

if you are bit more 'tactical', and pull to minimize groups, then you have a lot more options on how to play (this is how I approach the game).  At the end of the day, fun trumps anyone else's idea of how its supposed to work.  I personally like seeing the mobs start to run and then die from bleeding.  Using the sword main hand I can worry about managing the mobs actually fighting me and let the bleeding do its job on the others that have 'had enough'.

[chuckles79]

Sword/Axe - Rifle is the best combo if you are going for condition damage.  It's not flashy, but that's the best way to make that stat work for you.

[weez]

chuckles79, on 30 January 2013 - 07:31 PM, said:

Sword/Axe - Rifle is the best combo if you are going for condition damage.  It's not flashy, but that's the best way to make that stat work for you.

I'll give that a try.. I've not really experimented a ton with condition damage on a warrior.. thankee.

[whodini]

Immobilized then combustion shot swap weapons shield bash and or eviscerate
Try it. Works great

[chuckles79]

weez, on 31 January 2013 - 06:32 PM, said:

I'll give that a try.. I've not really experimented a ton with condition damage on a warrior.. thankee.

Make sure you stack your armor, weapons, and trinkets into condition damage if you are going to try it.  The DPS is better on veterans and tougher targets but it requires the discipline of not seeing lots of crits and big numbers.

[weez]

Just a general statement.. as with GW1, I'm consistently impressed with the helpfulness of this community.. I've been a quiet lurker for years on gw1guru.. mostly just doing my own thing and reading these boards for hints on how to play better.. and GW2 continues this tradition..  

Its part of why I'm trying to give back in things where I see I can help..

Hats off to all involved..

Edited by weez, 01 February 2013 - 10:41 PM.

[ben911993]

As others have said, if it fits your playstyle and you have fun, and you're still getting the job done, don't bother changing. I actually run sword/axe and rifle as well for dungeons, and I find it excelling. However, as someone else said, if there's another guy in the party running a bleed-based build then both of you will be doing sub-optimum damage.

Regardless, I've found axe off-hand to be great. It's an excellent whirl finisher, and with my build when I have fury (which should be all the time for any warrior), I have a 100% crit chance with my sword and 90% crit chance with my axe. That, combined with a sigil of earth and the Precise Strikes trait means being able to spread a few bleeds around. But the real great thing about axe off-hand is using an omnomberry pie with it. Omnomberry pies have a 66% chance to steal health on crit, and when you have absurdly an absurdly high crit chance, Whirling Axe can be a real help. Using that skill I've gained easily over 10k health before.

Rifle is great for a condition build as well, especially when combined with Crack Shot. I'm usually able to keep 10-12 stacks of bleeding on two or three enemies at a time with it, while keeping myself well out of harm's way. Also, I've found Rifle Butt to be a great skill recently while doing AC--it's saved a few of my buddies from the graveling scavengers.

Also, you may seriously want to consider using condition duration. With 10 points in strength, 2 superior runes of centaur, 2 krait, and 2 afflicted, and Deep Cuts, you get 105% longer bleeds, which I think for most skills just rounds down to 100%. So for 2 of those you can settle for major runes instead. But in dungeons I find enemies often don't have condition removal, and the fights last long enough that doubling the length of your bleeds is definitely worth it. I use this with full rampager's gear at the moment, and I have a little over 1k condition damage, 20% crit damage, and around 2.9k attack. I put out some healthy direct damage, and plenty of condition damage. It's definitely worth running if you can survive and stay out of the enemy's crosshairs.

[Mjölner]

ben911993, on 01 February 2013 - 11:36 PM, said:

Regardless, I've found axe off-hand to be great. It's an excellent whirl finisher, and with my build when I have fury (which should be all the time for any warrior), I have a 100% crit chance with my sword and 90% crit chance with my axe. That, combined with a sigil of earth and the Precise Strikes trait means being able to spread a few bleeds around. But the real great thing about axe off-hand is using an omnomberry pie with it. Omnomberry pies have a 66% chance to steal health on crit, and when you have absurdly an absurdly high crit chance, Whirling Axe can be a real help. Using that skill I've gained easily over 10k health before.

This, so, so much. I can more often than not turn a would-be death into 3/4 of my HP back in a dungeon fight, provided there's more than one mob - it's absolutely insane when fighting gravelings, slimes or any group of mobs that are close enough. And the old favourite: Longbow Burst, switch weapons and leap in and then whirl away.

[JDogg126]

I know that greatsword is all the anyone focuses on for warrior advice but I have the most fun playing with sword/axe on my warrior currently.  For whatever reason I just do not like the playstyle of the greatsword but maybe it will grow on me.  I specifically do not like the way hundred blades and the whirling attack work.  Whirling attack is particular annoying to me.  However I do love greatsword on my guardian.

[Rahlek]

JDogg126, on 11 February 2013 - 09:40 PM, said:

I know that greatsword is all the anyone focuses on for warrior advice but I have the most fun playing with sword/axe on my warrior currently.  For whatever reason I just do not like the playstyle of the greatsword but maybe it will grow on me.  I specifically do not like the way hundred blades and the whirling attack work.  Whirling attack is particular annoying to me.  However I do love greatsword on my guardian.

I'm with you on this. I just don't like how the GS plays. I think it's the fact that it roots you in place, and I'm overly obsessed with mobility.

I just love my axes.

[Random Elusion]

Just try all the weapons and stick to those you like.
Develop your own play-style. Don't just follow what other say, maybe it suits them but don't suit you.

Sword and warhorn get you move around map quickly.
GS for GS way (GS2 and Whirling to Win)
Hammer for CC.
Axe+offhand provides much more flexible and has great dmg too.
        Warhorn is quite good for speed run, trash run and when traited condition removal.
        Shield more like defensive tool.
        Mace for vulnerability stack and cc.
Longbow for great aoe.