Hi,,

I have a fully AT'd Merc that I was planning on switch to slash with ( already 48 )...but before I make a template for it i wanted to hear opinions on which is better for merc spec? I am not really considering thrust..

thanks

You wanna go shield or not?

Most likely I'll go 42 just for slam but only because its basically a requirement..really would love to full time Dual wielding

well i started this spec even with low rr and many ppl said blabla low damage, but the opposite was true

30slash
30thrust
42shield
50dw
rest parry

made a +11 slash/crush/thrust template to make sure i can spec my merc in all direction without replacing any armor/jewelry part

Magicco wrote:well i started this spec even with low rr and many ppl said blabla low damage, but the opinion was true

30slash
30thrust
42shield
50dw
rest parry

made a +11 slash/crush/thrust template to make sure i can spec my merc in all direction without replacing any armor/jewelry part

The opion is true? so in other words the spec your saying sucks?

awww good i fixed my it^^

the opposite was true xD

maybe i'll try

30slash
30thrust
42shield
50dw
rest parry

Kinda nice I would be using all the AT points..

but will have to make an extra piece to make template complete for both slash/thrust.. kind of concerned that the weapon skill levels are too low but I guess it would be good to have different damage types based on enemies..any one else using this spec?

i used it also with low rr (rr6) and the additional dmg was totally worth it. but i am a highlander. i got told by bevi (half ogre) that its not really worth to switch for him from slash to thrust since dmg would stay basically the same on chain. the strength advantage of half ogres kinda rubbishes the dmg advantages from thrust on chain.

but for me as a highlander it totally works out.

shintari wrote:i used it also with low rr (rr6) and the additional dmg was totally worth it. but i am a highlander. i got told by bevi (half ogre) that its not really worth to switch for him from slash to thrust since dmg would stay basically the same on chain. the strength advantage of half ogres kinda rubbishes the dmg advantages from thrust on chain.

but for me as a highlander it totally works out.

so your saying as half ogre i shouldnt go thrust at all?

just go for slash 41 slash 50 DW 42 shield rest parry, ull hit like a truck on Druids Warden (heroes...) berserkers and savages in group rvr. the more points in slash increase the dmg of your anytimer (amethyst slash) which you should use

shezzy wrote:

shintari wrote:i used it also with low rr (rr6) and the additional dmg was totally worth it. but i am a highlander. i got told by bevi (half ogre) that its not really worth to switch for him from slash to thrust since dmg would stay basically the same on chain. the strength advantage of half ogres kinda rubbishes the dmg advantages from thrust on chain.

but for me as a highlander it totally works out.

so your saying as half ogre i shouldnt go thrust at all?

i said that someone else told me that thrust on ho is not really worth it, yea. but i cannot prove it. and i also don't know any halfogre thrust mercs, all higher rr half ogres are either slash or crush. the dmg with thrust is not worse than with any other race, it is just that pure slash/crush hits harder due to the strenght advantage. ihmo just test it. make a template were the +weapon skill is only on your weapons, then u can easily do 2 thrustweapons, split spec and test it for yourself

got a halfogre with split spec and i am fine with it
just used pure crush and splitspec , and since rr5 or 6 i kept the splitspec cause the damage with thrust is still higher than a saracen. i made never any tests, but the feeling was better. ofc u lose damage cause thrust is (dex+str)/2, but for example you make 20% more damage against mid-chain compared to a slash merc.

and on the other hand , i use only DW styles. so style-damage is same as a non splitspec-merc , only the variances, due my lower slash n thrust spec, are higher. thats all

what about the option to use slash+crush as split spec(as an half-ogre)?

so we would have + dmg vs bards.

or is it not worth giving up 42 shield for it(or slash+thrust is still better like mentioned@post before)?

Magicco wrote: ofc u lose damage cause thrust is (dex+str)/2

half ogre : 90 str / 40 dex
saracen : 50 str / 80 dex
highlander : 70 str / 50 dex

You loose a little of dps because of the low quickness. But (str+dex)/2 is the same for half-ogre and saracen, and it's better than briton and highlander.
Btw, i was wondering if side stun from shield could be enough for low RR on split damage spec :
50dw
34slash
34thrust
35shield

Side stun is not so hard to land.

it is almost impossible to land on warriors and heros. but slam on guarder is important imho *and leads to insta rr5 on elds ). and also, most times targets will run in front of u. so no, backstun is a valid option, but its only 6 second. side stun wouldnt work at all.

ofc, HO dmg is still better with thrust than any other race. my point was only: weaponskill as a HO with slash is so much higher than with thrust, that it is barely worth the effort to switch weapons for the bonus dmg on e.g. chain.

so switching is most attractive to bretones, then highlander, then saracen. last the HO. and bevi told be that his damage doesnt really increase that much compared to full slash. someone gotta test it!