After watching many videos (mostly the 3 black adder videos and some BTL videos since they have merc PoV), and talking to a variety of mercs (both 50s and people I have come across in thid) in game I have come to the conclusion, that there is no conclusion. I have read what seems like many opinions on the forum regarding slash merc and just using sword style (amethyst strike) vs DW style (inflame) as an "any" ability. I am 36slash/42shield/50DW/rest parry

I am curious as to the logic behind the choice and what people think. Many/most have said that DW has the superior style damage (skill 50>36), but when asking people who have tested amethyst strike vs inflame they can barely notice the difference, and this is WITH 36+14 in slash and 50+14 in DW, which means that those 14 extra skills in DW increase the style damage of inflame whereas amethyst strike is 14 skills less in the style damage category...

I have also seen some mercs using the 50 DW style (it has a bleed on it) and some say that bleed in emain is a no no due to constant target switching, so I was wondering what the general consensus is on this as well? Seems like a pretty big blow to potential damage output if we can't use our signature style in DW line, which is supposedly our superior style.

I am currently trying to master getting flanking off in RvR and slightly struggling w/ this as well unless the target is obviously mezzed or stunned which makes it mindless, but anybody can do that, so I would love tips on this and avoid the "you were strafing and miss" that I get caught by from time to time. Most of the time I find myself assist training w/ other merc(s)/reaver and spamming amethyst strike + flurry ability, but many of these good merc videos I watch in emain the merc is basically able to solo the squishies on the back line and keep them locked down or quick switching when a kill can happen.

Thanks for reading

edit: regarding back style(s)... most say to stay away from them as the back style line isn't "impressive" dmg and no good effect in the chain, and yet I have seen at least one merc using it in a video, so curious why this is shunned or not worth using. Most of the time I find myself /stuck on a squishies backside rather then the front or side unless slammed.

Very good post Falkn,

-Saba

Sabaa wrote:Very good post Falkn,

-Saba

Thanks! Just trying to get as much knowledge about my class so I can to understand the beliefs behind some of the opinions that are floating around. I didn't have very much knowledge regarding RvR back on live when I played for my short time period, so trying to make up for it now .

nobody knows or wants to voice their opinion on the matter? 155 views just me and saba!

I wrote u a PM because i don't wanna offend anyone

We all would love to hear your suggestions Bloodwyne !

well mostly i go for dw backchain, dw sidechain and dw inflame. the slash anytimer just takes too much endurance imho, so does the slash backstyle (although GR is better). i use dual shadows if the fight is mostly over or when i know the target has both root and mezz immunity for another 30-40 seconds. or if there is a chance to drop someone and i cant afford to get a "you were strafing"

strafing around your target to flank rarely works due to uthgard speciak hebavhiour, so mouseturns to get to the side of a target works best. also, u can flank your targets from behind if u run a bit to the left or right of your target.

well some vids of merc PoV are really....
using bleeding styles in grp-rvr is meh...

as a splitspec merc i use the DW-Backchain.

DW backchain
DW Sidechain

Im using no anytimers at all.

that moment when xacrag follows the eld, the eld turns around, faces him and xacrag hits unstyled!

Backstyle and als alternative Sidestyle one of both hits always dude you shoulda know that.

The DW anytimer does not deal much more dmg than the slash one because it has a lower growth rate and weaponskill does not increase much at levels above 50.
the bleed style is pretty bad and can ruin a whole fight. nothing is more frustrating than landing a singlemezz on a bard without purge which breaks due to bleeding.
use your mouse if you want to position yourself for positionary styles, if you use your strafe buttons you will face the "you were strafing in combat" message. most mercs on this server go for a slash spec, which is not optimal imo. If you are not going to splitspec i'd go for crush or thrust rather than slash

Nef Melody wrote:The DW anytimer does not deal much more dmg than the slash one because it has a lower growth rate and weaponskill does not increase much at levels above 50.
the bleed style is pretty bad and can ruin a whole fight. nothing is more frustrating than landing a singlemezz on a bard without purge which breaks due to bleeding.
use your mouse if you want to position yourself for positionary styles, if you use your strafe buttons you will face the "you were strafing in combat" message. most mercs on this server go for a slash spec, which is not optimal imo. If you are not going to splitspec i'd go for crush or thrust rather than slash

Even as a HO since slash is all str? What is the reasoning behind saying crush or thrust? Nearly everyone I have talked to says that as a HO going slash is best, and being split spec doesn't make a big difference to switch from slash weapons to thrust weapons as far as damage is concerned since its str+dex/2 rather then just str.

I think is something about the type of armor used by usual merc's victims

Falken wrote:Even as a HO since slash is all str? What is the reasoning behind saying crush or thrust? Nearly everyone I have talked to says that as a HO going slash is best, and being split spec doesn't make a big difference to switch from slash weapons to thrust weapons as far as damage is concerned since its str+dex/2 rather then just str.

For usual target that you meet in RvR group :
Crush : malus on druid (and warden/hero but don't care), while bonus on bard/BM. All others neutral
Slash : malus on shaman/healer, while bonus on zerk only. All others neutral.
Not a huge difference, but crush seems to be a little better.
Anyway, some mercs says that slash is better because they duel at Castle Sauvage against crush merc and wins more often, since slash is neutral on Alb chain, whil crush has malus.

For style choice, DW has better damage (spec higher, better GR).
But they have two drabacks :
- no to-hit bonus (anytime/side) or low only (behind), which means more "miss your target"
- higher endurance cost