Guild Wars 2

solrik.6028:

Fluffball.8307:

solrik.6028:

Can you people just not accept that others like to play differently than how you play?
There is no benefit for you to actually convince someone to play as you do. (Except if the person is bearbow)

This argument isn’t from this. Way back when Archon tried to argue against like 60 people that carrion gear mathematically did more damage than berserker. He went on and on and on despite being literally proved wrong. It’s not about playstyle; if he want’s to say carrion is more fun, that’s up to him. But he made the claim is was better than berserker. It seems he has retreated to “it’s better if no one knows what they’re doing” but we shall see.

Wow, way to take this personally.

I don’t care.
You have no need to justify anything you say by degrading a person.
How difficult is it to just not press that reply button? Try to not press it, try to ignore this thread. It didn’t originate as “Axe is better because FACT1 FACT2 and FACT3” but as someone’s opinion who found axe to be fun. Archon has his opinion and you have yours.

Many used to tell me that I should play zerker here and there, but I didn’t listen because knights or other tankier sets were better. Why did I think they were better? Because I didn’t have the skill to play with the zerker set so the tankier sets were more appealing than the glassy ones. At the moment, I can hop on any set and kill stuff without problems (not claiming that I am the best player in the world)

Wait what? I don’t care about you or your backstory. I want to do is get rid of nonsensical “facts”. Play with full nomads, great, but people like Archon want to do that and then claim it’s not more fun but faster. People get so anti-berskerers that they start actually believing this stuff when they really are just being contrary.

I’m baffled with that “Axe vs 1 is 1/3 damage” argument.
I mean sword vs 1 and not 3…is also 1/3 damage;p

Axe’s special trait with aa is that it pumps it’s fulll damage with 2 mobs thanks to bouncing.

That aside axe is indeed poor choice if you want 1v1 damage. Control wise it’s still great (winter’s bite).
Still i would recommend shortbow over 1h sword for 1v1 if you’re the axe type. These two synergize very well – both are close to semi-ranged weapons, both are raw+condi damage hybrid weapons, both allow for unrestricted movement during combat and don’t lose any power due to being too close (lb) or too far (sw+gs). If you’re a condi+raw damage hybrid then flanked shortbow aa should deliver damage that is not that much behind zerker sword aa without the risks (rooting aa).

Ofc i won’t say sword sucks. It’s raw damage talks and is definitely simpler to build for and dish out. Just saying that if 1v1 sword seems like deathwish to you (dodging problem) then give shortbow a ponder:)

And sword really only shines when it is coupled with 10+ Mights stacks and Quickness. Without those, Sword Auto is meh…

If you think sword auto is meh without might and quickness, axe auto is complete garbage, since it does way less damage.

To Zeft’s point though, axe finds its use in duels, due to the bleed, chill and weakness. The auto is useless in any format. I’m not even convinced the huge might buff coming up will change that at all, especially since it will barely trigger in duels. Anet seems confused about what the weapon is supposed to do.

@ Fluffball, you make it sound like Axe does about 10% damage of what Sword does.

In reality – when traited using Honed Axes:
Sword crits for 3k, Axe crits for 2.6k – from a 900 range SAFE distance. Such a huge gap…

Now take in to account attack speed. It winds up being exactly a huge gap. HUGE gap.

This is for PvE. For PvP you obviously wouldn’t use axe for a power build.

I would respectfully disagree with Fluffball’s last sentence. Axe being hybrid condi/raw damage weapon is the perfect candidate for might, which boosts both power and condition damage.

It’s aa will become more competitive with sword in mobbing situations because of the easy might that sword lacks (as long as you spam), which will boost not only raw damage from aa, but also any conditions you applied (splitblade, traps, sharpening stone etc).

I would say it’s a very well thought out buff that makes mainhand axe a viable option to use in mobby situations.

I’m not advocating that Axe is better than Sword, I’m simply trying to point out that hitting 3 different targets from 900 distance for 90% of what sword hits for is not a bad choice. Considering Glass Rangers die to most mobs in 1-2 hits in dungeons, especially if you are glued to them using sword. Pick your poison is what it comes down to.

It might make sense to use it in team fights in tPvP, especially with AI spam, perhaps with might on weapon swap. That’s one situation where range can be beneficial if you have a tankier teammate on point.

But anywho, axe has always had a place in competitive. It doesn’t have a place in “serious” PvE.

@OP, I play A/Wh & A/A pretty much since day one, zerker oriented gear (had to put some ‘defence’ in there as well), with Healing Spring, Fire Trap, Spike Trap, Lightning Reflexes. I wouldn’t want it any other way realy, well it be nice if I could get rid of the pet at times :/ … Both the AA, as well as Split and ‘Whirling In Their FACE!’, and the birds give a lot of Proc chances. The Path of Scars Pull works wonders with traps, ‘get in here and die!’ plox! … also gives great opportunity to Blast that fire field for extra might! Or blast that Healing Spring for Healing.

This is a great (decent survival) set for any Open World small/medium/large group content, as well as solo play (although survivability drops a tad, as with a bouncing weapon and zerg gear you can get yourself ‘in’ over your head, traps & whirl are your friends though ^^). You can do a reasonable amount of damage, while still contributing to the overall efforts with buffs (might+ , fury and swiftness) as well as healing. Also, I play as a Sylvari, where take root (5 turrets) as well as taking a Hyena pet (Amoeba qualities), gives the advantage to create 6 extra targets in a whim (while being invulnerable for a short period). This is exceptionally good in places where (you or) your group face the opportunity to be overrun by adds, not being a target for a short while can be as good as a heal

Only problem I found, especially with the new content, is retaliation on small critters. It seems every thing has it these days, and bouncing AA all of a sudden doesn’t look that great (sure your target doesn’t have retal, but how about those two in the back)…

As far as dungeons go, I wouldn’t know, I hardly do them, though I will say that a lot of bosses (at least in open world) come with adds, so there is bound to be a bounce in dungeons too. The possibility of defence and group support is moderate (compared to say ele, engi), but where it does it does pack the things most needed (might+, fury, swiftness & healing -> which all help the zerker meta), and when playing as a sylvari you can have the added bonus of 5 turrets/decoys and invul. while you wait for that recharge of your healing spring.

The set covers both melee to medium range, which can give a very nice pro-active play style. I tend to set up traps immediately, since so many foes come for you, yet the recharge (traited) tends to be short enough to also ‘dodge in’-‘place traps in their face’-‘blast fire’-‘whirl their faces’-‘lightning refex out’. Although that last bit is only needed on Elites & Champs, likely anything else is already dead when your whirl ends

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fNUQRBHhd+UJjKKXZ7KcZB9cEUIUbauCDL7BIAqAf9QJjIK-TxDBABbpcoLlEXpEphHAQvLMsgJCFMBF0+AAcQAwR9nW0IYmSIKOBApoHYClgBAQAY6m8kVZA-e

that’s my exact build, and yes, I lack far behind on my crafting and thus ascended gear and I am working on stuff to get some upgrades (there are more characters than 1 to spec out though), I could also likely improve a bit by further specializing. Though on the other hand, since i’m mostly playing story or open world PvE, having a bit of a diverse setup helps to be a tad more rounded. Any constructive advice is welcome

anyways, great set great fun

edit: one last thing, if you like frost fang, and you choose to make a Sylvari, please make sure you set your glow to something that goes with frost fang. I set mine to red, and have a green/red character, which doesn’t go to well with Frosty. My friend set it to white glow and has a more opaque leaf color, which matches a lot better… in case you care for matching colours that is

ItIsFinished.9462:

@ Fluffball, you make it sound like Axe does about 10% damage of what Sword does.

In reality – when traited using Honed Axes:
Sword crits for 3k, Axe crits for 2.6k – from a 900 range SAFE distance. Such a huge gap…

You’re comparing 2 weapons in a build traited for one, great lol.

Sword normally crits for 4-5k+ in a standard dps build btw.

Izaya.2906:

You’re comparing 2 weapons in a build traited for one, great lol.

Yeah, you’d be foolish not to take advantage of Honed Axes when running with an Axe mainhand…

Izaya.2906:

Sword normally crits for 4-5k+ in a standard dps build btw.

Those numbers were simply an example to visually show the sleight difference. I could have said Sword does 50K crits and Axe does 45K crits. My point still stands. With just about a 10% decrease per hit, the difference is so tiny that the trade off is well worth it.

Archon.6480:

Message to the OP: If you post anything in the forum other than max damage builds (the full zerker, noob build) you will incur the wrath of the Ranger forum stooges which always try to make the following points in their advice:

1. I (insert name here) am an amazing player because I deduced that Berserker does the most damage mathematically (even though devs published this for us)

2. I can beat content in full zerker (so I am awesome, baby) and you obviously cant because you like something that is not full zerker, therefore u are a cripple… With a crutch! And can’t use that full set of ascended berserker gear you have!

3. I will kick you and all my friends will too! Yes, i have friends (blush). And they will kick you because if you don’t play how I want you to, then u are PHIW player and u suk because only I can PHIW without being a PHIW player…. Or something. (pant)

4. I am AWESOME at mathematics but can’t seem to calculate that a 30s fight (with 5 participants) will take 30.5s if you bring a non max damage weapon (mainland axe) into a battle and that will make the whole dungeon run take hours longer! I mean if you bring a “weak” weapon into An easy dungeon it will take hours to finish… Right?

5. You should read my META Ranger thread for beginners…. What’s that? It’s no different than the advanced META? No, that’s your imagination!

6. Did I mention I am awesome, while trying to help you? I sometimes forget to brag about myself.

Uhm no.
If you post something and claim it to be amazing, then you should back it up with evidence or prepare to be told otherwise because you are spreading misinformation and many people don’t appreciate that.

But…I like zerker rangers swinging their legendaries in WvW. Makes for nice loot bags.

ItIsFinished.9462:

Izaya.2906:

You’re comparing 2 weapons in a build traited for one, great lol.

Yeah, you’d be foolish not to take advantage of Honed Axes when running with an Axe mainhand…

Izaya.2906:

Sword normally crits for 4-5k+ in a standard dps build btw.

Those numbers were simply an example to visually show the sleight difference. I could have said Sword does 50K crits and Axe does 45K crits. My point still stands. With just about a 10% decrease per hit, the difference is so tiny that the trade off is well worth it.

2.6k3.8k vs 5k isn’t 10% btw….

There’s also attack speed and after cast time and pile up QZ/SoTW the gap gets bigger.

There’s more dps loss in not taking Companion’s might or Sharpended Edges for Honed axes.

The difference isn’t “slight” in the very least.

Archon.6480:

Disclaimer: 25 stacks of might, warrior banners and trait, 25 stacks of vulnerability and frosty combined are not normal circumstances

Those are the assumed situations for dungeon calcs because it’s extremely rare they aren’t present. Even dekeys dungeon calc takes in to account vulnerability on a boss with defiant (or whatever that buff is called that reduces vuln.)

At any rate it’s completely irrelevant. Sword does more damage, and it does it faster. Any buff you apply to sword will have a cumulatively bigger affect to the sword because of the attack speed. Axe gets worse and worse the more allies you have.

At zero buffs, sword still hits harder as well as faster.

Edit: And apparently this post made Archon delete his nonsensical retort.

Fluffball.8307:

If you think sword auto is meh without might and quickness, axe auto is complete garbage, since it does way less damage.

To Zeft’s point though, axe finds its use in duels, due to the bleed, chill and weakness. The auto is useless in any format. I’m not even convinced the huge might buff coming up will change that at all, especially since it will barely trigger in duels. Anet seems confused about what the weapon is supposed to do.

I love this. :-) Well, ANet is confused like me, and you know more… Ha! OK.

Fluffball.8307:

Archon.6480:

Disclaimer: 25 stacks of might, warrior banners and trait, 25 stacks of vulnerability and frosty combined are not normal circumstances

Those are the assumed situations for dungeon calcs because it’s extremely rare they aren’t present. Even dekeys dungeon calc takes in to account vulnerability on a boss with defiant (or whatever that buff is called that reduces vuln.)

At any rate it’s completely irrelevant. Sword does more damage, and it does it faster. Any buff you apply to sword will have a cumulatively bigger affect to the sword because of the attack speed. Axe gets worse and worse the more allies you have.

At zero buffs, sword still hits harder as well as faster.

Edit: And apparently this post made Archon delete his nonsensical retort.

Um, no I didn’t include the quotes right genius.

Archon.6480:

I love this. :-) Well, ANet is confused like me, and you know more… Ha! OK.

Rangers aren’t currently used at all in PvP and do less damage even using optimal builds in PvE. Using your ideas rangers are completely and utterly unusable in PvE. So ya, the people that play the game a lot know a lot more about it than ANet. And you have been mathematically proven to have not the slightest idea what you’re talking about.

My only problem with you is you try to defy math. Your whacky builds and armor combos do mathematically less damage and yet you continue to claim otherwise.

Fluffball.8307:

Archon.6480:

I love this. :-) Well, ANet is confused like me, and you know more… Ha! OK.

Rangers aren’t currently used at all in PvP and do less damage even using optimal builds in PvE. Using your ideas rangers are completely and utterly unusable in PvE. So ya, the people that play the game a lot know a lot more about it than ANet. And you have been mathematically proven to have not the slightest idea what you’re talking about.

My only problem with you is you try to defy math. Your whacky builds and armor combos do mathematically less damage and yet you continue to claim otherwise.

Rangers are just fine in PvP. My builds do just fine in all forms of PvE, PvP, and WvW. You don’t know math or the game better than ANet. Glad we got that settled!

Archon.6480:

You don’t know math or the game better than ANet. Glad we got that settled!

lol what
Like what are you even talking about.

J Eberle.9312:

Archon.6480:

You don’t know math or the game better than ANet. Glad we got that settled!

lol what
Like what are you even talking about.

LOL this is the same guy who insisted bleed stacks don’t apply FIFO therefore using condi builds is good because the wiki says so, there’s no point arguing.

Izaya.2906:

J Eberle.9312:

Archon.6480:

You don’t know math or the game better than ANet. Glad we got that settled!

lol what
Like what are you even talking about.

LOL this is the same guy who insisted bleed stacks don’t apply FIFO therefore using condi builds is good because the wiki says so, there’s no point arguing.

Wow. I never knew such specimens existed. I will have to add this one to my catalogue. O_O

Don’t underestimate split blade either if your enemy happens to get close… And each axe is piercing hitting up to 5 more each, great for zergs. Not sure if each hit applies bleed or just the first but good damage overall.

Kilger.5490:

Don’t underestimate split blade either if your enemy happens to get close… And each axe is piercing hitting up to 5 more each, great for zergs. Not sure if each hit applies bleed or just the first but good damage overall.

It does apply bleeds, per axe, per hit.

ItIsFinished.9462:

Kilger.5490:

Don’t underestimate split blade either if your enemy happens to get close… And each axe is piercing hitting up to 5 more each, great for zergs. Not sure if each hit applies bleed or just the first but good damage overall.

It does apply bleeds, per axe, per hit.

Not sure if I framed that right … So 5 potential hits for each of 5 axes, meaning up to 25 stacks of bleed total (dispersed, not on one target)? If so that’s not bad at all.

Kilger.5490:

ItIsFinished.9462:

Kilger.5490:

Don’t underestimate split blade either if your enemy happens to get close… And each axe is piercing hitting up to 5 more each, great for zergs. Not sure if each hit applies bleed or just the first but good damage overall.

It does apply bleeds, per axe, per hit.

Not sure if I framed that right … So 5 potential hits for each of 5 axes, meaning up to 25 stacks of bleed total (dispersed, not on one target)? If so that’s not bad at all.

Try it out in the Mists. The pack of 20 golems all bunched together in the back.

J Eberle.9312:

Archon.6480:

You don’t know math or the game better than ANet. Glad we got that settled!

lol what
Like what are you even talking about.

lol, huh. Like I don’t know dude, why don’t you read the thread man! Far out!