Two-Handed BWs, forever horrible questionmark
Yes; I'm the guy who has been advocating putting at least an ounce of consideration into using 2H BWs pre-guardian.
Honestly though, it's depressing to think about how badly these weapons have preformed throughout Maple. I started this character as a BW swordsman merely in 2009 to compliment my Bishop, but I haven't particularly minded being two handed until recently. Sure, I greatly prefer their looks and originality, but I'm seeing little hope for these weapons. There have been several perfect opportunities for them to at least become [i]viable[/i] choices (Adventurer Revamp, Big Bang, Chaos, Jump), yet they have consistently been left as one of the worst weapon choices in the game due to a slow speed. The relative damage instability is fortunately gone yet they continue to be slow 2H swords, which are still inferior to 1H swords due to shield only skills. I understand that Paladins are now entirely designed to be shield users (A defensive monster with no shield? Preposterous!), but is this all that will ever be of banhammers?
I'm going to be merching more seriously in order to obtain equips that aren't terrible, but should I ever expect more from these things? Should I leave every 2H BW related item I have on a mule in case some use ever comes to them? Should I pawn off my stuff now? Keep using 2H BWs for the sake of using what I want, regardless of how others are preforming?
What will it take to make 2H weapons in general decent without overshadowing shields again?
I just don't know anymore.
tl,dr: Read it.
5 Comments • Newest first
I hoarded a ton of 2h bw gm scrolls cause i wanted one just for the sheer awesome ness of it, but there is absolutely nothing viable. I'm really hoping, more like praying, they ninja in a 2h bw empress weapon with comparable stats to the 2h sword. I really hate that the Paladin's trademark weapon is such a joke
[quote=FizzySapling]Pre-Guardian? Probably not. Not many paladins really push going to guardian early anymore. They're mostly pushing for stance, holy, and HH. So pre-guardian would be in the 160's.[/quote]
I knew HH comes before Guardian, but maxed Stance is up to personal preference, and I don't know why someone would take +7% damage over a full 42% avoid rate and other effects. I mostly see UA Pallies leveling it early it because they're so used to Holy Charge.
Either way, yes, I wouldn't ever recommend using a 2H BW as a full blown endgame.
[quote=FizzySapling]Pre-Guardian? Probably not. Not many paladins really push going to guardian early anymore. They're mostly pushing for stance, holy, and HH. So pre-guardian would be in the 160's.
But pre-shield mastery, definitely. Nothing wrong with using 2-h until you get shield mastery nearly maxed. In fact, I've always recommended it. Particularly the morning star as a 2h BW.
But in reality I see 2-h blunt weapons as nearly obsolete for paladins now. Especially with our skill set and the lack on incentive.[/quote]
I don't see why paladins are going holy charge early, it really don't work for what, an extra 6% dmg? maybe 7% when you factor in lightning charge. I'm level 164 and I still don't have holy charge.
Use 1h weapons.
Make a class that uses 2h weapons only? I'm sure if 2h weapons were to be buffed, most Paladins would still go for 1h + shield for the defense.