Weapon question

[RubenusPontius]

hey
Most people I see here use axes on barbs. I always figured since a barb can wield 2h swords with one hand, swords were the best weapon class for barbs. Then why do I see so many builds use axes? pls enlighten me!

[Halciet]

Axes are the best 1-handed weapons in the game, and for most gameplay instances - especially pvp - you will always be using either two 1h weapons or a 1h weapon/shield.

Reasoning:

Berserker Axe has the best 1h average damage of any weapon, lower requirements than it's closest sword counterpart (colossus blade), a faster base speed, is capable of having 6 sockets, and hits the maximum range for 1h weapons. As for axes in general, they have better uniques, can be used in the blood recipe, are naturally one-handed (increasing their trade/re-use value), and can be used in all of the best runewords (grief, beast, oath, botd, doom, etc). Doom and Beast are particularly good, and cannot be put into swords.

The only advantage that swords have is the utility of being able to switch from 1h to 2h on the fly, but that is not really useful at all, since dual wielding is more effective with our most popular combat skill (whirlwind), and even in the instance where you wanted to just have a 2h barb, the Great Pole Axe and Ghost Spear trump even the best swords.

-Hal

[Omikron8]

i can only think of one reason to use swords

--> style points

they are worse in all other categories including requirements, damage and runeword availability

[RubenusPontius]

thanks, that clears-up a lot!
though I'll have to be remaking my barb
oh well, it's gonna take me a while before I can equip him with pvp-suitable gear, so it's not that bad...

[HaLoPhReAk]

thanks, that clears-up a lot!
though I'll have to be remaking my barb
oh well, it's gonna take me a while before I can equip him with pvp-suitable gear, so it's not that bad...

You'll notice the difference, and be glad you remade (i did the samething you are doing know, and dont regret remaking my barby :grin: )

[mainaman]

a word of advise for your future barb weapon selection
use beast and grief in berserker axes for pvp.Botdz is what ppl are tempted to get because it seems it does the gratest dmg, but actually grief is the perfect weapon as even the lowest grief does more dmg than the highest botdz.

[HaLoPhReAk]

a word of advise for your future barb weapon selection
use beast and grief in berserker axes for pvp.Botdz is what ppl are tempted to get because it seems it does the gratest dmg, but actually grief is the perfect weapon as even the lowest grief does more dmg than the highest botdz.

Yes, but ebotdz costs like 4 soj, and Grief costs like 8-9+ soj. If you can afford and are willing to pay for a grief, then go for it. [NL]

[mainaman]

Yes, but ebotdz costs like 4 soj, and Grief costs like 8-9+ soj. If you can afford and are willing to pay for a grief, then go for it. [NL]
you are right im on ladder and just dont think in nl terms...
but yeah if you can get a grief else botd

[HaLoPhReAk]

I played ladder last season, and it was just too hard to see my stuff not be used... so i went ahead and played nl. Maybe i should go ladder to make invaluable stuff valuable when it goes to nl...:scratch:

[Omikron8]

a word of advise for your future barb weapon selection
use beast and grief in berserker axes for pvp.Botdz is what ppl are tempted to get because it seems it does the gratest dmg, but actually grief is the perfect weapon as even the lowest grief does more dmg than the highest botdz.

botd provides dual leech

this means no need for leech anywhere else on your equipment

grief + botd > grief + beast and botd + beast pvm