Good to see you back! Take a look at what @SirDaveWolf has shared here, it’s gold, btw. My first death ever in PVP was after launch, when one of a 3-pack of choads hit me with a 50-yard dagger strike. True I was running, but dropping loot like a reverse Pac Man so there was no real way they should’ve gotten me. IOW it ain’t just the pike and it’s not new.
I like the 2H Telith for PVP in TestLive. If you throw away your first 1H Light into a hillside or tree, you can often lull a deep strike from the enemy pike that puts him right into your 2H heavy second strike. You often have enough momentum to carry out the rest of the combo. It’s actually fairly doable.
All these people using spear is EXACTLY why I prefer 1h sword + shield and go high on the grit. Wait while they spam those 4 spear heavy attacks. Let them mash that button. Block the first with your shield and dodge to the side of the second. They were just mashing their button as fast as they could so the 3rd and 4th go into the air and they are out of stam and can’t attack or dodge roll. You move in and Heavy Attack (lunge), light, light, Heavy (knockdown). I also use heavy armor with >30 grit so if they do get a hit in the damage is negligible. Since everyone has spear their attack “cone” is narrow and easy to dodge out of even with the reduction due to heavy armor. I can actually take all 4 spear hits if they get lucky and still be alive while they are recovering from their combo and low on stam. With high grit I can just light attack for days with shield up, keeping pressure on while waiting for an opening.
I do carry a backup spear if I see someone with daggers or 2h as their primary weapon.
For PvE daggers are my go-to for melee, because the whole “flurry of quick attacks before dodging away” style of combat is most fun for me. Also because I just really like knives. I do use other weapons for specific situations though, such as if I’m raiding an NPC camp I’ll use a sword or a club or something with a shield or if I’m dealing with spiders I’ll usually use a spear so they can’t get close enough to bite me.
I don’t like spiders very much.
I don’t have a main PvP weapon because I never play PvP. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Since Testlive hasnt been pushed to live yet, it’s still spears. And I kinda doubt, that this will change unless they add serious disadvantages to the spear.
So for pvp, I would still place my bet on spears.
As for pve… I think this is up to the player.
I prefer 1h sword+throwing axe for the heavy combo, as it looks cool to me and is swift. Also comes with a huge knockback. Lots of enemies will be staggered by this combo, leaving them vulnerable to the attacks.
But daggers, greatswords and spears will be chosen too. Katana may have their fans too. Basically any weapon will do.
As for situational stuff…
Spear is good to be able to attack while dodging to not get hit yourself.
Axe+throwing axe OR 1hsword+throwing axe are good to just throw yourself in a number of enemies and spin to win.
Greatswords are great against slow enemies with long animations, as you can hit and dodge/run while having a good damage output.
Daggers are obviously the best against high HP pools - such as keykeeping bosses.
I found shields to be tricky. I cannot block newer attacks of dragons or the old dragon breath with a shield, they just turn me into charcoal, ignoring my shield being held up. (=actively blocking being ignored)
Also I dont really like to be caught in straightforward chains, as these are way too obvious and leave the toon completely vulnerable, even more if you think about 3-5 enemies surrounding the toon. Thus I only use shields if killing a boss without having proper equipment first and being dependant on thralls for that. Or if playing with other players.
For me in PVE it depends on what I’m doing and who I’m with. Weapon choice varies depending on the situation.
In PVP its Sword and Shield or Axe and Shield. Shield allows you to take away initiative from all the spear users and forces them to fight when you want to. The sword/shield first two heavy attacks are great gap closers and the sword/shield first heavy works well to bait. Many try to hit you during the charge but if you see them charging forward just roll back and do it again and you’ll catch them.
Gas Arrows work fine to stop peeps from healing. You don’t have to hit, just hit near them.
I wish we could get sprint attacks (with a cd potentially) for every weapon to make the combat system a bit more dynamic and also deal with runners and heaing spamming
Speaking of Katana cough and yes I meant to quote you this time cough. I would say it’s… a surprisingly good choice for soloing a number of creatures if solely for its alternate attack which is a charging swing. If timed well (and it’s easy when you get an idea of the range) you can basically use it to keep enemy NPCs from touching you all together. They’ll wind up for an attack and suddenly you’ll be behind them. Repeat until dead.
Sorta cheese, but I found it’s AMAZING for taking out groups of humanoid NPCs.
Wow. This sounds like perfect timing being required. Then again I simply never found the correct timing to do this. I am more of a jumping, dodging player than actually blocking or hit-trading-player.
And then again, I am not too skilled eighter.
Only works if they arent using a mask though.
Sure, though as I wrote it’s up to the player.
While I saw that possibility too - and it applies to pvp as well - I still kind of dislike it. Eighter stuck at that position with that angle or how clunky it feels if one just wants to start the charging animation and instantly release it.
I do like the idea and the mechanic behind the katana though.
Oh absolutely, I agree it’s up to the player. I was just intending to inform them of the mechanics of the option so they could make an informed decision. typically if I get into it, I’ll wind up spamming that if I find myself in a group of enemies. Otherwise I like the main attack… dem bleeds… Part of me does feel it’s kinda cheese, but it’s overall not why I picked the weapon. When the Yamatai style came out, I just had to have it, cause the character I was playing was supposed to be of Japanese style origins anyway xD
