Lvl two weapons + thoughts on weapon choice.

[laicram]

Lvl two weapons + my thoughts on weapon choice.

I can just barely cap both Axe and G.Axe through normal leveling. Having 2 weapons lvld gives you more skillchain options - and in the case of G.Axe, serve a unique role with Breakers.

What 2 weapons should you lvl? Weapon choice depends on your plans. (Yes, you can always go back and skill up weapons you missed...if you have the time.)

G.Axe/Axe
Strengths: War's best weapons. Keeping Axe leveled for the inevitable switch to War/Nin.
Weaknesses: No Distortion. No "Spirits Within" Weaponskill.

G.Axe/G.Sword (or Polearm)
Strengths: Early ability to make Distortion skillchain. No Shield = Parry Skillup?
Weaknesses: No Axe is bad for /Nin. No "Spirits Within".

Axe + Sword (/Nin only)
Strengths: "Spirits Within". Dual Wield stat bonuses.
Weaknesses: No G.Axe, but this is offset well by dual weapons.


Some Wacky Choices:

Axe + Shield/Sword + Shield?
Strengths: Shield Skill Up for tanks (G.Axe/Axe yields lower shield skill up) "Spirits Within".
Weaknesses: No G.Axe!!!? Also be warned, you may be called gimp for whipping out the sword + shield =D

Axe + Kraken Club. (lvl63)
If Emnity+ counts for the multiple hits, Kraken Club would be ideal for Tanking. 15 mil for k.club is =OOO

Axe + Stun Knife (lvl65)
Another interesting (and afforadable) Weapon Choice for tanks. Emnity+ with "dagger speed" is interesting in theory. Stun is useful. Damage potential lost by equiping a dagger in the off-hand, is not as critical to a tank.


Edit: Can a veteran poster please clarify, are Wars using "Spirits Within" reserved only for certain HNMs fights? I'm wondering if other Weapons and Weaponskills are more useful than "Spirits Within" in normal EXP parties. In other words, would be be OK to ignore lvling "Spirits Within" until you are rdy for these kinds of HNM fights?

[Synbios]

Spirits isn't worth it on XP mobs. 300% to deal half of your current HP. 100% Rampage would prolly deal more unless you're a Galka WAR/MNK. I went with Axe/Gaxe cause my static has a RNG. I requested for a RNG, so we could do both Fusion and Distortion for MB. 1 more level before we send the crabs back to their hole. :spin:

[kowboy]

Re: Lvl two weapons + thoughts on weapon choice.

Originally posted by laicram

G.Axe/Axe
Strengths: War's best weapons. Keeping Axe leveled for the inevitable switch to War/Nin.
Weaknesses: No Distortion. No "Spirits Within" Weaponskill.

Cant Rampage end Distortion chain?

Originally posted by laicram

Axe + Kraken Club. (lvl63)
If Emnity+ counts for the multiple hits, Kraken Club would be ideal for Tanking. 15 mil for k.club is =OOO

People usually dont use kraken club vs Exp mobs because you would give them TP freakishly fast. On the other hand some mobs dont have insane WS...but most of them do.

Originally posted by laicram

G.Axe/G.Sword (or Polearm)
Strengths: Early ability to make Distortion skillchain. No Shield = Parry Skillup?
Weaknesses: No Axe is bad for /Nin. No "Spirits Within".

Not gonna need a shield if you have future plans of subbing NIN, parry all the way.

I pick 2 weapons to level during exp sessions but I wont rule out the possibility of having other weapons. You can always go back and skillup, or if you have the time, level a job that has that weapon specialty (sword/shield = PLD, etc).

[laicram]

Re: Re: Lvl two weapons + thoughts on weapon choice.

Originally posted by kowboy
Cant Rampage end Distortion chain?



People usually dont use kraken club vs Exp mobs because you would give them TP freakishly fast. On the other hand some mobs dont have insane WS...but most of them do.



Not gonna need a shield if you have future plans of subbing NIN, parry all the way.

I pick 2 weapons to level during exp sessions but I wont rule out the possibility of having other weapons. You can always go back and skillup, or if you have the time, level a job that has that weapon specialty (sword/shield = PLD, etc).

I was referring to a Distortion opener.
The Mob TP gain from Kraken was an oversight. Still, very interesting. So even Kraken club only has use in certain instances.
I wonder why I sweat over shield skill - I guess because I have it. =P

[Sasarai]

distortion opener is easy, just level great sword. or scythe if you're so inclined, but I think scythe distortion opener is at 150 skill. vorpal scythe.

I like polearms though they have less cost than greatsword most of the time.

[Caj]

When it comes to being a WAR the 1st weapon I always tend to cap first is my Great Axe since it has the lowest delay.Axe I can skill up fast and easily by subbing NIN in exp parties and using 2.Just make sure your Great Axe and Axe skills are sperated by 5-7(being the most) skill points if you choose this mehtod.Otherwise you'll have a bit trouble hitting certain exp mobs.

[Ariesknight]

Say I have Axe in my main hand and a Sword in the other will I be able to skill them up both simultaneously?

[ZQM]

Originally posted by Ariesknight
Say I have Axe in my main hand and a Sword in the other will I be able to skill them up both simultaneously?

Yes, but there's no good reason to use any other 1h weapon other then Axe in an EXP party.

[Xien]

Not having Spriits Within isn't that big of a deal. You really need 300% TP to make it worthwile and it doesn't chain with anything. You're basically taken out of the skillchain if you do Spirits.

Perhaps you should mention Raging Rush? Guillotine >> Raging Rush makes for one of the more powerful skillchains in the early 60's.

Xien

[Sasarai]

wonder if anyone's actually parsed the difference in damage of sword versus axe.

In everquest, parses were very common data. In FFXI, data is sketchy at best.

The difference is only 3 points until you get 60+, correct?

Disregard WS's and find the potential difference.

[Balodoth]

Parser?

Here's a link to a parser still in progress. Works pretty well, I've found. http://www.frontiernet.net/~Spyle/FFXI/ffxi.html

As for the difference between sword and axe, it's mainly a ratio of delay to weapon's damage value. If the sword and axe you want to compare come very close, then go by which one has a higher skill cap as that will boost your attack the most and therefore damage.