Why 2-Handed?

Mhylton44142

I'm curious as to why the 2H is the most mentioned weapon for a lot of classes. I'm running a stam blade currently and I feel from a DPS standpoint, dual wield does more damage. For example, I have 30 pts in Stamina. The rapid strikes skill in DW does more damage than the brawler skill (i know brawler gives you a small damage shield tho), but from a damage perspective, the more damage I do, the quicker my enemy goes down. Anyone care to elaborate? Thanks.

MudcrabsRus

Wrecking blow spamming noobs not all but must that use 2H don't know how to use their build correctly.

Ffastyl

The Dual Wield line has more consistent DPS and a variety of attack patterns, from single target to area of effect to ranged splash damage. Two Handed has weak area of effect attacks but strong single target attacks that can disable opponents temporarily. The most used ability is Wrecking Blow (Uppercut morph) which, while it has a 1 second cast time, deals a large amount of damage, knocks back the target and stuns for 3.5 seconds, and grants Empower (+20% damage for next attack). This all results in less constant damage but rather spikes of high and low damage output and periodic disabling of the enemy (allowing successive hits without retaliation). A second reason Two Handed tends to be prefered is Rally (Momentum morph), for it grants Major Brutality and passive healing for roughly 30 seconds and can be recast early for a heal (magnitude based on time active).

Seeing a chunk of Health disappear every second or two is typically more viscerally satisfying than seeing a constant yet speedy drain.

Mhylton44142

MudcrabsRus wrote: »

Wrecking blow spamming noobs not all but must that use 2H don't know how to use their build correctly.

I've been reading about the WB spamming. Thought about getting it myself...my current 2H rotation consists of critical charge, brawler, then go into shadowy disguise to do surprise attack. This works out REALLY well for me. in your opinion, how do you use 2H correctly?

MudcrabsRus

Mhylton44142 wrote: »

MudcrabsRus wrote: »

Wrecking blow spamming noobs not all but must that use 2H don't know how to use their build correctly.

I've been reading about the WB spamming. Thought about getting it myself...my current 2H rotation consists of critical charge, brawler, then go into shadowy disguise to do surprise attack. This works out REALLY well for me. in your opinion, how do you use 2H correctly?

I'm a magicka DK so I don't use 2H at the moment, but I'm more than likely going to need to swap to stam as the magicka DK isn't doing very well in pvp since the IC nerf/game changer.

Jitterbug

I feel forced to use 2H because of how effective Rally is compared to ALL other stamina heals.

As I wrote in another thread I ran, as an experiment, with Crit Surge, Dark Deal, Vigor and Rally on my stam sorc in IC for 2-3 hours and Rally did 68% of my total healing. So 2H is kind of a no brainer... sadly.

Stannum

Mhylton44142 wrote: »

I'm curious as to why the 2H is the most mentioned weapon for a lot of classes. I'm running a stam blade currently and I feel from a DPS standpoint, dual wield does more damage. For example, I have 30 pts in Stamina. The rapid strikes skill in DW does more damage than the brawler skill (i know brawler gives you a small damage shield tho), but from a damage perspective, the more damage I do, the quicker my enemy goes down. Anyone care to elaborate? Thanks.

Cause 2H is backbone of stamina DPS build. It's may be the most universal weapon skillline so if you do not have proper class skill you can get it from 2H line.
So it has may be the best one-target stamina spam, one of the best gap closer, best one-target execute, stamina-based HoT + heal + long major weapon dmg buff.
So NB needs it for heal
Templars for weapon buff, stamina execute and gap close that is better then there class
DK for single-target stamina attack, gap closer, weapon buff and execute
Sorcs for stamina execute, and due to mechanics of crit surge WB is the most effective healing one-terget spam attack.

As for DW, it has the best AoE skill so 2H/DW is one of the best combination foe DPS stamina builds.

PS: It's very bad idea to compare reapid strikes with brawler as first is one-target chanel and secon is conus AoE.

Alucardo

My DK doesn't use 2h, but stam sorc and nb does. Literally the only 2h skill I use on my stam sorc is Rally. Preferably I'd rather such an ability be moved into the Fighters Guild skill tree.
Mages guild has entropy - damage + heal + increased spell damage. Fighter's Guild should have Rally - that way you're not forced to use 2h simply as a utility weapon.. which just seems stupid anyway.

Soleya

I used to do Bow/DW, now do Bow/2H for DPS. Strictkly from PVE expereience, it has these advantages.

1. Rally can be cast before entering combat, giving 20% weapon damage before doing an attack. This means your stealth opener hit can do extra damage (Can easily do a stealth hit with 2H on a single target for 40k. On 3 targets close together, I've had that go over 90k in the first hit (extra damage to 2 extra enemies)). Previously I would use power extraction for the 20% damage increase, but you have to hit an enemy with it to get that buff, and you can't do that and still get off a good stealth attack.

2. Brawlers damage shield is really good (except in PVP, it's completely useless, including PVE content in Cyrodiil, it just gives too low a shield and everything out damages it in one hit). I can take on 20+ enemy mobs and never take damage. The more that get hit by brawler the more shield I get.

3. WB is pretty useful for overall damage on single targets. It's kinda a tossup with Suprise Attack for me. WB probably wins in most cases cause of the CC.

4. Executioner for 2H is awesome cause it starts doing extra damage at 50% health instead of 25% like most executes. On lower health targets this means you can start using it earlier. It's less useful on bosses, cause their health drops so slowely I find Killers Blade to do more damage in the end.

Bhakura

MudcrabsRus wrote: »

Wrecking blow spamming noobs not all but must that use 2H don't know how to use their build correctly.

Thats not what that NB said trying to get into cloack while getting hit by thundering presence and trying very hard to avoid to get hit by wb.

he said
@#!$%^ole
and clicked respawn

Strider_Roshin

The only move I use from 2H is Rally. Honestly DW is so much better offensively but I like to have a good balance of damage with survivability, and Rally provides that.

mr_wazzabi

Mhylton44142 wrote: »

I'm curious as to why the 2H is the most mentioned weapon for a lot of classes. I'm running a stam blade currently and I feel from a DPS standpoint, dual wield does more damage. For example, I have 30 pts in Stamina. The rapid strikes skill in DW does more damage than the brawler skill (i know brawler gives you a small damage shield tho), but from a damage perspective, the more damage I do, the quicker my enemy goes down. Anyone care to elaborate? Thanks.

It's the best stamina melee weapon for reasons in this order:

1. Rally. The only skill that gives you major brutality without having to hit a target. This makes 2h the best option for stamina stealth attacks. Pop rally for 20% damage buff and gank someone with your bow. Oh and it heals.
2. Executioner. The best melee finisher in the game (killer's blade is magic damage and does less dps). Not only does it hit hard at low health enemies, but it makes everything else from 2h hit harder as well (wrecking blow, brawler, crit rush, light and heavy attacks).
3. Battle rush passive. Regen stamina 30% faster when you kill something with a 2h weapon slotted.
4. And finally wrecking blow. Enough has been said about it, although i do believe it's somewhat overrated and other hard hitting abilities like surprise attack and biting jabs are equal and possibly better in some situations.

Convinced yet?

Dw is the superior aoe weapon because of steel tornado. Yes you have higher weapon damage. Some people say it has higher dps, which i think could be true, but you have to agree that 2h is the more versatile and balanced weapon.

eligh0716

This also seems to work out for my magic/sorc my back up will be a 2h my main hand a destro staff. Whenever I switch to back - up my spell damage is more so I use my executes and dots on that bar. I never really understood my you get more spell damage from a 2h though..

mr_wazzabi

eligh0716 wrote: »

This also seems to work out for my magic/sorc my back up will be a 2h my main hand a destro staff. Whenever I switch to back - up my spell damage is more so I use my executes and dots on that bar. I never really understood my you get more spell damage from a 2h though..

Spell damage is based on the strength of your equipped weapon, which is why many magicka builds use dw right now. Destro staff has lower damage stats than 2h, which is why using a 2h gives you higher spell damage.

mr_wazzabi

Mhylton44142 wrote: »

MudcrabsRus wrote: »

Wrecking blow spamming noobs not all but must that use 2H don't know how to use their build correctly.

I've been reading about the WB spamming. Thought about getting it myself...my current 2H rotation consists of critical charge, brawler, then go into shadowy disguise to do surprise attack. This works out REALLY well for me. in your opinion, how do you use 2H correctly?

Brawler is an aoe skill. Do not use it for single target damage unless it's a supplement skill for the dot and shield. Wrecking blow should be your main single target attack.

butoijo

WB empower give 20% increase damage in 5 second not just next attack.

With templar after WB you can hits with Biting jabs twice, LA in between. And hoping all spear passive will proc ( piercing spear and burning light ). Then WB again

Mhylton44142

I must say, after reading the posts, I decided to go ahead and keep using the 2H on my Spectre NB. I'm currently leveling up 2H to get the momentum/rally skill (I'm sitting at lv 36-so almost there!). I've been using the WB alot now, it is a most satisfying move on top of hitting hard. Can't wait to get rally and hit someone with my bow, then charge in. Be kinda fun being a melee fighter with all medium armor...

Stannum

butoijo wrote: »

WB empower give 20% increase damage in 5 second not just next attack.

With templar after WB you can hits with Biting jabs twice, LA in between. And hoping all spear passive will proc ( piercing spear and burning light ). Then WB again

You're wrong. WB gives empower for next attack only, and if you do not attack in 5 sec it fades off.