Why are one handed set weapons so difficult to get?

Synfaer · July 2017

It takes weeks if not months of grinding a zone/dungeon over and over to get a suitable one handed set weapon...and then you have to repeat if you DW.
This has sucked the life out of the game for me....
In the time it take to get about 10 complete sets of armor with nice traits...i might get one suitable 1 handed weapon....if i get lucky.

I'm tired of all these nice sets on display, continually out of reach...
Want to try a new set...sure, start grinding now and in month or so you can use it.

Its great having lots of choices when developing a character....but the grind to get them kills off any joy.

Please ZOS, look into your loot tables and work out why it is so difficult to get 1H weapons to drop...especially when they are so commonly used.

Vapirko · July 2017

There have been countless threads about this and not a word from ZOS. So don't expect much. Try looking for the weapon in a guild store, though it could be really expensive or really cheap depending on the set. Another option is to go pvp for AP and use that to buy overland item boxes from the merchant. IMO this is the easiest way, but you do have to be able to pvp.

DeadlyRecluse · July 2017

As I understand the math (could be very, very wrong)...

Say you want a specific set 1h weapon with a specific trait.

The last boss has a 50 percent chance of dropping jewelry instead of a weapon.

Then, if dropping a weapon, it's equally weighting all weapons (and shield). So you have a 1/12 chance of getting the weapon type you want.

Of course there are 3 sets from that dungeon, so another 1/3 multiplier.

Then if you are picky about traits, a 1/8 chance of the right trait...

leaving you a 1/576 chance of getting the exact weapon you want on a given run. Now, assuming you can count on the other 3 people in the run sharing the drops with you, that gets a little better: 1/144. So the odds aren't great.

SilverWF · July 2017

This is random.
Just imagine:
4 1h weapons, 3 2h weapons, 4 staves & bow
If something can drop weapon, then you have 1/12 chance to get desired type or probably 1/3 chance to get any 1h weapon. With any trait. But you didn't need just any trait right?

And, usually, this "something" can drop also armor, shields and jewelry instead.
And multiply all of this on the number of possible sets (usually 3 per zone)

GRIND HARDA!