A few reasons. Crusher is halved on one handed weapons now. Crusher uptime is bests on a bow, because endless hail ticks every half second, wall ticks every 1 second. Then lightning wall sets concussed targets off balance, meaning 10% more damage for Stam toons and more resources/damage for heavy attacks.

Also you get access to range interups with both, venom arrow and crushing shock. Simply put, if you are using double s/b, you are limiting yourself and your team.

StormChaser3000 wrote: »

What about dual wield on the backbar? Yeah, it got a nerf, but it sounds like it is still useful due to its aoe damage reduction skill.

Simply put, you dont need that extra mitigation and you give up a lot to get it

StormChaser3000 wrote: »

What about dual wield on the backbar? Yeah, it got a nerf, but it sounds like it is still useful due to its aoe damage reduction skill.

The whole point of a bow/staff back bar is to have the best crusher glyph you can, with a good up time on it. With dual wield after the 1 h enchant nerf and the 3s ticks their AoE dot has, it is just inferior. Very.

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Really don’t like lighting staffs. No passive on dmg reduction. Now i have to put blockade on icestaff, drain a lot mag.

Blockade on ice and lightning cost the same, if you want something that drains less resources try a bow, especially since it needs to be recast less.

srfrogg23 wrote: »

So, I've heard that bows or lightning staves are now the popular go-to for back bar weapons on tanks. Is that true? Why?

I'm not criticizing. I'm legitimately curious. Right now I've got a two handed sword on my back bar because I can add a little aoe dps to the group during trash pulls, but if something else is better then I'm not opposed to switching it out.

Well, the answer is the crusher glyph. The best enchantment for tank (that lowers enemies resistances) and is reapplied by AoE weapon DoTs (namely endless hail and elemental blockade) after the 1h glyph Nerf s/b both bars is not that good for it.

idk wrote: »

staves would be better than a bow. It is easier to place the WoE vs EH since it is placed right in front of you.

I disagree I like bow more on their placing ways. With bow u can "chose" who gets the crusher by putting him in the middle of EH, while adds get in the way of WoE. More than that, with bow u can debuff a specific target even if it is far away. What your comment should have been is "I feel more comfortable with staves" not "staves are better". Still use lightening staff myself for off balance and concussion.