Dual Wield or Sword+Shield?

[Ajo]

<div>Anyone got any advice on Dual Wielding or using a 1-hand weapon and shield? One option far better than the other?</div><div> </div><div>If playing a damage dealing in a group I guess Dual Wielding is superior but what if one is soloing?</div>

[The-Fourm-Pirate]

<div></div>For solo, DW for wiping out weak mobs en masse, sword and board if you need to do a name.

[Wildfury77]

I have spatha x2 <i><u><b>and </b></u></i>longsword+roundshield. In the past i mainly duel wielded and occasionally used shield for names.......now i mainly just use longsword+shield ---->the stamina line on the achievements makes this a nice balance between DPS and defence.<div></div>

[Iniud]

Here what I seem to find the best dual yield is the best for damage until you got 7point into dps increase in sta line or 4point into double attack one in wisdom line. If you get one of those 2 dual yield become just a risk to get more riposte or damage yourself more on damage shield (riposte is not a trouble when you only dps in a group since you will not be at front except for one of our attack).Now for soloing I find 1hander + shield to be better for the reason of less riposte and increase in advoidance. You also have to consider that has a scout most of our DPS come from our combat skill and not our auto-attack. But the exception to this would be having put some point into the parry aa in wisdom line (4 point into that parry aa compensate for the lack of shield quite well if you ask me (ya I am going wisdom line)***** No need to read bellow if you don't have KoS for it is about AA *****But if you looking for the best dps possible (while grouped) I sugest you go with a wisdom/agility aa combo since auto-attack on a maxed double attack on wisdom line is superior to dual yield (also highter proc rate I find since the double attack proc also proc since the second attack still count has primary weapon, I got no parse to prove it but that what I think from I saw from looking at my auto-attack, up to 4point into the double attack aa myself now). Add to that a maxed flank proc from the agi line (16% proc rate when maxed) and you got some very nice dps comming (maybe hard on aggro I admit but hard to beat for dps) and then you will have too choose between which aa line you take the final skill (agi let you spam combat skill faster, thus increase a little the number of auto-attack you do in a fight, while wisdom line increase def, parry, slashing, ranged, percing thus increasing your chance to hit (which become quite important for dps on yellow+ fight, especialy versus brawler type mob)But for dps an agi/str combo could be good also (but has opposed to my other suggestion it is a dual yield aa choice, but cannot really suggest you in that way since never though of going that way)And finaly if your looking for a good dps while still having a very good def I suggest a str/sta combo (cannot describe much but from what I readed it seemed good) or a str/wis combo. For str/wis combo here is the 2 set up I suggest (kit 1)wis 4/4/8/8/8 str 4/4/8/1 OR (kit 2)wis 4/4/5/8/8 str 4/4/4/8. Kit 1 of the 2 choice offer the best defensive for it increase your parry by 8% (from all side (normaly you only parry front) and those 8% are riposte if from front) and offer the best boost in avoidance possible for a swashy, so a very good set up for dps/solo/offtanking, kit 2 is much like kit 1 but it sacrifice about one third of total defense boost and 3% parry for 11,9% more chance to crit thus better dps while still having a significant boost to defense which is a very good set up for raid/dps/solo.***** End of AA combo example *****But in the end the choice is really up to you. But to resume what I said dual-yield will always be supperior dps except if you go into sta or wisdom aa line and for soloing I find 1hander + shield to be better except when you go into wisdom aa line.Also one other thing (mostly just apply if you raid) but going wisdom or stamina aa line can save you money or DKP (raid guild using point system) since you will only need to get 2 weapon (one percing and one slashing) and a shield (if you go stamina line) while a dual yield set up would require you to get 4weapon (2 slashing and 2 percing) to be rdy for all situation of mob been resistant to a type of weapon (I said resistant and not immune btw since resistance were still left in game while most immunity were remove). But this mostly just apply if you want optimum dps in about all raiding situation, a normal raider can easily go with only 1 set of weapon (I don't include backup equip in this, which will become obsolete once repair kit will be widely available) for this is only suggestion for been at top in all situation.<div></div>

[Badfeeling]

<div>I have never used a shield and always duel wielded. I'm currently lvl 42 and soloing in Sinking Sands taking on yellow mobs (lvl45 - 46).</div><div>Admittedly I struggle with mobs greater than 3.........just been jumped by a mob of 5 and died....lol</div>

[FalconWyvernsp]

<div>Or ya could eventually go with the Fencer skills like I am and just use a blade onehanded.  Just gonna take some Accomplishment points to develop that.</div>

[Mentla]

Hmm, what about for PvP?  Very little of the fighting is done on auto attack, so I would think the extra defence of a shield would be benificial on shorter fights?  Not tried it as just thought of it.  Any ideas?<div></div>

[schragnash]

<div>Id like to get some opinions of PvP also, iv never used a shield with my swashy, so i relly dont know anyhtng about it</div>

[Iniud]

<div></div>For PvP I think a agi line is a prime to get mostly for sailwind and run speed bonus after that I am not sure what if I would go with a str and wisdom line to add to it but for example I think I would go with something like thisagi 4/4/8/4/8, str 4/4/5/8 (this one is for maxed crit so more chance of damage pike which can really turn the tide in your favor at time)oragi 4/4/8/4/8, wis 4/4/8/5 (this one is for the riposte and lunge reversal bonus which which is something ppl can be unprepared for (this is mostly nice if you get someone trying to hit while dual yielding and also good versus brawler for they cannot block lunge =) )But I admit I didn't play PvP yet so not sure which of those 2 are the best but I think the 2 can be a good choice =)<div></div><p>Message Edited by Iniudan on <span class="date_text">03-08-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:29 AM</span></p>