I have just tested 1 hs with shield bash vs. 2hs and the result is:......

[sirmorte]

<p>I see lots of arguments about using one handed weapons with shield bash vs. two handed weapons with better stats. Thus, I tried it out on a level 45 mob while I am level 55. I timed the kills using only my infernal blessing spell and by increase in attack speed which I got from AAs and casting my dumb pet tainted sacrement or some such spell. That's it. After testing several kills on the same monster and on several monsters at a time, here is what I found:</p><p>As for killing one mob, the two handed one was better as you would imagine; however, it wasn't that much better. I killed the level 45 mob using a two handed weapon, with the spells noted above, in 25-28 seconds. I killed the same mob using one handed weapon and shield bashing in about 35 seconds. You may think that the 2 hander should then always be used soloing. However, against multiple mobs, I found the 2 hander a big disadvantage since I didn't have a shield. I was losing hp quicker than with a shield. My shield,but the way, has a good proc on it. </p><p> This is important since handling aggro seems to be more the rule than the exception. Thus, unless you have little chance of aggro, I would recommend a 1 handed weapon with a proc and a good shield with a proc over a good two handed weapon with a proc UNLESS the 2 handed weapon is VASTLY better than the one handed weapon. </p><p> I think you should test this out yourself. </p><p>Sirmorte, Level 55 Shadow Knight, Level 53 Woodworker</p><p>Vextrushot, Ranger, level 57 Alchemist</p><p>Permafrost server</p><p>House of Rising Phoenix guild.</p>

[Gutwren]

One Hander and Shield = Adornment on weapon (dmg) and shield (thorns)... and the fact that you'll never match the stats on a two hander that you can on a one hander and shield. Therefore since you did not cast all your nukes and attacks with your increased stats from having the shield, you weighted this contest in the favor of the two hander.Depends on your spec also I suppose which would be better.

[nodaisho]

The 2-hander gets and advantage in delay though, with 20 haste from a belt, I find myself missing attacks quite frequently with my one hander after I cast a spell. If I am not mistaken, our damage spells tend to take around 1 - 1.5 seconds to cast. With haste and a standard 1.6 second delay 1-hander, you tent to miss attacks with the 1-hander where you wouldn't with the 2-hander, with a standard 2.5 second delay. Now, granted, some spells like our wraths, sacraments, and blessings are going to cause us to miss attacks regardless, but the shorter spells that normally fit right in between 1-hander attacks take up too much time with the 1-handers. Now, if you have some long delay 1-hander and a long delay 2-hander, it might be different, but I just have standard crafted weapons.Anything I missed in the above paragraph? I was gone for almost a year until this summer, so I am still catching up.

[Skua]

what about procs ? and crits? , a 2h win with procs and high crit chance

[Kaishod]

<p>Though I appreaciate the testing and alot is to be said about it, I think alot of things need to be taken intoconsideration for it to be controlled, I'm not a math nut or even close, but you definitely need to consider:</p><p>a.) Delay/Stats/Dmg of both the 1h and 2h, they would have to be similar in some way (ie. a treasured 1h and treasured shield vs. Fabled 2h with plus to defense and parry  would reign over the 1h/shield) both would need to be the same tier</p><p>b.) the loss/addition of stats comparative to the 1h& shield vs. 2h, plus weapon type ie.) slashing vs. crushing vs. mob.  A 1h/shield loaded with STR and Sta would ideally lose to a 2h with AGI WIS INT depending on the add/loss of stats, plus with weapon type, some mob may be resistant towards slashing vs. crushing.  Think  maybe unbuffed, no armor except swords and shield to best see?</p><p>c.) procs would have to be removed for it to be a controlled test, a 1h with procs vs a 2h w/o is really not an even scale for dmg due to the extra proc for a controlled test</p><p> d.) I think the only true way would be to test through auto attack... agg mob, sit back and watch your toon swing, to get an decent idea of dmg output vs. time, or use the exact spell sequence and times with the exception of shield bash</p><p>As far as my opinion on 2h vs. Sword & Board, you should definitely have the best you can get (raiding, farming, buying, crafting) of all 3 throughout your levels, even each weapon type if possible to keep your skills maxed out.  Macro your 1h and shield on one button to equipt just in case... though it takes a second hit during comabt to equip (which, equiping during combat is rumored to be removed), it will help you if the 2h just isnt killing them fast enough.</p><p>If you go into a battle with a 2h... it really wont take you that long to realize that its gonna or not gonna work and you have to switch to a shield and 1h.  Try 2h in off stance and def stance... see which one you like... then try 1h/shield in off stance then def stance and see which one... each mob is going to be different... hotkey your stances so you can switch them in the middle fo a fight as well... </p><p>There are also some 2hs with some good defense on them that might not be the best for when you are DPS, but do better when you are soloing... </p>

[Ciarr]

<p>when somone says "1h is better" or "2h is better" they aren't usually talking about how long does it take them to kill a mob, it's quite obvious that it will take less time to kill something with 2h than with 1h+shield (providing that both are comparable level and quality)</p><p>people often suggest that:</p><p>- you can handle toughter mobs with 1h+shield (this is usually true)- you lose less HP with 1h+shield which makes you wait less for the next fight (this one really depnds on many conditions)- you can kill a group of mobs with 1h+shield instead of fighting singles/smaller groups with 2h (typically true)</p><p>it is all pretty obvious if you think about it, shield adds a massive amount of survivality, 2h increases your autoattack by about 50% (before you jump up happy... it's 50% of autoattack which itself is only about 20-25% so it nets you maybe 10-12% total, if your are really DPSing)</p><p>bottom line... there is an use for both 2h and 1h+shield... (personally I hardly ever use 2H except raids when I am not MT/OT, but I hardly ever face something which is not heroic or epic so I am probably biased)</p>

[Dead Knight]

I hate to say this since I'm sure you took alot of your personal time to do this experiment. But alot of what you've posted is pretty much useless, since it's all situational. Especially since most are talking about T7, and we aren't talking about Xegonite 2 handers vs Xegonite 1 handers. We're talking weapons worth their salt. Still, thanks for taking your time to do this.

[sirmorte]

Dead knight, my test certainly did not involve legendary weapons. Once I get those to test out, I will do so. Lets say that my test covers 98% of the weapons that aren't legendary or fabled and those under level 65 as well.