Two hand, or not two hand, that is the AA question

[Madmoon]

<div>For a Bruiser, I can use one-handed, two-handed, dual wield and my bare hands, but - other than style, or RP, or some such - is there a reason to go anything but DW?  I don't have a parser, but it seems to me that only DW makes sense.  Here's my thinking, but maybe I am wrong:</div><div> </div><div>One hand staffs - the other hand does nothing (we cannot equip shields) and most one-handers seem only a little better than DW.  And the attribute boosts are the same as DW, so, basically, you are getting only half as many STR, Poison, etc. boosts as you could from your hands.</div><div>Two-hand staffs (staves?) - While this is a bit closer to 2 DW weapons, it still does not add up, damage-wise.  The same holds true for the boosts - closer to 2 DW, but still lagging.</div><div>Bare-handed - This makes the least sense.  The damage output is not on par with two dual-wield weapons, and there are NO attribute boosts.... ques?</div><div> </div><div>I know that AAs favor one or the other, but I cannot see using anything but 2 Dual Wielders, unless, as usual, I am missing some HUGE point :smileyvery-happy:</div><div> </div><div>I am starting to collect AA points, and would like to choose from the various styles.  I know you can re-do them, if they change them, but still, may as well choose SOMETHING before then.  Any ideas?  Comments?</div><div> </div><div>Redmouser</div><div>Bruiser</div><div>Antonia Bayle</div>

[Gungo]

<div></div><div>Well in my opinion, depends what u want to do dps or tanking. Tankign i would go for the extra stats from dual wield. DPS it then depends on if u have low to no aa's i would go dual wield. IF u go strenght line then neither matters. If you want to max your dps i would like to see what the 4/4/8 sta wis int line 2 hander w master hate proc and master offensive stance does vs any dual wiled combo since the delay on the 2 hander should make the offensive stance actually proc.</div>in most situations dual wiled is better.

[Aburai]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>Gungo wrote:<div></div><div>Well in my opinion, depends what u want to do dps or tanking. Tankign i would go for the extra stats from dual wield. DPS it then depends on if u have low to no aa's i would go dual wield. IF u go strenght line then neither matters. <font color="#ffff00">If you want to max your dps i would like to see what the 4/4/8 sta wis int line 2 hander w master hate proc and master offensive stance does vs any dual wiled combo since the delay on the 2 hander should make the offensive stance actually proc</font>.</div>in most situations dual wiled is better.<hr></blockquote>That's exactly my intention on my first go at lining up my AA points, it'll be a while till they are all spent up though but I've always liked the 2hb animations so I wanted to try it out.  Also I tend to offtank quite a bit in my guild groups by adding DPS and keeping Adds of the squishy's, I only occasionally maintank so this sort of setup suits my playstyle better.  Well, except for when grouping with a Mezzer hehe.. They're gonna hate me for the AOE procs lol!</span></div>

[sarsippi]

<div></div><p>I dont know for sure, but your mention about the AE's and mezzers... it shouldnt matter. Most mez's arent broke by AE's.. shouldnt be anyway. Its usually only direct attacks that breaks mezzes, I might be wrong on that though.</p><p>I'd have to say, just mainly speaking for DPS, I guess as tanking also. But a 1hander is the worst choice, sure you get stats, but im sure even fists would do better dps then a one hander. One handers and fists shouldnt be used, unless your low lvl or if you want to try out those AA's that only use fists.</p><p>I think 2handers and DW's come pretty close to equal. If you go with a crafted item, of the same tier. Two DW's of rare crafted Ironwood will be equal to a T6 rare crafted Ironwood 2handed staff. In stats and damage rating. And the procs is meant to procs on a 2hander just as often as it would with 2 DW's.  </p><p>I would like to see a question answered as when a procs should be replaced with damage rating? Right now I have two T7 rare crafted DW's.. but for T7 stuff I see quite a few 2handers that are better damage rating, total, then my DW's. Not by a lot, but maybe like 5 pts... but no procs. is 5 pts of damage rating worth losing the procs off of dw's?  Stats would be pretty close to equal also, so not really a factor. Right now im leaning towards keeping the procs, but not quite sure. I should parse it, but im to lazy to do a long enough parse that would actually be meaningful lol.</p>

[Maelwy]

<div>well, comparing stats on legendary/treasured dw vs 2h in t7, i'm seeing an improvement in dps/stats on staff of the awakened, vs ravasectian + hammer of formation.  The staff has a very high damage rating, but it is missing the proc....  But somewhere in the combination of higher str + highe damage rating, its making a noticeable increase.  Tomorrow, i'm finishing grizzlefazzles and will actually pull out my parser and get some firm figures...  But - up till t7 - the clear winner stat and dps wise has been rare crafted dw's.  (at least, post the proc normalization that was done, and the riposte changes that was done- prior to that , the RGF was godly....)</div>

[Aburai]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>sarsippius wrote:<div></div><p>I dont know for sure, but your mention about the AE's and mezzers... it shouldnt matter. Most mez's arent broke by AE's.. shouldnt be anyway. Its usually only direct attacks that breaks mezzes, I might be wrong on that though.</p><hr></blockquote>I actually asked the Coercer I group with last night because I wasn't 100% sure of the answer and he said.. AOE's with the Green Encounter only icons will not break Mez, AOE's with the Blue in/out of Encounter Icons will break Mez.  I'm pretty sure he know's what he's on about so I'll have to take his word for it,  unfortunately though I am not sure if the AOE Proc in Wis line is an Encounter AOE or not.. I suspect not from the description of it.  Only time will tell hehe!</span></div>

[DarkMirrax]

<div>2Hander Always for the win , Grizzlefangs OWNS !</div>

[PhozFa]

<span><blockquote><hr>DarkMirrax wrote:<div>2Hander Always for the win , Grizzlefangs OWNS !</div><hr></blockquote>err you mean grizzfazzle? <span>:smileywink:</span></span><div></div>

[DarkMirrax]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>PhozFate wrote:<span><blockquote><hr>DarkMirrax wrote:<div>2Hander Always for the win , Grizzlefangs OWNS !</div><hr></blockquote>err you mean grizzfazzle? <span>:smileywink:</span></span><div></div><hr></blockquote>meh spelling not my forte grizz whatever staff rock :smileyvery-happy:

[Teche]

<div></div><p>Both of our blue AE attacks do not break mez, they will break stuns.. it is pretty easy to test.  They are out of encounter though so they do get adds etc but they wont break mez...</p><p>I have no clue about the new AA AE.</p>

[PhozFa]

My AEs have broke an illus mez but not my own. dunno why. Found it wierd but I get [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]ed at by my illus friend cause i always AE <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span><div></div>

[BrainMu]

<div></div><div>Our blue AoEs will break a coercer/illusionist AoE mez, but not their single target mez or our own single taget mez .... unless you are targeting the mezzed mob directly when you use the AoE, in that case it will break the single target mez on that mob.  I don't know how green AoE CAs work as i don't have any, but I duo with a coercer all the time.</div>

[Aburai]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>PhozFate wrote:My AEs have broke an illus mez but not my own. dunno why. Found it wierd but I get [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]ed at by my illus friend cause i always AE <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span><div></div><hr></blockquote>I sometimes get sidelong looks from the Coercer I group with because he suspects I keep breaking Mez on mobs lol!  I just grin and try to look innocent most of the time though <span>:smileytongue:It's interesting though some of the points people have raised about AOE's breaking Mezz, I shall have to do some testing myself and see what I can come up with./salute</span></span></div>

[Greavous]

<div></div><div><p><span><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#ffffff">I will confirm.</font></font></font></span></p><p><span><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#ffffff">Our AE”s will only break group mezz and the mob we are targeting on a single mezz.</font></font></font></span></p><p><span><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#ffffff">You can AE to your hearts content if the mobs have been single mezzed.</font></font></font></span></p><p><font color="#ffffff"><span><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">He’s what we do when we have a C</font></span><span>oercer in group.</span></font></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">Always explain the rules early and there will be no prob. I like to use my AE’s early in a fight (if multi mobs) for the extra hate.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">Make sure the mezzer doesn’t group mezz till after your 2 AE’s.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">Hold off casting any more until all mobs are single mezzed and your golden.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff"></font></span> </p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">Having a group mezzed can be great if you’ve bitten off more than u can chew, and a curse if your trying to burn down a mob.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">If the mobs have been individually mezzed and your Wizz casts a green AE, then the only mob that gets hit is the one targeted which is a huge waste of dps.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">But if the mobs are group mezzed then that same AE will hit all mobs in group and break the mezz on each.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff"></font></span> </p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">I love grouping with a Coercer, but only ones that know when and when not to mezz.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">A good Coercer will save a group from wiping better than any class.</font></span></p><p><span><font color="#ffffff">A bad mezzer will reduce a groups dps down to a crawl</font></span><span></span></p></div>

[PhozFa]

for me when grouped with a mezzer it depends on the situation. If the grouped mobs are tough i'm worried about the healers i'll tell them to wait about 8 seconds or so till they group mez. All other times i tell them to only mez multi-encounters.<div></div>