Solo leveling - 2h or 1h/shield?

spurlock · 03-19-2010, 04:49 PM

I just started EQ2 5 days ago so i'm still trying to figure things out. I'm currently level 34 with 44 AA's. Up until now i have been completely solo and been using a 2h with no problems. However, i've seen some posts that suggest 1h/shield is better for solo leveling. Having tried it, i can certainly live longer, but kill much more slowly. And i'm usually pulling 3-5 mobs at a time depending on level/type. Am i doing something wrong or is 2h better for solo leveling? Or am i supposed to be pulling 10+ mobs with 1h/shield? Bear in mind i have no MC equipment, just quest gear, and very few skills upgraded to Adept. Thanks in advance.

P.S. Does the delay on the 2h weapon matter much or does it just allow me to squeeze in more skills between auto-attacks?

Nightshade · 03-19-2010, 07:51 PM

I would imagine it would be prudent to have both hotkeyed to switch as necessary. For high damage/low armor opponents do sword and shield and for the low damage opponents or those pesky casters use a 2-hander.

DwarvesR · 03-19-2010, 08:33 PM

You're noticing a difference in time to kill using a 2H vs sword-n-board? I never did, so I'm impressed with your judgement of time.

That said:

You get an extra attack when you use a shield.
You get better stats and possibilities for more procs (especially if you adorn) by using 2 different items. I love me some barbed guard adornments on my shields. . . .
In the Shadows AA line you can boost your 1H damage by 25%, but not your 2H at all, though minimum 120 aa's are needed for this, so it's a way off yet.
Later AA's also proc off blocks... can't block without a shield. But again, this is a ways off (min 170 aa's).

So.... for now if the 2H is working for you, then by all means use it. Once you have 125 AA's though, it's been confirmed that dps is higher with sword-n-board than with 2H, so you'll probably want to make the switch then.

spurlock · 03-20-2010, 04:37 AM

Thanks for the info! I was just surprised since if you kill things as fast with a 1h/shield then why would you EVER use a 2h?

Eritius · 03-22-2010, 04:05 AM

I think only Inquisitors, Wardens, and Mystics are the two hand users. But then even they can't use two handed swords. Does seem kinda odd. I like the sword and board playstyle, though I don't like being pigeon holed into it. Hopefully somebody will get a use out of those two handed swords we see every so often.

Scillion · 09-22-2010, 10:48 AM

With the change to Slam, I am really enjoying my shiny brass halbred on my SK.

I have a hot key set up to switch between sword and board and 2 hander but lately the shield is not equipping when i do the hotswapp in combat, did they change something?

DwarvesR · 09-22-2010, 10:10 PM

It's never done a "weapon set" from hot keys without you either clicking 2 hotkeys (1 for sword, 1 for board) or if you set up an equipping macro.

Scillion · 09-23-2010, 10:00 AM

I think i have it macro set i will verify it tonight, Thank you for the update.

Brantkl · 09-23-2010, 01:03 PM

/equip item..then drag the item you want equiped to the line below it.

Rahatmattata · 09-23-2010, 01:06 PM

This thread is pretty much completely wrong for leveling up. IDK what the selection of 2 handers are like at level 90, but while leveling up generally a 2 hander will do more dps than shield + knight's stance. For example, a feysteel claymore does considerably more damage than a feysteel longword + knight's stance. The only time I use a shield when soloing is when I pull too many heroics and feign death is down.

Scillion · 09-27-2010, 10:57 AM

Macro is correct, what is wrong is that i have to wait 2 seconds while in combat to get the shield equipped.

I do prefer 2 hand over sword and board but when i pull too many that shield really comes in handy.

Scillion · 10-07-2010, 08:43 AM

With the change to slam, the 2 handers are significantly more dps than a sword and board, hell, i am currently tanking for our group using a 2 hander unless the pull is a named then i pull out the shield.

But with a ranger and defiler we go through mobs pretty quickly.

Alazarz · 11-16-2010, 11:56 AM

a lower lvl 2 hander would be beast for lvling up if you could find one with a long delay. 6.0 or higher. At 90 an sk can do serious work with a two hander..

If the mobs are squishy and your not worried about getting pwned use atwo hander, if the mobs are hitting you hard use sword and board..

and for pvp/BG...

Basically depends on who / what your fighting.. i have a macro for switching between sword and board and a 2Hander.. for instance.. your fighting a mage you would obviously go with the two hander (since block chance dosent even come into play really)

Your fighting a (good) kiting ranger that hits hard you want sword and board + D stance... unless its a totally scrub ranger..

Rahatmattata · 11-20-2010, 05:14 PM

In BG I only use a shield when I have the relic, running into enemy base to grab flag, or tanking a lot of people in den. Everything else is 2h.

03-19-2010, 07:51 PM	#2
Nightshade Server: Lucan DLere Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 314	I would imagine it would be prudent to have both hotkeyed to switch as necessary. For high damage/low armor opponents do sword and shield and for the low damage opponents or those pesky casters use a 2-hander. __________________

03-19-2010, 08:33 PM	#3
DwarvesR General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,390	You're noticing a difference in time to kill using a 2H vs sword-n-board? I never did, so I'm impressed with your judgement of time. That said: You get an extra attack when you use a shield. You get better stats and possibilities for more procs (especially if you adorn) by using 2 different items. I love me some barbed guard adornments on my shields. . . . In the Shadows AA line you can boost your 1H damage by 25%, but not your 2H at all, though minimum 120 aa's are needed for this, so it's a way off yet. Later AA's also proc off blocks... can't block without a shield. But again, this is a ways off (min 170 aa's). So.... for now if the 2H is working for you, then by all means use it. Once you have 125 AA's though, it's been confirmed that dps is higher with sword-n-board than with 2H, so you'll probably want to make the switch then. __________________ Jonna - 78 Inquisitor, Keodan - 77 Fury, Elynna - 90 Coercer, Clarisse - 90 ShadowKnight, Gotter - 90 Warlock, Kyeda - 66 Necromancer, Spirrita - 66 Defiler, Darlana - 75 Dirge, Meylota - 54 Warden, Guuk - 60 Monk, Briarra - 55 Brigand, Dactylus - 51 Mystic

09-22-2010, 10:48 AM	#6
Scillion Loremaster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 29	With the change to Slam, I am really enjoying my shiny brass halbred on my SK. I have a hot key set up to switch between sword and board and 2 hander but lately the shield is not equipping when i do the hotswapp in combat, did they change something? __________________ Artorus Giltan (90 Ranger) Scillion (50 Shadow Knight)

09-22-2010, 10:10 PM	#7
DwarvesR General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,390	It's never done a "weapon set" from hot keys without you either clicking 2 hotkeys (1 for sword, 1 for board) or if you set up an equipping macro. __________________ Jonna - 78 Inquisitor, Keodan - 77 Fury, Elynna - 90 Coercer, Clarisse - 90 ShadowKnight, Gotter - 90 Warlock, Kyeda - 66 Necromancer, Spirrita - 66 Defiler, Darlana - 75 Dirge, Meylota - 54 Warden, Guuk - 60 Monk, Briarra - 55 Brigand, Dactylus - 51 Mystic

09-23-2010, 10:00 AM	#8
Scillion Loremaster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 29	I think i have it macro set i will verify it tonight, Thank you for the update. __________________ Artorus Giltan (90 Ranger) Scillion (50 Shadow Knight)

03-19-2010, 04:49 PM	#1
spurlock Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3	I just started EQ2 5 days ago so i'm still trying to figure things out. I'm currently level 34 with 44 AA's. Up until now i have been completely solo and been using a 2h with no problems. However, i've seen some posts that suggest 1h/shield is better for solo leveling. Having tried it, i can certainly live longer, but kill much more slowly. And i'm usually pulling 3-5 mobs at a time depending on level/type. Am i doing something wrong or is 2h better for solo leveling? Or am i supposed to be pulling 10+ mobs with 1h/shield? Bear in mind i have no MC equipment, just quest gear, and very few skills upgraded to Adept. Thanks in advance. P.S. Does the delay on the 2h weapon matter much or does it just allow me to squeeze in more skills between auto-attacks?

03-20-2010, 04:37 AM	#4
spurlock Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3	Thanks for the info! I was just surprised since if you kill things as fast with a 1h/shield then why would you EVER use a 2h?

03-22-2010, 04:05 AM	#5
Eritius Server: Lucan DLere Guild: Fate by Blood Rank: Commander Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 759	I think only Inquisitors, Wardens, and Mystics are the two hand users. But then even they can't use two handed swords. Does seem kinda odd. I like the sword and board playstyle, though I don't like being pigeon holed into it. Hopefully somebody will get a use out of those two handed swords we see every so often.

09-23-2010, 01:03 PM	#9
Brantkl Loremaster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3	/equip item..then drag the item you want equiped to the line below it.

09-23-2010, 01:06 PM	#10
Rahatmattata Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,232	This thread is pretty much completely wrong for leveling up. IDK what the selection of 2 handers are like at level 90, but while leveling up generally a 2 hander will do more dps than shield + knight's stance. For example, a feysteel claymore does considerably more damage than a feysteel longword + knight's stance. The only time I use a shield when soloing is when I pull too many heroics and feign death is down. __________________ A Cure For Cancer

09-27-2010, 10:57 AM	#11
Scillion Loremaster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 29	Macro is correct, what is wrong is that i have to wait 2 seconds while in combat to get the shield equipped. I do prefer 2 hand over sword and board but when i pull too many that shield really comes in handy. __________________ Artorus Giltan (90 Ranger) Scillion (50 Shadow Knight)

10-07-2010, 08:43 AM	#12
Scillion Loremaster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 29	With the change to slam, the 2 handers are significantly more dps than a sword and board, hell, i am currently tanking for our group using a 2 hander unless the pull is a named then i pull out the shield. But with a ranger and defiler we go through mobs pretty quickly. __________________ Artorus Giltan (90 Ranger) Scillion (50 Shadow Knight)

11-16-2010, 11:56 AM	#13
Alazarz Server: Nagafen Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 380	a lower lvl 2 hander would be beast for lvling up if you could find one with a long delay. 6.0 or higher. At 90 an sk can do serious work with a two hander.. If the mobs are squishy and your not worried about getting pwned use atwo hander, if the mobs are hitting you hard use sword and board.. and for pvp/BG... Basically depends on who / what your fighting.. i have a macro for switching between sword and board and a 2Hander.. for instance.. your fighting a mage you would obviously go with the two hander (since block chance dosent even come into play really) Your fighting a (good) kiting ranger that hits hard you want sword and board + D stance... unless its a totally scrub ranger..

11-20-2010, 05:14 PM	#14
Rahatmattata Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3,232	In BG I only use a shield when I have the relic, running into enemy base to grab flag, or tanking a lot of people in den. Everything else is 2h. __________________ A Cure For Cancer