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Bard Melee weapon help

nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
edited November 7 in Bard Archetype
I want to try melee on my Bard with a shield. What's the best weapon to pick? Have not spent much time reading up on weapon types. Any feed back would be awesome.

Comments

  • DrukalnnDrukalnn Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Currently in the game, there are only two 1 handed melee weapons: the mace and the sword.
    The sword attacks a little faster and hits a little less hard
    The mace attacks a little slower and hits harder.
    Those are really the main differences aside from a couple different debuffs they can apply with their finishers
  • VeeshanVeeshan Member, Alpha Two
    Alot of the time u wanna look at what weapon procs what debuff and what debuff chain with your ability. im not to familair with bard skill but after looking at skill you have several skill that trigger off stagger.
    Get off the stag = Stagger to disarm
    Mezmerising dance = stagger to stun

    I think mace gets stagger as an option so it kinda combo with these skills so might be the play but im not to sure since i havant played bard
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Thanks for the feedback :)
  • hellseesyouhellseesyou Member, Leader of Men, Kickstarter, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    I would suggest you go with a scepter (mace).
    with the stagger proc, you can aoe stagger enemies in front of you - and with the combo from mesmerizing dance, you be able to stun them for 3 seconds (while still dealing damage).
    Also, make sure you run the cheerful melody for the healing procs on weapon combos ;)
    "Leader of Men"... Banana Squad enjoyer >:)
  • novercalisnovercalis Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    edited November 5
    ignore me.....
    {UPK} United Player Killer - All your loot belongs to us.
  • willsummonwillsummon Member, Alpha Two
    nanfoodle wrote: »
    I want to try melee on my Bard with a shield. What's the best weapon to pick? Have not spent much time reading up on weapon types. Any feed back would be awesome.
    It sounds like you want to play a Siren class, Bard/Tank class.
  • XhykorXhykor Member, Alpha Two
    edited November 7
    I use the Book for pulling and then switch to Mace and Shield.

    My standard rotation for leveling is:

    -Alacrity
    -Use the Book to pull until the mob is close
    -Get Off the Stage (if it pushes back, I take a few more shots with the Book)
    -Switch to Mace and Shield to finish the job


    So far, this strategy is working well for me.

    My Current low level Build
    https://ashescodex.com/planner/share/30702952-c87e-48df-a256-d4a8582b4d4b
  • ShivaFangShivaFang Member, Alpha Two
    Drukalnn wrote: »
    Currently in the game, there are only two 1 handed melee weapons: the mace and the sword.
    The sword attacks a little faster and hits a little less hard
    The mace attacks a little slower and hits harder.
    Those are really the main differences aside from a couple different debuffs they can apply with their finishers

    You are going to want a scepter, not a mace. Scepters tend to have magic power, maces tend to have physical power (exceptions may exist)
    If you go with a sword make sure it is a spellsword (that will have magic power). Physical power is basically wasted on a bard.
  • eroenneeroenne Member, Alpha Two
    im using sceptor shield and wand. Would the spellbook be a better option instead of the wand? Only reason is because i found a blue wand so i switched to that at lvl 10. i liked the cast speed so i stuck with it.
  • ShivaFangShivaFang Member, Alpha Two
    whichever weapon you mainly use, the other slot doesn't matter.
    So, for example, I'm currently using a scepter. Whatever is in my ranged slot is a 'stat stick' that adds to my character's stats. Generally speaking you want the highest Magic Power value in the 'off' slot that you don't use.

    Now that said there are times to switch to ranged if you are normally melee (you can get away with being purely ranged as a bard though and not going into melee)
  • ThevoicestHeVoIcEsThevoicestHeVoIcEs Member, Alpha Two
    Looking at interactions:
    * scepter + shortbow
    * spellsword + longbow

    This way you are able to trigger both snare and stagger.
    My lungs taste the air of Time,
    Blown past falling sands…
  • SpifSpif Member, Alpha Two
    I find myself breaking out my weapon choices by AE or single target. For that I use a 1h/whatever for AE and a wand for single target. Although realistically a 1h will out damage a wand barring resonance/extended finisher. So I melee most of the time outside of the wand opener
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    Since I made this post I have tried a few weapons and my fav is a "spell power short bow" fires fast and with the snare its great to kite. When it's not triggered I use my own snares I between. Soloing mobs a few levels above me with ease.
  • FastByteFastByte Member, Alpha Two
    A lot of people enjoy the spell short bow, myself included. On my bard I was using that and a mace+shield as my alternate.
  • nanfoodlenanfoodle Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
    FastByte wrote: »
    A lot of people enjoy the spell short bow, myself included. On my bard I was using that and a mace+shield as my alternate.

    I went with a Sheild and Spell Sword. So my magic got a boost from my second weapon. I would love a spell mace when things get going. Stuns would be epic.
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