Mercenary High-End spec

[old.Hendrick]

I am at level 44 now and it is time to decide on my final training layout. I have decided not to go shield at all, except the seven skillpoints for engage, so I am free to spend my training on slash, dual wield and parry. I also decided to take both slash and dual wield to a minimum of 44, for the styles. Now I have to make up my mind whether I want to raise one or even both of these skills to 50 or not.

My reason to go to 50 with slash:
Diamond slash style, chains off from amethyst slash, which means I have a two-style, non-positional chain that will come in handy in RvR.

My reason to go to 50 in dual wield:
Dual shadows, used from front of target, but otherwise a very cool style too and being in front of an enemy in RvR should be rather common – or should it not?

Now I am just wondering whether those styles are worth the sacrifice to my defense. I have played around a bit in the character builder and have come up with the following spec-possibilities:

Idea 1
50/50/27
Gives me supreme offensive power, two neat stlyes but not that impressive parry.

Idea 2
50/44/36
Gives me one neat style (I am likely to go for 50 slash and not 50 dual wield) plus acceptable parry.

Idea 3
50/46/34
This is just a little change of above spec, which uses my skillpoints a bit more effectively.

Idea 4
44/44/43
Leaves me with the 44 styles and some very good parry. This high parry will make the 44 dual wield style interesting, which chains off a reflection, and reflection has the prerequisite of "target is parried by anyone". The 44 sapphire slash is nice to, and also usable at anytime, just chaining of an enrage.

At the moment I am likely to go for Idea 3, as it seems the best compromise to me, though Idea 4 is very tempting too. However, I always saw myself as an offensive fighter that kills fast and therefore does not worry too much about his defense. A high level style will allow me to kill faster, at least that's what I am hoping for.

I know it is a general assumption not to take a skill over 44, because you can easily itemize/realm rank your way up. Now, I am a huge fan of crafted weapons (I'm kinda biased there) and will never use a drop unless I am forced to. That means I will not get any skill bonus from weapons and have to get my bonus from bracers and armor. Also, I like the styles at 50. At the moment, the only thing that gives me a skill bonus are my danaoin chain gloves, that increase Dual Wield a bit. If you are commenting on above mentioned specs, I'd also like to hear some pointers to good chain armor for mercenaries (slash bonus, dual wield bonus, parry bonus, NO PIETY, grrr).

So in conclusion, what I want you to do is:
- Comment on above specs (in a mature, non-"that's majorly stupid you suckxor" way).
- Give me a few pointers to armor and items I should look for to increase my skills.

 

[Gondo]

Hendrick

I personally am going down the 50/50/28 route.
(Note: i calculated it to be 28, not 27. I could be wrong)

The main reason for this is to be as offensive as possible.

Parry is great, i already have 26 + 3 in parry, and i love it.

But you can't pull off Parry against styles in RvR, and you are always being hit with styles.

This may change in up coming patches.

I recommend 44 in Dual Wield for PvE. A style called Hypnotic Darkness (follow up to Reflect, used after parry), leaves your opponent stunned for about 5 seconds. :-D

Anyways, thats my 2 cents.
Hope you choose well

----------------
Gondo Dengo

 

[old.mattshanes]

Well i gotta crush merc lv20 atm i gonna go 50 crush 35 dw and 40 parry not exactly sure if this is right just a rough estimate atm as i am at work in a hot office but i want parry kinda high for item hunting at lv50 and i will respec it maybe to dw or keep it if what gondo says happens

 

[old.Hendrick]

I am exactly one point short to get to 28 parry, because I have shield on 7 for engage. And I remember successfully parrying in RvR, and I also remember a discussion where someone cleared up the urban legend about parry not working in RvR. As it seems, it does work, albeit a bit rarely perhaps.

 

[Gondo]

Yes, i have parried in RvR.

In particular against Keep gaurds.

But i can't be 100% certian if i have parried against a style.
I heard about Parry not working against styles and figured it sounded about right.
But i would love to see the evidence that this is wrong. I want this to be wrong

 

[Jupitus]

Originally posted by Gondo
I personally am going down the 50/50/28 route.
(Note: i calculated it to be 28, not 27. I could be wrong)

The main reason for this is to be as offensive as possible.

... sorry sir, just have to say it.... it seems to be working well

Hehehehehehe

 

[tieris]

can i just say that, i have 50 slash, 28 dw, 35 with magic bonuses and 50 parry and in rvr no tank can beat me 1 on 1 FACT!!!! they had a hard time wen i was 47/48 so now they have no chance. I parry feck loads in rvr, so dont let any1 tell u parry is a waste of time, it rules and is a real life saver

 

[tieris]

whoops and btw YES U CAN PARRY STYLES

 

[Korebwyn]

50 Slash is a waste of points in my opinion..
I'm currently 50 slash and 50 polearm and going 50 slash for diamond slash just ain't worth it. Thinks it's about same damage as amethyst slash and also diamond slash is high fatique.


Korebwyn, lvl 50 Pole Armsman
<Servants of the lake>

 

[old.Plebo]

I guess the best way to spec will depend on how the skills are implemented by the game code - something that i've read conflicting reports about.

My understanding is that with Slash of 44, you can use items to get it to 50. You will not get the extra styles, but you will get the damage.

DW gives you some styles, but is mainly the chance of hitting with the second weapon. How large this score can be and still give you benefit is determined by the game code. But again, I suspect that once you get to 44 you can use items to get it to a maximum of 50.

If you therefore spec to Slash 44 and DW 44, then that will leave you loads of points to add into into Parry. You should be able to get Parry to about 44 as well.

At the end, after getting the correct drops/items, you can hopefully end up with Slash 50, DW 50 and Parry 50.

OK, you will not get a couple of high level styles, but i'm not sure if that really matters if you can parry so effectively.

I think i'd go with your 4th suggestion Hendrick.

 

[old.mattshanes]

TRY 50 CRUSH IT ROCKS!!!

 

[Myshra]

items to get:

bracers of martial skill from DF next patch, +2 DW / parry i believe

 

[old.ondor]

nah people i cant believe u say to put so many points at parry

battles at rvr last seconts and u rarely parry at rvr
and a highlander merc with so much str and with so little dex
even with 50 parry he doesnt own

if u want to make defencive character make an armsman shield slash

but if u go for true offencive fast killing tank u do merc

so i say 50/50/28

MAX DAMAGE RULEZ
at rvr battles last less then 10 secs ......
u expect parry to save ya?

 

[old.mattshanes]

I got mine to go high for the item hunting mainly and will respec at 1.52

 

[old.Bubble]

50 50 27 for me
As a merc your renown for being able to do more damage than your enemy (apart from a zerker)
Against weapons with 5 Speed or more a parry or block is rare

u could always go 50 40 40


don't try and be a tanking merc instead for for a merc who can drop a runie in 3 secs

 

[Tera_Ferma]

Not sure how useful this maybe but I hear that in a future patch they are allowing Mercs (and another class i think blademaster) to be able to parry attacks from all sides and not just the front only.

just thought you may like to know

Tera

 

[old.mattshanes]

They get a new evade at lv35 get instant dw too every 2mins or something like that ask yussef he knows all lol.

 

[old.Chavez]

I have 50 slash.

Diamond style is actually not as bad as some people make it out to be. The only problem it has is its realtively high damage variance which (in my experience) goes from 20-40 dmg under Amethyst damage to 50-120 over it.

Often, if im fighting small skirmish or 1on1 (with high endurance) i'll chain amethyst-diamond and it works well. Diamond slash has certainly produced the highest damage output ever as a 1H for me personally.

 

[DocWolfe]

a troll has blocked against one of my styles and I think I parried a trolls hammer style once. I think the chance is less against a style though.

 

[tieris]

hmmmm diamond slash hits the same as amythyst slash and just aint worth it???? OMG diamond slash does alot more damage than amythyst slash, and lets not 4get plz that being slash specced, that the higher u specc in slash the better your base dmg too

 

[kr0n]

Some styles get to-hit bonus?

 

[j000 d000d]

Tieris, remember that if you're hitting someone, he might not be hitting you so you don't need parry there

 

[old.Chavez]

Yes Layl thats true and will be an important fact when lvl 50s are wearing epic armor. I think styles with no to-hit bonus will really perform bad unless its a 35% enchanted crafted weapon.