Mercenary spec help required

[crookshanks]

I'm approaching my 40th season on the mercenary road, and hence the final respec is just around the bend. I've asked a number of the good fellows of the realm
for advice (thanks chaps), and I was quite confident that the following spec was
going to suit my needs:

50 Duel Wield
44 Slash
37 Parry

even though most mercenaries seem to have gone with 50/50/27. This gives me a reasonable chance to parry, which should increase the chance to get reflection off followed by the 44 med. stun DW style.

However, I just happened to glance at the 50 thrust style, Dragon fang (opening evade, long duration stun) and I suddenly find myself thinking "thats nice". S
o, do I instead go for 50 thrust, 50 dw, 27 parry, and concentrate on getting dodge 2 or 3? Whats the evade like for a merc in rvr with dodge 2? I've heard that parry doesn't seem to go off that often in rvr against styles - is this true? Is the dragonfang long stun the same as slam stun (ie pretty handy)?
I'd have prefered to respec from thrust into slash (since its autotrainined to 8 atm, possibly 9 by season 40), with a pair of jambias look so much better than stilletos.

 

[old.Hendrick]

I have 36+8 or so parry at the moment and I parry fairly often, meaning I get to land the reflection/whatever-> stun combo quite a lot. Apart from that, I rely on amethyst slash (lvl 29 anytime slash style), which serves me pretty well. I wouldn't bet my life on dragonfang as a mercenary. You will never have the dex and quickness an infiltrator has, and neither the chances to evade. Going for thrust in general isn't a bad choice, but chances on landing Dragonfang as a merc are fairly slim methinks.

My spec, as I told you, is

50 slash
44 dw
36 parry
9 shield

That works well for me, I parry pretty well, and will parry even more with mastery of parry and my MP jambiyas imbued. In general, you can always offset disadvantages of your spec by getting realm abilities (mastery of parry to enhance parry, Mastery of pain for more damage, duelists reflexes for better chance of a double swing).

 

[bilz]

Here's how i would do it, if i had to do it again...

50 Slash 50 DW 28 Parry .... Oh my, that's my current spec, and i wouldn't change it.

50 slash cos it gives higher dmg via style and weapon skill.
50 dw to have a higher chance to hit with the second weapon, and the 50 DW style is usable.
28 parry well... you can get the skill high enough with Mastery of Parry.

All in all, the stun style is good, no doubt there, BUT... the only time you'll really need it is when you meet someone and it's 1on1. in a FG vs FG you spend alot of time blitzing and running around doing high dmg styles (am slash + dia slash).

About the 50 thrust for a merc. You really dont evade enough for me to consider that style good for a merc. Parrying happens alot more than evade, unless you invest in a high dodger i guess. I might be mistaken since i'm not a thrust merc tho.

Regards
Bilz - 50th season Merc
Lords Of England

 

[old.mattshanes]

I would go damage over parry all the time in any offensive class,i am sure many plate wearers will tell you how hard i can hit i am 50/50/28 and i am doing very well and never will change it.

What race are you?if highlander stay slash if briton or sara thrust will be good,should be ok on briton since it's an all round race.

Also be warned the higher your DW the more you often you will hit an assasin or a class specced high in s/s so the fact being if you are not 44 DW at least do not bother playing the class

 

[Generic Poster]

The main advantage for going thrust, is for the bonus against Middie chain. I hear Mercs don't evade much to even consider Dragonfang.


If you insist on bringing Parry above 30, then this may work also:
45 Slash
36 Parry

It's only swapping one point, but you can have Parry at 50 and Slash at 60 by RR5. Nice rounded figures

 

[old.mattshanes]

I have 65 slash 62 dw 49 parry

 

[Generic Poster]

And you're still gimped

 

[j000 d000d]

Originally posted by old.mattshanes
I have 65 slash 62 dw 49 parry

Don't know if this is uber... depends on how much spare points you put in Crush

 

[old.mattshanes]

Originally posted by Generic Poster
And you're still gimped

Pfft duel me and see