Dual or SIngle

[XxArchAngelxX]

On my hunter should i dual-weild os should i use a 2h sword??

I am currently dual-weilding, and doing ok, and i have a pretty good sword for my lvl and axe,... but i am trying to find a cruel barb.. is there anywhere else to get besides the deadmines??

[Ganzu]

On my hunter I tried everything, Axe/Dagger til level 30, then 2hs til like 40 then 2ha then when I hit about 48, I went back Axe/Dagger... Still Axe/Dagger til this day.

I think it is mostly preference, If you want fast attacks then dual, but if you want slow strong then a 2handed.

[Samsara]

2H sword if you want to hurt them at melee, 2 weapons if you want stat bonuses. The Ed has spoken.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Samsara

2H sword if you want to hurt them at melee, 2 weapons if you want stat bonuses. The Ed has spoken.

id say get a good pet and keep a full bag of food stick with ranged and get duels or w/e that will do good dmg + bonus to AGI

[Ganzu]

I don't dual wield for stats. My 2 weapons Ripsaw and Satyr's Lash dont add stats

[Keletarise]

Speaking from Warrior experience - I would advise training in every single ability and weapon you can get your hands on. You never know what is going to drop. Doggedly sticking with one weapon/style is short sighted, and limiting. Kinda like a Warrior passing on an AGI boost "because we're about STR and STA". OK. Fine. If he really feels that way... But better Dodging, increased hit rates, and increased Crit %~age are great reasons to spec AGI in a Warrior... "Of the Tiger" were my favorite words in Green gear...




As far as Dual-Weild versus 2H: Blizzard has stated on the Warrior boards that they specifically engineered it all so that there is no statistical advantage between dualling and 2H as far as damage output. This is why the miss rate goes up so much when you dual. That's how Blizzard made the adjustment. If they hadn't, then everyone would Dual weild because that would be the most powerful attack possible. 2 readily available 25DPS swords, beating a difficult to find 45DPS 2H Axe.

In my experience, there is no clear cut advantage either way, and so I use it all depending on my mood and the situation. Using a 2 hander AND dualling is also a great way to stay skilled up on three different weapons with no added effort. So towards that end I use a weapon swapping macro that I pulled off the web. This allows me to 1-button cycle between Axe/Sword, Axe/Shield, and my 2H Mace. Handy... (*Especially since certain Warr attacks favor certain weapons/styles better than others - Swapping in mid-combat lets me take best advantage*)


There are some advantages to each - 2 handers are GREAT for the intimidation factor. You get Whalloped for 200~300 damage in one shot, or possibly double that on crits, it *really* gets your attention. Even if a dual weilder might be hitting you for the same amount of damage in the same amount of time, the 3 or 4 smaller shots just don't have the same impact...

But in my experience, dual weilding is more effective against spellcasters - Crits have a good chance to disrupt spells, and more swings = more potential crits. Also, the faster attack speeds allow you to time stuns and interrupts better. It's really really hard to interrupt a spell with a 2.5 second cast time when you're swinging a 3.5 second Monster. But if you have a *pair* of 2 second swords alternating?? You have a solid chance of administering that stun before the spell lets loose!


So it boils down to individual playstyle, and (more imporantly) what weapons you actually have in your pack. So don't pass on that Blue 1H Axe because you "Use a 2 hander for best melee". That axe and a decent offhand weapon could do more damage than the big slow weap... Or perhaps your 2 Hander does added fire damage, but you are fighting fire elementals.... Switching to something else could help in that situation. Or maybe you have some attacks that work better with certain weapon configurations or in certain situations than in others.


My bottom line advice? Learn it and use it - The stuff you find/buy can and will tip the balance back and forth as you develop your character and play the game.


Kel

[Final Warrior]

Wow... nice 'n long.

I dually'd fr quite a long time, going from 2 swords to sword/axe to 2 axes. I recently got my hands on the Illusionary Rod, which dealt more damage than both my axes combined, and so now I'm staffing. I just go with whatever, but I personally prefer dualling.

But then again, you are a hunter... shouldn't your pet be doing the whole melee thing?

[Beer $lut]

hunters should not melee hunters should duel wield stated items stop rolling on my weapons please=)

[dP]

I say dual wield, but my hunter always shoots.