Blademaster Weapon Choice

Iterias - Heavens Tear

Okay, having read both stickies about Blademasters, I have come to a conclusion of using two weapons. I found Warmachine's guide lacking, because I'm not looking for Hammer/Axe Blademasters. Lyndura's guide had and has everything you need to know about the BM. So I read both of them, and they both answered a lot of questions, but still left one question un-answered:What weapon should I use?

My argument is that Lyndura pointed out I should start with Hammer/Axe. Let me tell you this, even though it's great and everything, I hate it. Looks bad. [Yes, that's what I said] The guide also said that Fists have a high DPS [But that's not what i'm looking for and Fists, I've heard, are for experienced players, which I'm not] , Polearms are relatively balanced, with stronger weapons, lower DEX, and a nice level 59 skills. [Glacial Spike] Sword is relatively weaker than the other classes, having a decent, but not adequate damage output, higher DEX requirements, but a high damage level 59 skill. [Myriad Sword Stance].

Back to my question: Which class should i start out with??

Polearm:
-Higher damage for basic strikes
-Has limited range [Better than none at all]
-Has an armor piercing debuff on its level 59 skill[Glacial Spike]
-Easier to level

OR

Sword
-Lower damage output
-No AOE except level 59 skill [Myriad Sword Stance], which is strongest of all level 59 skills
-More DEX than the Polearm

OR

Fist:
-Attacks up to 3 times faster than anyone else
-Hard to master
-Shines only at higher levels

I'm leaning towards the polearm side. Is there anyone to back up my decision, or criticize my position? by the way, if you ask my gameplay style, just assume I'm an average guy, playing I don't know...let's say 10-14 hours a week? [Student here] i also need some sort of way to fend off player killers. I don't point a weapon at anyone, I only retaliate to another person. Meaning, I don't need something heavily reliant on pvp, only something adequate enough to survive, or survive long enough to bore the pker out of his/her mind.

Thank you all.b:laugh

Iterias - Heavens Tear

By the way, I added Drake's Ray as a skill. It is currently level 1. Did I just make a huge mistake? Can I simply leave it in my skill bank and have enough Spirit to max other skills? Please tell me if I need/don't need for either Sword or Polearm build.

Joshcja - Sanctuary

hate to say it but axe IS the easyesy weaon to learn

ok pointers

1. stat for at least 2 weapons

2. swords have verry high damage skills 1v1 and dex isnt a drawback you NEED a bit of dex or your just a wannabe barb

3. poles are a a well balanced weapon verry fun to use but aoe'n properly with them is a bit tricky

4. drakes ray is wonderfull max this

easy thing for you to do 5/4/1 srt dex vit build...you can now use all 3 of your chosen weapons as you please

your on heavens tear so if you dont want to deal with pkr's just dont remove blue name

DarkKyrios - Sanctuary

Hi

I'm a pole BM since lvl 20 and is still using pole as my main path though am training up my sword path for tanking purposes and duels (though still thinks pole will help me more in duels and TW's soon since i got my zerk-pole blade for lvl95)
Overall i think pole is a balanced and cool path to take... if properly used one can aoe grind as efficiently as axe BM's... has been doing it for many lvls now and knows that it works. though weapon damage may be lil low compared to axes, our skill damage does somewhat make up for it to a certain extent. in terms of duels/Pk's poles kind of fend off pretty well when facing ranged classes... in terms of fighting close range opponents, we can do pretty well.
personally has beaten axe BMs that does higher damage than me (in terms of their physical attack stats), barbs that have more HP than me, archers that run around during their duels... and was about to kill a higher lvl wizard in a TW but he got backup to take me down...
Am not going against anybody here, or offending anyone... if anything i've said offends anyone i'm sorry... just sharing my opinion and experience in this weapon path.

wish you all the best

Iterias - Heavens Tear

I already have a set of skills in mind, but just to hear from another person and maybe learna few things, what skills would you suggest for a pure polearm only build? Are the stats 5 STR 2 DEX 3 VIT acceptable?

So now I need skills/stats.

WaffleChan - Sanctuary

Id stat for axe and pole, going off this dumb idea I had. It'd cost a ton, but lunar spear + TT90 axe = always having a chance for berserk to go off. Im sure there are other benefits, but I dont know the class well enough to say, hopefully someone will expand on it.

DarkKyrios - Sanctuary

well u might laugh at this but it's just me lol xDDD

i never did have any set rations of stat points to put in every 1 or 2 lvls like everyone else xDDDD
has been playing the way i want my character to... i put stats where i feel he lacks (if i miss often recently put in dex, if feels lil weak go for str) honestly my build is more like balanced, not hyper in any aspects but dont lack in any as well... i've always told my friends to follow their own heart and embrace their dreams (the way they build their characters), up until now i have not regretted on my build and may have even surpassed in doing what other BMs usually can't... not that i'm saying i'm the best... thinks anyone can be good.

having said that, i have to apologize that i can't help in providing a set template on where to place your stats... i just know that BM's don't need mag stats at all :P

in terms of skills...
u might want focus on Aeolian Blade and Farstrike (as soon as u can get it that is) you will love the damage of these when u are still low lvl... will continue to like them when u get higher ofcourse xDDDD
When it comes to AOE grinding that is a must in the future if u want to lvl faster... fan of flames, drake sweep, and meteor rush is a must... using pole to grind requires some skill though. lvl glacial spike and piercing winds only when u have extra coins + spirits.
Most importantly for BMs is Aura of Golden Bell, and Diamond Sutra... these 2 are the basics if u want to survive :P

this is just some of my opinions from my experience as a pure pole-arm user for some 73lvls by now... hopes it helps

ChaoticTears - Harshlands

DarkKyrios - Sanctuary wrote: »

well u might laugh at this but it's just me lol xDDD

i never did have any set rations of stat points to put in every 1 or 2 lvls like everyone else xDDDD
has been playing the way i want my character to... i put stats where i feel he lacks (if i miss often recently put in dex, if feels lil weak go for str) honestly my build is more like balanced, not hyper in any aspects but dont lack in any as well... i've always told my friends to follow their own heart and embrace their dreams (the way they build their characters), up until now i have not regretted on my build and may have even surpassed in doing what other BMs usually can't... not that i'm saying i'm the best... thinks anyone can be good.

Not just you lol I did the same. I never did bother reading the wall of text that is the guides.
Every level before adding stats I checked The Blacksmiths/tailor to see what stats I needed to add to get the next tier of items, and then the rest I added to where I felt I was lacking.

Escorian - Dreamweaver

umm ok first things first its not hard to play a fist bm all you need is good timing later in the game but thats not till lvl 60+ and the dps is crazy i steal agro from lvl 100 barbs at time. i say you should go fist bm.

Legendadry - Harshlands

your weapon choice does not matter. Again your weapon choice does not matter. Use w/e weapons u want because end game (lvl 90-and up) u should be able to use all weapons from each path. Your a blademaster, not a swordmaster or just an axe master or just a poleblade master. Each skill has it's advatanges and not choosing to learn one because a guide tells u so is fail. there are some skills that every BM needs to have regardless of skill path(i.e. Heavens Flame, Drakes Bash) and they're still other great skills to learn. (atmos strike for example to push mobs into a zhen point) Far Strike is a super great ranged skill as well. and if u go sage it becomes the strongest hard hitting skill not requireing a spark. Choose w/e weapon you want. by 90+ you should be able to use 3 if not all of the weapon paths.

Iterias - Heavens Tear

I understand, that's why it's called a Blademaster. I understand that I'll probably will max out a few other weapon paths, however, I won't be reaching a high level anytime soon, so I need somewhere to stay until I do. So should I go for a polearm or sword?

Legendadry - Harshlands

Iterias - Heavens Tear wrote: »

I understand, that's why it's called a Blademaster. I understand that I'll probably will max out a few other weapon paths, however, I won't be reaching a high level anytime soon, so I need somewhere to stay until I do. So should I go for a polearm or sword?

that's just up to u, it honestly does not matter. once u see some phys mobs that are easy to grind on get axe skills and aoe them to lvl up faster. thats' what every BM usually does regardless of path.

Soujiro_Z - Sanctuary

Legendadry - Harshlands wrote: »

your weapon choice does not matter. Again your weapon choice does not matter. Use w/e weapons u want because end game (lvl 90-and up) u should be able to use all weapons from each path. Your a blademaster, not a swordmaster or just an axe master or just a poleblade master. Each skill has it's advatanges and not choosing to learn one because a guide tells u so is fail. there are some skills that every BM needs to have regardless of skill path(i.e. Heavens Flame, Drakes Bash) and they're still other great skills to learn. (atmos strike for example to push mobs into a zhen point) Far Strike is a super great ranged skill as well. and if u go sage it becomes the strongest hard hitting skill not requireing a spark. Choose w/e weapon you want. by 90+ you should be able to use 3 if not all of the weapon paths.

AMEN b:thanks

Telarith - Sanctuary

Multi-weapon definitely. But for the purposes of just starting up:

Axe is easiest to understand. The posts/guides about them don't take much prior knowledge, and it plays relatively easy. Not heavily gear dependent, only worry is getting Berserk as the add on the weapon. AoE is best use for them, as 1 v 1 they kill slower for higher cost in mana without berserk procs.

Fists are the hardest to understand, but the simplest to play. Once you figure out how interval and speed buffs work, what all gets multiplied by the resulting attack rate, you pretty much just hit 2 buttons if you're tanking/grinding. On boss as tank, spark and normal attack. On mobs auto-attack with physical marrow usually. Quest grind might not use it. Every so often, Sutra. I stopped even doing the interrupt on hybrid monsters first cast, since it wastes more mana than it saves in health or mana.

Spear 59 pretty much sucks at basic level. The 50% debuff sounds nice, but most mobs don't have that high an armor value. 2.5K is what most bosses in TT have, so you're not going to have a huge drop. And that 2.5 only gives a small percent of damage reduction. You're taking a small portion of that resistance away, since decreasing returns of armor value means most of the protection comes from the early armor rating. Now if you can combine it with tangling mire, you can see a bit more effect. But just doing an extreme poison will likely do as much as a Glacial + Tangling on single target. And groups would rather you heaven's instead of a weaker damage amp that lags alot of people up. Also, it's very weak against people for PvP, since it only adds a -50% to their already buffed defenses.

Sword has a great 59 skill, useful for protecting your group during a dropped aggro, or other unforseen problem. Also, sword has a very inexpensive berserk TT weapon, making it easy to get it early on. Also, the lvl 88 mold Brahma's Lash is a good non-berserk weapon to use for basic damage when you aren't going for highest hits possible.

Sword and axe would be a good combo if you don't want to be locked into specific gear, and you don't want to deal too much damage in general. It gives you the two best 59 skills, and focuses you on weapon paths that can get you the cheap berserk, and high damage AoE berserk. If you need more AoE/ranged, add in spears later on. If you like the quick chi and high over-all damage, add in fists.

DarkKyrios - Sanctuary

Legendadry - Harshlands wrote: »

your weapon choice does not matter. Again your weapon choice does not matter. Use w/e weapons u want because end game (lvl 90-and up) u should be able to use all weapons from each path. Your a blademaster, not a swordmaster or just an axe master or just a poleblade master. Each skill has it's advatanges and not choosing to learn one because a guide tells u so is fail.

That is true, as u gain more experience in being a BM u should be able to determine on alternate paths that u would like to consider depending on your play style... I do however think that it's a good idea to stick with a main path/build in the beginning, it may be lil hard to be lvl multiple paths, but making one path main and strong will really help... not to say multi path to start with is impossible, just that i personally think for beginners in this class its better to master one for time being.
There are many good skills in all the paths... playing a poleblade for this long, i'm taking on swords, and in the future fist, but thats just me b:victory

but for starters to get a feel of being BM, should try pole blade or axes... thats just my view. If u think u can handle it, go for swords and fist. I do have a friend however kind of regretted being sword main to begin with when he's lvl70+ mainly cause swords can't AOE grind that efficiently...

well good luck b:victory