Axe Vs Sword Spec
I’m trying to figure out whether Axe Spec or Sword Spec will do more DPS (for a Warrior, obviously). Can someone better at numbers than I check my math to see if it’s correct?
OK, let’s assume I’m playing a level 70 character with Weapon Skill maxed out (=P), no additional +hit, and 25% crit chance. I’m attacking a normal level 70 mob with 0 armor and normal defenses. If I recall the combat table correctly, that would mean I have a 5% chance to miss, 25% chance to crit, and a 70% chance to hit for a normal attack.
And just for grins, let’s use the weapon I want most in the game: Gorehowl. Gorehowl hits for between 345 and 518 each hit, so that gives us an average of 431.5 per hit. Let’s round it up to 432. (For the purposes of this comparison, I’m assuming that Gorehowl would receive both the Axe and Sword Spec bonus in their respective sections).
No Spec Bonus
Out of 1,000 swings, I would get the following results:
50 Misses - 0 DD (Damage Done)
700 Hits - 700 * 432 = 302,400 DD
250 Crits - 250 * (432 * 2) = 216,000 DD
For a total of 518,400 DD.
Axe Spec
Axe Spec gives an additional 5% crit chance with Axes. So that would give us these results:
50 Misses - 0 DD
650 Hits - 650 * 432 = 280,800 DD
300 Crits - 300 * (432 * 2) = 259,200
For a total of 540,000 DD.
Sword Spec
Sword Spec gives you a 5% chance to deal an extra attack after doing damage with your sword. That would give us the following results:
50 Misses - 0 DD
700 Hits - 700 * 432 = 302,400 DD
250 Crits - 250 * (432 * 2) = 216,000 DD
50 Extra Attacks
50 * 5% Miss Rate = 2 Misses (Rounding Down) = 0 Extra DD
50 * 25% = 12 Crits (Rounding Down) = 12 * (432 * 2) = 10,368 EDD
50 * 70 = 36 Hits (Rounding Up) = 36 * 432 = 15,552 EDD
For a total of 544,320 DD.
So, essentially there is very little difference between the two specs. I am surprised though that Sword Spec is better, even if it is just by a wee bit. I thought for sure I had heard that Axe Spec was better than Sword Spec. It’s possible that I made a mistake somewhere, but I’m fairly sure that the numbers are right. I’m going to have to look into this more closely.
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I swear, you must be psychic or something. I JUST started a toon to try as a warrior (Troll BTW. Racial regen FTW.
) and was wondering about this myself. Especially since the race I chose starts with an axe and I have to go over to UC to get Sword training. Admittedly tho, I always heard swords were better for two reasons tho…
1: Better enhancements on higher level swords.
2: MORE high level swords compared to axes.
Of course me, I’m going fury spec… I wanna dual wield!! ^_^
- Polecat
Always happy to be of service, Polecat =D
I realized after I wrote this that I had not put the mob’s blocks, dodges and parries in the numbers, but I don’t think it would change anything too drastically.
Ultimately, I think it just comes down to personal preference. I’m Axe/Polearm spec at the moment because those are the easiest/cheapest weapons for me to get right now. But as soon as I level my Blacksmithing a bit more, I’m gonna make me an epic sword and pwn some nubs with my extra attacks!