Around the 20s you're going to start losing your ability to beat stuff down solo and you'll most likely need to start grouping until you get your first percussion DoT (level 30 or 31). For grouping the EBW is in my opinion the best bard weapon pre-planes. A SSoY Will give around the same DPS until it starts to proc, and by then you'll either be grouping and not want the aggro or kiting and not using melee, so a Yak isn't really worth the money for a bard if you ask me. Sharkjaw Cutlasses aren't bad if you like to see big hits but the DPS overall is still lower than the EBW. I'd also advise staying away from Obsidian Shards... they don't have very good dps at all, they're just good for pulling aggro with the proc. At 28 you can work your 1hb up with a staff of writhing if you don't mind the cha hit, but by around 35 the EBW will have passed it again in DPS.
Conclusion: Go with a second EBW, you won't regret it
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