What would you recommend to a brand new Warrior?

[Troxx]

Originally Posted by fortior [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Not to hijack your topic, but I don't think this deserves its own thread. I started a new warrior as well (18 iksar now) and someone gave me a Velium Swiftblade, so I'm currently using that in my offhand with the best ratio weapon I have in my main hand. I know good ratio high delay weapons profit the most from low-med haste, so I'm wondering whether I'd be better off selling the Swiftblade and going SCHW + staff of battle instead. The math says no (at least r/n), but I don't know how things are in the long term.

I used wurmslayer + velium swiftblade for a long time in my early levels. I worked the math on it and until around level 40, wurmslayer (or any high ratio 1hander) + swiftblade wins. Around level 40 downgrading the 36% haste to 21% FBSS and using a better offhand finally broke even and then passed it. I did not run the math for Staff of Battle and lesser haste, however, so take the above with a grain of salt. 25/40 Wurmslayer is a killer low level warrior weapon.

Velium swiftblade is an excellent choice for any DW melee's offhand until around level 40 unless you're twinking with a 30%+ haste item.

[Keen8]

Crustacean Shell Armor could be a possibility as well on the cheaper side of armor

[Troxx]

Wrapped Entropy Serpent Spine is tradable, procs at level 1, and is the strongest aggro weapon in the game (stronger threat than raid drops) with a proc combining 4 poison counters (1200 threat), blind (500ish?) and a debuff (300-450ish?) all rolled into one. At 11/23 the ratio isn’t stellar but a single proc will lock the mob like gorilla glue. Be aware that if not careful the blind can cause problems if you step back and nobody is in melee range - mob will potentially run off.

Infestation if you can manage it is simply amazing. Total aggro is less than WESS but the 9/18 ratio makes it a lot more reliable when procs are stingy. At 3 poison counters (900 threat) it’s very strong aggro - again better for raw threat than any mainhand weapon from NToV.

At 60 I use Infestation primary and either WESS or FB offhand.

[Jimjam]

Infestation + Frostbringer = velious warrior starter kit.

Before you get the infestation the venomous axe of the velium brood is a strong fashion choice (double axe) but be warned its not really an aggro weapon.

Don't get 2x obsidian shards, they will never stand up to threat from other late Kunark / velious weapons. They were barely passable early Kunark! There is an argument too offhand one from 16-20ish though.

[fortior]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Infestation + Frostbringer = velious warrior starter kit.

Before you get the infestation the venomous axe of the velium brood is a strong fashion choice (double axe) but be warned its not really an aggro weapon.

Don't get 2x obsidian shards, they will never stand up to threat from other late Kunark / velious weapons. They were barely passable early Kunark! There is an argument too offhand one from 16-20ish though.

Thanks for the update to my buying list fam

[Nixtar]

How does the mid level threat weapons like the Scorpis claw, Skean and Ykesha Scimitar stack up these days? Is it even worth sitting around kith for the scimitar, for example?

[Troxx]

Scorpikis has a very high threat proc but a disappointing ratio. When it procs it’s very good. When it doesn’t proc or before it procs, it’s no bueno. But ... if you don’t strike out on proc luck it will hold threat better than much higher ratio proc weapons that people use well into their 50s.

Skean is in a similar boat.

For those on a budget I’d recommend buying a frostbringer and relying on melee damage until it starts to proc. 50+ FB paired with offhand 14/28 snare whip should yield solid aggro on a tight budget.

Regarding infestation being the ‘starter kit’ ... I’d disagree. If it were not commonplace to dump mallet charges or puppet string charges on engage (a strictly p99 phenomenon), you’d see this weapon used by endgame raid tanks on raids. Infestation, with how poison counters work in this era, is higher primary hand threat than anything you’ll find raiding velious. The VP sword is close, but a little behind. I’m pretty sure WESS is the only weapon clearly stronger.

[Jimjam]

I meant more starter kit as essential for any beginning velious warrior.

I don't want to diwntalk the infestation.

I have just remembered it isn't a tenapenny drop anymore. Starter kit no longer?

[fortior]

What about budget iksar armor choices? Are you just SoL if you're in your 40-50s without 50k banked?

[polishanarchy]

Originally Posted by fortior [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What about budget iksar armor choices? Are you just SoL if you're in your 40-50s without 50k banked?

For armor, I'd basically just look for HP.

Platinum Fire Wedding Ring x2
Giant Scalemail Tunic
Giant Scalemail Leggings
Tar goo strands x2
Kylong War Helm
Orc Fang Earring x2
Iksar Hide Boots (yea)

This stuff isn't great, but it's cheap and good enough on a tiny budget. If you have the means for the gems, do plate house to get the Thurgadin BP+helmet. Do arena groups for Silver Steel Gauntlets, get CoV factioned and start rolling Scout for Bracer of Benevolence (2 if you're a lucky person).

I leveled my warrior in full trooper scale plus a Wurmslayer+Lamentation. At 46 or so I got Trochilic's Skean + Sarnak Warhammer for proc weapons. I quested the Wurmslayer/Trooper scale on my necro (low 50s at the time) mainly cuz I like questing. I was wearing garbage till 60 - got a few Legionnaire Scale pieces from hate that lasted till I was wearing HoT gear.

If I did it again I'd probably just level with a staff of battle while keeping up weapon skills with other cheap weapons. Again wouldn't worry about procs till the 40s.