39 crush/50 dw/42 parry -OR- 50 crush/50 dw/28 parry and reasons (or other spec suggestions)

The only difference in your specs is, that one of those has more parry and therefore less basedmg. The variance shud be none for both with a good templated SC.

If you are planning to use DW-styles only you should go for the first spec. If not, go for the second one.

I agree, only the style damage of the weapon spec line increases past 50 (up to RR4) or 51 (RR5 or higher) composite spec, not its base damage. Theoretically, even 36 would be enough, considering the fact that you'll cap out of Thidranki at 4L2 (36 + 11 + 3 = 50 at RR4, 36 + 11 + 4 = 51 at RR5).

Have you considered a hybrid shield spec to be able to slam? I know it won't be much use in 8v8 RvR as a non-defensive tank, but neither will parry... people don't usually tear down an assist train from the front (and the only defense you have that's NOT front-only is your evasion anyway).

39 weapon, 50 DW, 42 shield for sure, crush or not.

Copy pasted from a previous thread I made, and edited for correctness since I was proven wrong several times:

As it was stated, anything over 50 in wep spec is useless unless you use styles there.

You should also note, the parry cap is 50%. You get very close to this cap at 5L0 45.5% for a highlander. Assuming you have base buffs and have item caps.

My merc spec once I hit 50 will be

50 Dual Weild

42 Shields

36 Thrust

19 Parry

/switch 4011 Space (Switch to shield)

/qbind 2 3 1 Shift+Space (Slam)

I will go thrust. Aiming for a 4.2 main hand and 3.8 offhand, but will go for a slower one if I can find, then of coarse a faster to match. Remember, the merc swing speed is the weapons added together then halved. 4.0 would put me close to 2.0 which I deem acceptable for the extra instantaneous damage. Its not often your target stands still in RvR.

Finally I will be taking advantage of the full respec at 40, instead of waiting till 48. You lose 23 points, which equates to a .5% parry chance. Its acceptable for me playing a light tank not intended for a fair fight. Numb/Slam kill them while stunned. Assuming they don't all get messed by a sorc where I would just open with a slam and rape face with my group.

PolloJackk wrote:/switch 4011 Space (Switch to shield)

You can not bind shieldswitching to keys like you can/could on live afaik. It's gotta be manual.

PolloJackk wrote:Finally I will be taking advantage of the full respec at 40, instead of waiting till 48.

Also incorrect if you ask me, it's a single line respec if I remember right.

No shield switching? Eh, it works on the previous freeshards I tried.

The respec doesn't have to be full since I am changing from wep, but thanks for another correction.

Uthgard isn't like other freeshards we are special

I assumed the shield/wep switch was client based, while the server kept track of where the items were.

i assume you wont reach 2,0 combatspeed without buffs.

Aiming for 4,2 mainhand + 3,8 offhand will make you attack with 4,0 frequency when swinging both weapons and 4,2/3,8 depending on what weapon you swing if hitting unstyled, plus having a 4,2 delay on maihand hits only.

also, you might be able to modify your combatspeed with buffs, but you wont be able to reach great combatspeed unless you have extraordinary quickness like assassins do, for example.

Yes, its assuming I have a 20% haste buff.

But hell, I may just stop playing my merc all together if I can't use a shield.

PolloJackk wrote:Yes, its assuming I have a 20% haste buff.

But hell, I may just stop playing my merc all together if I can't use a shield.

It just requires a little more effort, a lot more getting used to and a bigger reward when you finally get it in the end.

I wasn't keen on it either when I started RvRing with my BM, but now that I manage to do it fairly quick I just love it. Especially since it's not just a button but actually requires you to be swift in your actions.
You cant afford to click any styles in succession to switching though.

Meh I don't really consider drag and drop to be a skill as much of a hindrance.

PolloJackk wrote:Meh I don't really consider drag and drop to be a skill as much of a hindrance.

I consider it a skill just as I consider it a skill to switch weapons as an assassin to poison swap