Best and worst weapon choices?

[Rhawkas]

Having played through quite a bit of the game and explored all but the stormy area in the NE corner of the map, I've noticed that some weapon types are a lot more common than others. Looking through my loot (I hoard 1 of every item, unless I'm using more), the results are kind of unbalanced.

Most Unique Weapons: One-handed swords (I've found 7)
Soulbound Weapons: 1h sword (Watcher only), pollaxe (barbarian, druid, fighter), dagger (paladin, priest, rogue), arquebus (chanter, ranger, wizard)
Least Unique Weapons: Haven't found any battle axes or maces so far. There may be a mace, but I wasn't able to take it.

What are the thoughts of others on this? I get that there's a theme they're going for, but it sucks for people starting out that don't know this and choose something they think is cool only to have very few options for it. At least in Baldur's Gate 2 when choosing katanas as a weapon proficiency it told you that they were uncommon weapons.

[76561198046838937]

There's a fiery one handed Axe from Magrans temple. I wish I could find a complimentary axe that does similar damage so I could duel wield.

[Yaldabaoth]

And then the best 1h weapon in BG2 was... a katana.
Joke aside, I found a legendary battle axe late in the game, 2 hatchets, i think a mace... but it really only matters for devoted fighters who have to choose one weapon. For everyone else it doesn't matter at all, the weapon skills are very minor and often don't benefit you at all. Unlike BG2 where weapon proficiency was absolutely necessary. Some more variety would have been nice though. I've not found an estoc or an arbalest I think (I didn't look for them either).

[Bijat]

I think If we talking normal specialized weapons specialation dont matter mutch. Most of them wont be used. Like dubble attack speed for 2 pen? Mathematicly its allmost Never useful. While some are op. Like greatsword. -15 accuracy for +50% dmg, can be verry useful for alot.

So then i think its ok with The unbalance.

But devoted The fighter sub class can be rly fked by this.

Gotta say sabre seems best overall uniques tho.

[Wlerin]

At level 17, I've yet to see a regular Superb+ rapier, either sold in shops or dropped from enemies, and on top of that while there are two uniques that can be upgraded to legendary, one of them sucks and the other you're likely to miss if you play a diplomatic character (like I usually do). My current main character is a Rapier-Devoted Skald, so... long story short I'm glad the wiki finally updated the location of that other unique, or I would probably have finished the game wielding a Fine Rapier.

That said since you *can* upgrade and customise unique weapons, it makes sense that there aren't that many of them per type (except for Swords and Sabres, which seem to be everywhere). Just, save before doing so, because it isn't always clear which enchantments are mutually exclusive, and there's no way to undo your decision besides reloading.

Bijat: There's several talents that give a boost when using a proficient weapon. Of course if you aren't Devoted you can just grab the right proficiency on level up.

[wendigo211]

The best one handed weapon for a Devoted seems to be the warhammer and mace. Warhammer because it deals 2 damage types and has high penetration. The mace because it also had high penetration and can damage armor. Basically if you want a weapon that you're going to be using through the whole game, it should be a weapon that can hurt everything.
The warhammer is that weapon, there are a couple mace resistant enemies.

They're also poorly represented weapons in the game, I've found a couple of enchantable maces and there is a soulbound one but you need a hefty Int and Res to claim it. I've only found one enchantable warhammer, The Last Word (In the temple with all the traps), and I'm running out of game.

However, you don't really need enchantable weapons even on PotD, the blue superb weapons are good enough. I've even found a couple blue legendaries.

[Morgian]

I found only one soulbound weapon, the magistrate's cudgle, a mace (nice weapon, wielded it on my main till the end). There were more weapons in stores, but I could not afford them at the time. The others were:
Sword: Gladiator's Sword, Griffin's blade, Kapana Taga
Sabre: Tarn's respite, Min's fortune, Aldris blade, Beza's toothed blade, Animancer's energyblade
Rapier: ---
Stiletto: Azure blade
Dagger: Pukestabber
Hatchet: Acolyte's frostbite
Axe: Magran's favor
Flail: Sungrazer
Warhammer: Last word
Mace: Magistrate's cudgel (sb)
Spear: Kahua Hozi, Mohora Tanga
Estoc: Engoliero de Espirs
Greatsword: Effort, Voidwheel
Pollaxe: Wahai Poraga
Pike: Lance of the Midwood stag
Quarterstaff: Chromoprismatic quarterstaff, Streetsweeper
Blunderbuss: Kitchen stove, Xefal's empirical explication
Pistol: Thundercrack
Arquebuse: ---
Crossbow: Fleetbreaker
Arbalest: ---
Hunting bow: Aamiina's legacy
War bow: Veilpiercer, Frostseeker
Wand: A whale of a wand
Scepter: Amaliorra
Rod: Rod of the Deephunter, Amira's wing

Some of the enchantments are nice, but since you find blue legendaries in the late game, you have to decide if and which you want to enchant. The special abilities are usually cheap, but getting one from exceptional to legendary costs a lot of cash. I could afford to upgrade 5 all told.

[Rhawkas]

Originally posted by Morgian:

One Handed
Sword: Gladiator's Sword, Griffin's blade, Kapana Taga, Watcher's Blade, Whispers of Yenwood, Modwyr (SB, can be changed to unique after doing the quest), Duskfall
Sabre: Tarn's Respite, Min's Fortune, Aldris Blade, Beza's Toothed Blade, Animancer's Energyblade, Grave Calling, Sasha's Singing Scimitar
Rapier: Rannig's Wrath, Squid's Grasp
Stiletto: Azure blade
Dagger: Pukestabber, Lovers Embrace, Marux Amanth (SB)
Hatchet: Acolyte's Frostbite, Xoti's Sickle, Vion-ceth
Battle Axe: Magran's Favor
Flail: Sungrazer, Endre's Flog of Obedience, Skullcrusher, Sun and Moon
Warhammer: Last word, Resounding Call
Mace: Magistrate's Cudgel (SB)
Spear: Kahua Hozi, Mohora Tanga, Stalker's Patience
Club: Shattered Vengeance

Two-Handed
Estoc: Engoliero de Espirs, Eager Blade
Greatsword: Effort, Voidwheel, Queen's Rule, Distraho
Pollaxe: Wahai Poraga, Lord Darryn's Voulge (SB)
Pike: Lance of the Midwood Stag
Quarterstaff: Chromoprismatic Quarterstaff, Streetsweeper, Fampyr Quarterstaff, The Spine of Thicket Green
Morning Star: The Willbreaker, Saru-Sichr

Guns
Blunderbuss: Kitchen Stove, Xefal's Empirical Explication, Hand Mortar, Fire in the Hole
Pistol: Thundercrack, Scordeo's Trophy
Arquebus: Blightheart (SB), Dragon's Dowry

Bows
Crossbow: Fleetbreaker
Arbalest: Spearcaster
Hunting bow: Aamiina's Legacy
War bow: Veilpiercer, Frostseeker, St. Omaku's Mercy

Magic
Wand: A Whale of a Wand
Scepter: Amaliorra, The Eye of Wael
Rod: Rod of the Deephunter, Amira's Wing

Updated with the ones I've found.

[Aranador]

How do monk fists stack up ?

[Wlerin]

That soulbound dagger (Marux Amanth) is nice for killing things with crazy high HP (assuming you can hit them reliably). Used it to finish off the Kraken.

[Rhawkas]

Originally posted by Aranador:

How do monk fists stack up ?

At level 20 my multiclass Shattered Pillar Monk/Devoted Fighter's fists are at 27-36 with 13 penetration. With the two sabers (her selected weapon) I've picked out for her (Grave Calling (Legendary) and Min's Fortune (Exceptional)) the damage is 28-40 with 13 penetration and 24-35 with 11 penetration. Accuracy is 97 unarmed, 98 with Grave Calling main hand and 91 with Min's Fortune in the off hand.

If you're looking for how monk fists compare though, you may want to try and find an actual comparison analysis that someone's probably done.

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by Rhawkas:

One Handed
Sword: Gladiator's Sword, Griffin's blade, Kapana Taga, Watcher's Blade, Whispers of Yenwood, Modwyr (SB, can be changed to unique after doing the quest), Duskfall
Sabre: Tarn's Respite, Min's Fortune, Aldris Blade, Beza's Toothed Vlade, Animancer's Energyblade, Grave Calling, Sasha's Singing Scimitar
Rapier: Rannig's Wrath, Squid's Grasp
Stiletto: Azure blade
Dagger: Pukestabber, Lovers Embrace, Marux Amanth (SB)
Hatchet: Acolyte's Frostbite, Xoti's Sickle, Vion-ceth
Battle Axe: Magran's Favor
Flail: Sungrazer, Endre's Flog of Obedience, Skullcrusher, Sun and Moon
Warhammer: Last word, Resounding Call
Mace: Bardatto's Luxury, Magistrate's Cudgel (SB)
Spear: Kahua Hozi, Mohora Tanga, Stalker's Patience
Club: Shattered Vengeance

Two-Handed
Estoc: Engoliero de Espirs, Eager Blade
Greatsword: Effort, Voidwheel, Queen's Rule, Distraho
Pollaxe: Wahai Poraga, Lord Darryn's Voulge (SB)
Pike: Lance of the Midwood Stag
Quarterstaff: Chromoprismatic Quarterstaff, Streetsweeper, Fampyr Quarterstaff, The Spine of Thicket Green
Morning Star: The Willbreaker, Saru-Sichr

Guns
Blunderbuss: Kitchen Stove, Xefal's Empirical Explication, Hand Mortar, Fire in the Hole
Pistol: Thundercrack, Scordeo's Trophy, Eccea's Arcane Blaster
Arquebus: Blightheart (SB), Dragon's Dowry

Bows
Crossbow: Fleetbreaker
Arbalest: Spearcaster
Hunting bow: Aamiina's Legacy
War bow: Veilpiercer, Frostseeker, St. Omaku's Mercy

Magic
Wand: A Whale of a Wand
Scepter: Amaliorra, The Eye of Wael
Rod: Rod of the Deephunter, Amira's Wing

Updated with a couple more in my inventory.

[Aranador]

Originally posted by Rhawkas:

Originally posted by Aranador:

How do monk fists stack up ?

At level 20 my multiclass Shattered Pillar Monk/Devoted Fighter's fists are at 27-36 with 13 penetration. With the two sabers (her selected weapon) I've picked out for her (Grave Calling (Legendary) and Min's Fortune (Exceptional)) the damage is 28-40 with 13 penetration and 24-35 with 11 penetration. Accuracy is 97 unarmed, 98 with Grave Calling main hand and 91 with Min's Fortune in the off hand.

If you're looking for how monk fists compare though, you may want to try and find an actual comparison analysis that someone's probably done.

Thank you. Even that anectodal account is more than enough to suggest the fists do not become complete rubbish, and remain a viable alternative, without being dominant or irrelevant. Happy trails !

[IlluminaZero]

Really wish I knew about the backer campaign so I could finance a Pollaxe -> Spear in that order. (Depending on possibility and price). In general there is a huge overrepresentation of Swords, Sabres, and Greatswords. I would likely even go so far as to try to name the Pollaxe "sword breaker" to represent my frustration at this.

In any case it seems that with how the mechanics are designed that Two-handed weapons are inherently inferior to dual wielding? With the flat armor bonus of POE1 two-handers at least had an inherent penetration bonus. With POE2 tho there doesn't seem to be anything to compensate the huge attack rate bonus of dual wielding or the accuracy bonus of one handed.

And the absurd thing is that dual wielding increasing attack rate has never made any sense anyways. What kind of ♥♥♥♥♥♥ attacks with only their arms with their torso facing forward? You swing with your entire body. If anything two-hander weapons should be faster due to needing minimal motion for equivalent leverage.

1H weapons already should have a massive bonus in shield use to compensate. Dual wielding should be rightfully represented as an idiot's buckler - As the dagger modal implies.

[Azrell]

Originally posted by illuminazero:

Really wish I knew about the backer campaign so I could finance a Pollaxe -> Spear in that order. (Depending on possibility and price). In general there is a huge overrepresentation of Swords, Sabres, and Greatswords. I would likely even go so far as to try to name the Pollaxe "sword breaker" to represent my frustration at this.

In any case it seems that with how the mechanics are designed that Two-handed weapons are inherently inferior to dual wielding? With the flat armor bonus of POE1 two-handers at least had an inherent penetration bonus. With POE2 tho there doesn't seem to be anything to compensate the huge attack rate bonus of dual wielding or the accuracy bonus of one handed.

And the absurd thing is that dual wielding increasing attack rate has never made any sense anyways. What kind of ♥♥♥♥♥♥ attacks with only their arms with their torso facing forward? You swing with your entire body. If anything two-hander weapons should be faster since due to needed minimal motion for equivalent leverage.

1H weapons already should have a massive bonus in shield use to compensate. Dual wielding should be rightfully represented as a idiot's buckler - As the dagger modal implies.

I found a soul-bound pollaxe. Does lighting dmg or something. I gave it to the water guy then never really used him again.