Best Weapon for a Swordmage?

[Rechan]

Title says it all.

What is the best weapon for a Swordmage to use?

Since he needs his off hand to be free to get that fat +3 to AC, I would assume the best weapon would be a one-handed weapon.

When considering this question, I want to point out two things.

1) The Swordmage is not limited to light and heavy blades, he merely is proficient in those. You can take feats for other weapons.

2) With that said, the Swordmage uses light and heavy blades as his implement. So even if you picked up a maul, you'd still need some sort of blade to carry out your implement-keyword powers.

 

[aurance]

Depends on how you want to build him.

In no order:

- Bastard sword, for power accuracy and defense.

- Scimitar, for higher DPR at paragon+ levels (although it's incredibly difficult to arrange a suitable ability array for Scimitar Dance, for a swordmage). Alternatively, fullblade for offense to spare you the crazy stat requirements of scimitar.

- Glaive, if you want reach.

- Long sword, if you are going to multiclass from Wizard.

 

[Rechan]

Glaive, if you want reach.

But a glaive is two-handed. So you lose your +3 to AC.

- Long sword, if you are going to multiclass from Wizard.

This one, I don't get. What does a longsword have to do with a wizard?

 

[aurance]

The +3 AC option is just an option. Some people prefer to use a two handed weapon anyway, for reach or harder hitting Aegis of Assault. Afterall you still get the +1 to AC. It's up to you.

Long sword can be used as an implement for both wizard spells and swordmage spells, if you take the Wizard of the Spiral Tower paragon path.

 

[1of3]

Spiked Shield and free off-hand. Full Swordmage Warding AND shield bonus to AC. It's an Implement, too.

 

[aurance]

Spiked Shield and free off-hand. Full Swordmage Warding AND shield bonus to AC. It's an Implement, too.

Ahh yes, this too, for maximum defense.

 

[That One Guy]

..soo... the ultimate cheese hand-jiving would be quickdrawing a Full blade off of the ground, moving, attacking, dropping it, and then repeating. Possibly trying to quickdraw a parrying dagger or spiked shield at the end would be cumbersome, but more effective for the cheese. (Granted, multiples would have to be carried)

Please note, this was suggested with a sad sad grin. While pretty much legal, I would try to impale a person with their own dice if they tried it.

In seriousness, khopesh, bastard, and longsword seem like sound options. If one has a free feat, Bastard is probably one of the best options. Khopesh is a decent weapon, and it's a paragon feat away from high crit (assuming a strong Str/Con swordmage). A brutal 1, high crit, versatile +2 Prof, 1D8 is quite nice combined with HBO & Booming Blade for fun. Free action to change hand usage, so +1 damage all the time. While scimitar dance would be a good feat, the Dex 17 is pretty much impossible for the swordmage without gimping oneself.

 

[Mirtek]

Title says it all.

What is the best weapon for a Swordmage to use?

Since he needs his off hand to be free to get that fat +3 to AC, I would assume the best weapon would be a one-handed weapon.

When considering this question, I want to point out two things.

1) The Swordmage is not limited to light and heavy blades, he merely is proficient in those. You can take feats for other weapons.

If you use other weapons you completly lose your swordmage warding, you won't even get the reduced +1 warding anymore.

 

[Ravingdork]

..soo... the ultimate cheese hand-jiving would be quickdrawing a Full blade off of the ground, moving, attacking, dropping it, and then repeating. Possibly trying to quickdraw a parrying dagger or spiked shield at the end would be cumbersome, but more effective for the cheese. (Granted, multiples would have to be carried)

I don't think you can quick draw an item that is on the ground--only those items on your person.

 

[Cadfan]

..soo... the ultimate cheese hand-jiving would be quickdrawing a Full blade off of the ground, moving, attacking, dropping it, and then repeating. Possibly trying to quickdraw a parrying dagger or spiked shield at the end would be cumbersome, but more effective for the cheese. (Granted, multiples would have to be carried)

Please note, this was suggested with a sad sad grin. While pretty much legal, I would try to impale a person with their own dice if they tried it.

The real problem is that you don't get the +3 ac if you aren't wielding anything at all. You have to be wielding a one handed blade.

Seriously, a longsword works just fine. A fair amount of your powers won't use your weapon's bonus, so its not that big of a deal. If you have to, you can cheese it up with a handjive. If you intend to hand jive, a two handed weapon (greatsword) provides basically no advantage at all, so just stick with the versatile weapon.