Keen vs. Improved Critical vs. Keen Edges vs. Scabbard of Keen Edges

[GakToid]

Keen vs. Improved Critical vs. Keen Edges vs. Scabbard of Keen Edges

Which is better in 3.5?

Keen costs 6,000 to 38,000 depending on when it was added to the weapon.
Improved Critical costs a feat. Most characters get between 7 and 18 feats.

Which is better for someone with only 7 feats available to them? (non fighters)
Which is better for someone with 18 feats available to them? (fighters)
Which is better for someone with the spell keen edges available to them? (sorcerers/wizards)

How does the availability of the spell keen edges or the wondrous item scabbard of keen edges affect the value?

Feel free to define 'better' as you see fit. (lower cost, more flexibility, etc)

-Gak Toid

 

[Korak]

Even on melee builds with 12+ feats I prefer a gp based option to blowing a feat. The +1 property and/or the scabbard are quite affordable. There is no way I would spend a feat on improved critical as a caster, even a cleric or wizard archer type. Their feats are just too precious when the cheap alternative is there.

 

[Zad]

Based on my personal opinions:

1. Gold is more plentiful than feats. Therefore I prefer to solve such problems with gold.

2. Keen can be worth a few thousand but given the way that weapon costs scale exponentially, it's not a good idea to put it on the weapon.

3. Therefore the most economical solution is probably on a stand-alone item.

The scabbard of keen edges is a good example or heck just a wand. Probably the most economical solution is for the party wizard/sorcerer to cast it each day for you. Use a metamagic rod of extension to increase the duration. Third level slots will be fairly common around the mid-game and later so it shouldn't be too big a burden. Failing that, I'd go to the scabbard if possible.

If you're a feat-heavy class, and you're thinking long term and you're a melee fighter, then the feat is an option since it's a prerequisite for some fancy epic level feats.

 

[Darklone]

Improved Critical is better in antimagic fields. In every other scenario, Keen Edge wins as long as you have the time to use it.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

IMO you're always better off using the feat: feats > items.

Of course, if you're an eldritch knight with several keen edge spells prepared, you might want to use the spell instead.

 

[CrimsonTemplar]

Based on my experience with LG the Scabbard of Keen Edges doesn't show up often, so I'd lean towards Improved Critical feat or the Keen enhancement.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Well, Improved Critical is the only option above that works with Bless Weapon.

So Improved Critical is better if you're a paladin or a fighter with a Sacred Scabbard. (Or if you use a lot of Oil of Bless Weapon).

Keen also doesn't work with bludgeoning weapons. So, if you're a warhammer, light flail, greatclub, heavy flail, light hammer, club, light mace, or heavy mace specialist, Improved Crit is the choice for you.

Other than that, I'd probably go for the Keen weapon.

The scabbard of Keen Edges takes a round to activate so I'd put that last on the list for utility. It and the spell, however, have their place for fighters who routinely switch between weapons based upon the combat. In that case, it's not the scabbard vs. one keen enhancement or one feat but the scabbard vs. many enhancements or many feats.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Fighters should pretty much always take Improved Critical, since they've got the feats to spare on it. Every other class would need to think much more carefully, but if it really fits the characters (eg a Rogue/Archer type) then go for it. It's almost impossible to take a feat away from someone, and that makes it very valuable.

 

[Eltern]

If you've the house rule that Imp. Crit and Keen provide different kind of bonuses (IMC), then fighters always take Imp. Crit.