Waraxe vs Bastard Sword

[Mistaarrow]

I'm starting a Ranger and im not sure if i want to use the Waraxe or the Bastard sword. The Waraxe is a +2 prof with 1d12 dmg, and the Bastard sword is a +3 prof with 1d10 dmg. The trouble I'm having is that idk if dmg or hit rating is better for Rangers. Please help me =D

 

[Mad Hamish]

Generally +3 to hit is better than the extra damage but it varies a bit depending on the situation.
Long term for a character the static bonuses to damage are a bigger factor than the damage dice so the extra to hit works out better.

Saying that either weapon is quite playable and both have good feat support for the character later on so it's really more about what you want to use than the stats.

 

[nnms]

Generally speaking, accuracy is better than damage. But if you've got a good attack bonus, you can get by with the +2 weapon. It also depends on whether or not you have someone in your party handing out bonuses to hit and/or combat advantage.

 

[Obryn]

With a Ranger, I'd be tempted to go Waraxe for a few reasons.

(1) With two attacks, accuracy is not as much of a concern.
(2) With extra critical hits, larger damage dice are great.
(3) The Deadly Axe feat will make those waraxes high crit in paragon tier.

-O

 

[Mistaarrow]

well with the Waraxe I'm at a total of +17 to attack rolls. Is that good for lvl 11 or should i bump it to 18?

 

[BobTheNob]

I'm starting a Ranger and im not sure if i want to use the Waraxe or the Bastard sword. The Waraxe is a +2 prof with 1d12 dmg, and the Bastard sword is a +3 prof with 1d10 dmg. The trouble I'm having is that idk if dmg or hit rating is better for Rangers. Please help me =D

It doesnt really matter how your crunch it, +1 to hit is always better. Not only is it that better chance that an effect triggers, but when it comes to damage, if you dont really focus on big cranking amount of damage, that +1 to hit will also yeild more damage over the long run!

But dont forget the critical factor. d12 means bigger max damage = bigger crits. Then get the deadly axe feat! Now the damage is getting ahead, as your paragon has a +2d12 on top of all other damage. Then go and get yourself a "Jagged" weapon, where you can crit on a 19-20.

Now your damage is ticking ahead a bit...but only a bit.

 

[nookiemonster]

When using melee basic attacks, most weapons are about the same.

Axe, +2, 1d12
Sword, +3, 1d10 damage

From what I've read, it's generally assumed by the designers that PCs hit about 60% of the time. If we assume that the Waraxe hits on 10 on a d20 (55%), and the Bastard Sword hits on 9 (60%), the average damage looks like this:


Waraxe: ((1x12)+(10x6.5)+(9x0))/20 = 3.85 damage per attack on average.
Bastard Sword: ((1x10)+(11x5.5)+(8x0))/20 = 3.525 damage per attack on average.

Against lower AC targets, the axe tends to be better. Against high AC targets, the sword tends to be better.

If there is some kind of special benefit applied to hitting, the calculation changes totally. Rogues with daggers are using only a d4 weapon, but that doesn't matter because it's just a method of delivering bonus damage dice. For a ranger with the Hunter's Quarry, I'd go with the sword.

 

[DracoSuave]

It's easier for a ranger to meet current and future feat requirements for a heavy blade than it is for an axe. Dexterity is something you want anyways, and it makes you less MAD.

HBO + Twin Strike is way cool, dude.

 

[Shin Okada]

For a heroic tier ranger, my choice of weapon is one Jagged Double Axe. It is much cheaper than to buy 2 weapons. Don't forget to take Deadly Axe feat and maybe Devastating Critical also.

Unless you want become a very versatile melee/ranged ranger, you can actually drop your Dex and instead take armor proficiency feats for wearing heavy armor. There are a lot of good magic armors which does not hamper your movement, especially at paragon+ tiers. Also, high initiative bonus is not that much important for a striker. Often, a melee striker should move AFTER your party controllers and defenders done their first job.

 

[SkullThrone]

But dont forget the critical factor. d12 means bigger max damage = bigger crits. Then get the deadly axe feat! Now the damage is getting ahead, as your paragon has a +2d12 on top of all other damage. Then go and get yourself a "Jagged" weapon, where you can crit on a 19-20.

Now your damage is ticking ahead a bit...but only a bit.

Rather than Jagged, I'd go with a lv 12 +3 Vicious Waraxe (with Deadly Axe Feat), weapon damage is d12 + 2d12 (Paragon High Crit) + 3d12 (+3 Vicious) = 6d12 with an At-Will on a Crit...I do see the desire to Crit on the 19-20 as its all the bonus Crit dmg that matter, so crit'ng more often even if its not a d12 per plus probably out ways the Vicious damage bonus.

In any case I'd go WarAxe over Bastard Sword.