1H + Shield

[absurdist]

I've seen varying testimonials and ideas about how viable 1H + Shield is in PVP 1v1, 1v2, etc.

You guys who are getting it to work for you: please list if you will some of your tactics and reasons backing why you believe 1H + Shield is viable vs just running the standard 2H/Pole.

[Gammabeam]

While polearms and 2H have much higher range as 1H weapons, they have disadvantages in close combat fights. You're more likely to hit your comrades than anything else and they are slow. So you need to aim proper or lose alot dps if you miss your target.

Shield tactics is based always on proper parrying of slow weapons and fast counters with the 1H. Especially polearms are VERY easy to block if you have good timing. Alot player play their polearm like on autoshoot since they constantly hammer their attack button. So one swing follows right after the other. With proper timing you can block most incomming hits.

Point with parry is, the faster your 1H the better you can parry stuff. Since you need to wait for weapon cooldown to get your shield up. And DF simply don't queue keys, so your really ! have to wait to get the shield up...

This limits your time window for counter attacks quite bad, since time diffrences are not that huge. However with adding a sidestep you still might be able to land a counter attack without getting hit. Just a matter of your skills.

Especially dagger user can VERY easy parry incoming hits from slow weapons, since they don't have to draw a shield for that and have 0.9 speed so very little cooldowns for next attacks. I see people with slow weapons regulary pwned by dagger users.

Shield is a must have against arrow threats. While it active can block arrows, it does so also passive reduce damage very well. However 1H/shield is of course a defensive stance. And if you don't need to care whom you hit and got a good timing, your well off with 2H. Just don't miss too often, or you'll get slaughtered.

For a tank role shield is an absolute must have, since you can decide what stat you burn, HP or stammina. There is very little damage bleed though the shield. like 5% maybe wich result in 1-2 damage usually. So you mainly burn stammina with a shield up. But don't do damage of course.

[absurdist]

Most common complaints I see from 1H + Shield users is that theoretically when you go to swing at your opponent, he swings back at you in the same time frame, hitting you for like 1.5x - 2x more damage and the shield never coming into play. Saying that 1H are not fast enough to get a quick strike in after a parry.

[Drekor]

1H+Shield is good in a no lag environment. Problem is most people do have lag especially NA users, this causes the shorter range of 1H to be a huge problem, timing the shield is simple enough and will develop with practice but you can't overcome the lag situation unfortunately. Although a 1H+Shield is the only thing you can use mounted.

[Ecchi421]

I am a 1h/shield user and I don't always need to block. My 1h sword skill is currently at 76 and mastery is 25 so I hit for the same amount as a nooby polearm with no skills...however I swing twice as fast.

When I go against a 2h user I time their swings. If they start the swing and it is out of range, I back off a bit so they can complete their swing, I then sprint in for a quick strike before moving back out of range. If they start their swing and they are within hitting range, I block with my shield.

[salaam]

Is it wise to try beat polearm in range with 1h+shield?

[b9er]

1h sword does not deal enough damage at the rate in which you can swing it. An r40 sword still has less damage output than the starter 2h sword. Point of this is that you really can't swing it THAT much faster.

To be honest the best approach is to use both 1h + shield & a 2h.

I always carry a sword and board on me and when push comes to shove I'll bust it out for the main purpose of blocking. Like if someone is using a pole arm and just sprinting wildly around me I'll just block most of the hits and then when they are low stam and i'm about half stam I pull out my 2h and wail away.

I think the real purpose/role of the sword and board was to be a tank. You can grab agro pretty easy in this game and have mobs wail on you while your group picks them off. Same is true in pvp if you can become the main target..

Tanks have traditionally dealt less damage but can take way more hits.

[Ordrek]

The real use of 1h + shield is in mounted combat. I've had a single swing for 142 so far: Hit three targets as I swooped by for 42, 48, and 52. I've had single hits to the front for 58. Rank 40 weapon (dwarven war mace). This is with 67ish 1h Blunt (obviously no mastery) and 36ish str.

[yuppy]

1h + shield is ftw in pvp

either way with mounted chases you have to have gm 1h, but its good off the mount as well.