Two-Handed Swords: Who Needs Them

Since ancient times the most skilled warriors were considered those who fought with a two-handed sword or with two swords (a short and a long one, or two long ones). This opinion piece from l2db.ru is about two-handers: first a bit of history, then the author's in-game observations on how a two-handed sword performs in the hands of different classes.

A bit of history

• Two-handed swords were usually carried not by knights but by ordinary warriors - bodyguards and mercenaries who always had to be ready to fight. Once an army was on the march, there was no point sheathing the weapon: those seconds could cost the life of both the warrior and his lord.
• A two-handed sword was often carried on the shoulder rather than on the back - you cannot draw it from there. A handy way to carry it was to lock the hands around the guard (the crossbar between the grip and the blade): the arms do not tire and the weapon is always ready.
• In the Middle Ages this weapon was common among landsknechts and bodyguards. The latter were sometimes fattened up to huge sizes and clad in heavy armor. These "tanks" marched at the front of the unit; their main job was to cut down enemy spears sticking out from behind the shield wall. A formation without spearmen is like a car without an engine, and the side with even a hundred such fighters usually won.
• Thanks to fantasy games, anime and films, the two-handed sword has become iconic: a legend arose that it is wielded by skilled knights, berserkers and heroes. Role-players share a similar stereotype - "the bigger, the better". But many stay true to the assassin's principle: the shorter the distance to the enemy, the better your chances of survival.

Gladiator: "Neither a tank nor an anti-aircraft gun"

The Gladiator is a strong fighter built primarily around swords. With a two-hander he can put up a good fight, but he lacks attack speed and defense and cannot attack with magic, so a two-hander in his hands is more about "style and beauty".

Weapon (Gladiator)	Damage observed by the author
B-grade dual swords	about 490; with B soulshots 850-870, with attack skills about 940
B-grade two-hander	about 450; with B soulshots 800-820, almost all attack skills do not work except the attack on groups of enemies
A-grade two-hander	about 535; with soulshots about 1,200 HP per hit, and with Alacrity the Gladiator becomes a killing machine

Comparing A grade with dual swords makes no sense, as there are no A-grade dual swords. The gladiator's armor is weak, and although he has plenty of HP, it will not save him in a big crowd of monsters. Conclusion: a gladiator with a two-hander looks great, but leveling that way is slow and dull, and not everyone has the patience.

Paladin: "There is no defense against a crowbar"

The Paladin is a tank: he has few attack spells, but his defensive ones raise P.Def by 200-300. He has about half the gladiator's HP, but thanks to his armor he lives longer in a crowd of monsters. In the author's view, all knights (of all races) are "masters of combat tanking in raids".

• A one-handed sword and shield give excellent defense and fast attacks, but not hitting power. A B-grade one-handed sword gives a bit over 400 attack and good defense, since the shield stays in hand.
• A B-grade two-hander raises damage to 450, but without a shield you lose about 120 defense. In PvP this matters little, especially with a combo written in a macro: Shield + Shield Stun + two-hander + B-grade shot - the "Meat" combo (the author's own invention).

Conclusion: a knight with a two-hander is impressive, but you need skilled hands.

Buffers

Of special interest, in the author's view, are buffers: with a two-hander they can become the most spectacular damage dealers, in PvP and otherwise, because they can buff themselves into tanks and damage dealers stronger than many classes.

There are no useless weapons and no useless classes in the game - it has everything you need to find yourself in it.

Original article author: Onichan