Why Bother?

I think this is the big question most warriors face when it comes to doing their epic quest. Let's take a look-see at the blades real quick.

Blade of Strategy MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 24 DMG: 14 STR: +10 STA: +15 HP: +50 SV FIRE: +5 SV DISEASE: +5 SV COLD: +5 SV MAGIC: +5 SV POISON: +5 Effect: Rage of Vallon (Combat) WT: 2.5 Size: SMALL Class: WAR Race: ALL	Blade of Tactics MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 24 DMG: 14 STR: +10 DEX: +15 HP: +50 SV FIRE: +5 SV DISEASE: +5 SV COLD: +5 SV MAGIC: +5 SV POISON: +5 Effect: Rage of Tallon (Worn) WT: 2.5 Size: SMALL Class: WAR Race: ALL
Jagged Blade of War MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: PRIMARY Skill: 2H Slashing Atk Delay: 41 DMG: 36 STR: +20 DEX: +15 STA: +15 HP: +100 SV FIRE: +10 SV DISEASE: +10 SV COLD: +10 SV MAGIC: +10 SV POISON: +10 Effect: Rage of Zek (Combat) WT: 6.0 Size: MEDIUM Class: WAR Race: ALL

Ok, so the first thing everybody comments on is the DMG/DLY. Yes, I agree, 14/24 is crap when it comes to doing damage, but you're forgetting the primary role of warriors. We hold agro so the casters don't have to die.

1HS Version

See that nifty effect there on the Blade of Strategy? That's a 500 point agro increasing proc, along with a 100pt DD. When that sucker lands you are king of the hatelist. Plus, see that nice 15 STA and 50hps? Do the math and that works out to about 140hps at level 60, and 185hps at 65. Can we say 'dizzam'? Resists and the STR are a nice bonus too.

Ok, take a look over there at the Blade of Tactics. It's effect is a worn effect, so that once you equip the sword you get 40 DEX, 30 ATK, and 12 AC, which is of course on top of the 10 ATK gained from the 10 STR. Let's not forget the proc'ing goodness that all that DEX (15 from the equipped stats and another 40 from the effect!) will do you, and of course once again there is the 50hp and the resists.

Of course the real beauty of the 1HS version is that you can mix and match with other weapons. Got a Willsapper that isn't proc'ing enough? Put Tactics in your offhand and you've suddenly got 55 more DEX! Have a nice speedy Ornate Sword of the General, but need that extra edge when it comes to agro? Put Strategy in offhand and you got a nice tanking combo workin it for ya. Play around with it, see what you get.

2HS Version

Now I will admit, the Jagged Blade of War isn't quite as drool worthy as the separate 1handers are. You get all the equipped stats of the two weapons, but you only get the proc of the Strategy blade which now has a 175pt DD. I'd probably use a different 2hs instead of the JBoW, because there are much better DPS weapons out there, plus if you aren't MTing while using this, you could accidently steal agro from the MT since the 500 hate effect is on the proc.

Ok, so should I get it?

On the Steel Warrior message board the question "should I get my epic?" seems to be posted often. A recent thread ended up with 16 out of 22 (72.7%) high end warriors saying that yes, the epic is worth doing, although most of them agree that if you or your guild is already capable of getting you better equipped (i.e. anything that has Enraging Blow as a proc), then it might not be worth it to you. Ultimately it's up to you to decide if the epic is something you need.

Sure, the epic isn't a Blade of Carnage, but hot damn, it's still a sexy weapon.

Why bother?

1HS Version

2HS Version

Ok, so should I get it?