This is a quick guide to weapons and weapon upgrades in Guild Wars, enjoy! -420
Weapons, Shields and Focuses (Foci?)[/span]
Sword 15-22 Damage
Axe 6-28 Damage
Hammer 19-35 Damage
Bow 15-28 Damage
Wand 11-22 Damage
Staff 11-22 Damage +10 Energy
Shield 16 Armor
Focus +12 Energy
*Note[/span]: These are the max stats for items dropped by level 20+ creatures. For instance, an axe dropped by a level 10 CHarr Axe Fiend may have max possible stats of 4-17, while the same type of axe dropped by a level 24 Jade Axe would have max possible stats of 6-28.
[span style=\'font-size:13pt;line-height:100%\']Weapon Upgrades[/span]
Weapons that can be upgraded can have 2 upgrades, the "upper" upgrade giving the weapon a new prefix in its name and the "lower" one giving it a new suffix.
Sword Sword Hilt/Sword Pommel
Axe Axe Haft/Axe Grip
Hammer Hammer Haft/Hammer Grip
Bow Bow String/Bow Grip
Staff Staff Head/Staff Wrapping
As you can see, a staff is a superior choice over a wand/focus combo even though a max focus potetially gives +2 more energy because only a staff can have upgrades.
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Natrual Weapon Mods[/span]
In addition to upgrades a weapon may have what I call a single
natural mod. This may be something like "+15% Damage (While Health is above 50%)". An item can have only one natural mod and since it is not an upgrade it cannot be salvaged and applied to a different item. You can see all the natural mods with their max stats by creating a PvP only character and looking at the PvP weapons.
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Salvaging Weapon Upgrades[/span]
When using an
Expert Salvage Kit there is a good chance you can salvage
one upgrade from a weapon.
If you try to salvage an upgrade from a weapon with 2 upgrades you may get one or the other upgrade randomely or no upgrade at all, either way the weapon (and any upgrade on it) is destroyed in the process.[span style=\'font-size:13pt;line-height:100%\']
Weapon Types[/span]
[span style=\'color:blue\']Blue weapons[/span] usually have a low level natural mod (the most common being "highly salvagable" and "precious") and sometimes have a single low level upgrade.
[span style=\'color:purple\']Purple weapons[/span] usually have the max stats (see the [span style=\'color:red\']note[/span] under "Max Item Stats" at the top) and lower than normal requirements. They may have natural mods or upgrades.
[span style=\'color:orange\']Orange weapons[/span] often have a high level natural mod and one or two high level weapon upgrades.
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Example Weapons[/span]
Notice the difference in the level of axe mastery required to use the purple axe as compared to the other three.
[attachmentid=380]
[span style=\'color:blue\']Sundering Chaos Axe of Axe Mastery[/span]
Max StatsUpper Upgrade: Sundering Axe Haft (6% chance)
Lower Upgrade: Axe Grip of Axe Mastery (10% chance)
Cusomized[attachmentid=381]
[span style=\'color:orange\']Icy Battle Axe of Enchanting[/span]
Natrual Mod: +20% damage while health is below 50%
Upper Upgrade: Icy Axe Haft
Lower Upgrade: Axe Grip of Enchanting (16% longer)
Customized[attachmentid=382]
[span style=\'color:orange\']Piercing Axe of Shelter[/size]
Max Stats (Natural Piercing Damage!)
Natural Mod: +15% damage while hexed
Lower Upgrade: Axe Grip of Shelter (+6 armor vs. physical)
[attachmentid=383]
[span style=\'color:purple\']Cruel Spiked Axe of Axe Mastery[/color]
Max StatsUpper Upgrade: Cruel Axe Haft
Lower Upgrade: Axe Grip of Axe Mastery (10% chance)
CustomizedPlease reply with any questions, corrections or suggestions!
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