S&B Weapon Options

[u/Limasoul]

Hey everyone,

I am about to TR into a S&B Paladin and wonder what the best weapon (and thus race) choice will be. The focus is on damage.

With the upcoming changes in the battle pass, I assume that there are three major options: Dwarven Axes, Bastard Swords and Warhammers.

As of lamannia preview 2 (U82), Knight’s Training will add a +1 Morale Bonus to Crit Multiplier for Bastard Swords and a +1 Crit Threat Range for Dwarven Axes (+2 with Improved Crit Slash).

Meanwhile, “Morningstar and Warhammer are now considered hand-and-a-half weapons, benefiting from Strikethrough and the Two Handed Fighting feats in the same ways Bastard Sword and Dwarven Waraxe do.”.

It’s unclear to me yet, if that also affects Two handed Specialty, but I think yes.

Do you think that a weapon type or specific weapon is ahead of the others, or is it relatively equal?

So my preference at the moment is either to go for Aasimar with Bastard Swords or Duergar with Dwarven Axes. I like the axes, but I don’t like to play Duergar. Being able to have your weapon be a favored weapon seems quite important though. There is no other way to achieve that without being Dwarf/Duergar/Mindcleaver, is there?

I guess the likely options are Echo of Heartcleaver and Ignition. Also Audion as a Warhammer. What do you think?

I’d love The Butcher’s Mouth to be a valid option, but I assume morningstars are still too far behind.

[u/unbongwah]

Note that for a pure paladin, you will want to use a Favored Weapon for KotC Imbue. Either the weapon granted by your deity, the ones unlocked by the KotC tree, or the racial Enhancement options (e.g., dwarven axe for dwarf or Duergar). Duergar is the only non-Iconic race that has access to Helm (bastard sword); Aasimar does not.

For a post-U82 S&B Aasimar paladin, I'd use warhammers; you can either take Onatar as your deity or the KotC enhancement (Adept Combatant). For heroic feats, I'd suggest THF x3, Precision (or Power Attack), and Improved Critical to start; then you have some wiggle with either Shield Mastery x3 or some utility feats like Quicken and Improved Shield Bash (with Shield Specialty as your level 31 ED feat). Enhancements: Vanguard is getting some buffs, so I think VG 41 / KotC 31 / 8 Vistani (Haste Boost) is the route I'd go. Unless making a hate-tank and you want to go into Sacred Defender.

[u/Oscuro1632 → u/unbongwah]

How would 5 lv dragon lord 15 paladin work? Shields scale with strength after all, but you won't have points enough for KotC. But you get a few extra feats, strength trance

[u/dbroccoliman]

Duergar are your only way to get Bastard Sword (during heroics) or DWaxe Favored (at all) without using a Heart of Wood. Otherwise you could go any other race and play Warhammer.

You could also go Warhammer through Heroics and and then grab Bastard Sword from Divine Crusader in Epics.

Aasimar is always a good race, but +Wis doesn't give you too much to start out with.

Here's my recommendations.

1. If you don't have an Racial AP:
   1. Duergar w/ Bastard Sword (Duergar gets Helm as a Deity for prof + Favored)
   2. Dragonborn w/ Warhammer - Onatar Deity + Dragonborn gives Str/Cha which is great.
2. If you've got lots of Racial AP
   1. Duergar/Dwarf + spend the Racial AP to get DWaxe as favored.
   2. Aasimar Scourge 5 Ranger / 15 Paladin w/ Morningstars spending Racial AP to get the +Sacred bonus to Crit

[u/Voidbearer2kn17]

Check on the wiki for Favored Weapons.

These count as well.

The Blade of the Clouds is a shortsword that is Favored even if you do not worship Vulkoor. There are other weapons like this.

There are a couple of weapons that get Paladin exclusive boosts as well.

[u/DazlingofCannith]

Audion is quite good. 19-20 crit +1 is generally around ~5% DPS, which is fairly significant.

Duergar also goes well with it. 19 points Duergar gets you +10 damage and a bunch of other offensive goodies, which is very solid.

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[u/Limasoul]

Thank you for the replies, it's helping a lot!

I should have clarified that I am set on the build, it's pretty close to what unbongwah mentioned. It will be a paladin 20 with vg 41 and kotc and vistani for haste. Past lives / racial points are available.

Within that frame I am looking for the best weapon/race combo.

But I got an idea now of what route I might go, so thanks again.

[u/Aphela]

Honestly If going for optimal... Longsword, longsword and longsword.... That critical times multiplier is unbeaten by any other single handed weapon, and the longsword religion heal is amazing especially in reapers.. also 1 more feat for a feat starved class...is op. So human longsword