Spiral Knights - Ask a Master Swordsman Anything.

Ask a Master Swordsman Anything.

212 replies [Last post]

Wed, 07/27/2011 - 21:24

Bigfootm

Ask away.

I have very good skills with swords, and can clear Any rooms with swords fairly fast. If you would like to friend me, me IGN is Bigfootm. If you would like to see certain swords in action, I will be willing to show them to you.

Swording 101

Swords. Are. Awesome.

Charge attacks for swords and very good, although using the regular attack is fairly fine.

Sword setup-

To cover every defense I recommend...

Gran Faust
Barbarous Thorn Blade
A gun. I suggest a Polaris or a Valiance.
Divine Avenger

Being that you are using swords, don't go getting a Volcanic Demo Set and think you are getting such a awesome boost.
I recommened getting Vog, Snarbolax, and Skolverer, for different situations. If you are running FSC, obviously use Vog/Part Snarby. If you are running Jelly, use the Skolver. If you are going anywhere else, decide by Stratum.

Shields-

After some thorough testing, a barbarous thorn shield is good for about anywhere with some added UVs.

Why BTS? The damage boost of course! True a VPS or CoA is better for FSC, but neither can last 4 hits on the spikes without any UVs.

UVs for the BTS...

Two UVs is good, although one is fine. Three is not worth rolling unless you are very rich, and willing to get good UVs.
Get elemental defense firstly. That is a HUGE need. If you are rich enough/lucky enough to get two UVs, try to get some fire resist on that shield. Shadow wouldnt kill you though, as it is fine to have as well.

Vog/Skolver/Snarbolax...

Skolver/Snarbolax gives you damage boost, whereas Vog gives ASI.
If you feel like mass crafting or rolling for UVs, go for it. I suggest you get Elemental UVs on Skolver, Shadow/Piercing UVs on Vog, and Elemental/Piercing UVs on Snarbolax. If you use a GF or a slow sword when using a Skolver Set or a set that doesn't give a ASI boost, consider getting a UV/trinket for that. If you want extra damage when using Vog, get a UV/Trinket for that.

Last Resort swordsman Advice-

Bringing a gun is recommended. If you are low on health and mobbed by a ton of evil enemies (I'm talking to you T3 Gremlin Bombers in Arenas, the ones that decide to drop 20 Bombs each time they get hit and be healed by their mender friends. >.>), you may wish to do so, especially if you are soloing.

Wed, 07/27/2011 - 23:44

Cobriliant

lololol "master swordsman" oh

lololol "master swordsman" oh my...

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 00:27

Saberthwaite

What's a swor? PS Which is

What's a swor?

PS Which is better for a swordfighter, upgrading a Great Defender to Heater Shield, or working an Owlite shield up from the ground?

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 05:18

IceMilkTea

Legacy Username

Owlite is better than heater.

Your 800 CE for 4*->5* would be better on an owlite.

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 06:30

Koffin-Kat

Good thing someone made this

Good thing someone made this topic.
There are guides for gunners, guides for bombers but no guides for swordies... :P

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 07:11

Cantor

Legacy Username

Probably because swordsmen

Probably because swordsmen are already lost and can't be helped :P

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 07:36

Bigfootm

Lol. Yes, you should go for

Lol. Yes, you should go for Owlite, but I prefer the plate shield line for FSC.

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:44

culture

Legacy Username

Ah...

Master...

I lol'd...

Thanks.

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 09:14

Gospel

Elmagnifico...

i dont know what a "swor" is....
kidding..

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 13:43

Grittle

MAKE A SWORDSMAN'S GUIDE IDIOT.

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 15:16

#10

Baines

Should I....

...go with one of those smooth topped helms and fur trimmed jacks?

Thanks in advanced,
Baines

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 15:37

#11

Shrinkshootr

MATER SHIELDER HERE ANYTHIN U

MATER SHIELDER HERE

ANYTHIN U WANT KNO BOUT SHELDS ASK ME

<_<

so yeah.

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 17:05

#12

Legendsmade

master..... of nothing! dont

master..... of nothing! dont ask me anything or i will hire the swordsman!

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 17:29

#13

Bigfootm

Haha! I shall keel you with

Haha! I shall keel you with me swords.

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 19:10

#14

Knited

i've got 2 brandishes with

i've got 2 brandishes with one UV on each, one of them "damage vs constructs very high" and the other "CTR medium." which should i make into a glacius and/or a combuster?

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 19:23

#15

Bigfootm

Well that's kinda... Depends.

Well that's kinda... Depends. If your gonna use a glacius in FSC, the Ctr for sure. If not, then either is ok.

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 19:49

#16

Selenthon

Gran Faust

What is the exact percentage of chance that you are cursed by the Gran Faust charge? Also, does Fang of Vog burn team mates around you? or is it just yourself?

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 21:43

#17

Bigfootm

You don't get your teammates

You don't get your teammates burned although they CAN get burned if near. Percentage is 50% I think for GF.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 00:55

#18

bushwhacker

Legacy Username

To the OP or anyone else who

To the OP or anyone else who is taking this (at least partially) seriously:

For a swordsman, would you recommend the Grey Owlite Shield or the Barbarous Thorn Shield? Please give an in-depth answer if you don't mind.

Also, how do you feel about the Leviathan Blade?

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 04:44

#19

Triarii

Legacy Username

Hi, I have a solo question

Hi, I have a solo question that deals a lot with swords here: http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/18369

Too long to retype but I do have some sword issues that I could use your opinion on. Thanks.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 09:05

#20

Bigfootm

For that? Vog set almost

For that? Vog set almost everywhere. In RJP go Vog Skolver

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 09:07

#21

Bigfootm

@buskwhacker

Depends where. In FSC always use a VPS gunner, bomber, or swordsman. In RJP I recommened a Barb Shield. Anywhere else I prefer a grey Owlite.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 09:08

#22

Bigfootm

I like levis.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:13

#23

Gronstifer

skolver...

Ok, i have skolver set (im a rebel to vogs) and one of the best parts about it i think is the damage bonus i get from it, combined with my dark thorn sheild causes EPIC damage. so my question is simple... whats the best sword for skolver set? I have avenger and acheron atm.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:20

#24

Toksyuryel

Question for OP: Acheron or

Question for OP: Acheron or Gran Faust?

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:26

#25

Zeratide

Legacy Username

Which?

Which is better 2*? Brandish or Calibur?

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:26

#26

Bigfootm

Gran Faust all the way.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:27

#27

Bigfootm

Vest sword for skolver? Any

Vest sword for skolver? Any will do with that combo. May as well stick with those 2 (Upgrade to da) but maybe get a GF.

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:29

#28

Bigfootm

Calibur is good for anywhere,

Calibur is good for anywhere, depends in which brandish line you go. If you go glacius, brandish. Actually brandish either way

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:29

#29

Gronstifer

thx. my avengers stats are

thx. my avengers stats are almost maxed out :D DA will be epic with that...

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:31

#30

Bigfootm

Np. Btw damage is what

Np. Btw damage is what numbers? Mine isnt maxed yet (Can be)

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 18:50

#31

Gronstifer

ahh....

numbers.... alright, I dont know the exact amount, but I can give you a ballpark...

NOTE: these are tier 3 numbers

vs. Undead or Construct- first hit- 396- 2nd hit 471- charge- a whopping 736 (projectile does around 171-ish)

the next numbers are probably really off, because at this point i'm using acheron instead...
vs. fiend or slime- first hit- 296? second hit- 351? charge- four hundred and... something XD

vs. gremlin or beast- first hit- 196? second hit- 246? charge- 371?

anyway, thats an estimate at the least. the closest number is probably the charge against an undead target, because damage of such a large magnitude usually sticks in my head...
this is using full skolver+dark thon sheild (not barb yet), and before that damage wasnt as nearly as much...
so there you have it :D

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 23:41

#32

bushwhacker

Legacy Username

Why a Volcanic Plate Shield

Why a Volcanic Plate Shield (I assume that's what VPS stood for)?

And to elaborate on the (admittedly :D) vague question about Leviathan Blades- Do you feel they're overall the best sword, if, for example, a player was mainly a gunner/bomber and just wanted one sword for some situations?

Sun, 07/31/2011 - 08:18

#33

Bigfootm

I use a Asc Calibur (almost

I use a Asc Calibur (almost Levi) for anywhere. I normally use my da and fov but if not I use my GF, FOV, and/or Asc Calibur.

Sun, 07/31/2011 - 18:14

#34

Bigfootm

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 12:17

#35

Bigfootm

I'm bored. Ask me stuff.

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 14:07

#36

Ipatuss

good setup?

Vog Cub Cap
Vog Cub Coat
DA
Gran Faust
Barbarous thorn blade
Grey Owlite Shield

a good set-up?

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 14:14

#37

Hipster-Knight

Swap a weapon with a Levi and

Swap a weapon with a Levi and you've got the most overused setup in Spiral Knights.
Yeah it's alright.

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 14:22

#38

Bigfootm

No. No need for a Levi.

No. No need for a Levi. Classy, please make your own thread if you wish to troll mine. Ask inky please.

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 18:15

#39

OrangeHero

Legacy Username

stupid question

do you think the spur line deserves a 5*? or is the spur line even any good for anything?

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 18:18

#40

Bigfootm

I loved the spur line. When I

I loved the spur line. When I begun I loved it. I think it deserves 5*. Call it the Airbillion
XD

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 20:24

#41

Shidare

could you clarify more on

could you clarify more on acheron vs. gran faust? it seems like acheron gives you more mobility (good), has a usable charge attack (good), and gets in more dps with 3 swings than gran faust does with 2.

Mon, 08/01/2011 - 21:45

#42

Bigfootm

The GF is WAY better IMO. It

The GF is WAY better IMO. It does more damage and can curse the opponent. Lack of speed? Get Asi uv or/and use Vog piece/set

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 02:02

#43

Bluehelmet

Well imma step in if u dont mind :D

Sure the acheron is initially more versatile with its faster swing speeds, however, the gran faust is more versatile with its possibility of cursing (great of jk) and wide spread. U can be extremely abusive with the delayed Hit 2 and u can crowd control well as previously mentioned. The spread of the charge from the acheron takes longer compared to two swings from the GF. The main reason to run the gran faust is for running depths with large crowds, i.e. RJP.

On a side note, Cultures comment made me lol :D

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 11:41

#44

Smokah

Legacy Username

This guy is a

This guy is a joke.
Master...
That made me lol'd
... Thanks x2

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 19:14

#45

bushwhacker

Legacy Username

I've heard a lot of talk of

I've heard a lot of talk of the Divine Avenger being especially good, but why? What does it do better than other swords? It's attack speed seems really low.

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 19:24

#46

Bigfootm

The charge mainly. Asi is no

The charge mainly. Asi is no prob, this is mainly used in FSC where people use Vog, aging the Asi VH.

Wed, 08/03/2011 - 02:17

#47

Bluehelmet

Be a bit more in depth

Feel like im hijacking ur thread Bigfoot xD
But the DA has a wide spread that is able to hit up to 4 (5? unconfirmed) slag walkers per swing. The ability to side step attacks or change directions between Hit 1 and Hit 2 (A.K.A the 2nd Hit Exploit) is also useful. Also, against slag walkers, the decreased movement speed when charged is less critical so it makes kiting a more viable strategy. DA was also previously effective against Vanaduke when the projectiles pierced him up to 4 times (but not anymore). In any case, the DA is useful against Constructs, specifically lumbers (Hit 1, shield cancel, side step, hit 1, hit 2 / Side step after lumber starts up attack animation, Hit 1, Hit 2, and repeat method), and gun puppies ((shield), Hit 1, repeat). The DA is extremely effective when used with a general weapon such as the Leviathan Blade, or several specialized weps (i.e. Faust line, Strikers, etc) or both! The Levi is a counterpart as it is effective against all families and deals additional damage against Vanaduke phases 1 & 2 (as the mask is slightly resist to all damage except normal). The Levi deals on avg 400 dmg to the mask per hit. In any case, I personally run Levi, DA, Faust, and an argent.

I hope I helped

Wed, 08/03/2011 - 06:44

#48

Bigfootm

Lol. Yeah that is about

Lol. Yeah that is about right, just depends on where you are. In RJP I use a gran Faust, divine avenger Shuvermist or grave vortex and dread venom striker or a gun along with a Skolver set/Skolcer cap
Vog coat.

Wed, 08/03/2011 - 06:44

#49

Bigfootm

Lol. Yeah that is about

Wed, 08/03/2011 - 06:45

#50

Bigfootm

As for FSC I use... Here

As for FSC I use... Here comes a list.

Search

Ask a Master Swordsman Anything.