I haven't seen CIV in a while, so maybe it's been changed, but the difference in knockback used to be quite noticeable. My comparison of these two swords is here: http://wiki.spiralknights.com/User:Jdavis/Swords#Leviathan_Blade_vs._Col....

Yes, I do feel that CIV and WHB need a buff. These are the only two swords with monster-specific damage bonuses. They have had these bonuses since the game launched. Back then, the only way to get a blanket sword damage bonus was Skolver (and Chaos). Now we have Snarbolax armor, Barbarous Thorn Shield, and damage trinkets. So CIV's bonus, WHB's bonus, and damage UVs are much less precious than they used to be.

The CiV is still useful if you go for one only sword to use everywhere (be it as a main sword or a side-arm). Since most people farm FSC, the undead UV is actually useful most of the time if you are not DMG capped already.

Some people use it with success (for example Brady, who seems to have disappeared lately). Plus, it actually looks cool!

knock back: LEvi has more

Damage: Levi deals more damage on all targets except undead, though if you get sword damage bonus max from armor and stuff you Levi will do more damage on undead than CIV

Looks: CIV looks cooler

Here's something interesting! You know what's effective?
Spamming sword charges in EV.
You know what's even more effective?
Spamming sword charges in an EV that someone else places.
You know what doesn't work with this?
Levi and it's super knockback.
You know what might work with this, although I've never heard of any tests nor done any?
Spamming Cold Iron Vanquisher charges in EV.

The lesser knockback makes CIV better in one aspect for teamplay and the undead bonus means it's mostly better in FSC (not against Vana's mask though) for those who do not use swords as primary weapons.

There's no reason to use CIV when you could be using almost any elemental sword in the game to better effect.

I use the cold iron with polaris if I'm going up against fiends and undeads (shadow damage dealers). if any gremlins or wolvers pop up, The cold iron vanq doubles as a beast/gremlin slaying weapon and polaris takes over for fiend/undead damage.

if I'm going up against beasts/gremlins. I carry archeron and supernova. if any fiends or undeads pop up, the long range weapon will protect me from devilite/ kat proj spams and acheron will take over for main beast/gremlin damage.

It may not be a strong as typed blades when it comes to dealing damage against weak typed monsters, but when you have those out of stratum monsters that go completely contrary to the theme of the stage (like in arenas/danger rooms) a full normal sidearm can be very useful in saving your life, especially if you dont want to use weapon upgrades. Further, while it does less basic damage than levi, Cold iron vanqs small knockback means it can hit multiple times on the charge (up to three) on even non stationary creatures. So, while its base damage is lacking, it makes up for that lack in usability and team consideration.

Normal weapons have their uses, especially if you are carrying different typed weapons of different elements and a mob pops up that you'd rather use a sword on/gun on, but cant because its type is lacking.

I might as well point out that in both of these situations, the combination of piercing sword and elemental gun arguably works better than these quasi-specialized loadouts.

^ True! I've considered that!

but personally I do not like the flourish/ barb line's aesthetics. I prefer heavy-looking (or in many cases actually heavy) swords. That is just a personal preference though.

I do have a barb, but I always find myself leaving it in my arsenal and opting for the vanq or a brandish-line. And, seeing as how the only two types I have seen so far that are weak to piercing are either unimaginably easy to kill (wolvers) or incredibly hard to kill close range (devilites), I usually always opt for a gun for the latter and dont bother with a specialized sword for the former.

So, for me, piercing weapons dont really... matter. That + my preference of other sword looks causes me to abandon it often.

(I suppose I -could- use a barb for greavers, but I have never seen a map where greavers were populous enough for me to devote an entire weapon to killing them. )

"I don't see why gunning constructs is a bad thing."
Mecha-Knights. If not for them I'd agree with you.

For the rest I agree, more or less, even if after trying it, it really feels weird to be forced to gun some families. For that reason, if it was to redo, I'd probably take a normal weapon. That's up to personal preference.

You're only proving my point. OK granted mechas shield against bullets. BUT that leaves 3 key vulnerabilities:

1. shield does not cover back
2. Shielding mechas are completely immobile and can not attack
3. The shield can not be redeployed for several seconds

Try using guns in the last wave of an arena. Shoot the first shot to trick them into shielding, then fire the rest of the clip before they can bring it up again. It's a great way to add distance and stop from being crowded.

@myphenox
CIV is not useful. That is my point. In fact, it is arguably the worst 5* sword in the game, I kid you not. At least WHB allegedly interrupts enemy attacks with a high rate.

DVS isn't that bad, remember it has Strong poison, plus it's got a pretty unique attack style.

Dont worry about getting a sword "effective against all things", you have two slots. Also even the Brandish line has pretty good damage against resistant enemies if you charge.

1. I don't see much reason to be pure gunner, but even if you are, it still helps to be flexible. Also, driver shots can ricochet, if you're solo or whatever where you can't get behind them at a distance.
2. any GOOD sword user will hardly be affected by the shield. In fact, it could help, since it gives them time to close the gap and be ready to clobber them as soon as it drops. If they're already hitting when the shield pops up, it doesn't take any time at all to get behind them. Wolvers are the bigger obstacle to gun/sword synergy.
3. Granted, yes, but that doesn't mean gunners can't or shouldn't bother attacking mechas. Besides, don't guns usually have less DPS at the benefit of range?

Remember, my original point was "I don't see why gunning constructs is a bad thing." I prefer bombs on them, myself.