well, im playing SK since a couple of days, and now im not so sure about how to go on with my equipment.

actually im using:

Dusker Coat
Dusker Cap
Bristling Buckler
Tempered Calibur
Twisted Snarble Barb

im currently aiming for:

Vog Cub Coat
Vog Cub Cap
Barbarous Thorn Shield
Cold Iron Vanquisher OR Leviathans Blade
Barbarous Thorn Blade

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well, i chose the weapons because i like the knockback from the calibur series and i want to see the snarbolax animation in the charged strike of TSB (and i like the style and piercing damage against fiends and beasts).

question: these weapons already do some good damage (at least the bars are filled to maximum), is there a damage-boost (from the shield) still a good choice, or is there a "damage-cap", which i cant overcome? i didnt try this out, and it would be just to expensive to do so, so im asking here.
the reason behind this is, that im thinking about another shield, something with shadow-resistence. ive gotten into many enemies with shadow damage shortly, so id like to defend against it.
the vog cub series has already good defense against elemental and normal, and i dont think, that piercing will hurt me very much, im just encountering it pretty rarely. so maybe i just dont need it at all? im a really careful player, who wont take much hits, at least not from spikes^^

well, crest of almire would be a nice shield, but i suppose, i wont get it this fast xD

or maybe i should change my armor-set?
but i think, vog cup i pretty strong.

and yes, im a passionate blocker, i just love it, mainly against projectiles ;)

edit----
im looking at the sealed swords on the SK wiki now, they seem to do a lot more of damage per hit, what do you think about them?
strenghts and weeknesses?