Two-Handed Weapon

Bushido, Parrying & Two-Handed Weapons

With the samurai skill, Bushido, a character has a greater chance at Parrying a blow if he or she is equipped with a two-handed weapon rather than a one-handed weapon and a shield. Holding a shield will actually decrease your chance for a successful parry.

The following table was presented in several posts, on several forums:

100 Parrying + shield = 30% chance to block

100 Parrying + two-handed weapon = 15% chance to block

100 Parrying + 100 Bushido + two-handed weapon = 30% chance to block

Weapon Macros

The recommendations related to creating macros that allow for quick weapon switches weapons are mixed. One school of thought is that it is better to experience a slight additional delay by first un-equipping both hands, and then arming, which definitively avoids the "you already have something in your hands" error. Another school of thought advocates creating macros that disarms a specific hand and then equips a specific weapon; proponent claim that the "you already have something in your hands" error is just not an issue.

Weapons

Swordsmanship

The standard sword class of weapons are primarily designed to chop and slice opponents. As it offers the largest range of weapons to choose from by far, the Power Scrolls required to become a Legendary Swordsman are considered extremely valuable.

Another exclusive bonus to Swordsmen is the Axe weapon class. These add an additional Damage Increase bonus dependant on your character's Lumberjacking skill, though this is typically considered too low to be worth pursuing.

Note that as the Tinkering skill has no Runic Tools, the items it produces are seldom used as primary weapons in combat. On the other hand, the only swords which may be used with the Poisoning skill are created by Tinkers (the Butcher Knife and the Cleaver).

Type		Base Damage	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed	Crafting Skill
Category:Axes}}	Axes	14 - 16	Crushing Blow	Dismount	3s	Blacksmithy
Category:Bardiches}}	Bardiches	17 - 18	Paralyzing Blow	Dismount	3.75s	Blacksmithy
Category:Battle Axes}}	Battle Axes	15 - 17	Bleed Attack	Concussion Blow	3.5s	Blacksmithy
Category:Bladed Staves}}	Bladed Staves	14 - 16	Armor Ignore	Dismount	3s	Blacksmithy
Category:Crescent Blades}}	Crescent Blades	11 - 14	Double Strike	Mortal Strike	2.5s	Blacksmithy
Category:Daishos}}	Daisho	13 - 15	Feint	Double Strike	2.75s	Blacksmithy
Category:Double Axes}}	Double Axes	15 - 17	Double Strike	Whirlwind Attack	3.25s	Blacksmithy
Category:Executioner's Axes}}	Executioner's Axes	15 - 17	Bleed Attack	Mortal Strike	3.25s	Blacksmithy
Category:Halberds}}	Halberds	18 - 19	Whirlwind Attack	Concussion Blow	4.25s	Blacksmithy
Category:Hatchets}}	Hatchets	13 - 15	Armor Ignore	Disarm	2.75s	Tinkering
Category:Large Battle Axes}}	Large Battle Axes	16 - 17	Whirlwind Attack	Bleed Attack	3.75s	Blacksmithy
Category:No-Dachi}}	No-Dachi	16 - 18	Crushing Blow	Riding Swipe	3.5s	Blacksmithy
Category:Ornate Axes}}	Ornate Axes	18 - 20	Disarm	Crushing Blow	3.5s	Blacksmithy
Category:Paladin Swords}}	Paladin Swords	20 - 24	Whirlwind Attack	Disarm	5s	Uncraftable
Category:Rune Blades}}	Rune Blades	15 - 17	Disarm	Bladeweave	3s	Blacksmithy
Category:Scythes}}	Scythes	15 - 18	Bleed Attack	Paralyzing Blow	3.5s	Blacksmithy
Category:Two Handed Axes}}	Two Handed Axes	16 - 17	Double Strike	Shadowstrike	3.5s	Blacksmithy
Type		Base Damage	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed	Crafting Skill

Fencing

Fencing weapons are used to stab'n'jab opponents, allowing the user to quickly attack while at the same time maintaining a defense. It is the best melee class available for use with Poisoning.

All items in this category can be made by Blacksmiths, with the exception of the Pitchfork (an uncraftable weapon).

Type		Base Damage	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed
Category:Double Bladed Staves}}	Double Bladed Staves	12 - 13	Double Strike	Infectious Strike	2.25s
Category:Elven Spellblades}}	Elven Spellblades	12 - 14	Psychic Attack	Bleed Attack	2.5s
Category:Kamas}}	Kama	9 - 11	Whirlwind Attack	Defense Mastery	2s
Category:Lajatangs}}	Lajatang	16 - 18	Defense Mastery	Frenzied Whirlwind	3.5s
Category:Pikes}}	Pikes	14 - 16	Paralyzing Blow	Infectious Strike	3s
Category:Pitchforks}}	Pitchforks	13 - 14	Bleed Attack	Dismount	2.5s
Category:Sais}}	Sai	9 - 11	Block	Armor Pierce	2s
Category:Short Spears}}	Short Spears	10 - 13	Shadowstrike	Mortal Strike	2s
Category:Spears}}	Spears	13 - 15	Armor Ignore	Paralyzing Blow	2.75s
Category:Tekagis}}	Tekagi	10 - 12	Dual Wield	Talon Strike	2s
Category:War Cleavers}}	War Cleavers	10 - 12	Disarm	Bladeweave	2s
Type		Base Damage	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed

Mace Fighting

Simply put, mace class weapons are designed to crush (or at least bruise) your opponents. Sometimes spikes are added in order to cause additional flesh wounds.

They deal an extra hit to the stamina level of targets, while also lowering the durability of their armor at an accelerated rate.

Note that as the Tinkering skill has no Runic Tools, the items it produces are seldom used as primary weapons in combat.

Poisoning cannot be used with mace fighting.

Type		Base Damage	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed	Crafting Skill
Category:Black Staves}}	Black Staves	13 - 16	Whirlwind Attack	Paralyzing Blow	2.75s	Uncraftable
Category:Gnarled Staves}}	Gnarled Staves	15 - 17	Concussion Blow	Paralyzing Blow	3.25s	Carpentry
Category:Nunchaku}}	Nunchaku	11 - 13	Block	Feint	2.5s	Tinkering
Category:Quarter Staves}}	Quarter Staves	15 - 17	Double Strike	Concussion Blow	3.25s	Carpentry
Category:Shepherd's Crooks}}	Shepherd's Crooks	13 - 15	Crushing Blow	Disarm	2.75s	Carpentry
Category:Tessens}}	Tessen	10 - 12	Feint	Block	2s	Blacksmithy
Category:Tetsubos}}	Tetsubo	12 - 14	Frenzied Whirlwind	Crushing Blow	2.5s	Carpentry
Category:War Hammers}}	War Hammers	17 - 18	Whirlwind Attack	Crushing Blow	3.75s	Blacksmithy
Type		Base Damage	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed	Crafting Skill

Archery

There are two main types of weapons available to practitioners of Archery, bows and crossbows. The former require a good supply of Arrows on hand, while the more technical crossbows fire smaller Bolts at enemies. All of these can be crafted by Bowyers.

Bows are typically slightly faster to fire then crossbows and also usually offer a larger attacking radius. On the other hand, crossbows often pack more punch per bolt and so might be the better choice for a lengthy battle.

The Elven Composite Longbow is the only Archery class weapon that can be used with Poisoning (via Serpent Arrow).

While not technically a weapon, it's worth mentioning that any archer worth his or her salt will be carrying a Quiver with them.

All Archery weapons are Two-Handed Weapons, unless they have the Balanced property. For this reason, when crafting with Runic Tools, you might consider the Lightweight Shortbow.

Type		Base Damage	Range	Ammunition	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed
Category:Bows}}	Bows	15 - 19	10	Arrows	Paralyzing Blow	Mortal Strike	4.25s
Category:Composite Bows}}	Composite Bows	13 - 17	10	Arrows	Armor Ignore	Moving Shot	4s
Category:Elven Composite Longbows}}	Elven Composite Longbows	12 - 16	10	Arrows	Force Arrow	Serpent Arrow	4s
Category:Magical Shortbows}}	Magical Shortbows	9 - 13	10	Arrows	Lightning Arrow	Psychic Attack	3s
Category:Yumis}}	Yumi	16 - 20	10	Arrows	Armor Pierce	Double Shot	4.5s
Category:Crossbows}}	Crossbows	18 - 22	8	Bolts	Concussion Blow	Mortal Strike	4.5s
Category:Heavy Crossbows}}	Heavy Crossbows	20 - 24	8	Bolts	Moving Shot	Dismount	5s
Category:Repeating Crossbows}}	Repeating Crossbows	8 - 12	7	Bolts	Double Strike	Moving Shot	2.75s
Type		Base Damage	Range	Ammunition	Primary Move	Secondary Move	Weapon Speed