Can you folks help me out? I was wondering the best weapon from:

Flails

Two-handed swords

Long Swords

Flails

Axes

Hammers

Short swords

Also, what is the best shield?

Flail: Flail of ages +3

2H-sword: Carsomyr +5 (only used by paladins)

Long sword: Black Razor +4 (but it doesn't appear until very late in the game)

Axes: not sure

Hammer: Crom Fayer +5 (made by cromwell)

short sword: ?

shield: Sentinel (AC +5)

The best Flail is, with no doubt, the Flail of Ages +3. One of the best weapons in SoA.

The best Two Handed Sword is indeed Carsomyr. For Evil characters, the Soul Reaver +4 is superb, and Warblade +4 for the rest.

Long Swords are usually a 'specific use' swords. However, Blackrazor +3 is very powerful (do you have ToB?), and the Equalizer makes a wonderful Off Hand weapon if you have good Strength.

Axes? Not too much to choose from... Frostreaver probably takes the cake.

Crom Faeyr leaves all other War Hammers miles behind.

The best Short Sword is Kundane. It's a little known fact that just like Belm, Kundane gives an extra attack!

The Sentinel shield will give you the largest AC boost. The Shield of Harmony and, of course, the Shield of Balduran are useful in quite a few situations.

Thanks. [img]smile.gif[/img] And yes, I have ToB.

No problem. [img]smile.gif[/img]

If asked if you have ToB because Blackrazor is practically useless for SoA because you get it so, so late. ;)
On top of that, if you have ToB, new weapon categories begin to shine.
If you're interested, post a new thread in the ToB forum. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I played a dwarf beserker with +++++ in axes so I'll tell you about them. In SOA there is two really good axes stonefire+3 bought in the copper coronot from Bernard when you've rescued the slaves and frostreaver another +3 axe found in the D'Arnise hold. In TOB the best axe is the Axe of unyeilding yet another +3 axe which gives you +1 AC this is found in level four of watchers keep on the body of Rock the minotar. This axe can be upgraded by the imp to a +5 vorpal weapon if you have the axe and balor's claw in TOB.

As for throwing axes in SOA the best is azuredge a +3 throwing axe bought from Bernard in the copper coronot if you free the slaves. This is only useable by good characters however. For evil characters the best throwing axe is found on the body of one of the thieves in the first mission for either Aran Linvail or Bodhi. Sorry I forget it's name.

EDIT: Oh and I forgot you might want to check out this site: www.flatface.net/~itemsmart/

[ 12-15-2002, 05:30 PM: Message edited by: Zarr ]

I would agree completely with this! I am currently in the underdark with a ranger who is proficient with axes, switching between Azuredge and Stonefire+3 and I am having great success!

Don't let us overlook the Rifthome Axe. It is a +3 perpetual throwing axe, which you can gain in the early phase of the game. Well, Azuredge seems to be better if we take into account its hidden abilities (the abilities not shown on its description).
Short swords: I think it is a question whether Kundane is better than the Arbane's Sword. The permanent free action of the latter sword is extra useful unless you reach a really high level.
The best short bow in SoA: Tansheron Bow.
The best long bow or a crossbow in SoA: none.
The best halberd in SoA: the halberd from the Underdark (sorry, I can't remember its name just now).

Gesen is definitely a better Short bow than Tansheron's. The Halberd is called Dragon's Breath I believe.

I would agree completely with this! I am currently in the underdark with a ranger who is proficient with axes, switching between Azuredge and Stonefire+3 and I am having great success!

SoA Only:
----

1) Flail of Ages +3
Runner-up: Defender of Easthaven +3

2) Carsomyr +5 for Paladins
Soul Reaver +4 for Evil-Alignments
Silver Sword +3 for the rest

Notable mention: Warblade +4

3) Dragonslayer +3
Blackrazor +3
Equaliser +3
Sword of Balduran +2

Notable mention: Flame Tongue, Blade of Roses +3

4) Frostreaver +3
Azuredge +3 versus Undead
Stonefire +3

5) Crom Faeyr +5
Warhammer +1, +4 vs Giantkin

6) Cuttthroat +4
Arbane's Sword +2

7) Sentinel Shield for AC
Shield of Balduran versus Beholders
Shield of Harmony for anything else

[ 12-16-2002, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

Doh! I knew i forgot something...

I actually prefer tansheron's short bow over the gesen bow [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Simply because tansheron's short bow has a higher rate of fire than the gesen bow which shoots lightning awfully slow. I have Mazzy use tansheron's bow while Imoen uses the gesen bow if needed.

[ 12-16-2002, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: Zarr ]

Best Shortbow: Tuigan Bow +1

Notable mentions, Tansheron Bow +3, Short Bow of Gesen +4

Best Longbow: Strongarm +2

Notable mentions, Heartseeker +3, Mana Bow +4

Best Crossbow: Light Crossbow of Speed +1

Notable mentions, Heavy Crossbow of Searing +1, Necaradan's Crossbow +3, Crossbow of Affliction +4

Best Club : Gnasher +2

Best Bastard Sword : Jhor the Bleeder +3

Best (and only the worthy) Katana : Celestial Fury +3

Best Mace : A tie between Skullcrusher and Mace of Disruption

Best Dagger : Boneblade +4

Best Dart : Asp's Nest

Any weapon category missing?

Hmmmm... ...

Scimitars: Belm +2
Water Edge +3

Slings: Everand Sling +5
Sling of Seeking +2

Staff: Staff of Magi +5 for Wizards
Staff of Rynn +4 for the rest

Halberd: Dragon's Breath +4
Blackmist +4 for Evil-alignment
Wave +4

Spear: Impaler +3

That should complete the list... I think.

Is that a hidden extra +1? Only displays as a +2 weapon.

Lilarcor should get a notable mention for it's Mind shield and +3 enchantment.

Notable mention: Rifthome +3

Dwarven Thrower +3(Only for dwarves) and Hammer of Thunderbolts +3 are both better than Warhammer +1/+4 in my opinion.

Notable mention, Fortress Shield +3/+7

Blackblood +3, does 9.5 average dmg, punches through stoneskin and kills trolls. Almost on par with Flail of Ages really [img]smile.gif[/img] Defintely much better than the Gnasher.

Again, is that a hidden extra +1 enchantment? Only listed as +2.
I think Blade of Searing +3 is better still.

Firetooth +3? Don't know if it can be used in melee but it is surely more damaging than Boneblade.

[quote]Originally posted by Rataxes:
Yes, and its' actual damage is 1d6+4.
Good call.
Noted.
Warhammer +1, +4 vs Giantkin strikes as a +4 enchanted weapon. It can virtually hit anything unless there is a combat protection or such. The Hammer of Thunderbolts +3 is a component of Crom Faeyr +5. Both are notable, but the Warhammer +1, +4 vs Giantkin is a better all-rounder in my opinion.
+7 vs Missile Weapons to be more precise. Not really that fantastic since under the unusual circumstance that you are in dire need of protection from missile weapons, you can always switch to the Shield of Reflection.

The Sentinel Shield is a better all-rounder than the Fortress Shield.

Did not know that it striked as a +4 weapon against all enemy types. It still only does slightly more than half the damage of the other two weapons, and there aren't that many monsters in SoA that require a +4 weapon, especially not before you can get Crom Faeyr. Notable mentions at the very least [img]smile.gif[/img]

Still has the 2nd highest AC bonus in the game, but you're right in that it's not the best.

Hardly. ;)
The Slow effect is much better than it looks - has no save, ignores Magic Resistance, bypasses Stoneskin and is cumulative.

Blackblood +3 : 1D6 +3 +3 = 9.5
Gnasher +2 : 1D6 +2 +(2*4) = 13.5
The slivers damage adds up really fast. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Keep Blackblood for Trolls and Mages.

You are right, i am wrong. I stand corrected.
Blade of Searing: 2D4 +3 +1 = 9
Jhor the Bleeder : 2D4 +2 +10 = 17!
The cumulative damage strikes back, Part 2. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I knew i forgot something! [img]graemlins/doh.gif[/img] Thanks.
Of course, Fire Tooth +3 does way more damage.

Hmm?
Why Dragonslayer +3 above Blackrazor and Equalizer?

And we should probably mention Daystar in the Notable mention section. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Don't you find Kundane superior?
An extra attack is a very powerful bonus...

[ 12-16-2002, 04:01 PM: Message edited by: Alson ]

That's true. But in terms of damage, and what they can damage/kill, FoA and Blackblood are very similar in power.

That's what I always thought too. But when I actually tested The Gnasher and other items with similar effect, I hardly ever noticed the slivers. The average damage you listed is only true if the target actually stays alive for 5 rounds (since the additional slivers first starts to kick one round after the hit, correct?). Most monsters I target with my party are dead in mere seconds though. It may be useful against extremely durable monsters that will actually take a while to kill but I find those to be quite rare. That's why I prefer weapons that hit hard with each hit rather than those that build up their power over a longer period of time.

Well what I said about The Gnasher applies here too [img]smile.gif[/img] As well as the fact that Blade of Searing will punch through stoneskins and kill trolls.

[ 12-16-2002, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: Rataxes ]