IB or SM

[BigBadBob]

Hello,

I'm looking to play a new character during the double xp weekend and narrowed it down to Ironbreaker or Swordmaster. I was wondering what the community thought the pros and cons of 2 handed Swordmasters are compared to 2 handed Ironbreakers to help me make my decision.

[toffikx]

It depends on what content you want to play, and in which setup. Generally, 2H SM is the ”second tank” in a 6-man group. Can do very high damage at the cost of less group support. AoE knockaway is a big minus, first of because it will provide cc immunity to x number of targets (which is very bad in scenarios, and in situations where your group wants to use most of it’s rooting/knockaway/pull potential). Its short distance is also bad, if you want to knockaway a guard tank( which you will have a hard time doing anyway as the said ability is AoE). A highly offensive SM can be effective in a duo comp with healer, something the IB usually would not be. The IB got a solo target knockaway, which is excellent in removing threats to you group, or a guard on your hostile target dps. It provides very good defensive/offensive support on single target party member, through the ”Oath Friend” ability. IB would be the better choice in a trio group. It can also function both as a defensive and offensive tank in a 6man, something which the SM usually can’t.

[Kragg]

It depends on what content you want to play, and in which setup. Generally, 2H SM is the ”second tank” in a 6-man group. Can do very high damage at the cost of less group support. AoE knockaway is a big minus, first of because it will provide cc immunity to x number of targets (which is very bad in scenarios, and in situations where your group wants to use most of it’s rooting/knockaway/pull potential). Its short distance is also bad, if you want to knockaway a guard tank( which you will have a hard time doing anyway as the said ability is AoE). A highly offensive SM can be effective in a duo comp with healer, something the IB usually would not be. The IB got a solo target knockaway, which is excellent in removing threats to you group, or a guard on your hostile target dps. It provides very good defensive/offensive support on single target party member, through the ”Oath Friend” ability. IB would be the better choice in a trio group. It can also function both as a defensive and offensive tank in a 6man, something which the SM usually can’t.

Not to mention dwarfs rock!

[peterthepan3]

AoE KB is incredibly potent when it's used correctly (aka not how 99% of SMs currently use it).

2H IB is a harder class to play, but offers much, much more to a 6-man, and the damage difference between a SM and IB isn't as large as people make out to be the case, especially now that double spirit debuff is no longer a thing.

[bichka]

dwarfs is more tanky and cheaty due to racial tactics like armor, tactic for reducing knockdown time and 2nd morale which turn all damage to 1 for 5 seconds.