Background:

So i've recently created what is now one of my favorite character type: a tank/paladin/warrior. Pretty much just a tank with resto.

I've already searched for this topic and couldn't really find exactly what I wanted, I didn't search too hard though because I wanted to post about about my question.

I've been looking for what one handed weapon type is the best, in regards to swing speed, perks and damage, and i've heard multiple people say swords>maces>axes in regards to DPS, I don't know if this is true or not.

I'm not just looking for raw dps however, but a weapon that fits with the dynamics of my class, and right now i'm leaning toward maces and then axes. I have my shield to defend against magic users and I can just run over to them with it up then kill them in two or three hits, so the only thing that gives me trouble are heavily armored people.

Question:

Is the one-handed mace perk really worth it?

Does it actually help against armoured npcs? (The reason I ask this is because I often run into seemingly tankish archers and mages wearing fur armour.)

You're leaning towards maces and have trouble with armored foes...you've answered your own question as maces have perks to ignore armor rating

Don't ever get those "0/3" specialty perks. They're worthless.

And in regard to weapon speed, Swords are the fastest, Axes are in the middle, and Maces are the slowest.

Swords do the least amount of damage, Axes in the middle, and Maces do the most.

I think maces are perfect for this kind of build,you will get a little more stagger from them than you will get from swords or axes.

As for the bone breaker perks,if it fits you roleplay and you have the perks to get them then I say it never hurts.

Sure those perks could be used elsewhere if you are looking for the ultimate warrior however I have never really been into creating such ultimate characters.I like to roleplay and if I can get them I do so.

There was an old thread on ridiculous damage that discussed this sort of thing. The consensus was that those perks weren't to effective because of npc limitations, in other words, there were too few heavily armored enemies to make it worthwhile for blunt, all undead don't bleed so the axe perk is limited and crit damage only applies to base damage so that's not too good either.

The DPS is better for faster weapons when improved. The more improved the better because the damage disadvantage of faster weapons becomes a smaller percentage but the speed advantage stays the same.

why wouldn't the mace perks to reduce %75 of armor be good for him if he's having trouble with armored opponents? Before you say the points are better spent elsewhere, I agree, but he wants something 1 handed that helps him fight armored foes so a mace with perks sounds perfect for him

Because how many "heavily armored" enemies do you actually face? I believe I read somewhere that foes only have at a maximum 150 AR. That's really nothing. What matters is their health.

I agree,add the marked for death shout and your opponents can actually have a negative armor rating.Taking care of bandit chiefs with ease.

true but this isn't a gun game where you fire out bullets and the fasest shot wins the day. DPS doesn't factor in blocking then countering with a single power attack or any other playstyle that doesn't involve rapidly swinging your weapon. In a block and counter style the mace wins because that single power strike can do much more damage then a single dagger strike. Then there's dual wielding mace in right, dagger in left with proper perks and mace is fast and strong

Another thing to consider is how you use your shield. If you use shield bash a lot, like bash, hit, bash, hit, a mace is good for the small amount of extra damage and stagger. The slower speed doesn't matter much because you'll only be making one hit per cycle.

edit: Right, Haggar, you beat me to it. Totally depends on your style.

the best weapon for a tank is the L30A1 120 mm Rifled gun with 52 rounds.

I would think any one-handed plus a shield with heavy armor is ideal for a tank. Learning how to block and stun constantly is key if you want to be a true tank, while having your following constantly attack. Learning how to Smith and maybe enchant and give your followers incredible weapons for damage but no armor would make a traditional tank and dps pairing. If you want to do any type of magic, only use stuff that is defensive like cloak and armor spells

So just to put it in list form:

• invest in primarily defensive perks with heavy armor and blocking
• combat wise, focus primarily on stunning and kiting if need be
• give follower best weapon possible (even if it's better than your own)
• don't enchant or smith your weapon
• use cloak and armor-skin spells to increase your defense and to do a bit of damage on attackers

In my opinion, I find maces to be the best weapon for a tank. The perks are worth it too because they not only ignore the armor ratings of enemies actually wearing armor but it also negates the armor rating of Mages that cast flesh wards. A sword is pretty good too because it causes critical hit to all enemy types. As for the axe being kinda weak because it has to cause the bleed damage to enemies that have blood. The only enemies, off the too of my head, that aren't effected by this are the undead, of course, although i think it would work on vampires, Sprigins, wraths, wrath mothers and sisters, and ghosts; all of which you don't normally come in contact with, aside from the undead Dragurs. Maces, as far as the perks for them, are the best, in my opinion that is. I only read the OP so sorry to anyone that has already stated any of this.

Thanks all for your feedback!

Thanks, I was leaning maces because of the awesome stagger.

I didn't know all that about undead not bleeding and the crit only using base damage. Thanks.

Yea that was what I was thinking too, they mostly have a lot of health.

So I guess the real question now is how do I get my damage to insane levels? haha

Edit: Oh and my combat style is basically what was stated above, shield bash and attack, I try to stunlock them. (It's pretty silly I still don't have the damage bonus perks for Block, only level 32 though.)

Here's the thread I mentioned, everything you need to know for damage:

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1342463-complete-character-design-freedom-damage-resist-caps-and-ridiculous-damage-thread-10/

Dual swords are perfect for tanks.

Thanks!

Tanks should only use battleaxes. Swords aren't brutal enough and hammers are a bit dull.

Yes, axes are definitely the best brutality wise, and look awesome.

Tanks should be equppied with a 120mm cannon and carry both HEAT and APFSDS rounds for all engagments.

And Composite armour.