I was testing some stuff lately and i’ve noticed swapping to 1h+shield from a 2hander takes 2 separate GCD’s (in combat) effectively making this kind of play completely useless.
Why is it so?
Im speaking mostly from PvP perspective but i mean we have Shield Block and Shield Slam available (even tho Shield Slam’s damage for Arms/Fury is ridiculously undertuned) so clearly there was some logic for it to be added then why is it rendered completely useless by the 2x GCD?
Am i missing something here or Blizz didnt test this at all?
We could maybe see some good old Sword and Board style moments if it was fixed.
Also Shield Slam for Arms does like 1/3 of Overpower’s damage lol (the lowest direct hiting ability in PvP right now), would be nice if it got a PvP aura buff by 100-200% so it’d do just a tiny bit of damage instead of just generating 15 rage (still would hit for much MUCH less than MS and wouldnt apply MS effect).
Yo, sword and board question you say? This sounds like a job for me!
You wouldn’t swap to sword and board for DPS increase, but defensive or for fun. As a sword and board arms enjoyer - I got plenty of experience with it, just accept that your ST will be dog till executephase, yet your overall AoE will still remain fine. Now, that is if you never swap back and forth. My point here is; you can play Sword and Board if you want to. Just be aware you will lose quite a chunk of DPS. In general I would say you lose 20% ish overall. Still, a ton of fun and I would recommend you to at least try it if curious. You can easilly time and carry the needed DPS in your weekly 10s.
(Just remember to build for it, as it severely reduces the talents you can pick)
The idea is that swapping gives you defencive utility through increased armor and shieldblock. The actual value of doing so is hard to pinpoint, especially in PvP where the opportunity cost can be seen as pretty steep. The GCD cost is to stop you from swapping back and forth between abilities. Something that would make the swap play hella’ messy and quite unfun headache to deal with.
But let’s say you are in the weird situation where you are just holding out to live that little bit longer (especially as Fury, that still can use their sustain-toolkit), it will help quite a bit. Block works especially well Vs Hunters and Warriors - pure physical damage dealers that can all be blocked. So, in the scenario you see the enemy team come barreling down towards you - every %HP you can delay before your death, is a moment won to win the game for your team.
So if you spinning on a flag, holding out to delay a fight you can not win - Sword and Board arguably got a time and place. If you trying to win said fight - it is likely not. Still, lose the battle and win the war after all. In the end it is about the gains said action give, and in PvP seconds could be the difference between a loss and win as points accumulate.
TLDR:
GCD to stop degenerate gameplay and balancing issues.
Sword and Board works; as for what it is. Mainly a fun sidething to do.
The value/cost is situational, and up to subjective opinion if there is anything to gain.
Now pick up your sword and board, and fight the horde!
No no - I understand this part completely, my point is that why does it take 2 GCD’s and not just 1 like it used to back in the days?
I mean, it essentially makes this play completely useless and 1 GCD would still be enough to stop you from swapping back and forth since each swap is still a GCD trigger, not to mention a massive DPS loss without the 2 Hander.
I genuinely think there would be situations where i could use 1h+shield in Arena or BG but the 2x GCD when swapping into a 1 Hander and Shield just renders this kind of play completely worthless thus making these abilities useless
It was only worth it in the past because blocks also proc’d Revenge. You could smash down another Warrior or Rogue by putting on your shield and Revenging them into Execute range.
Since the designers removed the concept of revenge from a spell called revenge it’s been worthless to switch anyway.
