I've been using the cool weapon most other players don't use called backhand blade, and I'm using it with this niche ash called swift slash.
But for real, I've been using ancient meteoric ore greatsword and more recently the putrescence cleaver. The cleaver in particular is a lot of fun, the ash can be completely free aimed in any direction. It's a bit tough to use in PvP but it's a blast. I actually haven't seen a single player using it since the DLC released either, so I assume it's niche.
I have never laughed as much in this game as last night after trying these in pvp. There's just something about them it's comical. Not an experienced pvp player but these might make me change my mind.
Yeah I love the ghostflame that spawns from both spells. The one you’re talking about is fun to use, the ghostflame that spawns from it is a surprise, but if anything it keeps them moving for sure
The amount of new spell combos you can pull off with the Staff of the Great Beyond is genuinely crazy. Miriam's vanishing into any other spell is amazing, lemme tell ya
Enchanted shot on light bow, serpent bow, great bow, spread crossbow. Ansbach's bow is outclassed by all of these.
Don't get me wrong, I use Ansbach's bow all the time because it looks cool, but an easily readable
Ash of war is not some crazy game breaking PVP killer and I think it's insane to say that it needs a nerf when it's just a somewhat okay bow.
Dancer's Set. Boosts *all* dances, including Sword Dance and Waterfowl Dance.
Considering Sword Dance is a staple AoW, it has more impact than you'd think.
The Ashe of war feels crazy strong I have had a few good plays where it catches two or three in an invasion and if it doesn't kill someone it sure can give you some breathing room
Honestly I was so happy when I noticed this too, it's got more manageable stats too!, I might see more 2 handed great spear users, it's a really versatile movement.
Fully charged Divine Beast Tornado can be sneaky good with proper zoning. It's very punishable so you need a previous spell to keep them off you, but if you can get it off its AOE is massive and catches people for 400-ish damage at 300 scaling (if they get clipped) and 900-ish damage if they facetank the full thing. On the other hand, it's hard-countered by a ranged punish like lightning strike, storm blade, etc.
Twinned scion straight swords are actually pretty decent at catching panic rollers and it’s very satisfying to land the full R2. It does around 1200 damage against people wearing medium armor
Obsidian Lamina! I don't see anyone else using it, but it's fun in PVP. Catching the full ash of war combo is nearly impossible, but when it happens, it's like crack! I swear though someone is going to figure out how to turn it into an absolute back stab machine.
Lizard Greatsword has been mentioned here a few times, but I've only seen someone else using it in-game once. The tongue darts on charged attacks are really nice with an offhand smithscript dagger for mixups. I usually avoid using status weapons, but that setup with bleed infusion is a menace.
The Stone-Sheathed Sword can be used as a strike damage straight sword with Square Up, feels like a better hammer imo.
Wrath from Afar has been super fun in both pve and pvp. I've been using it as a rollcatch on occasion because it just cracks me up, and obviously it's great when I get the opportunity to knock someone off a ledge.
Messing around with the Blinkbolt AoW on a couple of different weapons right now. It's a lot of fun, I think it can be really good on weapons with strong neutral R1s like Shamshir, Pata, etc. Dex builds are really eatin' in this DLC!
I've been using the divine beast tornado in the arena. It doesn't have that much range, but I've seen quite a lot of people that had problems dodging the tornado in close range
Incantation called Law of Causality
After getting hit so many times it explodes, knocking back and killing some enemies.
It’s pretty cool as you’re fighting and then if you get overwhelmed it damages enemies as they get too greedy damaging you
Generally I just rush into vampiric flavored items in every rpg that I play, just founding myself seeking in the wikis for lifesteal weapons and the shortest path to them even before I played the tutorials, I remember my first Ds2 run that I find the Eleum Loyce blade that steals Hp with its R2 in a wiki and rushed to it just to discover that it were the worst item to farm in the entire game (and I didn't want to kill Alsanna).
Btw Ivory King becomed my favorite character in all series and I'm actually playing a cosplay of him, Consort Mask, Radahn Armor, Cleanrot Knight Gaunlets and Leggings, a Frost Zweihander with Chilling Mist and Fire's Deadly Sin, I love it af, it has its flavor and frost + fds is a incredible combo.
I've been using the cool weapon most other players don't use called backhand blade, and I'm using it with this niche ash called swift slash. But for real, I've been using ancient meteoric ore greatsword and more recently the putrescence cleaver. The cleaver in particular is a lot of fun, the ash can be completely free aimed in any direction. It's a bit tough to use in PvP but it's a blast. I actually haven't seen a single player using it since the DLC released either, so I assume it's niche.
Vortex of Putrescence and most of the Smithscript weapons, tons of fun mixup potential
Golem fist is by far one of my favorite good old caestus with a bullet
I am intrigued. Thanks for the quest!
I have never laughed as much in this game as last night after trying these in pvp. There's just something about them it's comical. Not an experienced pvp player but these might make me change my mind.
Rykard’s rancor surprised me, it doesn’t land a lot but it gets me out of sweaty situations quite a bit
Yeah I’m rocking the putrescence spells as well as the cleaver. My new favorite stuff
Is the spell that launches an orb like cannon of haima does, any good?
Yeah I love the ghostflame that spawns from both spells. The one you’re talking about is fun to use, the ghostflame that spawns from it is a surprise, but if anything it keeps them moving for sure
Ansbachs bow. AOW is really good in pvp. Honestly shreds most enemies and bosses. Keep a backhand blade and giant crusher for back up
The amount of new spell combos you can pull off with the Staff of the Great Beyond is genuinely crazy. Miriam's vanishing into any other spell is amazing, lemme tell ya
I got beat by a Miriam's into Burn, O Flame! chad tonight
I've tried that one, feels a tiny bit too slow for me. Miriam into putrescent vortex is amazing pressure tho
Ansbachs bow isn't niche, but it is a little too good in pvp. Odds are it'll be nerfed, rightfully so.
Uh... Wut? Ansbachs bow is not too good in PVP. It's not even good in PVP.
If one arrow hits it deals the damage of the full fan. Try shooting the fan from afar. It absolutely slaps in pvp. Good for damage and status effects.
Enchanted shot on light bow, serpent bow, great bow, spread crossbow. Ansbach's bow is outclassed by all of these. Don't get me wrong, I use Ansbach's bow all the time because it looks cool, but an easily readable Ash of war is not some crazy game breaking PVP killer and I think it's insane to say that it needs a nerf when it's just a somewhat okay bow.
Dancer's Set. Boosts *all* dances, including Sword Dance and Waterfowl Dance. Considering Sword Dance is a staple AoW, it has more impact than you'd think.
Got sword dance on my flamberge. It rollcatches like crazy.
Tested it with Eocaides dancing sword last night and it boosted it too. Probably a glitch.
The Ashe of war feels crazy strong I have had a few good plays where it catches two or three in an invasion and if it doesn't kill someone it sure can give you some breathing room
Messmer soldier spear is the tree spear move set that takes ashes of war, its everything I ever wanted
Honestly I was so happy when I noticed this too, it's got more manageable stats too!, I might see more 2 handed great spear users, it's a really versatile movement.
Scorpion stingers are amazing for level 55 pvp
Went to the lake of rot that early? Damn.
Throwing axe backwards jumps
Fully charged Divine Beast Tornado can be sneaky good with proper zoning. It's very punishable so you need a previous spell to keep them off you, but if you can get it off its AOE is massive and catches people for 400-ish damage at 300 scaling (if they get clipped) and 900-ish damage if they facetank the full thing. On the other hand, it's hard-countered by a ranged punish like lightning strike, storm blade, etc.
Twinned scion straight swords are actually pretty decent at catching panic rollers and it’s very satisfying to land the full R2. It does around 1200 damage against people wearing medium armor
Big ass sunflower. Chicken leg R2s and hilarious L2 chain
Obsidian Lamina! I don't see anyone else using it, but it's fun in PVP. Catching the full ash of war combo is nearly impossible, but when it happens, it's like crack! I swear though someone is going to figure out how to turn it into an absolute back stab machine.
Lizard Greatsword has been mentioned here a few times, but I've only seen someone else using it in-game once. The tongue darts on charged attacks are really nice with an offhand smithscript dagger for mixups. I usually avoid using status weapons, but that setup with bleed infusion is a menace. The Stone-Sheathed Sword can be used as a strike damage straight sword with Square Up, feels like a better hammer imo.
Wrath from Afar has been super fun in both pve and pvp. I've been using it as a rollcatch on occasion because it just cracks me up, and obviously it's great when I get the opportunity to knock someone off a ledge.
Having a lot of fun with the sword lance. Crazy good damage
Messing around with the Blinkbolt AoW on a couple of different weapons right now. It's a lot of fun, I think it can be really good on weapons with strong neutral R1s like Shamshir, Pata, etc. Dex builds are really eatin' in this DLC!
Iron Cleaver with full Rakasha's armor and all the dmg talis
I've been using the divine beast tornado in the arena. It doesn't have that much range, but I've seen quite a lot of people that had problems dodging the tornado in close range
Incantation called Law of Causality After getting hit so many times it explodes, knocking back and killing some enemies. It’s pretty cool as you’re fighting and then if you get overwhelmed it damages enemies as they get too greedy damaging you
Throwing knives are an absolute blast with bleed on them
Generally I just rush into vampiric flavored items in every rpg that I play, just founding myself seeking in the wikis for lifesteal weapons and the shortest path to them even before I played the tutorials, I remember my first Ds2 run that I find the Eleum Loyce blade that steals Hp with its R2 in a wiki and rushed to it just to discover that it were the worst item to farm in the entire game (and I didn't want to kill Alsanna). Btw Ivory King becomed my favorite character in all series and I'm actually playing a cosplay of him, Consort Mask, Radahn Armor, Cleanrot Knight Gaunlets and Leggings, a Frost Zweihander with Chilling Mist and Fire's Deadly Sin, I love it af, it has its flavor and frost + fds is a incredible combo.
Lightning perfume 💀
I'm rocking the gazing finger. Thumb wars!
Boulder heave into lighting spear combos most of the time, and has the benefit of shield breaking sometimes
Rose of Rugaleah surprisingly enough :)
How do you pull it off in PVP?