#extendables

So if you've been looking around at most Templar PvP vid's etc, stream and what not, you'll begin to notice a lack of people actually using their Extendable greatsword; taking preference in a non extendable option, Why?

In my opinion, having used extendable maces and greatswords prior to 4.0 ( I have not personally upgraded my DLR variants), I believe there are several points about them that make them less appealing to the high-end, top-tier max stat world. 

The first, duly noted difference that is fairly obvious is a lack of many useful base stats on the Extendable Greatsword. Basically every single stat which holds significance is lacking in the greatsword. From a theoretical perspective it also means you literally hit for less damage as you're lacking attack (you can slot in crit to make up for the loss of crit, but you won't ever make up for the loss of white stat Attack and base stat attack at the same time). If hitting less doesn't concern you, it should, if you think about it if you're literally doing less damage on every weave, your crits hit for less and have a less chance of criting as you lack a substantial amount of crit, what's the purpose in using an Extendable Greatsword?

Well one thing that it has got going for it would be the fact that it extends the distance of your abilities, literally extending the range on most if not all melee based skills you have, including doom lure and other pulls which essentially means you can pull people from further away. Another is that it can potentially make it substantially more difficult to kite you with an extendable, Another is that it comes base at +15 and pre-tuned, with pre selected stats, does not come with any ancient manastone slots or any difference between base stats to another. 

So what niche's can this greatsword potentially fill. in most cases most individuals who operate the greatsword use it against casters, subsequently slot the entire greatsword from top to bottom with Crit/MR composites flaunting it's lack of a Ancient Manastone slot allowing potentially 11 composite stones to be slotted. When used in conjunction to an MR set, that's an additional 77 MR if slotted "correctly". 

However, in my opinion, how in my personal experience as to how this weapon system should be used is more or less a situational weapon, of which should be swapped as the fight progresses, it's a great weapon if you're attempting to break distance to your target, but if your already on your target you need to be dealing damage, there's no longer a need to break distance if the target's currently going through your burst rotation is there? Your dealing theoretically less damage for every move you're doing with the extendable up so why don't you just simply swap back to your normal "main hand" weapon in order to deal more damage with it through a burst cycle. Sure, if the target manages to break contact then you can swap back and lure them back in as you need, but there is no need for you to be trying to burst someone with the extendable up, it makes no logical sense whatsoever to do so. 

The exception to this would be against a heavy magic class or caster in which the additional MR from the greatsword may benefit resisting more skills from your target. In this case prolonged usage of the Extendable may prove helpful, even through a burst cycle to resist potential CC's etc. 

As a side note since it may not affect everyone, the investing in an extendable greatsword WILL be expensive, no two ways about it. If you're buying from scratch, expect base line value price of upwards of 300m for the DLR extendable alone, passes which can potentially sky rocket for 6 of them. A gold silence ~350m, 11 Crit/MR level 60 composites, ideally about 11 Eternal 65 Feli's unless you like to live dangerously and slot without, ideally a 65a2 combine but if not present a 60a2 combine then the cost in maintaining augment on it, you will either need to keep an eternal Magical Defense or Physical Attack Idian on it throughout it's life span. These are one of the few things you can't half-ass on, when you decide it's now time to go get an extendable greatsword, you NEED all of the following ready and at your disposal, including excessive quantities of enchantment stones in order to +15, it is 15 and not 13-14. 

This post was more or less directed at the greatsword, the mace is completely viable, no questions asked, he ability to throw shield coutners shield bashes etc at a greater distance is huge. additionally it is one of the few maces post 4.0 that even have Attack speed that is realistically attainable.