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Melee Mechanics Guide - WHC + Rapier Focused (Old Patch)

By Velsix

This guide covers advanced melee mechanics in detail. It focuses on the Rapier when used by WHC in the first half, and then no Slayer with Dual Axes in the second half. It is primarily focused on Cata, but the the non-breakpoint content still applies to other difficulties. Some of the advice is made with being host/good internet connections in mind, as such some of it may be unreasonable for some internet connections.

Award

Created by

Velsix
Offline

Category: Classes, Weapons

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

5 Jul, 2020 @ 10:37pm

14 Sep, 2021 @ 3:23am

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36	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

New up to Date Guide

Introduction

Movement

Stamina

Other

WHC Talents

Melee Head shots

WHC — Gameplay Examples

Properties

Build Example

Slayer

Slayer — Gameplay Examples

Bonus — Other Careers

Comments

New up to Date Guide

I have a new, up to date guide here: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2560914189

Introduction

The first half mainly focuses on WHC with the Rapier, but most of the non-breakpoint advice applies to Slayer with Dual Axes as well.

Essentially you want to trim a horde with the Rapier.

The term 'pistol special' refers to the special attack that the Rapier has.

Movement

Skirt the edges of a horde.
Stay close to hordes to lessen the amount of running attacks, but don't let yourself get surrounded. Pressing into the horde let's your pushes reach enemies further back, giving higher control as a result.
Stationary Chaos Warrior and Mauler overheads (the ones that don't track) can be avoided by moving to the right or left while doing a Rapier charged attack due to the movement curve (obviously risky, but it can save a dodge and makes a headshot easier, would be difficult to do/inconsistent as a client). https://youtu.be/K1oebXeahRg
Try to parry when possible instead of blocking for long intervals (you should block just before attacks connect regardless of weapon trait). Even on weapons with high movement speed while blocking like the Rapier (85%), parrying instead makes your movement better and increases your dps by allowing you to attack more often. It's helps prevent enemies from surrounding you.

Stamina

Watch carefully for incoming attacks.
A good default combo for 30% stamina recovery is 4 lights, push light then 4 lights and repeat. At 70% 2 lights, push light then 2 lights and repeat is effective. Without 70% stamina recovery block cancelling after two lights also works. Conserve your stamina.
The third light can be used to get multiple (usually only two) headshots in a swing at the right angle due to it being shallower than the other lights. Use it when you see an opportunity.
If a part of the horde converges on you and clumps up, throw in more pushes. On Cata, Norscan hordes will require more pushes than Skaven hordes due to the Rapier not cleaving and staggering more than one Marauder (unless you have Enhanced Power/Zealot's stacks/(maybe Necessary Means?)).

Other

You can use the pistol special to pick off shield enemies that have their guard down but you can't otherwise reach with melee attacks. Useful if they get pushed behind other horde enemies.
2 lights followed by the pistol special will cause shielded SV to have their guard down for longer than 2 pushes.
The pistol special can be used while blocking and can stun Maulers (you'll want to bodyshot Maulers with this specific attack for higher damage, but on Deathwish head shotting gives better stagger). Aim for headshots on Maulers if you have a Riposte crit or are crit fishing.
At close range, the pistol special does comparable damage to a BoP shot. Fire the pistol special and then switch to BoP (or vice-versa) and fire one shot to kill infantry specials with less ammo. Works without any properties on tagged targets with bodyshots. Propr
Blocking attacks from Shielded Clanrats, Bulwarks and Shielded SV will cause them to lower their guard without you pushing or attacking. You can immediately follow up with an attack to hit them. This works for the normal single attack that Shielded SV can do, but not for their multi attack combo.

WHC Talents

Charmed Life is better for kiting elites while attacking them (higher dps up time) while Cast Away is better dps on hordes and single elites.
Flense is your best straight up dps boost. Deathknell is generally only somewhat better at elites than Flense, however, it is better for Chaos Warriors with Fervency if you have at least 20% crit power, or 20% vs Chaos/Armour (all three property combos allow the Rapier to one shot full charge crit headshot a tagged CW with Deathknell+Assassin. 20% vs Chaos/Armour + 20% Crit Power lets it do it without the tag).
Riposte is for fun, and will make you a better player very quickly.
Fervency is very good if you know you'll be facing large groups of elites, like on FoW, some weaves etc. Unending Hunt is good for a constant damage boost and for control.

Melee Head shots

With the Rapier you should aim high. The closer you are, the higher. Additionally, adjusting your swing to the left or right can be good to land some head shots, particularly with the lights/up close charged attacks. Use movement to get more headshots. When up close, think of it this way: You're hitting their heads with the base of the Rapier's blade, whereas you use the 2nd half when further away.
At roughly 10% attack speed, partial charge headshots stagger lock Stormvermin. It's 20% for Maulers and CWs.

WHC — Gameplay Examples

Norscan Horde with Savages in a large area
https://youtu.be/ZaLQ6J2aeMQ

Norscan Horde with Bulwarks (Shielded Marauders) in a small area
https://youtu.be/KkRWZrZjMCc

Boss Riposte chain example
https://youtu.be/XPHF1QDuJJw

Build used for all three of the above WHC videos: https://www.ranaldsgift.com/10/112212/32,4,1,6/19,1,3,7/3,2,1/4,1,2/2,7,3

Properties

I recommend 30% BCR on a Necklace with the Rapier. More is good, but it's innate block cost modifier makes 30% enough for most situations on Cata. For solo/maps with lots of small areas, 60% is generally better.

Build Example

This is a generic Deathknell build that focuses on high dps up time through dodging and movement.
https://www.ranaldsgift.com/10/122212/32,1,4,6/19,1,3,7/3,2,1/1,6,2/7,2,3

Cata Breakpoints

These are all headshots unless otherwise specified.

Melee

Enemy

Untagged

Tagged

Full charge + light

Full charge

Bestigors

Full charge + partial

Full charge + light

Maulers

3 Full charges

2 Full charges + partial or pistol special bodyshot

CWs

4 Full charges

3 Full charges + light or 2 full charges + partial

Assassins

Partial

Pistol special headshot or partial

Ratlings/Warpfires

Full charge

Wargors/Globadiers/
Stormers/Leeches

Full charge

Partial

Packmasters

Full charge

Pistol Special + partial

Range

Enemy

Untagged

Tagged

Assassins

1 headshot/2 bodyshots

1 bodyshot

Ratlings/Warpfires

2 headshots/3 bodyshots

1 headshot/2 bodyshots

Globadiers

2 bodyshots

1 headshot

Stormers/Leeches

2 headshots/3 bodyshots

2 bodyshots

Packmasters

2 headshots/3 bodyshots

2 bodyshots

* Use the pistol special before they get close, then use the partial.
* 10% vs Chaos or Inf makes the Blightstormers'/Lifeleeches' breakpoints the same as the Globadiers' ones.

Slayer

As mentioned before, most of the advice for the Rapier on WHC applies to the Dual Axes on Slayer. This half of the guide will mostly contain gameplay examples alongside explanations.

Reference build: https://www.ranaldsgift.com/6/111113/10,1,4,6/6,2,3,3/3,2,5/1,4,2/4,2,3

I use the push attack like a dodge. It has the same damage profile as the heavy attacks except on monsters (deals less damage to them) while also being quicker. Use it to get burst dps in without slower yourself down. It also has good stagger strength.
I avoid using heavy attacks when surrounded by a large number of elites (7+) because they cause movement slowdown. If you're confident, use the heavy attacks as they have higher armour dps than the lights on both headshot and bodyshot.
Dual Axes have the same dodge profile as the Rapier (25% distance and 6 dodges) don't be afraid to spam them when needed. It does slow your movement down but it's necessary to avoid attacks that have high tracking.
The 1h Hammer is for blocking, revives, breaking shields and staggering enemies. The staggering part is mostly helpful for allies, but it can let you get out of or through a dense clump of enemies when needed. Switch to the 1h Hammer to use it's push attack as often as seems necessary when fighting dense hordes.

Slayer — Gameplay Examples

Slayer vs 12 Chaos Warriors
https://youtu.be/jKk8dLx4EZs

At the start I let the Chaos Warriors come to me and spread out, making engaging them safer as I'm less likely to face stacked overheads.
This was on the beta. Headshots deal 62% more damage than bodyhots on CWs on live. I don't have the numbers for the beta, but once the headshot increase goes live hitting headshots will be even more rewarding. Aim high Dawi!

Slayer vs Chaos Spawn
https://youtu.be/xmhcFfcqZ3k

Dual Axes are very good for keeping a Chaos Spawn in place. It's not perfect, as the Spawn either requires very precise timing to consistently bait it's stationary attacks or is coded to do a running attack either randomly or after a certain amount of time has passed. No dodging is required, so you can stay just outside of the Spawn's attack's reach and keep hitting it, and then move in immediately to bait another stationary attack.
At max speed, you can circle around the Spawn and kite it's triple slam while still attacking with lights

Slayer vs Berserkers
https://youtu.be/ZjnypWM3JT4

Slayer vs Armour
https://youtu.be/4YFqp1se2ZU

Slayer vs Horde
https://youtu.be/TsK1SOuynj0

Slayer Boss Rush
https://youtu.be/dSYpz42NRhg

Build used in all of the above Slayer videos: https://www.ranaldsgift.com/6/111113/10,1,4,6/6,2,3,3/3,2,5/1,4,2/4,2,3

Bonus — Other Careers

Merc Greatsword Vs 9 Plague Monks
https://youtu.be/zHp3mBo0MwA

Shade Dual Daggers Vs Horde
https://youtu.be/8MK0VpQ3AN8

12 Comments

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Pimpin Pippin 17 Aug, 2020 @ 5:13am

Big new balance patch just came out (17 august 2020).
Thank you for keeping this guide up to date

Velsix [author] 30 Jul, 2020 @ 5:46am

@420% (Chill BB) Thanks! I'm no legend though, just someone with too much free time on their hands.

420% 30 Jul, 2020 @ 5:20am

helps a lot ,you are legend

TengriBless, 23 Jul, 2020 @ 11:21pm

Right thanks 👍

Velsix [author] 23 Jul, 2020 @ 10:28pm

@Zydrate Not sure sorry. I've never tested how it impacted my fps, but it doesn't seem to have any negative impact.

TengriBless, 23 Jul, 2020 @ 10:33am

I meant with optimization and such.

Velsix [author] 22 Jul, 2020 @ 7:11pm

@Zydrate before I learnt that fov in V2 wasn't handled like it is in other games, I went for 83 fov since it is supposedly similar to eyesight. I still use it now because it's what I got used to. It definitely gives you enough view without looking too warped in my opinion, but there are players that would find my setting uncomfortably low.

TengriBless, 22 Jul, 2020 @ 4:14pm

Find it helps with performance?

Velsix [author] 22 Jul, 2020 @ 2:01pm

@Zydrate My fov is 83.

TengriBless, 22 Jul, 2020 @ 12:53pm

Great post. What's your fov?

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