So by default, each ash of war has an affinity associated with it (standard, keen, heavy, poison, whatever). Through the game you collect key items called whetblades, that allow most ashes of war to take different affinities than normal. Like, that soldier camp at the start of the game has the iron whetblade, which allows most ashes to add standard, keen, or heavy affinities. You collect other whetblades later that unlock other affinities. Each affinity changes the scaling on the weapon. Heavy skews it toward Strength, Keen toward Dexterity, etc. The Magic and Cold affinities change the damage typing of any weapon to part physical and part magic, and adds Intelligence scaling. Cold affinity adds less damage but also gives the Frostbite effect, which is super cool. So you can find an ash of war effect you like, add it to any qualified weapon, and if you have the appropriate whetblade you can change the affinity to Magic or Cold to give it partial Intelligence scaling. I spent much of the game using a staff in one hand and a Bloodhound Step Cold-Affinity Urumi in the other, for two int weapons and what used to be a really overpowered ash of war.
At +0, the Moonveil has E/D/C scaling and 73/87 (phy/mag damage) base. At +10 this goes to E/B/B scaling and 127/213 base damage. It also has 50 bleed.
At +0, the basic Uchigatana with Cold infusion has D/D/D scaling, 93/74 damage, 66 frostbite and 38 bleed. At +25 this goes to C/B/C scaling and 198/158 damage, with 105 frostbite and 38 bleed.
So the Moonveil has better scaling for Int/Dex, and a powerful but fixed AoW, and slightly more bleed. The Uchigatana has better scaling if you have Str in your build, more physical damage in the mix, and gives frostbite. You also get the choice of any ash of war you want.
Moonveil is a very good Int/Dex weapon (and you can drop the Dex even), but ashes of war and affinities open up a lot of possibilities.
I too was about 100 hours before even considering this. Heck, I had two great runes before I even bothered using any strategies other than "Bonk with Game of Thrones Sword". Game is deep.
deleted by creator
So by default, each ash of war has an affinity associated with it (standard, keen, heavy, poison, whatever). Through the game you collect key items called whetblades, that allow most ashes of war to take different affinities than normal. Like, that soldier camp at the start of the game has the iron whetblade, which allows most ashes to add standard, keen, or heavy affinities. You collect other whetblades later that unlock other affinities. Each affinity changes the scaling on the weapon. Heavy skews it toward Strength, Keen toward Dexterity, etc. The Magic and Cold affinities change the damage typing of any weapon to part physical and part magic, and adds Intelligence scaling. Cold affinity adds less damage but also gives the Frostbite effect, which is super cool. So you can find an ash of war effect you like, add it to any qualified weapon, and if you have the appropriate whetblade you can change the affinity to Magic or Cold to give it partial Intelligence scaling. I spent much of the game using a staff in one hand and a Bloodhound Step Cold-Affinity Urumi in the other, for two int weapons and what used to be a really overpowered ash of war.
deleted by creator
Some numbers:
At +0, the Moonveil has E/D/C scaling and 73/87 (phy/mag damage) base. At +10 this goes to E/B/B scaling and 127/213 base damage. It also has 50 bleed.
At +0, the basic Uchigatana with Cold infusion has D/D/D scaling, 93/74 damage, 66 frostbite and 38 bleed. At +25 this goes to C/B/C scaling and 198/158 damage, with 105 frostbite and 38 bleed.
So the Moonveil has better scaling for Int/Dex, and a powerful but fixed AoW, and slightly more bleed. The Uchigatana has better scaling if you have Str in your build, more physical damage in the mix, and gives frostbite. You also get the choice of any ash of war you want.
Moonveil is a very good Int/Dex weapon (and you can drop the Dex even), but ashes of war and affinities open up a lot of possibilities.
I too was about 100 hours before even considering this. Heck, I had two great runes before I even bothered using any strategies other than "Bonk with Game of Thrones Sword". Game is deep.
deleted by creator