Ratkiller?

[Qaliya]

Never see this item mentioned in discussions and wondered if it was bad for some reason, or if it's just not a popular weapon style. (Never see the short sword discussed much, either.)

I'm a (mostly) cleric who just hit cap. I got most of the way primarily soloing as a battle cleric, but am now transitioning to casting more. I got the ornamental dagger and shield to use when I'm casting, but I still plan to 2HF some of the time, and the ratkiller seems like a nice option until I get a "real" epic weapon. I also like the CC enhancements it has. And I'm a sucker for bane weapons (though this is obviously not one of the better categories.)

Only drawback is that I have IC:Slashing.

Thoughts (beyond, "if you have the shards go for it!" :) ) ?

[JeffreyGator]

I have a guildy who specializes in mauls that uses it. (mostly farming lammanians in the vale)

But Maul specialization is pretty rare.

The shorts-sword is more common. It's a pretty cheap epic to get and there are lots of pierce spec toons out there. The rapier profile on an off-hand weapon is nice as well.

[Qaliya]

What do you mean by "rapier profile"?

I was looking at the scimitar as a possible option for when I'm wearing a shield, is it well-regarded?

Thanks. :)

[oradafu]

The Epic Ratkiller was a great stunner in all content prior to changes in Update 9.

Since Update 9, it still works great in non-Epics, but stunning isn't as reliable in Epics anymore with the increase to Fort Saves. Also, with Update 9, the animation change also has made the range for stunning extremely short, so you need to be butt-up against your target to hit them or else you'll miss (this is true with any weapon you stun with now though). Additionally, since Update 11, melees' first few swings now have a very high chance of no longer connecting, it's yet another drawback to stunning, thus another reason this weapon has lost alot of luster.

[Callavan]

My thoughts were along the lines of: "Ratkiller. Huh. That'd be useful if I were adventuring down in the bilge... ooh, that Cavalier Plate looks shiny..."

[NaturalHazard]

What do you mean by "rapier profile"?

I was looking at the scimitar as a possible option for when I'm wearing a shield, is it well-regarded?

Thanks. :)

it has the same crit profile as a rapier 18-20 threat range like a rapier not 19-20 like most shortswords.

Which is also the same for scimitars 18-20, and seeing as you have improved crit slashing a scimitar would be better for you.