The Divine Cuisinart: A dual khopesh wielding pure tempest ranger in divine crusader

[CThruTheEgo]

Updated for U29. Gear is updated as of U28. I'll have to check out U29 gear to determine any changes.

The Divine Cuisinart
Human ranger 20
Neutral good (for blessed blades, makes attacks do good damage, useful for current endgame)
34 point build
In-game name: I am not currently playing this build

This is a dual khopesh wielding, str based tempest ranger with deepwood stalker secondary, know the angles, and a ranged option. Full breakdowns are provided below. I welcome any feedback about the build. I am particularly interested in feedback about the gear set.

Build Features:
Offense:
~dual khopeshes with a crit profile of 15-18x4, 19-20x5 and 28 seeker
~124-194% mainhand strike chance (depending on stacks of killer and zeal)
~135% offhand strike chance
~full offhand damage mod with a 54 str
~know the angles with a 38 int (+7 damage)
~102-152 melee power (depending on stacks of zeal)
~5 total favored enemies plus favored hunter for +13 damage against favored enemies
~exposing strike with 4d6+22 sneak attack damage
~dance of death for AoE damage
~70% fort bypass
~burst dps: simultaneous haste and damage boost
~ranged option with manyshot
~weapons do good damage (blessed blades with neutral good alignment)
Defense:
~1017 base hp
~fort/reflex/will saves of 62/59/58 and 65/62/61 vs favored enemies
~45.81% total miss chance from 15% incorp, 25% concealment, 15% dodge
~132 PRR (56.90% damage reduction)
~55 MRR (35.48% damage reduction)
~deflect arrows every 2 seconds
Self healing:
~425 positive spell power, 575 with maximize
~50 healing amp
~sacred ground hits for 236 hp every 3s, 158 for those with 0 heal amp
~quickened cure serious wounds hits for an average of 248 hp
~quickened cure moderate wounds hits for an average of 165 hp
Utility:
~merfolk's... nuf said

Starting Stats:
str: 17
dex: 13
con: 15
int: 14
wis: 10
cha: 8

All level points in strength.
No tomes required.

Feats:
1 khopesh proficiency
1h precision
3 dodge
6 toughness
9 imp crit slash
12 imp crit ranged
15 maximize
18 quicken
21 overwhelming crit
24 epic toughness
26 perfect two weapon fighting
27 epic damage reduction
28 doubleshot
29 harbinger of chaos
30 two weapon defense
30 scion of earth/air/feywild as preferred

Skills: max UMD, balance, heal, spot, swim, search, move silently, hide, listen, bluff
Note: Most of these are nonessential, but the build gets so many skills and you have to spend them somewhere.

Spell List: listed in the order in which they are selected
1st: ram's might, jump, resist energy, merfolk's
2nd: barkskin, mass camouflage, protection from energy, cure light wounds
3rd: cure mod wounds, wild instincts, neutralize poison, remove disease
4th: cure serious wounds, FoM, summon nature's ally, animal growth

Favored Enemies: listed in the order in which they are selected
Ranger: undead, giants, aberrations, evil outsiders, elementals

Enhancements:
Tempest: 45 total
Core: 6 total
Shield of whirling steel 1 (+2 AC/PRR/MRR when dual wielding, +1 more per additional core)
Tempest 1 (10% offhand attacks, dex to hit with light weapons, treat scimitars as light weapons)
Graceful death 1 (dex to damage with light weapons)
Deflect arrows 1 (gain deflect arrows feat, +1 crit multiplier)
Whirlwind 1 (5% doublestrike, 10% offhand attacks, 5% incorp)
Dervish 1 (4 dex, 25% offhand doublestrike, 10 melee power/PRR/MRR in light armor)
Tier 1: 6 total
Improved reaction 1 (1 reflex saves, 1 saves against traps)
Improved defense 3 (3 AC/PRR/MRR, deflect arrows every 2 seconds)
Whirling blades 2 (1 to hit and damage when dual wielding)
Tier 2: 9 total
Improved parry 3 (10 PRR)
Improved dodge 1 (1 dodge)
Whirling blades 2 (1 to hit and damage when dual wielding)
Haste boost 3
Tier 3: 7 total
Storm dancer 2 (15% elec absorb, d6 elec damage that scales with melee power)
Critical mastery 3 (3 seeker)
Whirling blades 2 (1 to hit and damage when dual wielding)
Tier 4: 7 total
Storm tempest 2 (improves storm dancer to 30% elec absorb, 2d6 elec damage)
Growing storm 3 (melee attack, for 15 seconds upon damaging an opponent gain 1 damage for 5 seconds, stacks 10 times, cooldown 30 seconds)
Whirling blades 2 (1 to hit and damage when dual wielding)
Tier 5: 10 total
Dual perfection 2 (full stat damage mod to offhand)
Many cuts 3 (4 doublestrike/melee power)
Whirling blades 2 (3 to hit and damage when dual wielding)
Dance of death 3 (melee attack, +5[W], strike 4 opponents instead of 1 for 10 seconds, cooldown 15 seconds)

Deepwood Stalker: 26 total
Core: 4 total
Far shot 1 (sneak attack 1d6, 10 positive spell power, point blank shot +5 meters)
Sneak attack 1 (sneak attack 1d6, 10 positive spell power, point blank shot +5 meters, +1 animal empathy)
Exposing strike 1 (10 positive spell power, point blank shot +5 meters, +1 animal empathy, melee attack: +2[W], +4 to-hit, +1 critical threat and multiplier, on damage target is bluffed for 4 seconds, cooldown 6 seconds)
Advanced sneak attack 1 (sneak attack 1d6, 10 positive spell power, point blank shot +5 meters, +1 animal empathy, +1 crit range, 10% fort bypass)
Tier1: 7 total
Favored defense 3 (6 AC and 3 saves vs favored enemies)
Stealthy 3 (3 hide, 3 move silently, sneak attack 1d6)
Increased empathy 1 (1 diplo, 1 animal empathy, 4 positive spell power)
Tier 2: 2 total
Survivalist 2 (10 hp, 3 PRR in light armor)
Tier 3: 8 total
Survivalist 2 (20 hp, 4 PRR in light armor)
Thrill of the hunt 3 (3 damage when opponent below 50% health)
Favored hunter 3 (3 to hit and damage vs favored enemies)
Tier 4: 5 total
Survivalist 2 (30 hp, 5 PRR in light armor)
Killer 3 (on kill, gain 5% doublestrike/doubleshot for 15 seconds, stacks 4 times)

Harper: 8 total
Core: 1 total
Agent of good 1 (1 to hit vs evil, 1 universal spell power)
Tier 1: 4 total
Harper enchantment 2 (1 weapon enhancement, 20 spell points)
Traveler's toughness 2 (10 hp)
Tier 2: 3 total
Know the angles 3 (int based divine might)

Human: 1 total
Core: 1 total
Damage boost 1 (20% damage)

Epic Destiny:
Divine Crusader
Tier 1: 5 total
Bane of undeath 2 (undead bane)
Purge the wicked 1 (2 seeker, purification on crits)
Str 2
Tier 2: 5 total
Consecration 3 (28d6 damage to enemies when on consecrated ground)
Str 2
Tier 3: 6 total
Sacred ground 2 (heal 145 hp every 3s)
Blessed blades 2 (attacks do my alignment damage - neutral good)
Str 2
Tier 4: 2 total
Crusade 2 (+10% damage when on sacred ground)
Tier 5: 6 total
Castigation 2 (aura of purification deals d6 bane damage per stack plus 1% of their current health per stack)
Heavenly presence 2 (10 PRR, 10% acid/cold/elec absorption, immune to petrification)
Celestial champion 2 (+1 crit range, celestial fervor - 1% doublestrike on crit, stacks 10 times, lasts 6s)

Twists:
1) symmetric strikes (primal avatar tier 4, 5% physical damage)
2) balanced attacks (primal avatar tier 3, knockdown on vorpal)
3) extra action boosts (dreadnaught tier 1)
4) impregnable mind (magister tier 1, 6 concentration, 6 will, no longer auto fail on a roll of 1)
Alternatives: sense weakness, critical damage, favored enemy

Gear Set:
Weapons: mainhand: Thunder-Forged Khopesh (150 devotion/dragon's edge/mortal fear/red slotted meteoric star ruby/colorless slotted heal15)
offhand: Epic Energized Khopesh (electric vulnerability/greater maiming/greater electric storm/greater shocking burst/purple slotted ruby eye of the tempest/set: melee power20/ranged power20/spell power20)
ranged: Thunder-Forged Longbow (touch of flames/dragon's edge/mortal fear/orange slotted devotion138/colorless slotted)
Armor: Epic Smoldering Leather Armor (fire absorption30%/resistance12/concealment25/fort150/green slotted con2/set: melee power20/ranged power20/spell power20)
Goggles: Epic Glimpse of the Soul (true seeing/diplo20/intercession ward/bluff20/illusion save6/enchantment save6/wis11/yellow OR blue slotted vitality20/green slotted wis2)
Helm: Sightless (true seeing/deathblock7/melee power6/ranged power6/PRR35/MRR35/con12/green slotted good luck2/blue slotted HP40)
Neck: Pendant of Quiet Movements (concealment25/dodge11/insightful will2/seeker12/yellow slotted draconic soul gem)
Trinket: Epic Litany of the Dead (turn the page/profane abilities2/attack4/damage4/light of dawn/blue OR yellow slotted Globe of True Imperial Blood/green slotted str2)
Cloak: Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf (exc seeker5/dodge8/attack4/diversion20)
Belt: Battlerager's Harness (intim20/spiked/raging focus/vengeful fury/spike guard/green slotted fear immunity)
Ring swap: Strange Tidings (dex12/deception/sneak attack to hit8/sneak attack damage16/UMD7/diversion20/blue slotted golem's heart/green slotted sonic resistance40)
Gloves: Sanctified Gages (UMD5/2d12 light damage/deadly11/greater dispelling guard/yellow OR blue slotted dex2/green slotted int2)
Boots: Many Hooked Greaves (str12/insightful combat mastery5/vertigo12/quality vertigo2/green slotted crushing wave guard/yellow slotted blindness immunity)
Ring: Epic Eye of the Beholder (absorb doomsphere spells8/deathblock7/int11/wizardry10/blue OR yellow slotted cha8/green slotted cha2)
Bracers: Epic Ethereal Bracers (dex11/riposte9/insight AC5/insight saves4/ghostly/deadly10/speed14/feather falling/yellow slotted proof against poison10/green slotted proof against disease10)
Quiver: Epic Quiver of Alacrity (concentration -50/speed15/ranged and spell threat -15%/insightful sneak4/doublshot8)

Final Stats:
str54: 17 base, 6 tome, 7 levels, 3 divine crusader, 12 item, 2 insight, 1 exc, 2 profane, 2 ram's might, 2 ship
dex42: 13 base, 6 tome, 4 capstone, 12 item, 2 insight, 1 exc, 2 profane, 2 ship
con40: 15 base, 6 tome, 12 item, 2 insight, 1 exc, 2 profane, 2 ship
int38: 14 base, 6 tome, 11 item, 2 insight, 1 exc, 2 profane, 2 ship
wis34: 10 base, 6 tome, 11 item, 2 insight, 1 exc, 2 profane, 2 ship
cha29: 8 base, 6 tome, 8 item, 2 insight, 1 exc, 2 profane, 2 ship

HP:
160 base
25 heroic durability
20 improved heroic durability
10 draconic vitality
100 epic levels
420 con40
82 toughness/epic toughness
60 survivalist
10 traveler's toughness
50 divine crusader cores
40 slotted false life
20 vitality
20 hag's apothecary ship buff
1017 BASE
30 rage
50 Yugo
1097 SELF BUFFED

SP:
260 base
250 wiz10
468 wis34
20 harper enchantment
125 divine crusader cores
1123 TOTAL

Fort/Reflex/Will Saves:
12/12/6 base
5/5/5 epic
12/12/12 item
4/4/4 insight
2/2/2 good luck
1/1/1 alchemical
0/1/0 improved reaction
0/0/6
4/4/4 greater heroism
3/0/0 game hunter ship buff
0/2/0 chronoscope ship buff
0/0/2 grandmaster's dojo ship buff
15/0/0 con40
0/16/0 dex42
0/0/12 wis34
0/0/6 illusions/enchantments
58/59/58 TOTAL
3/3/3 favored enemy resistance
61/62/61 total against favored enemies

Dodge:
11 belt
3 dodge
1 improved dodge
15 TOTAL
Max dex bonus on ToEE leather armor is 24 with fencing master ship buff and mobility.

PRR:
30 light armor with BAB 30
35 item
42 enhancements
10 divine crusader
10 epic damage reduction
130 total (56.90% damage reduction)

MRR:
35 item
20 enhancements
55 total (35.48% damage reduction)

Heal Amp:
10 past life paladin
20 ship buff
20 divine crusader core
50 TOTAL

Positive Spell Power:
23 ranks
10 epic
60 epic universal spell power
3 tome
12 wis34
44 deepwood stalker
1 harper agent of good
10 divine crusader core
39 implement
138 red augment
15 slotted
2 good luck
1 elite spider cult mask
20 ToEE set
3 forbidden library ship buff
15 crusader's chapel
4 GH
25 superior ardor pot
425 TOTAL
150 maximize
575 with maximize

Melee Power:
4 thousand cuts
10 capstone
30 epic
12 divine crusader cores
6 Sightless
20 ToEE set
82 TOTAL
50 full stacks of zeal
132 total with max zeal

Mainhand Strike Chance:
100 base
5 perfect two weapon fighting
5 tempest core 5
4 thousand cuts
10 celestial fervor (will be easy to maintain on this build)
124% MAINHAND
20 full stacks of killer
144% mainhand with full proc buffs
50 full stacks of zeal
194% mainhand with stars aligned

Offhand Strike Chance:
80 greater two weapon fighting
10 tempest core 2
10 tempest core 5
10 perfect two weapon fighting
25 tempest capstone
135% OFFHAND

[CThruTheEgo]

I'm torn between what to take for the empty feats. Melee dps should be excellent, so I'm not expecting to use the ranged option often, which means I'm not inclined to take point blank shot. Also, because melee dps should be excellent already, I don't feel the need to squeeze in some combination of weapon focuses, power critical, or quick draw.

The total miss chance is a little lower than I'm used to and the damage mitigation and self healing may not be high enough to accommodate it. So I'm leaning toward at least dodge and maybe even mobility and spring attack. I could drop versatile adept and all three ranks of improved defense to pick up two ranks of both improved reaction and improved dodge to get a little more benefit from the dodge feat, but then deflect arrows is limited to once every 6 seconds, although that might be a good trade off overall. I'm also considering elusive target over holy strike.

The only fort bypass I'll have is 35% from dragon's edge, so precision might be a solid option also. I'm willing to adjust starting stats to accommodate dodge and precision but would like some feedback regarding these options. Thanks in advance.

[Grailhawk]

I'm torn between what to take for the empty feats. Melee dps should be excellent, so I'm not expecting to use the ranged option often, which means I'm not inclined to take point blank shot. Also, because melee dps should be excellent already, I don't feel the need to squeeze in some combination of weapon focuses, power critical, or quick draw.

The total miss chance is a little lower than I'm used to and the damage mitigation and self healing may not be high enough to accommodate it. So I'm leaning toward at least dodge and maybe even mobility and spring attack. I could drop versatile adept and all three ranks of improved defense to pick up two ranks of both improved reaction and improved dodge to get a little more benefit from the dodge feat, but then deflect arrows is limited to once every 6 seconds, although that might be a good trade off overall. I'm also considering elusive target over holy strike.

The only fort bypass I'll have is 35% from dragon's edge, so precision might be a solid option also. I'm willing to adjust starting stats to accommodate dodge and precision but would like some feedback regarding these options. Thanks in advance.

My Plan is:
Dodge
Khopesh
Precision
Point Blank Shot
IC: Slashing or Piercing (swap as needed)
IC: Ranged
Maximize
Quicken
Overwhelming Critical
Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
Combat Archery
Doubleshot
Epic Damage Reduction

But it sounds like you aren't interested in that much ranged option so I would be looking at defensive feats. Dodge, Mobility, Two Weapon Defense, and Toughness + Epic Toughness. Dropping all Ranged options my build would be

Dodge
Khopesh
Precision
Mobility
IC: Slashing
Maximize
Quicken
Toughness
Overwhelming Critical
Epic Toughness
Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
Epic Damage reduction
Elusive Target

[CThruTheEgo]

But it sounds like you aren't interested in that much ranged option so I would be looking at defensive feats. Dodge, Mobility, Two Weapon Defense, and Toughness + Epic Toughness. Dropping all Ranged options my build would be

Dodge
Khopesh
Precision
Mobility
IC: Slashing
Maximize
Quicken
Toughness
Overwhelming Critical
Epic Toughness
Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
Epic Damage reduction
Elusive Target

The first option is more ranged than what I want, but I do still want imp crit ranged to at least have a viable ranged option.

Maximize is probably a better option than empower healing. I should have the sp to support it, especially since cure serious/mod wounds should only be emergency heals.

I hadn't considered toughness/epic toughness. With 885 hp and solid self healing, the build should have enough hp already. But dodge/mobility seem like good options.

No power attack at all? Are we at a point in the game when precision is simply the no brainer option? I guess against mobs where precision matters, it's far more valuable than power attack is against mobs where precision doesn't matter.

Thanks for the feedback Grailhawk.

[Grailhawk]

No power attack at all? Are we at a point in the game when precision is simply the no brainer option? I guess against mobs where precision matters, it's far more valuable than power attack is against mobs where precision doesn't matter.

I don't think its no brainer I just don't like switching from one to the other, and when In DC I don't see the point, if you were running in LD I would think Power Attack was a better choice actually.

That said back when U14 changed the way to-hit worked I "math out" Power Attack vs Precision and Precision was better even in the case of non fort mobs, because even if you don't feel it you miss more then on a 2 these days. Not that accuracy matters enough to build for, its no; because every one hits enough with out trying because of how the formula works. U14 was to-hit Communism give it to every one in equal amounts.

[the_one_dwarfforged]

if you have feats just laying around, you absolutely should take quickdraw.

youll notice it, and youll never want to live without it again.

[daniel7]

My Plan is:
Dodge
Khopesh
Precision
Point Blank Shot
IC: Slashing or Piercing (swap as needed)
IC: Ranged
Maximize
Quicken
Overwhelming Critical
Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
Combat Archery
Doubleshot
Epic Damage Reduction

But it sounds like you aren't interested in that much ranged option so I would be looking at defensive feats. Dodge, Mobility, Two Weapon Defense, and Toughness + Epic Toughness. Dropping all Ranged options my build would be

Dodge
Khopesh
Precision
Mobility
IC: Slashing
Maximize
Quicken
Toughness
Overwhelming Critical
Epic Toughness
Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
Epic Damage reduction
Elusive Target

Does Empower Heal work on some Twists of Fate that Maximize doesn't work on? I've been wondering why people pick Empower Heal over Maximize for some time now and I feel like someone said that some Twist worked only with Empower...Healing Coccon maybe?

[unbongwah]

Does Empower Heal work on some Twists of Fate that Maximize doesn't work on?

Yes: Emp Heal works with Cocoon, Renewal, and Light the Dark; Max works on none of them.

[daniel7]

Yes: Emp Heal works with Cocoon, Renewal, and Light the Dark; Max works on none of them.

Thanks for the info.

[Enderoc]

Yes: Emp Heal works with Cocoon, Renewal, and Light the Dark; Max works on none of them.

Not even consecrated ground?

[CThruTheEgo]

Does Empower Heal work on some Twists of Fate that Maximize doesn't work on? I've been wondering why people pick Empower Heal over Maximize for some time now and I feel like someone said that some Twist worked only with Empower...Healing Coccon maybe?

unbongwah is correct. Because of sacred ground and ranger's inherent cure spells, I'm not expecting to need to use cocoon, so maximize is a better option for this build imo.

[slarden]

My Plan is:
Dodge
Khopesh
Precision
Point Blank Shot
IC: Slashing or Piercing (swap as needed)
IC: Ranged
Maximize
Quicken
Overwhelming Critical
Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
Combat Archery
Doubleshot
Epic Damage Reduction

But it sounds like you aren't interested in that much ranged option so I would be looking at defensive feats. Dodge, Mobility, Two Weapon Defense, and Toughness + Epic Toughness. Dropping all Ranged options my build would be

Dodge
Khopesh
Precision
Mobility
IC: Slashing
Maximize
Quicken
Toughness
Overwhelming Critical
Epic Toughness
Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
Epic Damage reduction
Elusive Target

The list looks good but I would take empower healing over maximize. I would take weapon focus feats over toughness/epic toughness but 4MP vs 80 hp is a definitely a toss-up. It's so rare I am betwee 0 and 100 hp that I tend to not value toughness/epic toughness much.

I took silver over elusive target, then take blessed blades in Divine Crusader and twist in gird of demons if I need cold iron.

[CThruTheEgo]

Good has a downside, but there isn't too much downside in lawful or chaotic.

What relevant mobs are there that do evil damage? I know certain alignments were a problem back when the level cap was 20 (e.g. Lailat with her true chaos and unholy burst effects), but afaik it's not really an issue anymore. Anyone know what mobs do chaotic or evil damage?

There are Thaarak Hounds in Tempest Spine which will be epic'd soon so I went lawful good so I can bypass that DR with blessed blades.

I had forgotten about epic tempest spine.

[Eth]

Anyone know what mobs do chaotic or evil damage?

Chaos hammer can be annoying if you are lawful (hezrous cast it a lot).

And yes, there are a couple of mobs that deal unholy damage to good aligned characters, but 2d6 won't kill you.

[LargoKeyWest]

Updated for U28.

Feats:
1 khopesh proficiency
1h precision
3 dodge
6 mobility
9 imp crit slash
12 imp crit ranged
15 maximize
18 quicken
21 overwhelming crit
24 spring attack
26 perfect two weapon fighting
27 epic damage reduction
28 elusive target

As much as I love Khopeshs, I decided to roll the later feats forward and take the Improved Critical Piercing rather then Khopesh. Epic Envenomed Blades & Priestess Daggers (as well as others) are just so **** easy to get and work incredibly well in almost all content leading right up into EE.. it's just too good of a branch of weapons to pass up...

[daniel7]

As much as I love Khopeshs, I decided to roll the later feats forward and take the Improved Critical Piercing rather then Khopesh. Epic Envenomed Blades & Priestess Daggers (as well as others) are just so **** easy to get and work incredibly well in almost all content leading right up into EE.. it's just too good of a branch of weapons to pass up...

Yeah there's a lot of named items that are so good that I think a lot of people don't take khopesh now once they get a couple awesome named weapons. I plan on just doing iTRs and eTRs (for a while anyways) so I plan on just duel wielding Oathblades at 20 and Mornh at 23. If I had a couple Epic Choas Blades maybe I'd still fit khopesh in, use my old Greensteel Khopeshes from 15-20.

I guess if I stayed at cap longer I'd forge some Khopeshes and if Epic Vale Loot works like it does now then it makes sense to just craft the weapon with the best crit profile, which will almost certainly be khopesh again.

[Grailhawk]

Yeah there's a lot of named items that are so good that I think a lot of people don't take khopesh now once they get a couple awesome named weapons. I plan on just doing iTRs and eTRs (for a while anyways) so I plan on just duel wielding Oathblades at 20 and Mornh at 23. If I had a couple Epic Choas Blades maybe I'd still fit khopesh in, use my old Greensteel Khopeshes from 15-20.

I guess if I stayed at cap longer I'd forge some Khopeshes and if Epic Vale Loot works like it does now then it makes sense to just craft the weapon with the best crit profile, which will almost certainly be khopesh again.

The flip side of this is those of us with 6 pairs of green steel khopeshes (Lit II x2, Min II x2, Triple Pos x2) and 2 pairs of Alchemical khopeshes we look at those new weapons and are like there nice but I've got all these other weapons that I don't have to hunt for and are better then most of them anyways.

[daniel7]

The flip side of this is those of us with 6 pairs of green steel khopeshes (Lit II x2, Min II x2, Triple Pos x2) and 2 pairs of Alchemical khopeshes we look at those new weapons and are like there nice but I've got all these other weapons that I don't have to hunt for and are better then most of them anyways.

Oh yeah I know what you mean. Especially if you are doing a normal TR. Greensteel is still way better than everything else from level 12-20 (12-23?). It's also easy to pick Khopesh because it's slashing and there's a lot of other nice named slashers. There's lots of good piercing weapons too but not a good exotic piercing weapon (maybe they should add an exotic piercer) and certainly not a lot of good bludgeon weapons.

[CThruTheEgo]

As much as I love Khopeshs, I decided to roll the later feats forward and take the Improved Critical Piercing rather then Khopesh. Epic Envenomed Blades & Priestess Daggers (as well as others) are just so **** easy to get and work incredibly well in almost all content leading right up into EE.. it's just too good of a branch of weapons to pass up...

There are definitely more/better named piercing weapons than named slashing weapons. In heroics, though, I tend to prefer raw dps. Mobs don't really present much of a challenge these days so the faster they die, the better. And greensteel still dominates dps in mid to late heroics. With the way the game is going (i.e. increased character power), raw dps seems to be the way to go in most epics as well. A couple of drow khopeshes would be nice from 21-24, then Thunder-Forged from there on up.