lesser phasing? freezing?

[myrophine]

I can't figure out what the short sword of lesser phasing does. The description says a ten percent chance of 'phasing' the opponent but I've had it occur and don't really know whats happening. They turn ghostlike and start taking poison damage (not listed in the weapon description). Anyone know?

Also I've got a 'freezing' bastard sword that freezes the opponent on 2% of hits but I have yet to figure out if that means hold them in place or shatter them into fragments (and lose the loot).

So phasing? or freezing? Anyone know?

myrophine

[Aerich]

The only real effect of phasing is a little extra damage and the blurred visual effect. Think of it as a minor poisoning that lasts a few rounds.

The "freezing" weapon (Snow Maiden's Reaver?) is the same effect as petrification. It's an instant-kill effect. I believe you cannot get any items from anything that is affected by it. Because the chance is so low, I usually sell it to help me buy something that is more generically useful.

[myrophine]

Yeah, that makes sense to sell the cold maiden sword. Only my bard wields great swords at the moment and he mostly sings or stays away from anyone tough enough that a 2% instakill is a factor.

Right now I'm poor though as I bought the belt of gond to make it easier to dual my top thief to mage (the belt will boost the backup 'ringer thief').

Although I'd love to be the guy that kills something supremely annoying (and has no loot) with an instakill

myrophine

[TonyMontana1638]

I agree that the freezing effect is cool when it works, but that the sword is overall fairly worthless because it has such a low, low chance of working. As for the 'phasing' effect, that one took me awhile too to figure out but it too is a fairly weak effect. Unless the item that has the pahsing is a really sweet weapon I'd just sell it (both of them in fact). I know I've kind of just copied what Aerich said here (sorry... ) but I just wanted to affirm his opinion.

[Aerich]

One good property of phasing is that it kills a "downed" troll like acid or fire would - permanently. The troll has to be phased before it is downed, though.

Otherwise, I agree with Tony that the phasing weapons aren't anything special. You do get them early in the game, though. It's possible that they could be the first magical bastard swords you find, although you will for sure have at least one magical two-handed sword before that, which uses the same Great Sword proficiency.