Gimme a chilli chese dagger A PLENTY!!!!

WARNING: This is a true blog post, with logic all over, messy html, and no real conclusion. That said, today we're talking daggers.

I've started in on the Capture the Weapons quest, and thanks to a guildie managed to down Makazradon, having soloed Morgroron a while back.  The end result of the chain is the Illidari-Bane Mageblade, a dagger that ups spell crits by 20 points and spell damage to demons by 185.  I'm not sure it's worth it, as my Bringer of Death gives me +121 as is against every mob, but some demons did own our guild plus a couple of pick-ups when we hit the Terrace recently.  And it was a nice break from farming...

Anyhow, on the Illidari-Bane Mageblade page for Thottbot, there were links to "better" daggers that themselves had links in the comments for yet still arguably better daggers.  I thought I'd include a few here.

First, the Illidari-Bane Mageblade.

Illidari-Bane Mageblade
Binds when picked up
Main Hand	Dagger
31 - 100 Damage	Speed 1.60
(41.3 damage per second)
+12 Stamina
+11 Intellect
Durability 65 / 65
Equip: Improves spell critical strike rating by 20 (0.9%).
Equip: Increases damage done to Demons by magical spells and effects by up to 185.
Item Level 115
Disenchant value: 30 Gold 14 Silver
Vendor value: 9 Gold 7 Silver 91 Copper
Source: Quest
Score: 43.0  (Customize)
Thott <Afterlife>  Live (2.4.1)

Now a few "alternatives."  Let's see if we see a theme.

Nathrezim Mindblade Binds when picked up Unique Main Hand Dagger 24 - 124 Damage Speed 1.80 (41.4 damage per second) +18 Stamina +18 Intellect Durability 75 / 75 Requires Level 70 Equip: Improves spell critical strike rating by 23 (1.0%). Equip: Increases damage and healing done by magical spells and effects by up to 203. Drops in Karazhan Score 1.4     Vote: [-] [+] by Fire00F1Y, 1.3 years ago Drops off Prince Malchazaar - 2nd to last boss in Karazhan and evidently hard as crap

Talon of the Tempest Binds when equipped Unique Main Hand Dagger 25 - 122 Damage Speed 1.80 (41.2 damage per second) +10 Intellect Yellow Socket Yellow Socket Socket Bonus: +3 Intellect Durability 75 / 75 Requires Level 70 Equip: Improves spell hit rating by 9 (0.7%). Equip: Improves spell critical strike rating by 19 (0.9%). Equip: Increases damage and healing done by magical spells and effects by up to 194. Doomwalker Score 1.7     Vote: [-] [+] by delther, 1.3 years ago This drops from doomwalker just outside the instance entrance in the black temple... 2k AoE, 20k crushing damage yummeh

Vengeful Gladiator's Spellblade Binds when picked up Main Hand Dagger 16 - 116 Damage Speed 1.60 (41.3 damage per second) +30 Stamina +20 Intellect Durability 75 / 75 Requires Level 70 Equip: Improves spell hit rating by 17 (1.3%). Equip: Improves your resilience rating by 18 (0.5%). Equip: Increases damage and healing done by magical spells and effects by up to 247. 3150 Arena Points

Merciless Gladiator's Spellblade Binds when picked up Main Hand Dagger 18 - 112 Damage Speed 1.60 (41.2 damage per second) +27 Stamina +18 Intellect Durability 75 / 75 Requires Level 70 Equip: Improves spell hit rating by 15 (1.2%). Equip: Improves your resilience rating by 18 (0.5%). Equip: Increases damage and healing done by magical spells and effects by up to 225. 2739 Arena Points

To this, one might add the Gladiator's Spellblade, which takes twenty Eye of the Storm Marks of Honor and/or 25200 Honor Points. I'm a casual gamer, so I'm not sure how those work.

The theme? Three of the four (four of the five if you count the last), are all BoP and require some really serious gameplay. I realize the Bane is only good for demons, but what can I do? Where can I get a better weapon as a part-time gamer? I'm not sure there is one. The daggers, above, are not alternatives. They are daggers, sure. They increase spell damage. But finishing up Kara? Not in my immediate future. Nor are the battlegrounds, though that might be a more realistic opportunity.

I suppose taking down Doomwalker might eventually be a possibility, since there's no instance to run and only one boss to bring down.  Also, that Talon is BoE, so for a few thousand gold I could just buy the danged thing.  Not sure either is short-term possible, however.  I think I've got about 400g right now after the LW respecs, which stinks.

Finally, why mess with this when you've got a decent staff that's doing only 60 points less damage bonus than the Talon or Bane?  Well, do remember that 1.) 60 is more than zero and 2.) You then get an off-hand slot as well for more +dmg.  Not to mention the Talon has double sockets.

So having written another blog to think aloud, I suppose, I'll finish up the Bane line of quests, though it looks like it's going to require a run through two dungeons.

Long quest line
Score 41     Vote: [-] [+] by GandalfSC, 1.2 years ago The Hermit can be found at 77,38 (in Terrokar Forest)
...
This quest then follows into the following dungeon quests:

Fresh From the Mechanar  (The dungeon is the Southern Instance of Tempest Keep in Netherstorm.� 82, 70) You will need a flying mount to reach this location and no you can not be summoned.

The Lexicon Demonica  (The dungeon in Auchindoun's Shadow Labyrinth, the Southern instance of Auchindoun in Terrokar Forest. � 39,73) For this one you must have the Shadow Labyrinth Key

Who says this is a game for idiots?  Reminds me of the Pokemon Game Guide I got paid to write, though.  Seriously, in thirty years (if not next year), what good is all this information and hours wasted going to be?  And this time, I'm not even clocking some coin.  *sigh*  ;^)

EDIT: Note to self, solo half the instance requirement:
The Mechanar: Overcharged Manacell Solo - 20070324, 2:40 @ 640x480
Contains bonus feature, Sixty to Seventy in Seventy Seconds
Right-click, save-as: 36.7MB -- 2.1Mbps