I just want to say that this is a very useful discussion for me. I’ve been wondering about the value of shield v focus v two hander.
I use a two hander but am now thinking of trying out a shield.
I think it depends a lot on the build. For example, I really like the % cooldown reduction on the book offhand type, similarly I prefer swords due to the % crit damage.
The other dependency is whether or at the current in your characters development/level in the game is DPS challenged or survivability challenged. So I switch between shields and books. I try to keep 1 of each with an aspect that fits my build fully upgraded in my inventory.
Yeah I totally am with you on the Shield thing. I currently am using a very tanky build but am still able to clear packs and elites with ease. I use a 1h Scythe for the life on kill and a shield with heavy thorns. I’m only like lvl 40 with my necro but have something like 1000 total thorns going. With a bone golem you can have it inherit 50% of your thorns damage which currently is like 500. I’ve gotten some nice drops of rare 1h scythes that I have turned into legendries. I got one effect that drops a blighted corpse explosion when I crit so no need to even have a corpse which works nice on boss fights.
On top of that I am super tanky and almost never get unhealthy. So yeah bottom line, the small damage boost you gain from a 2h on a necro is minimal compared to the offset when you build your char this way. I literally feel like a walking pin cushion and laugh as mobs break themselves on me. It’s really nice when you use Tendrils too.
I tried many 1 hand and focus or Shield but the best for DMG I found is the Two Hand Sword with Crit DMG has passive, it makes so much more dmg and to make sure I survive enough, the Ultimate Storm and The blood mist does the job to keep me alive with my Armor. That allow me to double my Aspect on my Two hand weapon it make the vulnerable monster so much more DMG. The Two Hand weapon is really more powerful for me than two items because the Main aspect who has a huge impact is double because of the Two Hand weapon compare to have two aspect, but What I said work because My build doesn’t need much aspect to deal a lot of DMG.
It is what I believe a good deal 
Thanks
Carry both. When at distance use the 2-hander. When tightly packed switch to one hander + shield. 60% chance to block is huge in NDs when you get hoarded and the exits are blocked.
I have a 2h sword and 2h scythe. I drop dps with the sycthe but the HP leech is nice. I’m not pushing high NM’s though. I’m not sure if I could without the sword always being used.
A shield at 100 has a 30% block chance with 90% DR. That’s a free 27% DR, plus you can slot an extra aspect, and four more defensive stats. And it seems to carry at least partially to the minions, they seem a lot more tanky when using a shield.
It’s actually better than a 27% DR - because it blocks 30% of all hits - those huge hits that might have otherwise 1 shot you in high nm’s - almost 1 in 3, blocked. And it blocks environmental effects, like fire on the floor, explosions etc. The amount of times I would have died without a shield i’ve simply lost count of, it’s amazing.
I’d still probably go with a 1h sword for the crit damage, or a wand maybe, but I’m not sure what their bonus is.
Really depends on your build and what stats are important to you.
A lot of people (especially Bone Spear I believe) like the Crit bonus from swords and the 100% aspect power on 2H weapons.
However builds that want lucky hit might want to go with wands for the bonus to lucky hit.
The life on kill from scythes I really like on my shadow build because it just makes for a more smooth and safe experience because your health is always getting topped off. I can face tank a bunch of mobs being hit with BCE and my health barely goes down because I am being healed as each one dies.
For a minion build I went with shield a lot hoping that the block would transfer to minions and help keep them alive (no idea how block works with minions but it seemed good to me because I rarely had issues keeping minions alive).
For cooldown reduction go with a focus as an offhand. I have one that rolled DC as one of its affixes so it has double CD.
I think daggers (bonus to close enemies) is probably the least impressive stat so I don’t really see anyone choosing daggers but I did use them while leveling if I got one that was an upgrade.
Another key difference between 2H vs. 1H is weapon speed.
2H slowest
1H with shield fast
1H with focus fastest
Can make a difference in some builds.
There is not mentioned strongly enough, importance of buffing aspects. If your build would benefit from two aspects buffed by 100% and 75% respectively then go with 2H. Otherwise go with either focus or shield depending on what to you require.
In my blood lance build I give Rathma chosen 75% speed boost to my 2h sword and use 100% boost to Gore Quills - giving nearly 100% damage for blood lance from orbs. Combined with blood wave tidal aspect this clears any mob thrown at me. Blood waves also keep them at distance and with stun if 5 or more nearby plus blood mist for emergency- I can evade them if I get myself in the corner. Being fortified most of the time + aspects of protecting and protector keep me safe enough for random situations. No need for shield for me as the idea is to keep them at distance not engage face to face.
In my case with 9 blood orbs turning into blood lances I get extra 50% damage
- Initial - 100%
- First triggered - extra 2x 50% (each blood lanced mister gets damage)
- Second - extra 3x 50%
- 4x 50%
- 5x50%
- Overpower : 300% bonus hence 6x 150% extra
- 7x 50%
- 8x 50%
- 9x50%
Altogether by choosing 2H sword I get 2800% extra damage in short period (triple blood wave - 9 orbs) - that’s at my current blood lance damage is 224 000 EXTRA damage distributed to 9 targets. Add other effects like piercing enemies spawning another lance when hitting already lanced etc Needless to say this wipes the floor.
Normally focus is king, but builds that want Lidless with bonestorm and darkness aspect for it too, this is going to be really strong for that specific build.