This week, Phat Loot Phriday is all about choices. Alliance can get one of their best weapons from a Scarlet Monastery quest, but will you choose it or one of the other rewards?

Name: Sword of Serenity
Type: Rare One Hand Sword
Damage / Speed: 48 - 86 / 2.20 (30 DPS)
Abilities:

• +9 Stamina, +4 Spirit
• Looks like a good RPG sword should-- well made, strong, and ready to take on any monsters that cross your path, be they murlocs or marauding demons. (Doesn't actually glow blue-- the SoS in the pic above is enchanted)
  
• But the real test in this sword is your ability to make the choices around it...

How to Get It: Starting at level 40 or so (although you can obtain it at 33), Alliance can get a quest from Raleigh the Devout in Hillsbrad called "In the Name of the Light." It's your introduction to one of the best instances in the game, the Scarlet Monastery, and after you've killed four bosses in the instance, you'll return to Raleigh who'll offer you-- a choice.

There's the Bonebiter, a great 2h axe with lots of Strength and Stamina. Or the Black Menace, a one-hand dagger with a Shadowbolt proc, or a caster offhand with an Intellect and Spirit bonus. Or this, the Sword of Serenity.

This is one of the first times, I believe, that Blizzard starts making you choose for min/maxing. If you're a Warrior, do you go for this sword, with the great Stamina bonus and damage (for its type)? Or do you go for the two hander, practically useless in most instances, but perfect for soloing your way up to 60. If you're a rogue, do you get the sword and spec swords, or pick up the dagger for the proc? If you're a caster, you're probably grabbing the offhand, but any other class starts having serious choices to make.

For the record, I'll stand by the Sword of Serenity as a terrific choice, unless you're a Warrior who's never doing the quest for the Whirlwind Axe (you should be doing that quest anyway, because the Axe is better than the Bonebiter). For rogues, it's up to you whether you want to start in on daggers or stick with swords. And for a hunter, this sword is a no brainer-- pair it with the Vanquisher's Blade from the Razorfen Downs quest from around the same level, and you'll be a dual wielding force to deal with.

Then there's the other choice-- Horde or Alliance? Because Alliance get this sword as a reward for their SM quest, but Horde get the very cool Sword of Omen. That's right-- HOOOOOO!

Getting Rid of It: BOP, as pretty much all quest rewards are. Sells to vendors for 1g 87s 14c. DE to Greater Eternal Essence or Small Radiant Shard.

Tags: phatlootphriday, swordofserenity

Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Features, Phat Loot Phriday