Odin.Blazza said:
My cannonball sucks, but I think a good sword/shield set-up trumps vulcan's/axe (I use staff), and this sword trumps any other for it.
Sorta situationally I guess but the 36-40ish def you get from shield (+cocoon and foods effects on that def on the shields def and maybe def from vit if you using a vit swd) has always outdone the extra 4 str from staff/strap ( I don't feel like buying another swd so I just use koggles)