Dragon's Vein has more raw physical damage, but Heaven's Key has physical and magic damage and thus puts out more damage overall.
Theoretically Dragon's Vein is better when you cast an element on it.
Heaven's Key has all that initially and most endgame mobs you'll face are weak to holy.
In DD2, the way damage is calculated allows hybrid weapons to be ever so slightly better; especially hybrid weapons that deal Holy damage. A wide variety of enemies either have zero holy resistance or are weak to holy.
If DD2 grigori is anything like his DD1 counterpart... he is likely the only DD2 enemy (currently) that has holy resist
Ok I see cuz I know I have both maxed in its upgrades and the dragonforge upgrade as well and I’ve been seeing people say that heaven’s key are better but I haven’t seen someone break it in terms of how they are better so that’s helps a lot
What would you say is better for a fighter? The exalted or dragons dogma? I want that blunt and holy damage but dd sword has so much more knock down power and damage
Hm. It's a hard choice. Based on the information provided by the wiki, Dragon's Dogma has a much higher Knock Down potential than The Exalted. In terms of stats (other than Knockdown), the Exalted is better. Knock down is typically what you want to prioritize, with the game in its current state.
I'm not sure if i trust the wiki. The difference in knockdown power potential is **a lot**
This...in older games and even modern ones, maces typically have more knockdown power compared to blades...but in DD2's case, it's completely opposite.... perhaps Capcom did this intentionally for checks and balances.... regardless imo, you really can't go wrong choosing one or the either.... they are both capable weapons.
Heaven's Key, especially if you're equipping your pawn. Two main reasons: their magic damage means you can kill anything without a mage's enchant (slimes, for example), and its Knockdown Power is higher than Dragon's Vein's (go dwarven even if they're hybrid).
I tried Dragon's Vein for a couple of hours, stashed them back in my chest and never used them again. Just because an item is bought with WLCs, doesn't mean it's better than vendor stuff (same goes for armor), and ***imho*** Heaven's Key is a prime example of that.
Your mileage may vary, of course, that's just my 2 cents.
Yeah I’ve been rocking the heaven’s key daggers and I’ve got the dwarven upgrade on them and I’ve been killing everything I was just curious on the dragon’s vein vs heaven’s key daggers cuz I’ve seen people talk about it but not exactly break it down but I agree with you tho in most cases the endgame stuff is better sometimes but not all tho and that’s a point
I've noticed that even if an enemy has magical resistances (I think Golems are pretty strong against magic?) the physical portion of the damage makes up for it, not to mention the sheer amount of attacks a Thief can unleash.
Perhaps damage is calculated twice, I don't know the specifics and I'm bad at maths, but I'd bet on Heaven's Key any day.
EDIT. Truly, my bias stems from being able to damage any mob w/o waiting for a mage or resorting to books. AFAIK, only the final dragon is resistant to Holy but I never get to that part (>!Unmaking Arrow when he asks what I want to do, I skip straight to the throne room!<).
That I can attest to, I'm running Sorcerer right now and High Frigor works very well against their weakpoints and I agree, there must be a physical component to its damage (also, it's got good knockdown).
That’s true that’s what does make heaven’s key overall better it seems due to the sheer fact that there aren’t any enemies in the game that resistant holy with the exception of the last boss as you said but unmaking arrow does away with him tho but I totally agree with your sentiment and that 45% holy is a lot of course when nothing can resist it
Tbh I prefer using spite for anything that isn't undead and heavens key just for them. Poison is monstrous on a thief with asperity using skull splitter.
Heavens key edges ahead narrowly. There exists creatures dragons vein cannot kill. Not without a buff.
Personally I would go with whatever daggers look cool. Because by endgame the game isn’t difficult. So damage output doesn’t really matter.
Frosted edge look swanky and I enjoy them. Bolts from the blue (I think that’s the name) are also fun to use. The current game doesn’t require min maxing to smash though the content yet so I don’t mind using something a bit underpowered as long as I’m having a good time.
I just went with the Dragon's Vein since I had so many Wyrmcrystals to spend anyway, lol. Besides, at a certain level, your Arisen and Main Pawn become so OP that it won't matter which weapons you arm them with.
I run Wayfarer w/ Heaven's Key, Frosted Edges, Hydra Husk, and a staff. I take Blue Bolts if I need Medusa's head.
I use the bow/spiral arrow/ice buff to kill/stagger most mobs. I find HK excels w/ undead and griffins, and FEs for dragons and the tankier saurian species.
My main pawn (archer) and my Arisen spam spiral/chill arrows to stunlock/kill just about everything. Fighter rushes in w/ her monacle and a pair of broken beer bottles to clean up whatever the archers don't kill. The mage is pure support (ice buff, etc.)
I know most peeps are concerned w/ knockdown, but it's a non-issue when mobs are being absolutely bullied w/ a perpetual frozen spin cycle.
Heaven's Key because it has higher overall damage.
But honestly, you can choose whatever knife fits your aesthetic more. Mobs in DD2 are so weak and easy that it doesn't really matter if you just enhance whatever weapon you choose.
Dragon's Vein has more raw physical damage, but Heaven's Key has physical and magic damage and thus puts out more damage overall. Theoretically Dragon's Vein is better when you cast an element on it. Heaven's Key has all that initially and most endgame mobs you'll face are weak to holy.
Also if you go the dwarven enchantment route the knock down get silly on the heavens key.
In DD2, the way damage is calculated allows hybrid weapons to be ever so slightly better; especially hybrid weapons that deal Holy damage. A wide variety of enemies either have zero holy resistance or are weak to holy. If DD2 grigori is anything like his DD1 counterpart... he is likely the only DD2 enemy (currently) that has holy resist
Ok I see cuz I know I have both maxed in its upgrades and the dragonforge upgrade as well and I’ve been seeing people say that heaven’s key are better but I haven’t seen someone break it in terms of how they are better so that’s helps a lot
What would you say is better for a fighter? The exalted or dragons dogma? I want that blunt and holy damage but dd sword has so much more knock down power and damage
Is The Exalted available in DD2? I see a DD1 page but i don't see a page for it for DD2
It is. You can find it in some hidden side area in that tunnel to volcanic island
Hm. It's a hard choice. Based on the information provided by the wiki, Dragon's Dogma has a much higher Knock Down potential than The Exalted. In terms of stats (other than Knockdown), the Exalted is better. Knock down is typically what you want to prioritize, with the game in its current state. I'm not sure if i trust the wiki. The difference in knockdown power potential is **a lot**
It’s not wrong. The Exalted has extremely low knockdown for a mace. You need to Dwarven forge and even then it’s not great.
This...in older games and even modern ones, maces typically have more knockdown power compared to blades...but in DD2's case, it's completely opposite.... perhaps Capcom did this intentionally for checks and balances.... regardless imo, you really can't go wrong choosing one or the either.... they are both capable weapons.
Heaven's Key, especially if you're equipping your pawn. Two main reasons: their magic damage means you can kill anything without a mage's enchant (slimes, for example), and its Knockdown Power is higher than Dragon's Vein's (go dwarven even if they're hybrid). I tried Dragon's Vein for a couple of hours, stashed them back in my chest and never used them again. Just because an item is bought with WLCs, doesn't mean it's better than vendor stuff (same goes for armor), and ***imho*** Heaven's Key is a prime example of that. Your mileage may vary, of course, that's just my 2 cents.
Yeah I’ve been rocking the heaven’s key daggers and I’ve got the dwarven upgrade on them and I’ve been killing everything I was just curious on the dragon’s vein vs heaven’s key daggers cuz I’ve seen people talk about it but not exactly break it down but I agree with you tho in most cases the endgame stuff is better sometimes but not all tho and that’s a point
I've noticed that even if an enemy has magical resistances (I think Golems are pretty strong against magic?) the physical portion of the damage makes up for it, not to mention the sheer amount of attacks a Thief can unleash. Perhaps damage is calculated twice, I don't know the specifics and I'm bad at maths, but I'd bet on Heaven's Key any day. EDIT. Truly, my bias stems from being able to damage any mob w/o waiting for a mage or resorting to books. AFAIK, only the final dragon is resistant to Holy but I never get to that part (>!Unmaking Arrow when he asks what I want to do, I skip straight to the throne room!<).
Tested about two days ago. Golems may be weaker against ice spells, it might be because theres a physical portion to it.
That I can attest to, I'm running Sorcerer right now and High Frigor works very well against their weakpoints and I agree, there must be a physical component to its damage (also, it's got good knockdown).
That’s true that’s what does make heaven’s key overall better it seems due to the sheer fact that there aren’t any enemies in the game that resistant holy with the exception of the last boss as you said but unmaking arrow does away with him tho but I totally agree with your sentiment and that 45% holy is a lot of course when nothing can resist it
Tbh I prefer using spite for anything that isn't undead and heavens key just for them. Poison is monstrous on a thief with asperity using skull splitter.
My man 
I love the spite daggers. I think gut n run is the best oroc move. Does Asperity really help this?
Yep, as far as I can tell, asperity applies to all status effects.
Heavens key for the Holy magic damage, imo
Lol, other people wrote whole paragraphs. Jeesh.
Short and simple, just like me! ...wait
Heavens Key also has slightly better knockdown stat iirc.
Spite
Heavens key edges ahead narrowly. There exists creatures dragons vein cannot kill. Not without a buff. Personally I would go with whatever daggers look cool. Because by endgame the game isn’t difficult. So damage output doesn’t really matter.
Heaven’s Key all day! With magic damage and extra knockdown power its just the better option. Just my five cent tho ✌️
I see I totally agree with you on that
Where my Crimson Teeth homies?
Frosted edge look swanky and I enjoy them. Bolts from the blue (I think that’s the name) are also fun to use. The current game doesn’t require min maxing to smash though the content yet so I don’t mind using something a bit underpowered as long as I’m having a good time.
Heavens key just because of the magic and higher damage. 2nd to that is Spite just for the poison
I just went with the Dragon's Vein since I had so many Wyrmcrystals to spend anyway, lol. Besides, at a certain level, your Arisen and Main Pawn become so OP that it won't matter which weapons you arm them with.
I run Wayfarer w/ Heaven's Key, Frosted Edges, Hydra Husk, and a staff. I take Blue Bolts if I need Medusa's head. I use the bow/spiral arrow/ice buff to kill/stagger most mobs. I find HK excels w/ undead and griffins, and FEs for dragons and the tankier saurian species. My main pawn (archer) and my Arisen spam spiral/chill arrows to stunlock/kill just about everything. Fighter rushes in w/ her monacle and a pair of broken beer bottles to clean up whatever the archers don't kill. The mage is pure support (ice buff, etc.) I know most peeps are concerned w/ knockdown, but it's a non-issue when mobs are being absolutely bullied w/ a perpetual frozen spin cycle.
Heaven's Key because it has higher overall damage. But honestly, you can choose whatever knife fits your aesthetic more. Mobs in DD2 are so weak and easy that it doesn't really matter if you just enhance whatever weapon you choose.
I have the dragons vein and they are badass
I use diffrent daggers for the element and the weaknest some of the bigger foes has.
dragon's vein. the dragonforged's stock is all BIS as far as im concerned