Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

If you are going jade arour, then you want boots of flying for the feet slot. Also, the starshine skull cap is cheaper than spirit helm, and provides extra MR.

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

A lucky coin is usually my first choice for a shield, as it effectively doubles the hitpoints of anything that wears it.

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

Best picks usually are:

Blood Thorn
Lucky Coin
Starshine Skullcap
Jade Armor (or Hydra Skin Armor)
Boots of Flying (or Boots of Quickness)
Ring of Regeneration (or Flying Carpet or Next)
Either Antimagic Amulet or Ring of /Resistance/

That is pretty standard on most of SC's that include Bane Lords, Devils, Titans.

If you want a life drainer and not much for magic, this is a very effective setup. If they have a decent amount of Att to overcome most normal units. Undead may pose some problems, but this can defeat most non-lifeless armies.

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

If you have a chassis with a high base prot, but not truly exceptional magic resistance, Armor of Souls or Rainbow Armor (less MR, but some reinvig) might make sense.

Against undead/demonic SCs, there's a triple-damage spear that could be of use. Against hordes of magical units, Elfbane / Moon Blades deserve a look.

Hordes of Pan CW undead is still a problem since you can't afford to get KO'd by mass sleep vines.

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

So...

Anyone like the Wraith Crown or Robe of Shadows for a Earth based SC? Or a Amulet of Resilience instead of a ring of /resistance/? (if you know fatigue will be an issue).

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

I'm fond of using Wraith Crowns at certain points in the game - against many troops, even summoned ones, it gives twice the benefit of luck (3/4 attacks negated vice 1/2). In addition, the initial mini-swarm of undead tends to slow down flyers (aquatic and terrestial) long enough for some buffs to be successfully cast.

I've used the robe of shadows less often, because there's usually a better suit of armor for most combat chassis's; however I have used it a few times on commanders with high innate PD and water magic - since they can self-haste, they don't need the jade armor.

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

Hmmm...

So how about:

Bloodthorn
Lucky Coin
Wraithcrown
rainbow armor
boots of flying
amulet of MR
ring of regeneration

I was debating the ring vs. the amulet of the werewolf because of it's regenerative & berserk properties...are there reasons not to use that amulet?

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

Depends on what you are facing and what sc/thug you are sticking it on, but in general its decent. The only thing that you have no quickness... boots or jade armor.

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

So replace the boots with boots of quickness and change the armor to jade armor?

Re: Hell sword vs Wraith sword vs Blood thorn
 

The werewolf amulet can turn living? units into skinshifters.

I gave one to a werewolve, who became a skin shifter, who could shift into a werewolve.