When20.4 and beyond, there seems to be a significant debate regarding the frame-perfect timing of axe strikes to disable shields. In high-stakes SMP scenarios where resources are limited, is it statistically more advantageous to prioritize critical hits with a sword for higher DPS, or focus on the shield-stun duration provided by the axe? I’ve noticed a trend where top-tier players are favoring the utility of piercing crossbows to bypass shields entirely, which suggests the meta is shifting toward projectile-based chip damage rather than traditional melee exchanges. I would be interested to hear how others are optimizing their hotbar layouts to counter the current shield-heavy defensive playstyles