Dagmar
Defender of the Bunnies of Skyrim
You don't use any weapons in werewolf form other than your claws. Any weapons still showing visually while in werewolf form are simply a graphics glitch. Normal damage from claws caps at 80. You have 0 damage reduction while in werewolf form and extremely low health regeneration. On top of that, the health/stamina regain you get from feeding on your prey is limited to human prey, e.g. you can't feed on a cave bear or frost troll after you kill it.
I agree that overall it is a much weaker fighting form than your non-werewolf form at high levels. That being said, some people don't really know how to optimize fighting strategy as a werewolf.
The key to fighting as a werewolf is effective use of your power attack, which will double your damage and knockdown any enemy regardless of size with the exception of dragons. The knockdown gives you time to blitz your enemy with regular claw attacks while he/she/it is down without fear of getting attacked by him/her/it. As soon as the enemy gets up hit him/her/it with another power attack and repeat. I've taken down giants and mammoths this way at level 50 on Master difficulty setting, often with little or no damage.
Since the power attack is so central to a successful fighting strategy, a character build that has high stamina is going to be optimal for fighting in werewolf form. Since your means to regenerate health is basically non-existent without feeding, high health helps as well. Melee fighter builds will benefit most from fighting in werewolf form, while spellcaster builds are a poor fit for fighting as a werewolf.
What you can take from all this is that fighting in werewolf form, while possibly fun, is generally more challenging at higher levels and should be a strategic choice. Shifting into werewolf form in a Draugr infested dungeon is not going to play out well because you may have multiple opponents in closed quarters and no prey to feed upon to replenish health. Shifting to werewolf form in a dungeon populated by humans is more ideal, especially in situations where you will only be fighting one or two of them at time.
If you can live without rest bonuses, even if you can't adopt this fighting strategy effectively or often enough for your satisfaction, IMO the 100% resist disease is a good tradeoff. You should be aware that it does glitch occasionally. I leveled 25 times before it happened but I somehow managed to get Witbane.
I agree that overall it is a much weaker fighting form than your non-werewolf form at high levels. That being said, some people don't really know how to optimize fighting strategy as a werewolf.
The key to fighting as a werewolf is effective use of your power attack, which will double your damage and knockdown any enemy regardless of size with the exception of dragons. The knockdown gives you time to blitz your enemy with regular claw attacks while he/she/it is down without fear of getting attacked by him/her/it. As soon as the enemy gets up hit him/her/it with another power attack and repeat. I've taken down giants and mammoths this way at level 50 on Master difficulty setting, often with little or no damage.
Since the power attack is so central to a successful fighting strategy, a character build that has high stamina is going to be optimal for fighting in werewolf form. Since your means to regenerate health is basically non-existent without feeding, high health helps as well. Melee fighter builds will benefit most from fighting in werewolf form, while spellcaster builds are a poor fit for fighting as a werewolf.
What you can take from all this is that fighting in werewolf form, while possibly fun, is generally more challenging at higher levels and should be a strategic choice. Shifting into werewolf form in a Draugr infested dungeon is not going to play out well because you may have multiple opponents in closed quarters and no prey to feed upon to replenish health. Shifting to werewolf form in a dungeon populated by humans is more ideal, especially in situations where you will only be fighting one or two of them at time.
If you can live without rest bonuses, even if you can't adopt this fighting strategy effectively or often enough for your satisfaction, IMO the 100% resist disease is a good tradeoff. You should be aware that it does glitch occasionally. I leveled 25 times before it happened but I somehow managed to get Witbane.