For pvp they use weapon that has good special hits like paralize, disarm, nerve strike, poison or even armor ignore or crazy whyrlwind, mostly one handed weapons (to be able to use potions while wearing them, but some are not 1 hand). For instance : pickaxe, butcher knife, bokuto, bone harvester, hatchet, ornate axe, wakizashi for swords, war fork, kryss for fencing, club, and mace, war axe, hammer pick for macefighting. I'm sure i'm missing one at least. And the minimum mods these days along with farming production is 20 splinter 50 hit spell, preferably lightning, as fireball, harm and magic arrow are not preferred spells. Brittle is ok if they have Hit low defense 50 or / and spell channelling (fc -1 is fine). Always preferably clean (no cursed, brittle or antique and def not imbued).
Regards.