questions reguarding builds and game mechanics

hey, am about to buy ashes for when steam releases, am researching meta atm and the meta mage build seems to be using a sword rather than something like a wand or scepter.

the build is suppose to be using a sword with bow, rather than something like scepter and wand, ive seen barbarians use daggers rather than something like a greatsword, is there reasons for this or are you just hunting stats on your weapon