Relics in FFXI were always top Base Weapon Damage, the initial addition of the Delve weapons however shit all over the Relic weapon damage. In effect, relics technically were the best, the weapon skill that came with the relics however weren't always that great or even decent a majority of the time. But then again, a weapon in XI was only as good as it's wielder, someone who didn't know how to use it properly made it look worthless and some people who knew how to play their jobs properly owned anyone with the best gear in the game who had no idea what they were doing, and quite honestly that's completely different from this game and how its set up.