Curse

expugnare · Apr 17, 2009, 03:21 AM // 03:21

Well, I've been playing my Ele for a while now, generally running either
[build prof=e/a energy=8+1 earth=12+1+1 deadly=10][churning earth][eruption][ebon vanguard assassin support][glyph of lesser energy][assassin's promise]["finish him!"][earth attunement][mindbender][/build]

This build, I have found to be pretty effective in basically everywhere in HM, exploiting the churning guaranteed KD from the HM speed bonus, while keeping dangerous melee shut down from blind. Also, the damage is nice, allowing for me to quickly eliminate a target for recasting of [eruption] and [churning earth], which are both spammed efficiently through use of [mindbender] and [glyph of lesser energy]. I am never sure, however, whether I should drop ["Finish Him!"] for [ebon battle standard of honor], perhaps because I'm so accustomed to pressing a button for a guaranteed AP recharge.

Anyway, in addition to this, I have used a more generic fire nuker AP build:
[build prof=e/a energy=8+1 fire=12+1+1 deadly=10][glyph of sacrifice][meteor shower][ebon vanguard assassin support][liquid flame][assassin's promise]["finish him!"][fire attunement]["you move like a dwarf!"][/build]

This build has stayed with me for a while, usually being my staple for NM, but after some time I felt that the damage output couldn't hold up in HM, even with power armor ignoring spells.

I also have various Water Builds and Air Builds; unfortunately, none of them really shine or strike me as particularly potent. If anyone could share some useful ones, that would be useful. My main use for these, as explained above, would be for maximum efficiency in HM, while maintaining dmg output and overall team usefulness.

Well, now to the focus of my post, does anyone have suggestions or advice for what I should use or pursue in HM to be more effective? If anyone could advise over how to use my three PvE slots, that would be nice. Like I said before, I usually stress over ["Finish Him!"] vs [ebon battle standard of honor], finding [mindbender] too useful to disregard in my first build, but I'm open to any suggestions. In the second build, I'm wondering if anything would be more useful than ["Finish Him!"] or ["You Move Like a dwarf!"], which I use to guarantee a recharge from AP and KD chain with EVAS, respectively.

I often see people asserting that an Ele's role in HM stops being damage output, focusing rather on support, but I've found my damage output is usually pretty good, increased very much by proper use of EVAS and AP. I have done most of HM, dungeons included, with a self tweaked Discord-hero (thus explaining my love of AP) group, usually with a friend or henchies. (Of course, there are some obvious exceptions, e.g. Urgoz's ).

Thanks guys!

Icy The Mage · Apr 17, 2009, 04:25 AM // 04:25

You're doing about 180 armor-ignoring damage with [Finish Him!] because of the 80 damage, and the deep wound (100hp maximum). I don't think there's any skill as effective as this, but it DOES take up a PvE slot... If anything I would recommend something like Lightning Hammer or Lightning Orb, but again, long casts call for interrupts, as well as slower damage output and the possibility of no damage at all (lorb)

Chucks · Apr 17, 2009, 04:56 AM // 04:56

I dont know how to make the little images, but what I can do is offer a little advice. Personally I find the best build to go as:

Fire Magic 16
Energy Storage 10
Deadly Arts (Remaining points)

1. Glyph of Immolation
2. Ebon Vanguard Sin
3. Pain Inverter
4. Glowing Gaze
5 Glyph of Sacrifice
6. Meteor Shower
7. Assassin's Promise
8. Finish Him

Precaset: The immolation so that when you cast your EV Sin into battle they are burning, this causes a KD with the sin's lead attack. From there cast PI. This means the sin is doing 35-80 dmg with the foe taking 30-80 back from PI. The foe also targets the sin, taking pressure off you for a moment. If in a grp or a tough foe cast Sacrifice and MS or just wait. There should be burning still or you can re-apply with casting glowing gaze on target, this should get you ~10 energy back, coupled with the ~15 energy for AP means 25. In HM with a few AOE's this build has the potential to take down foes extremely quickly, producing many EV sins.

I hope this helps a little bit

expugnare · Apr 17, 2009, 05:07 AM // 05:07

The advice is appreciated, however, ["you move like a dwarf!"] gives a free knockdown, 80 armor ignoring and also guarantees a KD on the Assassin's first chain; furthermore, the target is crippled, allowing the assassin to pull it away from me. In the end, it comes down to the armor ignoring dmg from YMLAD, compared to burning, which albeit is useful when used in conjunction with Gaze, is somewhat ineffective in various HM areas, especially those with destroyers.

Oh, just do [xxxx skill xxxx] for example [ xxxx (removing the xxxx) "you move like a dwarf!" xxxx].

And, your build, in the end is similar to mine, with more of a reliance on burning; I am not denying its sheer ability to smash enemies, but it seems a bit lacking nonetheless.

smilingscar · Apr 17, 2009, 01:56 PM // 13:56

Concerning your hard-mode build, I usually run a very similar build myself when running henchies:

[discord caller; OgdTkUG6ZaBymMmcX8UAWAZQAAA]

Combining [[churning earth] with [[mindbender] is a good idea, I'll have to try it. But I would suggest dropping [[Earth Attunement]. With [[Assassin's Promise] and an insta-charging [[glyph of lesser energy], you should have no energy problems. I recommend a ward for added defense instead.

And don't drop [[Finish Him]. It's can be a lifesaver for getting AP to trigger. Plus [[Ebon Battle Standard of Honor] only effects non-armor-ignoring damage which limits its synergy in a primarily discord oriented group.

TheodenKing · Apr 17, 2009, 03:16 PM // 15:16

If you are using discordway, then recognize your role as the caller. You don't have to do all the damage yourself. Having said that, I like your first build because it applies conditions and hexes. By leaving out [ebon battle standard of honor], you do miss out on some broad-based damage. But it should'nt matter in most situations.

The most important thing you can do to be effective is select the correct target and ping it so your necros know where to bring the pain.

I run an air build rather than earth, but I think it lacks the HM advantage of [churning earth], but does offer better individual spike damage.

expugnare · Apr 17, 2009, 04:56 PM // 16:56

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll test out some variations, such as removing [earth attunement].

Edit: Does anyone have any innovative water builds they want to share?