Newb ele skill point help please - Guild Wars Forums

Leyra · Jan 19, 2012, 07:46 PM // 19:46

Ok I only found gw 3 weeks ago and I've 'messed around' with a few different characters to find what I like.. right now it's between ele and ranger.

a] Query with my ele is how to best spend the skill points? If I out more into fire I run out of energy.. if I put more into energy my hits don't do enough damage.

b] Also wondering when you have 2nd prof do you put skill points into that too or not?

c] in pre-searing doing the Vanguard quests if I want to 'farm' it for xp do I need to do so before finding/killing/completing the objective? or just before I accept the reward?

d] what level is best to get to before going post?

e] replies to another mentioned upgrading armour in Ascalon, post. What would I need to be able to trade/buy that? [so I can be sure I have it ready before 'crossing over'

f] with a ranger I've seen a few different animals tamed. which is best once leveled up enough, for tanking so I can stand further back firing either arrows or fire?

g] And the huge question.. how on earth do you make a mesmer hit hard enough in pre? What would be best first to have mes second.

Sorry it's such a list.. thought it would be easier in one go than all spread out?
Thanks for any help

TheGizzy · Jan 19, 2012, 08:03 PM // 20:03

a) For now, it isn't going to make a huge amount of difference either way. You're not going to be getting any additional super powered/high energy fire skills until you get to post-searing, so you only need to concern yourself with having enough energy to cast the fire spells you've got. So basically, put enough into energy to keep you going, and dump everything else into fire so you up your damage. Once you get into post you'll be able to add Runes & Insignia to your armor - Survivor, Attunment, Vitae, Minor Vigor plus Minor Fire and Minor Energy are going to be the ones you'll be looking at if you continue with a fire build. Eventually, when you can afford it (down the road) you can get a Superior Vigor which will allow you to have a Superior Fire or a Superior Energy without taking such a nasty hit to your health.

b) Yes. Which is part of why when I first started (also as an ele), I went with Ranger...tamed my pet and then just kept him with me. Once he was tamed, I didn't need points in any Ranger attributes. I just had to keep the charm skill on my skill bar.

c) Abandon after you've reached the objective but before you turn it in for the reward - unless meeting the objective isn't going to give you XP via killing something, in which case you don't even have to go that far.

d) That's entirely subjective. I didn't leave pre until I was level 12. I helped someone earlier today who was in post by level 4. Stay as long as you're enjoying yourself/not bored.

e) Everything you ever wanted to know about Ele armor but were afraid to ask: http://wiki.gtm.guildwars.com/wiki/Elementalist_armor
300g and 14 bolts of cloth for the Ele 30AR Flameforged in Ascalon City.

f) I had the Melandru Stalker... that cat stayed with me through pretty much all of Prophecies. I <3 him.

g) No idea. I only go Mesmer secondary for certain farming builds but that's not going to be an issue for you for a longggg while. Someone else can probably give you a better idea on this one.

turbo234 · Jan 19, 2012, 08:15 PM // 20:15

a) i'm assuming you're still a pretty low level. don't worry too much about attributes right now. as you progress to level 20 you'll earn 170 to spend, plus 2 additional quests will put you at 200. most people put points into just 2-3 attributes to make the most of them. also when you reach post you'll be able to access "attunements" for eles like fire attunement which give 30% of the energy back when you cast a fire spell.

b) yes, but you don't have to. half the time i don't even use any skills from my 2ndary profession.

c) assuming i've read it right, once you've "completed" the quest, but before you turn it in for the reward, you abandon it and retake it.

d) depends on when you feel comfortable. post still has a great learning curve.

e) see gizzy's answer

f) there is no best animal. each animal is capable of doing the same thing, aside from looking different. each animal however can have different evolutions granting it more hp in exchange for damage, more dmg for hp, or no difference. every animal is able to do this.

g) mesmers aren't really a hard hitting class. they can do direct damage with skills like backfire or empathy, but mesmers are more focused on interrupting, disabling, and draining energy.

Kendil · Jan 19, 2012, 08:52 PM // 20:52

I want to answer as well! So here I go!

a] There are skills which you can use to manage your energy, for example glyph of lesser energy, Aura of Restoration and later on Fire Attunement (or whichever element you're using). Still having trouble? Mesmer secondary is a good way, look into the inspiration attribute or have a hero run around with Blood Ritual.

b] Depends if you use any skills from that attribute line. Some skills are effective for it's purpouse at lvl 0 as well.

c] vanguard quests where added to make the title legendary defender of ascalon more available and less ultra time-consuming.

d] lvl 5 or so will do very well. If you're new I'd recomend you stay in pre to lvl 8 or so before moving on just to make sure you won't miss so much pre experience and to make post a little easier. Keep in mind that pre is just a small portion of the actual world of Tyria.

e] It depends on your profession, take a look at what Corwen offers. It's all very cheap though.

f] All animal companions are equal (except the bears that have brutal mauling, they have a little less dps but can trigger paragon shouts and chants). To make them more tanky you have to evolve your companion to hearthy. More information at the wiki as usual: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Pet

g] Empathy ofc

It's your bread and butter skill vs melee and backfire vs casters in pre. Shatter delusions to finish them off. They say ranger is good for troll ungent and a pet. I prefer ele for the glyph.
But pre is special. In the rest of the game there's other skills, for example Panic and ineptitude are very, very potent elite skills.

One go is better for these spread out and not very hard-to-answer questions.

Jan 19, 2012, 07:46 PM // 19:46	#1
Leyra Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Jan 2012 Guild: ESP Profession: E/Mo	Newb ele skill point help please Ok I only found gw 3 weeks ago and I've 'messed around' with a few different characters to find what I like.. right now it's between ele and ranger. a] Query with my ele is how to best spend the skill points? If I out more into fire I run out of energy.. if I put more into energy my hits don't do enough damage. b] Also wondering when you have 2nd prof do you put skill points into that too or not? c] in pre-searing doing the Vanguard quests if I want to 'farm' it for xp do I need to do so before finding/killing/completing the objective? or just before I accept the reward? d] what level is best to get to before going post? e] replies to another mentioned upgrading armour in Ascalon, post. What would I need to be able to trade/buy that? [so I can be sure I have it ready before 'crossing over' f] with a ranger I've seen a few different animals tamed. which is best once leveled up enough, for tanking so I can stand further back firing either arrows or fire? g] And the huge question.. how on earth do you make a mesmer hit hard enough in pre? What would be best first to have mes second. Sorry it's such a list.. thought it would be easier in one go than all spread out? Thanks for any help

Jan 19, 2012, 08:03 PM // 20:03	#2
TheGizzy Krytan Explorer Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: A giant mitten Guild: TeAe Profession: E/R	a) For now, it isn't going to make a huge amount of difference either way. You're not going to be getting any additional super powered/high energy fire skills until you get to post-searing, so you only need to concern yourself with having enough energy to cast the fire spells you've got. So basically, put enough into energy to keep you going, and dump everything else into fire so you up your damage. Once you get into post you'll be able to add Runes & Insignia to your armor - Survivor, Attunment, Vitae, Minor Vigor plus Minor Fire and Minor Energy are going to be the ones you'll be looking at if you continue with a fire build. Eventually, when you can afford it (down the road) you can get a Superior Vigor which will allow you to have a Superior Fire or a Superior Energy without taking such a nasty hit to your health. b) Yes. Which is part of why when I first started (also as an ele), I went with Ranger...tamed my pet and then just kept him with me. Once he was tamed, I didn't need points in any Ranger attributes. I just had to keep the charm skill on my skill bar. c) Abandon after you've reached the objective but before you turn it in for the reward - unless meeting the objective isn't going to give you XP via killing something, in which case you don't even have to go that far. d) That's entirely subjective. I didn't leave pre until I was level 12. I helped someone earlier today who was in post by level 4. Stay as long as you're enjoying yourself/not bored. e) Everything you ever wanted to know about Ele armor but were afraid to ask: http://wiki.gtm.guildwars.com/wiki/Elementalist_armor 300g and 14 bolts of cloth for the Ele 30AR Flameforged in Ascalon City. f) I had the Melandru Stalker... that cat stayed with me through pretty much all of Prophecies. I <3 him. g) No idea. I only go Mesmer secondary for certain farming builds but that's not going to be an issue for you for a longggg while. Someone else can probably give you a better idea on this one.

Jan 19, 2012, 08:15 PM // 20:15	#3
turbo234 Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WI Profession: Mo/	a) i'm assuming you're still a pretty low level. don't worry too much about attributes right now. as you progress to level 20 you'll earn 170 to spend, plus 2 additional quests will put you at 200. most people put points into just 2-3 attributes to make the most of them. also when you reach post you'll be able to access "attunements" for eles like fire attunement which give 30% of the energy back when you cast a fire spell. b) yes, but you don't have to. half the time i don't even use any skills from my 2ndary profession. c) assuming i've read it right, once you've "completed" the quest, but before you turn it in for the reward, you abandon it and retake it. d) depends on when you feel comfortable. post still has a great learning curve. e) see gizzy's answer f) there is no best animal. each animal is capable of doing the same thing, aside from looking different. each animal however can have different evolutions granting it more hp in exchange for damage, more dmg for hp, or no difference. every animal is able to do this. g) mesmers aren't really a hard hitting class. they can do direct damage with skills like backfire or empathy, but mesmers are more focused on interrupting, disabling, and draining energy.

Jan 19, 2012, 08:52 PM // 20:52	#4
Kendil Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sweden	I want to answer as well! So here I go! a] There are skills which you can use to manage your energy, for example glyph of lesser energy, Aura of Restoration and later on Fire Attunement (or whichever element you're using). Still having trouble? Mesmer secondary is a good way, look into the inspiration attribute or have a hero run around with Blood Ritual. b] Depends if you use any skills from that attribute line. Some skills are effective for it's purpouse at lvl 0 as well. c] vanguard quests where added to make the title legendary defender of ascalon more available and less ultra time-consuming. d] lvl 5 or so will do very well. If you're new I'd recomend you stay in pre to lvl 8 or so before moving on just to make sure you won't miss so much pre experience and to make post a little easier. Keep in mind that pre is just a small portion of the actual world of Tyria. e] It depends on your profession, take a look at what Corwen offers. It's all very cheap though. f] All animal companions are equal (except the bears that have brutal mauling, they have a little less dps but can trigger paragon shouts and chants). To make them more tanky you have to evolve your companion to hearthy. More information at the wiki as usual: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Pet g] Empathy ofc It's your bread and butter skill vs melee and backfire vs casters in pre. Shatter delusions to finish them off. They say ranger is good for troll ungent and a pet. I prefer ele for the glyph. But pre is special. In the rest of the game there's other skills, for example Panic and ineptitude are very, very potent elite skills. One go is better for these spread out and not very hard-to-answer questions.