in a 600 build, what does SoA actually do? - Guild Wars Forums

germanturkey · Dec 15, 2008, 03:46 PM // 15:46

i've read that it allows you to tank a lot more enemies, but -5 per hit per enemy doesn't seem like that much..

foeslayr · Dec 15, 2008, 04:02 PM // 16:02

What it does is decrease the damage by 5 per attack. So after 4 hits, it would reduce all damage taken by 20. So the faster the attacks, the more effective this would be with the time constraints.

Quaker · Dec 15, 2008, 04:11 PM // 16:11

After you've reduced the damage to 10% of you health (by [protective spirit]), the damage would be ~60-75. [shield of absorption] would take another 5 off of that. But admittedly, that isn't all that much. Many times while I'm 600/smiting the SoA will be interrupted or I will simply neglect to use it and it doesn't make a whole lot of difference. It does increase your survivability when being attack by many foes at once though.

ele pl · Dec 15, 2008, 04:48 PM // 16:48

Soa does:

-sometimes you cast it, to make mobs waste them interupt skill
-sometime, sb spam on recharge is not enough, and you will get killed. soa will help you survive, in order to cast anotha sb

Anime Divine · Dec 15, 2008, 05:10 PM // 17:10

cast PS then spiritbond then soa then spiritbond
if spirit bond ends soa will keep you alive even when SB has ended
if soa starts flashing cast SB rinse and repeat.

kittyhuntress · Dec 15, 2008, 06:01 PM // 18:01

OK just to add my .02 cent, Foes is right and quaker is wrong. read the skill it's whats makes ppl use it xD : -5 damage EACH time you get it. During the , let's say, 9 second it's alive, the -5 adds up, when you recast it , the damage reduce restarts so be careful when fighting like 25 mobs like i like to do

, the thing is, just before you re-cast SoA, cast spiritbond to neglect the damage you'll receive while SoA is regaining protective strenght

Onyx Blindbow · Dec 15, 2008, 06:28 PM // 18:28

What does SoA do? it saves your ass (sometimes)

Picuso · Dec 15, 2008, 06:42 PM // 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittyhuntress

OK just to add my .02 cent, Foes is right and quaker is wrong. read the skill it's whats makes ppl use it xD : -5 damage EACH time you get it. During the , let's say, 9 second it's alive, the -5 adds up, when you recast it , the damage reduce restarts so be careful when fighting like 25 mobs like i like to do

, the thing is, just before you re-cast SoA, cast spiritbond to neglect the damage you'll receive while SoA is regaining protective strenght

Yeah. If you have 600 health, SoA will need only 12 hits to reduce damage <0. It's easy if you are overaggroing

tuna-fish_sushi · Dec 15, 2008, 06:43 PM // 18:43

What does SoA do? Gives you 7-8 seconds to breathe (always, unless striped, interrupted, pspirit goes down, life leeched, degened, /resigned, alt+f4, and many other circumstances)

Elmindreda Farshaw · Dec 15, 2008, 06:43 PM // 18:43

it is not just -5 of every attack. its -5 of every attack added to the -5 from the time before, so -5 on the first -10 on the second - 15 on the third ect. So in HM when you can get hit like 30+ times in one SoA. That's -150 damage a hit at that point. its a very good skill.

Jago Doremon · Dec 15, 2008, 06:47 PM // 18:47

Originally, there was no need for SoA in the 600 build. Spirit bond lasted for a certain duration, and had no hit limitations. Eventually, sb got nerfed to include the hit limitation that it still has now. This almost eliminated 600 tanking for a time. When SoA came out, it allowed 600 to be viable again because essentially with prot spirit and SoA up, a 600 tank cannot die. While that's not completely true (degen and such), it's a good rule of thumb.

Spirit Bond can be thought of as your self healing while 600.
SoA should be thought of as your main protection and energy management. Next time you 600, watch the amount of damage you take after you cast SoA. It becomes less and less until you are taking no damage at all. SoA is how you stay alive in large mobs. Spirit bond is there to help you keep up health/chain SoA.

Captain Bulldozer · Dec 15, 2008, 07:06 PM // 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker

After you've reduced the damage to 10% of you health (by [protective spirit]), the damage would be ~60-75. [shield of absorption] would take another 5 off of that. But admittedly, that isn't all that much.

This sounds like something which would be said by someone who doesn't understand the usage of SoA.

If you are 600/smiting in HM (and lets face it... there's no reason to do it in NM really) then SoA is an invaluable skill. Creratures have a naturally increased attack speed in HM, making you get hit at an alarmingly high rate, especially when soloing. With maxed out protection prayers and various enchantment lengthening spells/equipment, its possible to keep up SoA virtually all the time. Due to the high rate of damage, SoA will generally reduce the damage taken per hit to 0 quite quickly as long as prot spirit is up. So saying that it isn't all that much is way off.

Put it another way, trying 600/smiting Oola's lab, Ooze pit or Kathandrax without SoA will really emphasize its usefulness. Also, consider using SoA with a 55 monk... then all it takes is one hit to reduce all damage taken to 0. You can tank a whole lot that way!

germanturkey · Dec 15, 2008, 08:43 PM // 20:43

wow, thanks for the replies. i didn't know that the reduction was cumulative.. it all makes sense now. and it happens after HW and retribution. didn't know that either. i haven't 600ed before, so i'm getting into it now. thanks for the info.

_Nihilist_ · Dec 15, 2008, 09:54 PM // 21:54

The wording doesn't state the effect clearly... the way it's written sounds like it works like [[Shielding Hands], only increasing the duration rather than the reduction dependent on your rank in Protection Prayers, while in actuality, it's a cumulative -5 dmg reduction per hit received while SoA is active. My Monk <3's [[Shield of Absorption], especially when lengthened by [[Blessed Aura] and an Enchanting mod. It's FTW.

legacyofkain85 · Dec 15, 2008, 10:38 PM // 22:38

in a 600 build or in any build for that matter soa reduces the dmg u take by 5 points after each hit,like u said it doesnt seem much but if u have agored a big mob -5 after each hit on u will charge up soa quite fast and u will be taking 0 dmg ,also in a 600 build there is spirit bond which heals u and gives time for soa to charge up.In the old 600 build before nightfall people only used prot spirit and spirit bond (well the post nerf spirit bond)u could virtually tank any amount of mobs provided they did above 60 dmg to triger spirit bond cause it wouldn't end after 10 hits

Quaker · Dec 16, 2008, 03:57 PM // 15:57

Well, land-o-Goshun, as my granny would say. I didn't know the effect was cumulative. My bad. Ignore my previous post.

That does explain why it didn't seem to do much on small mobs.

Neo Atomisk · Dec 16, 2008, 04:00 PM // 16:00

To sum everything up, it makes 600ing a piece of cake, as you get healed for 140ish, the monsters take 60~80 dmg, and you take 0 dmg.

germanturkey · Dec 16, 2008, 11:26 PM // 23:26

another 600 question, where is a good "beginner" place to try it out? i have both smiter and 600 builds, so i'll throw the smiter on talkora and see where it goes from there.

germanturkey · Dec 17, 2008, 08:30 AM // 08:30

slight bump and another question. is vital blessing necessary on the smiter? if the 600 already has 600 hp, doesn't it become counter productive to have more hp, so you can take more damage. 600 is the threshold where spirit bond is by far the most effective, so having 800hp and taking 80 per hit actually is detrimental.

hmm, i just had a thought that since SB heals more than you take, you dish more damage back. thats probably why you want more hp right?

Picuso · Dec 17, 2008, 08:39 AM // 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by germanturkey

hmm, i just had a thought that since SB heals more than you take, you dish more damage back. thats probably why you want more hp right?

That's the point. With more HP, you recieve more damage, so Retribution and Holy Wrath can do their max damage.

Dec 15, 2008, 03:46 PM // 15:46	#1
germanturkey Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2005 Guild: [PoW] Profession: E/	in a 600 build, what does SoA actually do? i've read that it allows you to tank a lot more enemies, but -5 per hit per enemy doesn't seem like that much..

Dec 15, 2008, 04:02 PM // 16:02	#2
foeslayr Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Aug 2006 Guild: The Forsaken Alliance Profession: Me/Mo	What it does is decrease the damage by 5 per attack. So after 4 hits, it would reduce all damage taken by 20. So the faster the attacks, the more effective this would be with the time constraints. Last edited by foeslayr; Dec 15, 2008 at 04:04 PM // 16:04..

Dec 15, 2008, 04:11 PM // 16:11	#3
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	After you've reduced the damage to 10% of you health (by [protective spirit]), the damage would be ~60-75. [shield of absorption] would take another 5 off of that. But admittedly, that isn't all that much. Many times while I'm 600/smiting the SoA will be interrupted or I will simply neglect to use it and it doesn't make a whole lot of difference. It does increase your survivability when being attack by many foes at once though.

Dec 15, 2008, 04:48 PM // 16:48	#4
ele pl Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jun 2007 Profession: E/	Soa does: -sometimes you cast it, to make mobs waste them interupt skill -sometime, sb spam on recharge is not enough, and you will get killed. soa will help you survive, in order to cast anotha sb

Dec 15, 2008, 05:10 PM // 17:10	#5
Anime Divine Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Nov 2007 Profession: W/	cast PS then spiritbond then soa then spiritbond if spirit bond ends soa will keep you alive even when SB has ended if soa starts flashing cast SB rinse and repeat.

Dec 15, 2008, 06:01 PM // 18:01	#6
kittyhuntress Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Dec 2005 Guild: Renegades of the Underworld Profession: W/	OK just to add my .02 cent, Foes is right and quaker is wrong. read the skill it's whats makes ppl use it xD : -5 damage EACH time you get it. During the , let's say, 9 second it's alive, the -5 adds up, when you recast it , the damage reduce restarts so be careful when fighting like 25 mobs like i like to do , the thing is, just before you re-cast SoA, cast spiritbond to neglect the damage you'll receive while SoA is regaining protective strenght

Dec 15, 2008, 06:28 PM // 18:28	#7
Onyx Blindbow Krytan Explorer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Here & There Guild: Blades of Burning Shadows - GoDT Profession: N/	What does SoA do? it saves your ass (sometimes)

Dec 15, 2008, 06:43 PM // 18:43	#9
tuna-fish_sushi Desert Nomad Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Profession: E/A	What does SoA do? Gives you 7-8 seconds to breathe (always, unless striped, interrupted, pspirit goes down, life leeched, degened, /resigned, alt+f4, and many other circumstances)

Dec 15, 2008, 06:43 PM // 18:43	#10
Elmindreda Farshaw Academy Page Join Date: Feb 2007 Guild: Shiverpeak Search and Rescue [Lost]	it is not just -5 of every attack. its -5 of every attack added to the -5 from the time before, so -5 on the first -10 on the second - 15 on the third ect. So in HM when you can get hit like 30+ times in one SoA. That's -150 damage a hit at that point. its a very good skill.

Dec 15, 2008, 06:47 PM // 18:47	#11
Jago Doremon Academy Page Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Texas Guild: Scions Of Carver [SCAR] Profession: Mo/	Originally, there was no need for SoA in the 600 build. Spirit bond lasted for a certain duration, and had no hit limitations. Eventually, sb got nerfed to include the hit limitation that it still has now. This almost eliminated 600 tanking for a time. When SoA came out, it allowed 600 to be viable again because essentially with prot spirit and SoA up, a 600 tank cannot die. While that's not completely true (degen and such), it's a good rule of thumb. Spirit Bond can be thought of as your self healing while 600. SoA should be thought of as your main protection and energy management. Next time you 600, watch the amount of damage you take after you cast SoA. It becomes less and less until you are taking no damage at all. SoA is how you stay alive in large mobs. Spirit bond is there to help you keep up health/chain SoA.

Dec 15, 2008, 08:43 PM // 20:43	#13
germanturkey Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2005 Guild: [PoW] Profession: E/	wow, thanks for the replies. i didn't know that the reduction was cumulative.. it all makes sense now. and it happens after HW and retribution. didn't know that either. i haven't 600ed before, so i'm getting into it now. thanks for the info.

Dec 15, 2008, 09:54 PM // 21:54	#14
_Nihilist_ Will Bull's Strike for $! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Isle of the Dead	The wording doesn't state the effect clearly... the way it's written sounds like it works like [[Shielding Hands], only increasing the duration rather than the reduction dependent on your rank in Protection Prayers, while in actuality, it's a cumulative -5 dmg reduction per hit received while SoA is active. My Monk <3's [[Shield of Absorption], especially when lengthened by [[Blessed Aura] and an Enchanting mod. It's FTW.

Dec 15, 2008, 10:38 PM // 22:38	#15
legacyofkain85 Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2006 Guild: Lady Ainowa	in a 600 build or in any build for that matter soa reduces the dmg u take by 5 points after each hit,like u said it doesnt seem much but if u have agored a big mob -5 after each hit on u will charge up soa quite fast and u will be taking 0 dmg ,also in a 600 build there is spirit bond which heals u and gives time for soa to charge up.In the old 600 build before nightfall people only used prot spirit and spirit bond (well the post nerf spirit bond)u could virtually tank any amount of mobs provided they did above 60 dmg to triger spirit bond cause it wouldn't end after 10 hits

Dec 16, 2008, 03:57 PM // 15:57	#16
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	Well, land-o-Goshun, as my granny would say. I didn't know the effect was cumulative. My bad. Ignore my previous post. That does explain why it didn't seem to do much on small mobs.

Dec 16, 2008, 04:00 PM // 16:00	#17
Neo Atomisk Krytan Explorer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: State College, Pennsylvania, United States Guild: Zealots of Shiverpeak [ZoS] Profession: W/	To sum everything up, it makes 600ing a piece of cake, as you get healed for 140ish, the monsters take 60~80 dmg, and you take 0 dmg.

Dec 16, 2008, 11:26 PM // 23:26	#18
germanturkey Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2005 Guild: [PoW] Profession: E/	another 600 question, where is a good "beginner" place to try it out? i have both smiter and 600 builds, so i'll throw the smiter on talkora and see where it goes from there.

Dec 17, 2008, 08:30 AM // 08:30	#19
germanturkey Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2005 Guild: [PoW] Profession: E/	slight bump and another question. is vital blessing necessary on the smiter? if the 600 already has 600 hp, doesn't it become counter productive to have more hp, so you can take more damage. 600 is the threshold where spirit bond is by far the most effective, so having 800hp and taking 80 per hit actually is detrimental. hmm, i just had a thought that since SB heals more than you take, you dish more damage back. thats probably why you want more hp right?