I'm an elementalist... what's a good 2nd class? - Guild Wars Forums

Sayne · Mar 20, 2005, 07:12 AM // 07:12

OK I'm a level 10 elementalist, but I think that I could do with some branching out. What is the community consensus on a good 2nd class. My buddies are saying Mesmer, but I'm thinking Necro. Maybe both they and myself are totally off.
Any thoughts?

Joysze · Mar 20, 2005, 07:35 AM // 07:35

Both the necro and mesmer are good choices. It's going to be an energy intensive built, and both those professions have energy leeching capabilities, which is a big plus.

Since you're a level 10, I'm not quite sure how that would work with your secondary profession. As in if it would be a level 1 or level 10 to match your Ele.

Spooky · Mar 20, 2005, 03:09 PM // 15:09

If it's just a straight up 'nuke things until they die' kind of Elementalist, then yeah, Mesmer is most likely going to be your best bet for a subclass. The Inspiration line has a couple of nice Energy steals, which serve the dual purpose of helping the Elementalist, and hindering whoever their target may be.

March Hare · Mar 21, 2005, 03:27 AM // 03:27

Energy steal is very impotant for those who decide to have 2 casting types. Mesmer with a focus on inspiration magic would be the better choise, otherwise you'll find that you run out of energy way too fast. Other than that picking one like a Ranger for distance damage not relying on energy as much might be a good second choice as well.
Like I said though if you want to stick to casting go mesmer

Loviatar · Mar 21, 2005, 03:33 AM // 03:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joysze

Since you're a level 10, I'm not quite sure how that would work with your secondary profession. As in if it would be a level 1 or level 10 to match your Ele.

the CHARACTER is level 10 not the profession (s)

Lunarhound · Mar 21, 2005, 03:54 AM // 03:54

Someone's getting Guild Wars confused with Final Fantasy XI.

Sayne · Mar 21, 2005, 04:50 AM // 04:50

The only thing I can think that would be good about a necro is the ability to regain health by eating corpses. Can a mesmer regain health in any way (other than Aura of Restoration which is the best spell ever for an Elementalist).
And yes I'm a run straight up and nuke things kind of elementalist... I have 8 levels of Fire Magic - I kill stuff fast.

Alex Weekes · Mar 21, 2005, 11:13 AM // 11:13

* Warrior has some good defensive stances you could use to aid in survivability.

* Mesmer has energy steal of several types that can be very useful (Elem skills are expensive).

* Necromancer has some great curses that can help make targets easier to kill.

* Monk can provide some good supporting skills (and even some good offensive abilities).

* Ranger can provide some good stances, bow-based firepower or a pet to keep some heat off you.

torry · Mar 21, 2005, 03:21 PM // 15:21

For mana, I would use Ether Prodigy.
For survivability, I would use Armour of Earth and Healing Breeze.

I did try out some El/x combos yesterday, but without any self defense/healing you tend to die rather quickly at times. Using Breeze on myself did a huge difference for me at least. It would double the time it took to kill me (as example), and then it was so much easier for ours monks to heal me.

Second, armour is probably important. With my W/E, (axe), I would do hits in the 25-30 range on elementalists or other casters. Sometimes up to 50 on the adrenaline skills (not really heavy skills, axe ones are not about damage). The one with 50% armour penetration would sometimes score 70-80 damage on a caster.

This was way more than I had expected?!

So I would go monk as secondary, or possibly Warrior.

Also note that if you go El/W, and use Conjure *, you can also use FRENZY (unlinked) to speed up your wand damage 33%.

Your wand does like (11-22)/2 (average) x 1/1.75 secs swing time = 9.4 DPS.

Conjure: say 11 damage/1.75 sec = 6.28 DPS.

Total: 15.68 DPS

Frenzy will add: 15.68 x 0.33 = 5.2 DPS

Total: 20.88 DPS

If you do not use Frenzy and conjure: 9.4 DPS.

So if you play Elementalist to do damage, you just can't omit Conjure* in your arsenal. It is just too powerful.

Conjure at 370 damage per minute, that is like 5 Lightning Orbs! At close to zero cost!

So to stack as much damage as possible into your Elementalist, try find the skills and abilities that DO stack, like

{Wand + Conjure + Speedup(Frenzy) } * (mana regen + Ether Prodigy + Attunement)

See?

It is quite the fashion these days to do just that on the melee side. Why not do the same on the Elementalist side?

Elementalist damage is rather pitiful actually. Flare at 38 damage before armour? When said axe warrior will wail down on casters with as much damage per punch and adrenaline skill?

For me, Mesmer was not worth it. I tried it a bit. In fact, my Elementalist had more than enough mana. That was not an issue when I used Ether Prodigy. Lasting me 16 seconds on a 30 second Exhaustion removal timer was more than enough. Also, the non-mana drain of the Me line is now what, 3 second cast time??

Mar 20, 2005, 07:12 AM // 07:12	#1
Sayne Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Mar 2005	I'm an elementalist... what's a good 2nd class? OK I'm a level 10 elementalist, but I think that I could do with some branching out. What is the community consensus on a good 2nd class. My buddies are saying Mesmer, but I'm thinking Necro. Maybe both they and myself are totally off. Any thoughts?

Mar 21, 2005, 03:21 PM // 15:21	#9
torry Academy Page Join Date: Mar 2005	For mana, I would use Ether Prodigy. For survivability, I would use Armour of Earth and Healing Breeze. I did try out some El/x combos yesterday, but without any self defense/healing you tend to die rather quickly at times. Using Breeze on myself did a huge difference for me at least. It would double the time it took to kill me (as example), and then it was so much easier for ours monks to heal me. Second, armour is probably important. With my W/E, (axe), I would do hits in the 25-30 range on elementalists or other casters. Sometimes up to 50 on the adrenaline skills (not really heavy skills, axe ones are not about damage). The one with 50% armour penetration would sometimes score 70-80 damage on a caster. This was way more than I had expected?! So I would go monk as secondary, or possibly Warrior. Also note that if you go El/W, and use Conjure , you can also use FRENZY (unlinked) to speed up your wand damage 33%. Your wand does like (11-22)/2 (average) x 1/1.75 secs swing time = 9.4 DPS. Conjure: say 11 damage/1.75 sec = 6.28 DPS. Total: 15.68 DPS Frenzy will add: 15.68 x 0.33 = 5.2 DPS Total: 20.88 DPS If you do not use Frenzy and conjure: 9.4 DPS. So if you play Elementalist to do damage, you just can't omit Conjure in your arsenal. It is just too powerful. Conjure at 370 damage per minute, that is like 5 Lightning Orbs! At close to zero cost! So to stack as much damage as possible into your Elementalist, try find the skills and abilities that DO stack, like {Wand + Conjure + Speedup(Frenzy) } * (mana regen + Ether Prodigy + Attunement) See? It is quite the fashion these days to do just that on the melee side. Why not do the same on the Elementalist side? Elementalist damage is rather pitiful actually. Flare at 38 damage before armour? When said axe warrior will wail down on casters with as much damage per punch and adrenaline skill? For me, Mesmer was not worth it. I tried it a bit. In fact, my Elementalist had more than enough mana. That was not an issue when I used Ether Prodigy. Lasting me 16 seconds on a 30 second Exhaustion removal timer was more than enough. Also, the non-mana drain of the Me line is now what, 3 second cast time?? Last edited by torry; Mar 21, 2005 at 03:24 PM // 15:24..

Mar 20, 2005, 07:35 AM // 07:35	#2
Joysze Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2005	Both the necro and mesmer are good choices. It's going to be an energy intensive built, and both those professions have energy leeching capabilities, which is a big plus. Since you're a level 10, I'm not quite sure how that would work with your secondary profession. As in if it would be a level 1 or level 10 to match your Ele.

Mar 20, 2005, 03:09 PM // 15:09	#3
Spooky Bokusatsu Tenshi Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bellevue, WA Guild: KEA Profession: E/Mo	If it's just a straight up 'nuke things until they die' kind of Elementalist, then yeah, Mesmer is most likely going to be your best bet for a subclass. The Inspiration line has a couple of nice Energy steals, which serve the dual purpose of helping the Elementalist, and hindering whoever their target may be.

Mar 21, 2005, 03:27 AM // 03:27	#4
March Hare Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wonderland Guild: Knights of Ascalon Profession: W/Me	Energy steal is very impotant for those who decide to have 2 casting types. Mesmer with a focus on inspiration magic would be the better choise, otherwise you'll find that you run out of energy way too fast. Other than that picking one like a Ranger for distance damage not relying on energy as much might be a good second choice as well. Like I said though if you want to stick to casting go mesmer

Mar 21, 2005, 03:54 AM // 03:54	#6
Lunarhound Krytan Explorer Join Date: Feb 2005	Someone's getting Guild Wars confused with Final Fantasy XI.

Mar 21, 2005, 04:50 AM // 04:50	#7
Sayne Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Mar 2005	The only thing I can think that would be good about a necro is the ability to regain health by eating corpses. Can a mesmer regain health in any way (other than Aura of Restoration which is the best spell ever for an Elementalist). And yes I'm a run straight up and nuke things kind of elementalist... I have 8 levels of Fire Magic - I kill stuff fast.

Mar 21, 2005, 11:13 AM // 11:13	#8
Alex Weekes Krytan Explorer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, UK	* Warrior has some good defensive stances you could use to aid in survivability. * Mesmer has energy steal of several types that can be very useful (Elem skills are expensive). * Necromancer has some great curses that can help make targets easier to kill. * Monk can provide some good supporting skills (and even some good offensive abilities). * Ranger can provide some good stances, bow-based firepower or a pet to keep some heat off you.