Curse

L.J · Oct 30, 2007, 02:45 AM // 02:45

Well I have been playing for over a year, and I quite enjoy the game. Currently I have an assassin(my main) and a dervish. My problem is im having trouble enjoying my dervish, it doesn seem to offer me anything my sin cant already do (other than forms which I dislike).

I really want to keep my dervish and continue to play it but I just can't seem to 'get into it'. The reason why I believe im just not enjoying is it because it doesn seem to offer anything my sin can't already do in terms of playing like a dervish. Sin can have constant crit(which means max damage of you're scythe every hit), 75% evade, constant ias, +20armor, healing with every crit(which is every hit), better energy, and still take the same amount of attack skills(and pack out more damage) as a dervish.

I have a few different builds which I use with my dervish atm. The main elite I use is reapers sweep with my dervish. I really enjoy my derv in terms of the character but not the performance. I understand I may be able to pack out as much of a punch if I use AoL, but as I stated earlier I really dislike using avatars.

Am I just playing the dervish wrong? I have no problem completing areas with it but I still feel as though must be. Can you offer some input or advice in playing the dervish? some builds that stand up to what im used to?

This is for PvE btw.

Thankyou

wilebill · Oct 30, 2007, 03:52 AM // 03:52

You are aware that with Eternal Aura, available from the skill trainer in Kamadan, you can now keep an Avatar up constantly (PvE only)?

I play an Assassin, and I play a Dervish too. Dervishes are just very different from Assassins. The Assassin has Critical Strikes that gives you extra energy when you make critical strikes. The Dervish has Mysticism that gives you extra energy whenever an enchantment ends. Assassins just win on direct in-combat energy generation, hands down.

But if energy is a concern, use Avatar of Lyssa, +20 energy, huge damage bonus to foes activating skills (which most foes are), and stack that with Radiant Scythe (Eye of the North) that gives you more bonus damage based on energy, and you will see damage numbers that are very impressive.

But maybe I do not understand what you are really asking?

Str0b0 · Oct 30, 2007, 05:52 AM // 05:52

Personally I have always focused on battle field control with my dervish. Assassin is a one target sort of class. You pick your mark get in, kill them with a huge spike and get out then pick another target. Dervishes are multi targeting death machines and you have to take advantage of that. Assassin is more of a mid line character. you let the front line grab aggro then you rush in. Dervish is front line. you have to know how to manipulate the enemy AI into ganging up on you. A dervish fighting one enemy at a time is a waste. Dervishes also are capable of nailing multiple targets with various conditions incliding bleeding, deep wound, cripple and blind. EDA is my favorite elite because I can completely control the battlefield 90% of the time. I can shut down melee long enough for me to tear into the enemy backline and let my scythe chew through their low armor. Some enchants also allow you to sort of "bomb" enemies with their casting or ending effects adding on more conditions or damage.

L.J · Oct 30, 2007, 07:05 AM // 07:05

Yeah I know about eternal aura, im just not a fan of the avatars. Well a little more of what I meant was recently I decided to make a build with my sin that uses a scythe and incorporated there primary attribute critical strikes, and other crit increasing skills such as way of the assassin, way of the master, critical agility and crit defences. Using only 12 in the scythe attribute but every hit on multiple foes to maximise the scythes maximum damage.

Now I was just wondering if its possible to pull of the same dps and survivability with a derv bar. I do understand about EDA and I think I might try give that more of a try and try a different playstyle(since I dont plan on using avatars). I guess i've been focused on trying to deal damage to multiple foes with that big scythe.

I am determined to make use of my dervish! lol

blurmedia · Oct 30, 2007, 09:48 AM // 09:48

[skill]Vow of Strength[/skill][skill]Aura of Holy Might[/skill][skill]Heket's Rampage[/skill][skill]Mystic Regeneration[/skill][skill]Vital Boon[/skill][skill]Comfort Animal[/skill][skill]Charm Animal[/skill][skill]Sunspear Rebirth Signet[/skill]

I use this build so I could use a pet as a dervish, but I found out that I did much more damage with it compared to my other build.
The phoenix is a + as well hehe

(PRETTY)

Far from perfet but it works for massive damage against enemies clumped together, and it's FUN

Str0b0 · Oct 30, 2007, 04:51 PM // 16:51

Well straight damage nothing really beats Lyssa but it is possible to pull off the same survivability. Despite weak base armor enchants make dervishes damage sponges and with the high damage scythe and the equally nice bonuses attached to the scythe attacks. I rarely have to use much more than Mystic Regen, Aura of Thorns, Heart of Fury, and EDA and I am set. A lot of people say Mystic Regen isn't sufficient as a self heal and I agree. I also use Victorious Sweep. It is spammable and if you group your enemies right for the AoE you are looking at +240 health per use if you hit 3 foes. It also carries bonus damage. Chilling Victory is nice mini spike but alittle costly. I use a W secondary so I use Wild blow for a guaranteed crit and stance removal. Zealous sweep helps with energy too if you can cluster your aggro well. So now you are looking at blinded melee, crippled by aura of thorns so your AoE is easy to get. you have a 33% faster attack speed and three spammable attacks for good net damage. When your enchants end you also are going to lay down bleeding and burning in the area as well. So you see damaghe on a dervish comes from more than just your scythe. The entire dervish build is an offensive machine.

kaldak · Oct 30, 2007, 05:32 PM // 17:32

Sounds like you're not seeing much difference from a sin because you insist on playing it the same way you do with your sin. You certainly dont HAVE to use avatars, but they are a pretty nice aspect of the derv, and the female ones at least are quite powerful.

The sin may have a higher DPS against a single opponent, but group three together and every single derv attack is now dealing that damage to each one.

jaeharys targaryen · Oct 30, 2007, 05:36 PM // 17:36

eternal aura+melandru's or dwaynas is fun enough to make you forget about sins, imo