Curse

Schlez · May 19, 2010, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Hello all,

I'm currently making an Air Ele and I'm just wondering if Lightning Bolt, Lightning Strike or Lightning Javelin is better. I need to choose 2/3 of these so gimme your thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Schlez

Eragon Zarroc · May 19, 2010, 05:58 PM // 17:58

i would go with bolt and strike. meh on the one second cast-time interrupt only when enemy is attacking.

Schlez · May 19, 2010, 06:10 PM // 18:10

I'm just wondering but what is the advantage of Lightning Strike over Lightning Javelin?
According to Guild Wars Wiki, before Air Magic level 15, Lightning Javelin does 1 damage more than Lightning Strike. Furthermore, Lightning Javelin has an interrupt and cools down in 2 secs whereas Lightning Strike cools down in 5 secs.

Eragon Zarroc · May 19, 2010, 06:43 PM // 18:43

lightning strike will always hit, no matter what your positioning is. lightning javelin is a projectile requiring line of sight with the enemy and can obstructed or will possibly miss if the enemy is running.

but u are right, javelin is much more spammable i did not notice that initially.

Songbringer · May 19, 2010, 06:43 PM // 18:43

Javelin can be dodged and you also need to be able to see them because it is a projectile attack where strike you can be hiding behind a wall or something of that sort.

Edit: Darn Eragon said it before me

Schlez · May 19, 2010, 07:19 PM // 19:19

So should I choose Lightning Strike because it has a 100% hit rate?

Uriel_Wolfblood · May 19, 2010, 08:46 PM // 20:46

Try both and see what you like more. But personally when I used javelin the little "dodge" icon really pissed me off when i fired at a kiting enemy.

To avoid such frustrations go with the spells that travel at the speed of lightning

Winterclaw · May 19, 2010, 10:33 PM // 22:33

Strike and Javelin IMO.

Schlez · May 20, 2010, 07:57 AM // 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uriel_Wolfblood

Try both and see what you like more. But personally when I used javelin the little "dodge" icon really pissed me off when i fired at a kiting enemy.

To avoid such frustrations go with the spells that travel at the speed of lightning

I'm mostly pve so will I have the problem with dodging?

**Marty Silverblade** · May 20, 2010, 09:57 AM // 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schlez

I'm mostly pve so will I have the problem with dodging?

To a degree. Melee's tend to chase people around so you might have a hard time hitting them. You shouldn't have too much problem hitting ranged foes unless their target moves, as they generally don't move otherwise. As was previously mentioned, just try them all out and see if the dodging is a problem.

Schlez · May 20, 2010, 07:41 PM // 19:41

hmm the npcs kinda just run in a straight line in pve so I'll stick with javelin for now. I'll switch back to strike once when I pvp. Thanks for all the input ppl!

MagmaRed · May 20, 2010, 08:22 PM // 20:22

And be aware it does not interrupt spell casting, just attacking. Can be useful for helping relieve pressure from the physical damage classes, but don't expect to interrupt an Elementalist. But as mentioned, the recharge allows Javelin to be spammed more, but it can be dodged or blocked by obstructions. For most of PvE this isn't a problem, or can be easily managed, but at times it is a real issue. Be willing to adapt as needed of course.

Jeydra · May 21, 2010, 04:13 PM // 16:13

Rather hard to choose without knowing what the rest of the build is + what it's aiming for, because you really do have better options: Lightning Orb is given as long as you have Air Attunement on your bar, which you should. Chain Lightning is another given because it's the only reasonable, non-elite AoE spell in Air Magic. If you're running Elemental Attunement, you can use Lightning Hammer. If you're looking for more AoE, you can use Invoke Lightning. If you're looking for melee hate (that's Lightning Javelin, basically) then you have Blinding Surge as an option, and Enervating Charge as a backup.

So taking everything into consideration all three of Lightning Strike, Lightning Bolt and Lightning Javelin are weak relative to the other options you have. Personally I would use none of them. Nonetheless if I really did have to choose, I'd probably pick Lightning Strike and Lightning Bolt. Extra recharge doesn't matter when you should have spells to spam, the interrupt on Lightning Javelin is largely unnecessary, and the first two spells generally deal more damage / are easier to use.