Curse

tmakinen · Aug 18, 2008, 08:21 AM // 08:21

As an elementalist I have always had a hidden desire to burn things but until recently few skills provided a satisfactory experience considering that I want to have some utility as well. The recent buff to underused elites opened up a fun new build, the core of which is this:

[Glyph of Immolation][Steam][Extend Conditions]

With a suitable attribute distribution, you can keep everything in a nearby size area burning and blind.

Throw some spare points in illusion as well and add

[Phantom Pain][Drain Delusions]

and you'll be spreading Deep Wound as well.

Where it turns really fun is when you coordinate efforts with team members and have something like a Virulence necro and/or a BHA ranger train on the same target as you for a complete condition overload

Extend Conditions rocks like a moose as a part of an air conditioner build as well, spreading blind, weakness and cracked armor.

Just food for thought, have fun.

bargaw · Aug 18, 2008, 08:25 AM // 08:25

you can add technobabble instead BHA ranger

Saraneth · Aug 18, 2008, 08:31 AM // 08:31

There's alrdy a thread addressing this if you wanna check it out:

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10315558

obsidian ectoplasm · Aug 18, 2008, 09:30 AM // 09:30

Looks Ok to me!

Zidane Ortef · Aug 18, 2008, 09:54 AM // 09:54

Idk why you would want to spread atts. that far and waste an elite like that for some AoE conditions, when there is alot of better things that can be done.

1. [Searing Flames] AoE Burning
2. For other condtions [Epidemic]
3. 7 other team mates.
4. ???
5. Get Paid

tmakinen · Aug 18, 2008, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zidane Ortef

Idk why you would want to spread atts. that far and waste an elite like that for some AoE conditions, when there is alot of better things that can be done.

Because when going gets tough, utility is the strongest point of an ele?

Because Searing Flames provides only ok-ish damage at the expense of dedicating half of your bar to energy management and bringing zero utility?

Because Epidemic is adjacent but EC is nearby (area size difference about 1:4)?

Because burning ignores armor and blind is the best thing since sliced bread to neuter enemy physicals?

Because of great synergy with other - non-degenerate - team members?

Koudelka · Aug 18, 2008, 11:26 AM // 11:26

Condition spreading, though nothing new, will have life breathed into it with this update.

Whatever happened to [Fevered Dreams] and [Fragility]? Could be interesting with this.

I just thought of something. Isn't [Extend Conditions] now much too strong compared to [Fevered Dreams]?

Extend Conditions isn't a hex, so it can't be removed. It's a lot faster, and both spreads and extends the conditions. On the other hand, it is probably a little more expensive as you recast it regularly to maintain those conditions. Fevered Dreams can be removed, and doesn't spread reapplied conditions.

Food for thought...

tmakinen · Aug 18, 2008, 01:06 PM // 13:06

Fevered Dreams is an ok skill and potentially even a bit stronger than EC in PvE against mobs that lack hex removal (FD has the largest area of effect). However, FD is terribad for PvP whereas I can definitely see EC getting playtime in low end PvP (RA/TA, AB).

TheodenKing · Aug 18, 2008, 01:48 PM // 13:48

The core of your build is good. I like it more for AB than anything else, because many of the sheep in there panic under condition and hex pressure. As an ele, you will still have energy and room in your skillbar for direct damage once you've got them pressured. As a mesmer primary, you can work faster, which might be a greater advantage in AB as long as you have a plan for staying alive.

tmakinen · Aug 20, 2008, 05:37 AM // 05:37

Here's a complete build for AB, works like a charm:

[Glyph of Immolation][Steam][Extend Conditions][Glowing Gaze][Slippery Ground][Searing Heat][Teinai's Heat][Power Drain]

Double heats are there for quick shrine busting, and PDrain is an optional skill, one might take a speed boost but I usually prefer more robust energy management. Combine with a cripshot ranger and a QB warrior for epic lulz

zwei2stein · Aug 20, 2008, 06:41 AM // 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmakinen

Here's a complete build for AB, works like a charm:

[Glyph of Immolation][Steam][Extend Conditions][Glowing Gaze][Slippery Ground][Searing Heat][Teinai's Heat][Power Drain]

Double heats are there for quick shrine busting, and PDrain is an optional skill, one might take a speed boost but I usually prefer more robust energy management. Combine with a cripshot ranger and a QB warrior for epic lulz

Build is great, but EC is not really core of build or very helpfull there so there is place for other elites.

I would rather use [Tease] for easier shine capping as npcs have tendency to sync-cast or [Icy Shackles] to hep with keeping players in aoe (cast it while they are kded) or [Savannah Heat] as yet another aoe (you can kd people inside, abuse it.).

tmakinen · Aug 20, 2008, 06:55 AM // 06:55

I concur, those are all good alternatives and it's funny how they can be substituted in the build without further modifications and it still works, even if in a somewhat different way. I guess that it's down to personal playstyle preferences and team synergies. My own idea was to capitalize on synergies with condition inducing team members, the options that you suggest make it more of a standalone build

Edit: I disagree with this part:

Quote:

Originally Posted by zwei2stein

EC is not (...) very helpfull

because long lasting AoE (nearby area!) blind is IMHO awesomeness, especially when served with burning and whatever else your team mates manage to stick on the target.

zwei2stein · Aug 20, 2008, 10:11 AM // 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmakinen

because long lasting AoE (nearby area!) blind is IMHO awesomeness, especially when served with burning and whatever else your team mates manage to stick on the target.

If you want to construct team build around this, It is of course different thing.

_Nihilist_ · Aug 20, 2008, 11:03 AM // 11:03

From the OP:

[Q=tmakinen]Where it turns really fun is when you coordinate efforts with team members and have something like a Virulence necro and/or a BHA ranger train on the same target as you for a complete condition overload[/Q]

Team build was suggested at the top, but even without a team build, tmak is correct - Burning + Blind + AoE = target(mob) misery.