Curse

maximus2357 · Oct 02, 2007, 09:08 PM // 21:08

I just started a few days ago, and have been researching builds. Right now I only have Prophecies, so I don't have access to Factions or later. I really want to do some sort of water build, and I came up with these skills:

Water Trident (E)
Shard Storm
Maelstrom
Deep Freeze
Armor of Mist
Water Attunement
Glyph of Lesser Energy (couldn't think of anything else)
Arcane Echo

So it will mainly be standard offensive water spells with help thrown in. Can't thing of anything better. I'm a fan of most Mesmer skills but couldn't think of anything that would help other than Arcane Echo.

maximus2357 · Oct 02, 2007, 09:50 PM // 21:50

Another question, while I'm asking. Right now, my E/Me is lvl 14, I have shard storm, ice spikes, glyph of lesser energy, and other water spells that aren't on this list. I actually have enough spells for a decent fire build, but I've already invested in an outfit's worth of water runes.

What would be the best way for me to get these skills (I'm playing the campaign)? Should I just suck it up until I get to level 20, get as much as I can along the way, then go for the trident later? Because those lvl 24 monsters south of Beacon's Perch are... meh.... friggin' hard to kill.

Dr Strangelove · Oct 02, 2007, 10:31 PM // 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximus2357

So it will mainly be standard offensive water spells

Here's your problem. Water if not a straight offensive line, it's primarily support. What's more, much of the support (snares) is of limited use in PvE. Even worse, a lot of the useful water spells work fine without speccing 16 in them, you can make a fine build with 16 fire, 11 energy storage, and 9 water. The only skill that really shines for damage is shatterstone, which is factions only. If this is a new ele, I would strongly urge you to pick a more useful line for PvE.

Moving on...

-Those monsters are level 24 because you're not supposed to be fighting them yet. Go east to Lion's Arch first, following the primary quest and you'll be fine.

- /mesmer doesn't have a ton to offer. You're right not to see much worthwhile in there.

-In prophecies, you won't get any elites until about halfway through the game in the desert. None of the enemies you'll meet are hard enough to require them, though.

-Honestly, if you're not level 20 yet, play around with lots of stuff and figure out what works. Don't set anything in stone or look for full builds until you hit 20. Actually, don't set anything in stone even then.

Winterclaw · Oct 03, 2007, 02:08 AM // 02:08

Get rid of maelstrom for , [skill]Blurred Vision[/skill], it'll make you better rounded and you won't have to worry about exaustion. If an interrupt is what you are looking for, get something from the mesmer line. Deep freeze is a good root spell, but if you'd like to replace it, go with something like [skill]Ice spikes[/skill]. But like Dr S. said, right now isn't the time to worry about stuff like that. Use the best things you have available to you.

And what's this about a full outfit's worth of water runes?

BTW, don't worry about having more than 14 attribute points in water until you are more familiar with the game.

Sir Pandra Pierva · Oct 03, 2007, 03:19 AM // 03:19

Water is very picky in pve go fire or earth for pve. Yes I know Air can work in pve but I really just think that fire and earth are the most useful things in pve.

maximus2357 · Oct 03, 2007, 03:37 AM // 03:37

Mm well the runes don't matter too much... nobody uses them, meaning I didn't pay much for them in the first place.

Yeah, I was thinking of Deep freeze to keep foes within the Maelstrom, and using Arcane Echo with it (I guess I was hoping attunement and the glyph would be enough for energy management, perhaps not). With ditching Maelstrom, though, I still feel like I would need an AoE spell of some sort.

I know I won't do much on this until lvl 20, still keeping options open and such, but how is this?

Water Trident (E)
(2 of these = Shard Storm, Ice Spikes, Deep Freeze, Ice Prison??)
Blurred Vision
Armor of Mist
Water Attunement
Glyph of Lesser Energy (couldn't think of anything else)
Arcane Echo (still worth having?)

Meh... post if you care to. I don't have too much else to say atm.

Sir Pandra Pierva · Oct 03, 2007, 04:26 AM // 04:26

hmm
the build could work but thats for pve which just about any build that is decent can work. how ever armor of mist really isnt needed here you try packing another spike spell or another snare.
Archane echo is always worth having if you got room.

Dr Strangelove · Oct 03, 2007, 05:10 AM // 05:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximus2357

Mm well the runes don't matter too much... nobody uses them

Remember, you /= everyone. Buy some runes, even my heroes are all runed up.

Sir Pandra Pierva · Oct 03, 2007, 05:18 AM // 05:18

I usually don't rune heros but I rune my chars all the time.

chikorita23 · Oct 11, 2007, 07:29 AM // 07:29

Maelstrom is really necessary in PvE! As monsters AI aren't as smart as Human AI. They will still stand in maelstrom for at least 4-5 secs, and that's enough for both dmg and interrupt.

I'd say, your build are fine. This is how I use in PvE too! Water Trident doesn't have big number like Shatterstone does, but it's spammable and cheap.... the KD effect is good for foe whom try to flee from Maelstrom.

Armor of Mist can be replace with Blurred Vision or Ice Spike for a cheaper smaller AoE Snare! (or a Rez!)

Winterclaw · Oct 11, 2007, 05:14 PM // 17:14

At 14 water Maelstrom does 124 damage if someone stands in it for 5 seconds.
At 14 fire Fire Storm does 165 damage if someone stands in it for 5 seconds.
At 14 fire Savannah Heat does 285 damage if someone stands in it for 5 seconds.
At 14 fire Breath of Fire does 190 damage if someone stands in it for 5 seconds.
At 14 earth Sandstorm does 145 damage if someone stands in it for 5 seconds, double that if the person is attacking.

If you want damage, go fire for AoE DoTs. Maelstrom does the least damage and it gives you exhaustion. If you want to interrupt bring power drain and leech signet or have a mes or interrupt ranger in your party.

jaeharys targaryen · Oct 11, 2007, 05:19 PM // 17:19

Quote:

Mm well the runes don't matter too much... nobody uses them, meaning I didn't pay much for them in the first place.

my good god in heaven...

zwei2stein · Oct 11, 2007, 05:29 PM // 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximus2357

Mm well the runes don't matter too much... nobody uses them, meaning I didn't pay much for them in the first place.

Everyone uses runes. If he does not, something is wrong as passing item that can raise your efectiveness by 10% is pretty stupid

They are cheap because everyone had two years to rune up so all new drops end up at trader, driving prices down. Also, anet made sure runes are plentifull and cheap as part of their antigrind policy. There arent being shouted as WTS or WTB either, because that is pointless waste of time if you have trader npc for it.

Also you have to unlean Cheap=Worthless since most of best stuff in GW is worth less than 1k gold. Just because something is not big in economy, ti does not mean its small in effect.

terminus123 · Oct 12, 2007, 01:46 AM // 01:46

funny how I just noticed Shatterstone does like 210 dmge at 16 water, that's like amazing! well atleast it looks amazing on paper, how effective is it truly though? I don't see many people who use it. You might wanna use this elite once you get Factions.

Dr Strangelove · Oct 12, 2007, 02:00 AM // 02:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by terminus123

funny how I just noticed Shatterstone does like 210 dmge at 16 water, that's like amazing! well atleast it looks amazing on paper, how effective is it truly though? I don't see many people who use it. You might wanna use this elite once you get Factions.

It's really good damage. However, it does have an 8 second recharge, so you can't really spam it, meaning the rest of your bar will have to back it up well. When you start looking for more water damage spells, you hit a wall - there just aren't any worth bringing if you don't need the utility, and shatterstone isn't strong enough by itself to make a good build.

Shatterstone is really good if you want some nice spiking power along with the snares. However, if you don't need the snares, there are better ways to kill stuff.

Dean Harper · Oct 12, 2007, 02:55 AM // 02:55

to be honest, when i first started GW, i started out with a Ranger, found it boring, deleted it, and made a Ele. I said oooo, water! (I'm a swimmer) and it really didnt work out too well. Water belongs in PvP, and is the most widely used there, but in PvE, like Illusion Mesmers, its just not worth taking in a group... srry man

Moral55 · Oct 12, 2007, 04:37 AM // 04:37

Echoing Shatterstone is fun. it triggers its self doing 3/4's of the damage in quick succession.
Ya, you have to settle for ice spike, and one other damage spell, and go the rest utility and E-management.
It's fun but not the most efficient.

Winterclaw · Oct 12, 2007, 05:10 AM // 05:10

I like using shatterstone followed by glowing ice. The main reason people don't use it is there aren't many things in the ice line to complement it. The main reason it never became a pvp spike is casting another ShSt right after the first is the only thing that won't trigger the second damage spike. I don't know if that is a bug or intentional.

Dean, it has it's uses in PvE, not alot but you can help out if you know what you are doing.

terminus123 · Oct 12, 2007, 08:45 PM // 20:45

I guess vapor blade does a decent amount of dmge too.

Dr Strangelove · Oct 12, 2007, 09:40 PM // 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winterclaw

I like using shatterstone followed by glowing ice. The main reason people don't use it is there aren't many things in the ice line to complement it. The main reason it never became a pvp spike is casting another ShSt right after the first is the only thing that won't trigger the second damage spike. I don't know if that is a bug or intentional.

Dean, it has it's uses in PvE, not alot but you can help out if you know what you are doing.

It is/was used in PvP as part of a mixed spike in hex-heavy builds, as the other water hexes were worth bringing in PvP.