Curse

Illithen Firebringer · May 22, 2007, 09:08 PM // 21:08

Hello everyone!

I would like some help/tips with my Water Magic build for PvE and the Runes/Insignias that I use on my armor to support it.
My current build:
Water Magic 16 (12+1+3)
Energy storage 13 (12+1)
Healing Prayers 4

Ice Spear
Mind Freeze
Vapor Blade
Ice Spikes
Frozen Burst
Healing Breeze
Water Attunement
Rebirth

I recently bought myself a set of Ancient Armor and added many Runes Insignias, etc.
Runes: Sup. Water Magic, Sup. Vigor, Minor Energy Storage, Vitae
I have 2 Stalwart Insignias and one insignia (forget the name) that adds +10 armor while enchanted. I also have a Hydromancers Insignia that I have put on and the Insignia that adds +10 health on leg armor(putting it there instead of where it gives +15 was a mistake).

I also have been running a Water Magic build and got a Flint's Fleshcleaver, which I am using.

It would be really great if anyone could tell me what I could do better here. Any skills could be switched out because I have all three campaigns.
Thanks in Advance
-Illithen

ArKaiN · May 22, 2007, 09:41 PM // 21:41

Maelstrom is awesome in PvE. AWESOME. I consider it water's response to MS.

Dr Strangelove · May 22, 2007, 10:44 PM // 22:44

To be honest, the entire water line is kinda meh in PvE.

Stormlord Alex · May 22, 2007, 10:58 PM // 22:58

Tbh... I'd have to agree with the good Dr

Water simply doesn't do enough damage to compare to other elements, and crowd control really isn't needed in PvE. Indeed, the only times I've used Water much are for getting Master's at Bahdok Caverns (Water Trident > Runners) and for Shatterspiking my way through Hell's Precipice.

However, if you truly wanted to run Water in PvE... I'd recommend Shatterstone as the elite. A snare like Mind Freeze simply isn't needed, you're better off trying to eke out as much damage as possible, and take Deep Freeze or Freezing Gust if you truly need to snare (DF is better IMO, keep stuff nicely clumped for the Fire guy to do some real damage).

Illithen Firebringer · May 23, 2007, 12:27 PM // 12:27

Thanks for the replies!
I understand that the Water Magic line doesn't do much damage, but some skills actually do. I do 74 damage to a 60AL target with Ice Spear. I use Mind Freeze to snare the warriors that are beating on my monk/s.

I might have to try out Shatterstone and Maelstrom.
Deep freeze, I dont know. I might have to try it.

Anyone else have any comments on my build/armor?
I still feel that I can make this better.

Cebe · May 23, 2007, 12:44 PM // 12:44

Shatterstone + Vapor blade is very nice. Vapor Blade casts just as Shatterstone triggers for the second time and created a nice spike of damage.

As for armor, for a general multipurpose set of armor I'd use either:

Survivor Insignia (+ Health) or..
Blessed Insignia (+10 armor when affected by an enchantment)

Destinyy · May 23, 2007, 01:52 PM // 13:52

Conjure Frost is also awesome for adding damage to your wand attacks...

vespertine · May 23, 2007, 05:18 PM // 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Strangelove

To be honest, the entire water line is kinda meh in PvE.

right.. i just don't understand why Anet bothered making other elementalist skills than SF, LF, MS, GolE, gg and fire attunement?! [/sarcasm]

Dr Strangelove · May 23, 2007, 06:58 PM // 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by vespertine

right.. i just don't understand why Anet bothered making other elementalist skills than SF, LF, MS, GolE, gg and fire attunement?! [/sarcasm]

Water is based primarily around snares, which are not very useful in PvE. Yeah, can snare warrior beating on your monk, but if you brought an air guy you could just blind him, all his friends, and then do some damage. Also, water damage is generally quite low.

If you absolutely had to, shatterstone is probably the best option, as it does do a pile of damage.

As for deep freeze snaring people for a fire guy, why not just pack deep freeze and a bunch of fire nukes on yourself?

ArKaiN · May 23, 2007, 07:18 PM // 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by vespertine

right.. i just don't understand why Anet bothered making other elementalist skills than SF, LF, MS, GolE, gg and fire attunement?! [/sarcasm]

Are you perhaps claiming that all 4 elemental lines can do the same amount of damage fire can AoE?
PvE is all about plowing through mobs. Fire desintegrates mobs. Hence, fire IS the best line for PvE. Water and earth can be used to nuke to some extent, but come on.
EDIT: Damn you Dr and your ninja posting!
To be fair though, fire nuking IS boring as hell.

ZenRgy · May 23, 2007, 08:54 PM // 20:54

Personally I wouldn't run Deep Freeze with [skill]Glyph of lesser energy[/skill], and I agree shatterstone is the only real viable Water elite in PvE since as said, Water in PvE is kind of (read : Really bad)

Ensign · May 23, 2007, 09:12 PM // 21:12

I ran an Ice Imp to get hard mode Masters in Moddock Crevice. Mind Freeze, Ice Spear, Maelstrom, Ice Prison, Blurred Vision, Water Attunement, GLE. Or something like that. The character wasn't very good but it did snare the two fast runners effectively (and the mission is really easy otherwise).

Water just isn't good in typical PvE situations. The strength of the line is that it interferes with movement, but that is only as valuable as movement is to your opponent. In PvE, where mobs generally settle and do not move much once they are, snares are largely worthless. A few spot snares can matter (like when a mob breaks into your backline and starts beating on casters, or if you have to chase down one of those kiting Monks) but in general the value of a snare is not terribly high.

In comparison with the more mobile PvP modes (GvG, AB, some HA maps), where water is insanely valuable, that is.

Peace,
-CxE

Batou of Nine · May 24, 2007, 02:38 AM // 02:38

Deep Freeze + Maelstrom FTW!

cheers.

Sora · May 24, 2007, 09:26 AM // 09:26

I've been using this build and it's kinda good for dealing damage.

[skill]Ice Spear[/skill][skill]Freezing Gust[/skill][skill]Ice Spikes[/skill][skill]Shatterstone[/skill][skill]Frozen Burst[/skill][skill]Aura of Restoration[/skill][skill]Water Attunement[/skill]

Spike the target by using Shatterstone first, then use Freezing Gust. If you find there's energy problem, you can switch out Frozen Burst for [skill]Glyph of Lesser Energy[/skill].

Hope this is useful to you.

ArKaiN · May 24, 2007, 04:15 PM // 16:15

Never use Aura of Restoration.
Ever.

Ozric · May 24, 2007, 06:21 PM // 18:21

Why not? Aura of Resto is still a good cover enchant for your attunement. I don't use it in all my builds, but I definately use it in my Air builds as I find all those quick casting spells just about require the Air Attunement to be maintained to keep from getting shut down. Guess you could switch to something like Mystic Regen instead, but I'm not one much to split the points away from my element and energy storage, especially since I don't run 105-110 energy builds.

Stormlord Alex · May 24, 2007, 06:52 PM // 18:52

Tbh, Aura's only real use is as a cover enchantment.
The actual healing it gives is none too great - you're more likely to save yourself if you, you know, KITE the enemy than stand there and cast to trigger the heal.

By all means, sub it in to use in enchant-stripping heavy areas (particularly if you run a fragile dual-attune build), but... It's a wasted skill slot otherwise.

Winterclaw · May 24, 2007, 07:03 PM // 19:03

If you are going to use vapor blade, you really need to have a reliable enchantment removal either on your skill bar or in your party somewhere. If not you are better off with ice spear.

SotiCoto · May 29, 2007, 10:50 PM // 22:50

As was noted earlier... Deep Freeze + Maelstrom FTW.

You done that FedEx quest in Ferndale where you carry the box from Haus Zu Heltzer to Lutgardis Conservatory? .... There is a large group of Luxon Elementalists at the end. Since I was running on ahead of my heroes with Armour of Mist... I decided to try my luck. I single-handedly raped the entire group with Maelstrom and Deep Freeze. It was insanely funny.

But on the whole.... if you're going for damage... you're better as Fire Elementalist....

I go Water Elementalist for three reasons:
#1. Hold them down for my Fire Ele heroes to nuke 'em efficiently. I usually wait for that moment with most stationary mobs where they stop wandering around the general area and all cluster together for an instant or so. Perfect time to drop Deep Freeze on the whole bloody lot of 'em. Then cue Searing Flames from Zhed and Rodgort's Invocation from Sousuke.
#2. Maelstrom. Lolz @ enemy spellcasters. 66% speed reduction from Deep Freeze might not keep them from escaping entirely, but in incapacitates them completely for some moments while they slowly retreat... enough for their friends to get killed by my friends. It is an absolute godsend against Meteor-spammers (no comment on my Maelstrom vs Maelstrom battles with Ice Imps and Mantis Stormcallers though).
#3. Since Sousuke already runs Greater Conflagration + Mark of Rodgort...... I use Ward Against Harm. +60 Armour for my spellcaster party (and even Olias's Minions within range). Lovin it.

With Armour of Mist up, I can Leeroy right into the middle of many mobs if I so choose and drop the Ward... and assuming Sousuke has done his job, I'm practically untouchable... leaving me free to hold all the enemies down in one place (often around me) for the others to nuke to doom... and I come out unscathed.
An ironic tactic perhaps, given the attitude of some Elementalists who try that WITHOUT heavy defenses.... but it does work. Most of the time though I just stay back with the others and ensure the enemy casters are pinned under Maelstrom.... a lovely tactic I picked up from my Ice Imp friends in the Shiverpeaks...