Curse

satanail · Dec 22, 2010, 08:21 PM // 20:21

FYI these builds are meant for heroes and HM

First build - Meant to have long-recharging skills (wards, churning) used, then focus on PI spamming. Glyph of elemental power because I couldn't think of anything else to put in there...

Second build - Meant to take advantage of KDs from PI and CE. CE is used only for the KD (no attribute investment). There are a lot of spammable skills, which may cause the AI to avoid using PI...

Third build - Meant to reduce PI's recharge as much as possible.

Bandwagon · Dec 23, 2010, 02:34 AM // 02:34

If you are considering wards, bring an ST ritualist instead with your hero team. Currently wards are pretty much obsolete with the advent of soul twisting. A ST rit can spam spirits that offer more protection then the inflexible, recharge limited wards could ever produce.

Churning Earth, even in HM causes scatter, and KDs. However the KD is only 2 seconds in length. When the mobs get up they will walk back out of the epicenter, and will no longer be bunched up to take advantage of PI.

Mass Spaming PI is pretty much overkill with your third build, especially with an unmaintainable SQ. Without damage like WW and WD, you might as well run the one trick pony Panic and get more widespread disruption.

Brambles is bad in every single way, its nice to be creative but mass bleeding and 5 damage for each KD is super underwhelming and takes way too long to set up for the pay off (Theoretically you would have to set this up every 2nd or 3rd encounter which is a waste of time for 5 damage + applying the weakest condition in the game).

For your second build, consider bringing more energy management instead of churning earth (which already disrupts the synergy of PI) Heroes are pants-on-head retarded when it comes to spamming WW and WD, they will need all the energy you can afford.

Don't Bother with Ether Feast, the healers are devoting their bars to redbarring, the mesmer should be devoting its' resources to killing + disrupting red dots.

Hex Eater Signet is problematic if you are running a melee; if you get hexed they will literally break position and rush into harms way to remove it (when they could be using a skill to punish the enemy and deal damage).

Ninja Dude · Dec 23, 2010, 04:05 AM // 04:05

What above poster said. Also, don't use overload on heros. They don't use it properly.

satanail · Dec 23, 2010, 04:22 PM // 16:22

Thanks for the input guys - good to know how AI use these skills..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandwagon

Heroes are pants-on-head retarded when it comes to spamming WW and WD, they will need all the energy you can afford.

Is this a good thing, or do you mean they misuse it?

Bandwagon · Dec 23, 2010, 11:27 PM // 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by satanail

Is this a good thing, or do you mean they misuse it?

They don't misuse it per say, but they spam it, sometimes this is not a good thing, because the enemy is already using a skill, or maybe the mob they are targeting is one of those mobs that use skills frequently (Ex: shouts, which are instant, or stances). Once an enemy is PI'd they will follow it up with WW / WD and it will be used to max effect, but otherwise your mileage may vary.

WW and WD are two skills that truly call for a human player because it requires a thought process in order to maximize. However sometimes the enemies you face are effectively locked down (ex: elementalists, which have a cast time for all of their skills) or do not use skills all that often, and when these opportunities present themselves, WW and WD can be maximized to their fullest.

If your truly worried about either becoming an issue, consider canceling the skill when facing foes where WW and WD are made ineffective.

NerfHerder · Dec 24, 2010, 11:23 AM // 11:23

Like Bandwagon said, heros like to spam WW and WD. I dont like to micro heros(lazy), so I would recommend dropping WW. The 1 sec recharge is an energy killer for heros. I use WD on my PI hero, and she never has any issues. I also use Chaos Storm, which is debatable because its makes foes scatter. But, I find it more useful than not. When she gets it right they are knocked down in the Chaos Storm. However, it can be replaced with Cry of Frustration, Energy Burn, another interrupt, or Drain Enchantment. I would also trade Hex Eater Sig for Inspired Hex if you think you need more Hex removal on your team.

I understand your using the reduced cast time for churning earth, but Mesmers have plenty to offer from thier own profession that can interrupt and deal substantial armor ignoring damage. Something no Ele skill can do. And Fast Casting already reduces your recharge on Mesmer Skills.

Overall, I think you would be better off just tweaking the second build. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!