Curse

stuh505 · Nov 29, 2005, 07:16 AM // 07:16

I have recently started working on a new char focused around Illusionary Warrior.

My first plan was to go Wa/Me in order to be more of a tank, with the armor and life. I decided I wanted to really focus on more dmg fast, skill 12 is pretty good but I want to really cook.

So I switched to Me/R. My plan was to use Serpent's Quickness to help recharge IW. If you don't use SQ, then you go:

[30 on] [10 off] <<repeat>>

And if it's cancelled, you could go 40 off.

Using SQ, it is not a repeating pattern, but goes something like this:

[60 on] [8 off] [90 on] [8 off] [30 on] [8 off] [60 on] ...no pattern

I think that if you timed it just right, you could potentially get that 90 on to start at the proper time, but thats kinda sketchy.

the other awesome thing about the ranger is Lighting Reflexes...unfortunately it wont last long enough esp when not Ranger primary. there is also dodge and tiger's fury...fury could be kept up continuoiusly but would require a lot of skill points. and then there's Troll Unguent which would be maxed with SQ.

this is an interesting idea but I will probably drop it.

The thing is that I don't really mind the 10 sec downtime too much, certainly not in pve...and I think that its probably better to have an attack or 75% block stance on most of the time as opposed to recharge.

I will probably switch to the much more common Me/W, I will use Distortion + Distracting Blow + flurry + hamstring + sprint.

Basically, Distracting Blow would let me replace some of the Mesmer cancellation skills I was using for faster recharge, and Sprint I want to be able to move from Foe to foe faster (not waste my IW time) and not let them get away. If they try to run, I will also have Hamstring to knock them into place, and flurry should increase damage by 33%. If I am taking too much damage, I will throw up Distortion. I'll also use Conjure Phantasm to speed up the dmg since illusion is already maxed.

I have 70 AL VS physical all over, my sword gives + Life and I will probably get a shield that also gives + 7 def vs physical.

so basically:

Illusionary weaponry
conjure phantasm
distortion
distracting blow
flurry
hamstring
sprint
res signet

If I went with Hamstring, I woudl have to Max swordsmanship. But the points would also go towards more dmg in the situation that IW is off. But thats really not important because if its off (and not pve) I wont be attacking!!

the other options would be to replace this with Backfire I think...or I could just take another Illusion skill and put it into Tactics allowing me to get more AC from a shield.

Either way, Illusion will be at 16

this will give 43 life lost per hit (no dmg), with 33% faster hits.

what do you guys think

Vincent Ritz · Nov 29, 2005, 07:56 AM // 07:56

Hope you have a good monk...

You lack healing, and if you wanna live to see that IW pop up more than maybe 2 times, you'll either need a good monk or healing signet. Spamming Distortion + Healing Signet adds up to a good tanking ability while waiting for that IW to pop up.

Of course, Sympathetic Visage mages for a good defensive skill too, since the wars in the area will probably be trying very hard to lop your head off. Use Sympathetic Visage on yourself (or your monk) and have you (or the monk) stand beside the opponent's monk. That causes a nice energy denial to their monk, while stopping your opponents from hacking you/your monk to death.

Hope this helps.

NatalieD · Nov 29, 2005, 07:58 AM // 07:58

I'm fairly certain that Hamstring and Distracting Blow won't work while IW is up. I recommend Imagined Burden to prevent kiting.

I also strongly recommend Blackout. IW builds without Blackout are wasting their potential. You're already in touch range and not using skills every second, so why not completely disable your target for a while?

Vincent Ritz · Nov 29, 2005, 08:03 AM // 08:03

^agreed^

IW causes all swings to miss, but cause illusion damage, so sword skills are a no-no. And blackout really pisses people off.

rii · Nov 29, 2005, 10:25 AM // 10:25

Distracting blow states that you 'swing at the target'.... it mentions nothing of actually hitting.

judge1121 · Nov 29, 2005, 04:22 PM // 16:22

IoW is a good way to heal.
also this is wat i noticed i start off with a chakram that says +1 Illusion (20%)
cast IoW with that on and sometime u can get it to 17 illsuion for more hp loss. then change to the chakram that says +5 armor +45 health while enchant for better tanking.
Visage works very nicely cause u will not be targeted if u have it on.... else they dumb warrior and still go for u as u hit them dealing more faster dmg.

stuh505 · Nov 29, 2005, 05:22 PM // 17:22

What is IoW?

Quote:

I'm fairly certain that Hamstring and Distracting Blow won't work while IW is up.

Why wouldn't they, they cause you to make an attack and this would normally do sword damage...whenever you would do sword damage IW should be kicking in instead

Ellix Cantero · Nov 29, 2005, 06:19 PM // 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuh505

[30 on] [10 off] <<repeat>>

If you use a +20% enchant sword it's
[36 on] [4 off] << repeat >>

Vexed Arcanist · Nov 29, 2005, 06:26 PM // 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by rii

Distracting blow states that you 'swing at the target'.... it mentions nothing of actually hitting.

There are alot of skills that could use better descriptions. Take for instance Strength of Honor. It will not help your IW damage output in the least, it does not state you need to hit but you indeed do need to hit. Look at it this way, if the skill doesn't work if you miss it won't work with IW.

Imaginary Burden is the slow of choice. Healing Signet is the heal of choice overall (unless you go Me/R then you have Ungent). If you take Imaginary Burden Sprint isn't necessary. Distortion is a decent evasion skill but not so strong if you go with Blackout. The most common Comp Arena IW goes:

Flurry
Conjure Phantasm
Imaginary Burden
IW
Distortion
IoW
Healing Signet
Res Signet

Glaring lack of a cover enchantment, which many agree should be Sympathetic Visage.

Sarus · Nov 29, 2005, 06:27 PM // 18:27

IW isn't that great of a build considering your DPS still isn't as good as a normal warrior, you have no spike ability, and all it takes is a single drain enchantment to totally remove you from the fight. At the very least you should bring a cover like illusion of weakness to try and avoid the single drain ruining your day.

Also, since your sprint stinks (no strength) you're going to get owned by kiting and you can't use your attack speed boost while chasing them with sprint.

The only saving grace of an IW mes is that you can beat people up that are using block/evade skills.

Splatter Mcnasty · Nov 29, 2005, 06:28 PM // 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuh505

What is IoW?

Illusion of weakness

something like you lose 50-200 health. Next time your health drops below 50%, you get that amount back instantly.

Vexed Arcanist · Nov 29, 2005, 07:30 PM // 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarus

IW isn't that great of a build considering your DPS still isn't as good as a normal warrior, you have no spike ability, and all it takes is a single drain enchantment to totally remove you from the fight. At the very least you should bring a cover like illusion of weakness to try and avoid the single drain ruining your day.

Also, since your sprint stinks (no strength) you're going to get owned by kiting and you can't use your attack speed boost while chasing them with sprint.

The only saving grace of an IW mes is that you can beat people up that are using block/evade skills.

IW with max Illusion does around 47 damage per swing, under Flurry, that is quite fast and you would be amazed at how quickly you can kill. It may not be a spike but consistently dealing 47 damage per swing while ignorinng armor and defensive stances is the exact reason it is popular. A warrior trying to spike someone does zero damage if he misses.

Never use IoW as a cover enchantment, it just doesn't work.

stuh505 · Nov 29, 2005, 07:37 PM // 19:37

Mm, good point Ellix. I'll definitely have to pick up one of those.

Illusion of Weakness looks pointless. All it does is make you lose 30% of your health for a period of time. How is that good...

Ellix Cantero · Nov 29, 2005, 07:47 PM // 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuh505

Mm, good point Ellix. I'll definitely have to pick up one of those.

Illusion of Weakness looks pointless. All it does is make you lose 30% of your health for a period of time. How is that good...

You hit IoW at the start of whatever you're doing, boom 202 hp hit (with 12 illusion). You start regenning your health and get back to full. You get into melee and your monk sucks or you become the unfortunate target of multiple iway angst. You take dmg until you're down to 30% of your health (or whatever the triggering % is), and then boom, you get the 202 hps back. It's like having ~700 hit points at the beginning of a fight, just 200 of them are hidden.

Ellix Cantero · Nov 29, 2005, 07:51 PM // 19:51

Someone I know uses Illusion of Haste continually as the cover enchantment. Solves that problem along with the kiting potential, it is kind've expensive to keep up though.

VGJustice · Nov 29, 2005, 07:52 PM // 19:52

Unless you get serious enchant/caster hate. But, hey, that'll [email protected] a IW build anyway.

Slade xTekno · Nov 29, 2005, 07:53 PM // 19:53

People use IoW, then are healed to full health. That way, when they hit that low, they regain the health they lost. Get it?
IoW is not a reliable cover due to the fact it ends when your health drops, a bad idea due to the fact the Mesmers are priority targets. This fact makes Sympathetic Visage an excellent cover.

IW does 42 damage per swing at 16 Illusion [44 at 17].

Distracting Blow does damage with IW, but does not interrupt.

stuh505 · Nov 29, 2005, 08:10 PM // 20:10

From what you guys are gathering about "cover" enchantments, it sounds like you are implying that a drain enchantment always takes the most recently cast enchantment off, is that correct?

Quote:

IoW is not a reliable cover due to the fact it ends when your health drops, a bad idea due to the fact the Mesmers are priority targets.

But when it ends, is when you get the health bonus! so tats a good thing..

Slade xTekno · Nov 29, 2005, 08:21 PM // 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuh505

From what you guys are gathering about "cover" enchantments, it sounds like you are implying that a drain enchantment always takes the most recently cast enchantment off, is that correct?

Correct.

BBoy_Manchild · Nov 29, 2005, 08:56 PM // 20:56

IW just seems so pointless, it can be easily removed and your whole build is centered around this skill so your useless until you can use it again, and useless again when its removed AGAIN, also too much of a hassle to use the cover enchant when you reapply IW, and if they are smart they would remove it before you get the cover enchant off