Curse

lg5000 · Nov 08, 2005, 03:51 AM // 03:51

It works great in Pve, just use it on the titans

The big difference between backfire and powerblock is that while backfire does damage, their spells still get cast and you take damage because of it, with powerblock, they don't take additional damage but can't do a thing (in that particular line).

and for 2 elites, that's what mimicry is for, now try convincing someone on your team to take panick instead of their prefered elite :P

super dooper · Nov 08, 2005, 10:42 AM // 10:42

bah, forget the titans :P

this spell rocks Sorrow's Furnace monk bosses.. 16 domination, Power Block and Shatter Enchantment - they sit there like idiots.

makes our 5 man FA runs easy cheesy..

Rajamic · Nov 08, 2005, 11:33 AM // 11:33

Eles tend to be the best targets, as they have longer cast times and almost always focus there entire skillbar on one elementalist line and energy management. Hit them with Power Block and they are completely shut down.

Monks work the same way, but their spells tend to be much quicker, so this is harder to hit.

I can think of one counter for Power Block, but it is rather impractical and inconsistant for almost everyone who needs to fear Power Block: Oath Shot.

Warriors and Ranger don't have much to fear from Power Block since it only will disable skills if it interrupts a spell. A mage, however, could go Ranger secondary, bring a bow and Oath Shot, and have a 50% chance of reversing Power Block's effect. This would however lock you in to Ranger as your sub, take up your elite slot, and be of essentially no use unless you were hit by Power Block. It's a bit to specific of use for its cost, but if you know your opponent well, you might be able to justify it.

damocles · Nov 08, 2005, 11:37 AM // 11:37

Another Counter I can think of is Signet of Humility.

Karel Franz · Nov 10, 2005, 12:03 AM // 00:03

well there are alot of if if if if's in this game

take arcane echo and have even more fun

(reature111 · Nov 24, 2005, 11:42 PM // 23:42

what -1 is to 1, is what Power Block is to Spellbreaker

Sereng Amaranth · Nov 25, 2005, 12:08 AM // 00:08

Arcane Echo + Power Block = 2 bosses dumbfounded

Orochim4ru · Nov 26, 2005, 09:57 AM // 09:57

Don't use power block unless you don't need hexes to pull it off. 1 second cast time abilities should be fodder for you during your first few days of blocking, afterwards try to get all the 3/4s and above.

Most importantly, CUSTOMIZE your interface so that the enemy skill doesn't appear at the top of your screen. The time it takes to move your attention from your party's status/skill recharge timers/positioning/etc to the skillbar is too much to allow you to identify which spell is being used (critical, seeing as you don't want to even TRY blocking a Reversal of Fortune, or any similar 1/4 cast spell) and react with either a power block/drain/leak.

As for mind games, shame by FAR outdoes backfire, since it ends sooner, and carries a far steeper penalty. Losing 140~ hp isn't terrible if you aren't being wailed on and you need a clutch heal. Charging the mesmer, losing a skill for the duration of its recharge, dropping a fair bit of energy AND telling a mes he should be ready to throw a block? Far more dangerous.

Also, if you're fairly good at timing, you can measure the time it takes for a monk to return to 5 energy after you've drained him. This, however, will NOT work on a good monk, since a good monk has enough experience to cast himself under 0 energy.