Curse

Shwitz · Oct 19, 2005, 01:44 PM // 13:44

I've been using the following build in the Competition Arenas for a while and it has worked fairly well, but I'd like some help tweaking it...

Fast Casting 10
Domination 16
Illusion 4
Inspiration 10
1. Mind Wrack
2. Energy Surge {E}
3. Energy Burn
4. Power Drain
5. Spirit Shackles
6. Spirit of Failure
7. Distortion
8. Res Sig

Spirit of Failure + Distortion vs a warrior/ranger attacking me gives me energy back, and my Energy Surge/Burn + Mind Wrack combo causes some hefty damage and takes away energy, a double whammy. When Mind Wrack triggers, I know I can move on to the next target (I've zero'ed his/her energy). Spirit Shackles, though, I have been using less and less. It is only truly effective against rangers, as most warriors are heavy on the adrenal skills and most casters just stop wanding. I've also started to lose interest in Power Drain, because of its 25 second recharge, even though it gives me a ton of energy back when I manage to interrupt something.

If I can, I'd like to include Blackout in the build somehow, since I really like that skill... and I'd also like to replace Spirit Shackles (and possibly Power Drain) with other Domination/Inspiration skills or from a secondary profession (like Necromancer, which I have unlocked most if not all of the skills for). Also, my attribute distribution could use some work... Energy Surge/Burn are capped at 80 damage per use, which happens at 14 Domination magic, so I could drop Dom. from 16 to 14... how should I re-allocate my points?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Angelic Radiment · Oct 19, 2005, 02:21 PM // 14:21

You could try removing spirit shackles with soothing images or sympathetic visage for use against those annoying adrenaline skills. sympathetic has shorter casting time but longer recharge time. soothing is longer casting time but only 5 second recharge. you decide which you like better. just my thoughts.

Gabriel Fallen Monk · Oct 19, 2005, 04:02 PM // 16:02

It sorta depends on what you want to do with the build, shutting down an ele is easierr to do than shutting down a monk.

For instance, a blackout mesmer unimpeded can shut down an ele for an entire match. All it takes is blackout followed by three interrupts, wash/rinse/repeat - ele casts no spells.

This unfortunately does not work so well against monks cause they have fast casting spells. Against monks the best way to shut them down is energy drain, or blackout plus shame and maybe mantra of recovery.

If you want to go with an all around good build then try adding blurred vision or aegis instead of spirit shackles, and bring blackout as your main disrupter. EWnergy surge plus burn is not enough to shut a monk down unless they are using no energy management skills. I would much rather see you go with blackout and a couple of interrupts.

TheCrimsonBlur · Oct 19, 2005, 11:50 PM // 23:50

You have 16 dom magic, looking to shutdown/interrupt/blow away mana and you dont have power leak?!?!?! Seriously man, Power Leak is one of the best skills in the game (if an opponent uses a 10 energy skill, you interrupt and take away 25ish...they lose 35 massive energy from one spell). Try it out.

Manfred · Oct 20, 2005, 12:41 AM // 00:41

I dunno, looks like he's actullay going after warriors more. Warrior's spells (if they are at all smart) are 1 second or less. And they have adrenaline even if you get rid of energy (hint: sympathetic visage deals with that).

I gots to say man, not using your secondary is a big waste. here are some things you could be doing:
me/e: spirit of failure+blurred vision=mad mana gain.
me/n: faintheartedness. Any questions?
me/mo: SOJ to really piss off warriors
me/r: better stances than distortion, my fav being serpents quickness
me/w: ok, I got nuthin.