Curse

Guild Wars Guru · Jul 05, 2005, 07:45 PM // 19:45

You can view this database entry at: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/skill/455-backfire/.
You may add your comments in this thread.

Epinephrine · Jul 05, 2005, 07:45 PM // 19:45

I'm not a fan of Backfire in PvP, it is slow, costly, fast to be stripped, immediately recognized and doesn't blend well with other mesmer skills for the most part (energy denial for example, or interrupts) with the exception of Wastrel's Worry (and I am not recommending using WW).

Circuitloss · Aug 06, 2005, 10:24 PM // 22:24

One of the best PvE spells in the game. Slightly less useful in PvP. People way underestimate domination magic mesmers.

mariano · Aug 23, 2005, 11:50 AM // 11:50

I think Back Fire puts this dilema: i. either taking damage, or ii. doing nothing for 10 seconds (else, iii. it has to be dispelled).

Both ways, i and ii, favor the caster (and iii. may be or may not be a problem).

Then Back Fire may combine well with Shatter Delusions, for with this is spell to cause some damage where nothing is being got. (Shatter Delusion may combine well with Mind Brack also).

I think -as some one pointed in the W'sW thread- Wastrel's Worry may combine well with Back Fire, ... for W's W can be casted 2 - 3 times in those 10 seconds.

It may be possible, also: Back Fire, then, W's W, W'sW, Shatter Delusions, if Back Fire is not dispeled.

One more thing, I think that Back Fire may be less obvious if it is casted after an interruption; say: Power Spike then Back Fire. As far as, then the interrupted player may be more easely got by surprised.

Any expert's comment?

Sagius Truthbarron · Aug 28, 2005, 12:22 PM // 12:22

Really it depends on waht build you are against. A smiting team will strip it in seconds. A balance build or a spiker team will have more problems, so will a smite team that doesn't have smite hex on it's smiters ^^.

mariano · Jan 04, 2006, 08:42 PM // 20:42

I understand that Backfire causes damage in the event of casting a spell, therefore if the spell is interrupted or if the spell is caused to fail it does not trigger Backfire... many other domination magic skills are not compatible with Backfire. Isn't?

Still more, it is needed that the opponent caster has energy to cast; therefore deniyng energy by means of inspiration magic and domination energy burning skills may be not relevant if it is planed to use Backfire.

In the other side Wastrel's worry is a spell to use together with Backfire... which other spells might be relevant to use together with Backfire? Either mesmer or other class... may be Shatter Enchantement, Shatter Hex, ... think these two do not add anything special...

Murder In China · Jan 17, 2006, 05:52 AM // 05:52

Backfire + Wastrel's worry is a nice combo, either take the huge damage from Backfire to remove Wastrel's worry or do nothing and suffer from 3 Wastrel's worries.

NatalieD · Jan 17, 2006, 07:06 AM // 07:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariano

I understand that Backfire causes damage in the event of casting a spell, therefore if the spell is interrupted or if the spell is caused to fail it does not trigger Backfire... many other domination magic skills are not compatible with Backfire. Isn't?

Still more, it is needed that the opponent caster has energy to cast; therefore deniyng energy by means of inspiration magic and domination energy burning skills may be not relevant if it is planed to use Backfire.

The point is to use Backfire on one enemy and other spells on another. It's a weak mesmer who can only disrupt one target, and Backfire is an easy way to take care of one for a while while you switch targets and cast something else.

audioaxes · Jan 17, 2006, 07:53 AM // 07:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatalieD

The point is to use Backfire on one enemy and other spells on another. It's a weak mesmer who can only disrupt one target, and Backfire is an easy way to take care of one for a while while you switch targets and cast something else.

well not always, backfire can be used on a monk while you do additional damage to the monk putting him in a very tight spot
like shatter enchant, phantom pain-> shatter delusions, additional damage maybe from secondary class or have help from teammate
you definitely cant just throw a single backfire on a monk and then go off attacking a different target as any good monk can easily get around it
a backfire on a monk at the right time in 4v4 can strike even the best out

NatalieD · Jan 17, 2006, 09:13 PM // 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioaxes

well not always, backfire can be used on a monk while you do additional damage to the monk putting him in a very tight spot
like shatter enchant, phantom pain-> shatter delusions, additional damage maybe from secondary class or have help from teammate

Well that's true. I didn't mean to say that Backfire is only good for what I described, just to show that Backfire is not really incompatible with other disruption/shutdown skills.

Quote:

you definitely cant just throw a single backfire on a monk and then go off attacking a different target as any good monk can easily get around it
a backfire on a monk at the right time in 4v4 can strike even the best out

I'm not quite sure what you're getting at here, but I guess I should have mentioned that Backfire, like all major hexes, needs to be covered with something quick to be of much use in organized PVP.

whatnow? · Mar 26, 2006, 10:57 AM // 10:57

I play pve and find that the damage makes up for the long cast-time and that one can cast it on a definite spell-caster like a fire-imp before you agro it anyway!