Curse

Toxic RD · Mar 20, 2006, 03:00 AM // 03:00

I have been chruning over the thought of a compatible PvE and PvP hydromancer, with the main goal of making it fun, since im not a serious h-core PvP player i would just like to have a good time, so for me this is what i've come up with, and i'd like advice for tinkering:

Elementalist / whatever
Using Flints artifact + wand and any armor you prefer
Water Magic: 12 + 1 +3 = 16
Energy Storage = Rest +1

Skills:
Water Trident {E}
Ice Spear
Ice Spikes / Shard Storm (your preference)
Frozen Burst
Maelstrom
Water Attunement
Armor of Mist / Armor of Frost ?????
Blurred Vision / Swirling Aura / Conjure Frost (for wand attacks) ?????

The last few skills are just what i think would be good in PvP, and maybe the later PvE game, i figure if you wanted to you could put in a few of your secondary spells in the last few spots.
As you can tell Water Trident and Ice Spear will be your spammable damage dealing skills, and with 16 water magic they will both do 69 dmg, which is forimidable considering they will most likely be slowed for a while leaving you ample time to pound on them both with the skills, and occasionally with your wand with (maybe) the aid of Conjure Frost

Critiquing/Comments are both wanted, and appreciated

Wretchman Drake · Mar 20, 2006, 04:53 AM // 04:53

I don't know, but IMO any ele build that also involves exhaustion without Elemental Attunement won't carry itself far distances.

torquemada · Mar 20, 2006, 11:20 AM // 11:20

Maelstorm's 4 sec in casting (not good for any kind of interrupting except random-lucky ones) AND exhaustion. You can probably disregard it's AoE - nobody will simply stand in it.

Hmm...what about Mist Form + Frozen burst as defense against warriors? Feasible? Armors are nice for self defense, but you have to be a threat in pvp to achieve anything. Probably could be used as anti-warrior build but I'm not exactly the right person to judge...

LightningHell · Mar 20, 2006, 11:54 AM // 11:54

Drop Frozen Burst.

Get Maelstrom out if you're in a PvP group.

Get Armors out.

Always put in Blurred Vision in the last spot.

If you have a Mez secondary, get Distortion. Possibly Clumsiness.

I'd say...pretty horrible, IMO (Don't hit me....?). Not enough support. Combine it with some Air and you'd be fine, though.

EDIT: If you want this to be fun in PvP, you'd better add in something else...or else even RA will make your life hell.

Toxic RD · Mar 20, 2006, 07:00 PM // 19:00

If i use mist form its and elite so i gotta get rid of trident dont i?
I'm monk 2ndary but i dont use it for anyhting and i am going to change to mes
What air magic should i add?

LightningHell · Mar 20, 2006, 11:55 PM // 23:55

Windborne Speed, Blinding Flash, Enervating Charge, etc.

calamitykell · Mar 21, 2006, 12:19 AM // 00:19

basically LightningHell wants to you to be an Aeromancer. His suggestions are not to help you tinker with a Hydromancer, he's suggestly you ditch it almost entirely. Since you stated you wanted to make a Hydromancer, I would disregard his advice.

The problem is, that most people think to be useful you just have to do damage, and as much as possible. Not the case. Aside from Rangers who can spam Crippling Shot (by spam I mean, renew it as much as needed), I believe a Hydromancer is unmatched with it's snaring ability. Ice Spikes, Frozen Burst, Mind Freeze, Shard Storm, Ice Prison, etc...

It'd be a support build, if you focus on making a Hydromancer. I would personally drop Water Trident for something like Elemental Attunement if you're running high energy spells.

Shard Storm / Ice Spikes / Ice Spear
Ice Spikes / Shard Storm / Ice Spear
Ice Prison
Armor of Mist
Frozen Burst
Elemental Attunement {E} / Glyph of Renewal {E}
Water Attunement
Rez Sig / Blurred Vision / Glyph of Concentration

Your primary focus would be to hinder the enemy's movement as much as possible. Make it easier for your team to take advantage of their mobility to engage the enemy more-so on your terms, and help hinder the enemy from simply rushing your backlines.

You could pack Ice Spear for some spammable damage, or you could bring both Shard Storm and Ice Spikes. Frozen Burst would slow the warriors nearby, allowing you or your teammates to get some distance. Glyph of Concentration can help prevent your Armor of Mist, or Attunements, or your speed hexes from being interrupted. Glyph of Renewal could instantly recharge a spell instantly. For example, Frozen Burst. You're being attacked by 2 warriors. You cast GoR, then FB, and flee. If they still pursue you, they'll catch up to you before a non-GoR'd FB would have recharged, forcing you to use either 2 hexes, 1 for each warrior, assuming THEY are recharged. Simply using another FB as soon as they close in again should give you plenty of time to get some distance.

This is, of course, ALL based on the assumption that you're working with a competent team. If not, then just bring whatever skills you want.

Edit: I suck at builds, so perhaps this blows. I dunno.

Toxic RD · Mar 21, 2006, 12:55 AM // 00:55

Not alot of skills to chose from for a Hydromancer, so i cant see your build being worse than any other one out there

LightningHell · Mar 21, 2006, 02:55 AM // 02:55

For heaven's sake, no, no, no, NO! Can't people READ for once?

I'm suggesting something like this!

Energy Storage: 10
Air Magic: 10
Water Magic: 11 +1
(Without the runes)

Blurred Vision
Gale
Enervating Strike
Mind Freeze {E} / Ether Prodigy {E}
Windborne Speed
Ice Prison
Ice Spikes/ Water Attunement
Resurrection Signet/ Air Attunement

So, it's a mix, you know!

(Sorry, but I'm really angry after someone broke my finger, and I'm having trouble typing!)

EDIT: Or, if you want, Rust and Shard Storm for Ice Prison and Enervating Charge!

Dodo The Extinct · Mar 21, 2006, 03:15 AM // 03:15

Please stay away from attacks like Ice Spikes, or Maelstrom for that matter. I mean, of course if u r tombing Deep Freeze is not a bad idea.

But if u want fun, and a good defensive build that can still annoy ur friends
try this

Max Water
Spread rest between Healing, and E-storage

Water Attunement
Water Trident
Ice Spear
Armor Of Mist
Blurred Vision
Ice Prison
Healing Breeze
Vengance

Now, this build actually does not suck that much @ dmg, and it is great for catching running Monks, and snaring Warriors. And, its light on the energy.

LightningHell · Mar 21, 2006, 03:30 AM // 03:30

I cannot believe you can put in Healing Breeze and say it's light, energy-wise. You also need something to regain the energy you wasted from spamming. Unless you're not spamming.

Toxic RD · Mar 23, 2006, 04:34 AM // 04:34

Im currently using:
Ice Spikes
Shard Storm
Deep Freeze
Frozen Burst
Glyph of Energy
Water Attune
Conjure Frost (for wand attacks, actually helps quite a bit)
Healing Breeze

I dont have many skills unlocked yet, and havent ascended, but it is fun, ice spear was a pain so i took it out till i get Water Trident, im thinking of mixing in maybe 1 or 2 Mesmer skills for dmg, maybe Power Spike, Energy Burn, maybe even Energy Surge, i dunno