Curse

The Mo Show · Apr 14, 2006, 07:10 AM // 07:10

Tired of cookiecutter UW builds to solo? Tired of same ol' 2-man UW smite run? Got an elementalist that you haven't used since the AoE nerf? Well listen up:

Obviously, still gonna go 55hp, as thats the easiest way to tank damage in the UW. Here's everything you need to set your elementalist up to get ready to go UW.

Equipment:
Stone's Eye w/any armor set (as long as they all have superior runes)
Weapon Set 1: Sword/Axe of Enchanting, -50hp Grim Cesta
Weapon Set 2: Galigord's Rod, -50hp Grim Cesta
note: Fiery Flame Spitter is a nice option for axe because the 10% receharge is nice. I personally use IDS for its looks

Attributes:
Energy Storage 5 + 3 = 8
Air Magic 2 + 3 = 5
Fire Magic 0 + 3 = 3
Water Magic 0 + 3 = 3
Earth Magic 12 + 3 + 1 = 16
Healing Prayers 9 + 0 = 9
Protection Prayers 8 + 0 = 8

Skill Set:
(1)Obsidian Flesh {elite}
(2)Protective Spirit
(3)Healing Breeze
(4)Crystal Wave
(5)Aftershock
(6)Essence Bond
(7)Balthazar's Spirit
(8)Mending

Ok now for the UW. When you first get UW, put all enchantments up (skills 6-8) and wait for energy regen. You should have max energy of 60 (unless you got HoD, in which case it would be 65).

Bladed Aatxes:
Make sure your 3 enchantments are up and you still have full energy. Now, get as close to the first set of aaxtes without setting the aggro. Get out weapon set #1, and cast skills 1-3 in numerical order. Once that is done, switch to weapon set #2 and pull the aatxes to you. When you get the aggro, wand down any dying nightmares that pop up (their Rend Enchantments will fail due to Obsidian Flesh). Now, once the nightmares are taken care of, switch back to weapon set #1. Now your ready to deal some damage. I usually get into a rhythm, 5-3-2--5-3-4-2. You must cast Aftershock and Crystal Wave almost as soon as they recharge in order to get quickest results. Obviously any order will work, but the key is to not use Aftershock and Crystal Wave back to back so taht u do not trigger AoE. If they flee, they will not be attacking you, and therefore depriving you of energy. Now groups of aaxtes are grueling because of their high health, but they are easily taken down with some persistance. (SoJ Mo/W may kill them faster, but they can't survive 2 nightmares, can they?

) Also, make sure as to not only fight just 1 aaxte, as energy will be a huge problem. Try to always pull solo aaxtes into another battle, even if it takes a lot of coaxing. Ok, finished the Aatxes? Moving on...

Grasping Darkness:
So you cleared all the aatxes and you don't know what to do next? Talk to the Lost Soul and get the quest, Clearing the Chamber. 3 Groups of 4 Darknesses should pop up, all spread out. Get close to the first group, without aggroing, and cast spells 2+3 on yourself, switch to weapon set #2 to pull, and switch back to weapon set #1. Now, back up so there is no chance of any other groups of Darknesses aggroing. Groups of more than 5 cause big problems with the interupts (4 is hard enough as it is). Once your in the right place, renew your enchantments and start using your damage dealing spells. I usually avoid getting into a rhythm here, because you really have to be careful of interrupts. Protective Spirit is not in danger, but Healing Breeze is. If it gets interupted, do not panic. Just calmly wait the 2 second recharge, and re-cast. You shouldn't die in that short timespan. If they get you with a Skull Crack, things get a little bit more complicated. Healing Breeze then has a 2 second cast, making it very hard to use. Yet, Protective Spirit is still going to be on at all times, and you should be able to survive the duration of being dazed. I would say that darknesses are the hardest part to deal with, considering interupts. But, when you start doing your damaging spells, you'll be relieved that they drop twice as fast as aatxes. Note: you do not need Healing Breeze for 1 or 2 darknesses.

Smite Crawlers:
Now for the easiest part of the run. Most builds, SoJ, SS, IW, have a problem with Smites becuase of Reversal of Fortune. But that's where the E/Mo solo outshines the rest of solo UW builds. Use the same pulling techniques as shown above with aatxes and darknesses. Now, try and get into a casting rhythm again, and now you don't have to worry about any interupts. The reason E/Mo doesn't have a problem with smites, is that Crystal Wave ignores magical resistance, meaning it goes right through Reversal of Fortune, Divine Intervention, etc. Aftershock will still be affected by RoF and DI, but still use it as it will still do some damage. Hopefully, you will be able to drop all the smites at similar times. You do not want to be stuck with 1 smite left, with 50% health. If this happens, try to pull other smites, or you will have to try finish him off. Note: you do not need Healing Breeze for 1 or 2 smites.

Coldfire Nights:
Try to avoid these at all costs. They don't drop your ectoplasms, so why kill them? If they are in the way of some smites, then killing them may be your only option. But i warn you, your success rate againt them is not high. The best way to beat them would be keeping Obsidian Flesh for as long as possible, and hoping they dont get a Maelstrom of in the downtime. If they do, make sure to move out of it to cast, before moving back close to do your PBAoE spells for the kill.

Ok, now that you've finished your run, go back to Temple of Ages and sell your ectos! I know this build isn't as fast as some other solo UW builds, but it is definately safer in my book. You obviously need patience and persistence to work this build out, but when you get it down, its really fun.

Tried the solo run, but want to go back to 2man runs? Well no problem! Keep the same attributes and equipment. The only adjustment you need to make is switch out the 2 damage dealing spells (4 and 5) and put in Aura of Restoration, and Whirlwind. Aura of Restoration basically replaces Divine Favor that the monks get, therefore granting you more health everytime you cast. I personnaly use Whirlwind to knockdown all adjacent foes, giving me a window to cast Healing Breeze without interupt, thus allowing you to aggro bigger groups.

Well I hope the build helps all you elementalists out there that are bored of echo nuking in Sorrows Furnace. Come out and try this build, the total cost of it is only around 5-10k (cheaper runes, ascalon armor, cheaper wand). Thanks for your time, and goodluck! Any questions PM me, IGN->
Queen Amanda Xlll E/Mo
Adam Morrison N/Me
Lily Evans Potter Me/Mo

LightningHell · Apr 15, 2006, 09:24 AM // 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mo Show

Crystal Wave ignores magical resistance, meaning it goes right through Reversal of Fortune, Divine Intervention, etc.

Are you sure? It only says it "ignores armor".

Well, sword/axe attacks ftw...

Lint · Apr 15, 2006, 02:28 PM // 14:28

Yes it does. That is very well thought out. But still slow.

spellsword · Apr 15, 2006, 02:48 PM // 14:48

Are the Aatxes supposed to regen?

hunter · Apr 15, 2006, 03:00 PM // 15:00

yes, which makes this build *extremely* slow

LightningHell · Apr 15, 2006, 03:27 PM // 15:27

Which made me really pissed off since I only had a few spare minutes on my Elly...

And yes, I think it does...at least just now it did.

spellsword · Apr 15, 2006, 07:57 PM // 19:57

I didn't have much luck in the UW, build works great against minos and trolls though. (I'm running it with Fire blast and Aura of restoration instead of the earth spells, seems faster that way.)

Zakarr · Apr 16, 2006, 08:52 AM // 08:52

Crystal Wave
Foes near you are struck for 10-82 damage, but are cured of any negative conditions. This spell ignores armor and magic resistance.

So does that mean it will go through Protective Spirit?

Another GG skill against 55 hp farmers if it is true. Did you hear that ArenaNet???

EDIT:

Bah, it doesn't ignore Protective Spirit.

LightningHell · Apr 16, 2006, 11:53 AM // 11:53

Why do people hate 55's?

spellsword · Apr 16, 2006, 01:07 PM // 13:07

They are jealous, I guess.

Tv-set · Apr 16, 2006, 09:48 PM // 21:48

Nice build. Thanks.
Definently on slower side but when Factions come out "Crystal Wave 2" should replace Aftershock and runs would be faster.

mint · Apr 16, 2006, 09:53 PM // 21:53

I've tried a very similar build in the past and found that the success rate (for me at least) was too small for it to be profitable.

Gizmo Loco · Jun 11, 2006, 01:00 PM // 13:00

Is this build better with Crystal Wave/ Aftershock or Crystal Wave/ Tenais Crystals? (Tenais is the copy of CW)

X Soulja · Jun 24, 2006, 08:40 PM // 20:40

da axes and gasp interup alot.

tuperwho · Jun 24, 2006, 08:49 PM // 20:49

Aataxes do have savage slash. Grasps will interrupt like mad if you chain skills too much, or don't drain their energy.

The new addition of the Totem axe seems perfect for a 55 build IMO. +5 energy and 20% longer enchants. Doesn't have the style of the IDS, though.

Like mentioned above, I would trade aftershock out for Tenai's Crystals. I'm also wondering how sliver armor would fare.

Yanman.be · Jun 25, 2006, 08:14 AM // 08:14

I'd take out aftershock for sliver armour yes!

Silent Elvin Ranger · Jun 25, 2006, 10:49 PM // 22:49

Uhh wait, why Obsideon Flesh? Doesnt it just add armor, which may i add is pointless to a 55 build since the damage is taken down a few pegs by protective spirit n e wayz. Im pretty sure Obsideon Flesh just gives u armor.

Dragnlord · Jun 26, 2006, 06:26 AM // 06:26

Obsidian Flesh:
For 8...18 seconds, you gain +20 armor and cannot be the target of enemy spells, but move 50% slower.

It is used because you cann't be targeted of enemy spells. So you will not loose the enchantement, when you encounter a dying nigthmare

.

wabaaam sephiroth · Jul 18, 2006, 01:56 AM // 01:56

ok well i tried your build exactly as is, everything went to plan with the first group of aataxes, until i realized that aftershock and tenais crystals just didn't have the damage output. By the time i casted them again the aataxes were at full health. So i switched to silver armor and managed to get a few kills, but there was one HUGE problem with that, what do you do when theres one aataxe left? you can't gain the energy needed to maintain Hb and Ps. So im in a slight dilema, im going to try using crystal wave and tenais crystals next. Can anyone help me? Otherwise great build other than damage output i've done fine (except for a few simple mistakes, but hey its my first time 55ing)

MY first post ftw!

Dolfin The Fish · Jul 21, 2006, 12:31 AM // 00:31

I ran this exact build before and i couldn't even kill the aataxe... They regen'd too fast. I only ever got them to like 4/5 health and i got bored so i stopped.

Isn't this build, very,very, slow?

Edit: Silver armour is a bad idea as it focuses on one target meaning you are left with one aataxe which = energy problems.

I'm going to re-try this using tenai's crystles instead of aftershock.