E/W Anyone?

I know it's been an odd combination, but it's been driving me nuts that not even one measley suggestion for an Elementalist/Warrior build has ever appeared on the internet (well, to my standards).

I tried it out once, and I like how you can Gash and cast Fire damage, as well as the boost in defense. But I have a tendency to read other builds first before looking for my own requisite build.

So, any suggestions?

I have never seen an offensive ele/warrior build that worked, although in theory you might be able to do it with the new earth ele skills that give you tanking ability.

However, while it isn't seriously used in PvP play right now, you can have some fun just using the shouts of the tactics line in addition to your primary element of choice.

in 6v6 I've seen people running shields up! because the build wants it somewhere. Seems slightly wasteful, but there are a LOT of rangers in HA right now.

Quote:

Unless you're worried about making a gimmick farming build, whats the point of making a class with a lot of defense and no offense? In PvE, you either need to pump out damage, or mitigate damage done by enemy mobs. Elementalists are better at the second role. The only useful thing I can see a warrior secondary adding to this role is possibly one or two of the shouts that require energy. However, you'd be giving up much more useful skills from other secondaries for those shouts.

Allow me to impart some of my experience with you. I have played for over 500 hours as this exact combination of professions, so I'd like to be able to say I'm experienced with it.

So anyway, my experience is running Earth, Tactics and Energy Storage as my primaries. With this combination I've been able to run the following:

-Endurance Tank

Armour of Earth gives any E/x or x/E a massive armour boost, but it's at close range that it's most useful. Hook it up with some Warrior stances like Bonetti's or Shield Stance and observe the effect of enemy attacks.

-PbAoE Tank

For when pure defence wont cut it, throw a Crystal Wave or Tenai's Crystals into the mix. given that these are the highest source of armour ignoring damage in the game AND they hit in an AoE. It's not big, but it's significant nonetheless and is effective in tight spaces, (read Cantha in general.) To be able to get close safely though, you need to employ the tactics of the first example.

-Spike/Anti Spike

Obsidian Flame, Obsidian Flesh, Shields Up, Glyph of Elemental Power, Armour of Earth, Res Signet, Healing Signet and Balanced Stance - sic 4 of them on something and it will die, pretty much guaranteed - I ran an Ob Spike team through Thunderhead Keep once and it worked a treat - none of the enemy monks could cope with the spike and the spikers themselves were virtually indestructable, if a little slow

-Solo Defensive Farming

Fairly obvious. I have my builds, I'm not giving em out It's honestly not hard to come up with an effective E/W farming build, provided you're not thinking of trying for weapons proficiency.

-Solo Spike Farming

Shreader Sharptongue, the A boss in Xuquang Skyway can be killed in a matter of seconds using this, but the combo's a S E C R E T

I'd say give it a try - I've done every element combined with warrior though and earth is where I am most comfortable.

Warrior is going to do a better job in those positions than an E/W. Unless you're running through the game with henchmen and want to run a gimped build to make things more challenging, or you're looking for a gimmick farming build, it's my opinion that you'd be much more effective making a warrior, or sticking to an elementalists role as support/damage mitigation.

Well, of course! You HAVE to be able to put out the maximum damage possible for your profession(in both PvE and PvP), or youre almost worthless. Theres only so many combos that work, look for them...
/sarcasm

I enjoy straying from "conventional wisdom", trying to find workable builds. Have just switched to E/W myself, to try it out with the few Warrior skills I have, and did fine in PVE against Summit forces outside of Citadel with henchies.

Heres a pic of the build

Curse you double post! Curse yooooouuuuuu!!!

I ran an E/W build in RA for a while just to be ridiculous. The sad thing was, it was kinda effective

9+3+1 fire magic
11 Swordsmanship
4+1 Water Magic
6+1 Energy Storage
9 Tactics

Fiery Sword of Defense, Enchantment Shield, Tempest Armor

Sever Artery
Gash
Mark of Rodgort
Conjure Flame
Healing Sig
Deadly Riposte
Mirror of Ice [E]
Rez Sig

Well there you go. I read up on PbAoE spells earlier today and it seems using Earth spells is one definate way to go when it comes to having a Warrior as a second profession.

Just keep in mind that when playing around with the big boys at point-blank range if your enchantments all get stripped off you're probably dead meat. So if you're in PvE you need to adjust your build to suit the area and stick with ranged attacks when enchantments are not an option.

I had lots of fun with an hammer elementalist build, it's not competitive, the only pvp where it could be used is RA and AB.

Earth Magic: 14
Hammer Mastery: 10
Energy Storage: remaining points

Aura of Restoration
Armor of Earth
Devastating Hammer
Crushing Blow
Stoning
Aftershock
Ward Against Melee
Resurrection Signet

Very straight forward and quite fun to play, problems are no IAS and if enchantments get stripped you're dead. This is why it's not good in competitive PvP and neither in some PvE zones.

If I were to touch E/W, I wouldn't try try to go melee.

Energy Storage: 10 +1
Earth Magic: 11 +1 +1
Tactics: 10

Ward Against Melee
Ward Against Foes
Earthquake
Ether Prodigy {E}
"Watch Yourself!"
Healing Signet
"Shields Up!"
Resurrection Signet

I played E/W a lot in the days before assassins & fierce blow were around. Those days, it was one of the most powerful melee spikes apart from evis & executioners.

Earth Magic: 16
Hammer: 12
Energy storage: 4

Backbreaker (e),
Irresistable Blow (nerfed now though),
Crushing Blow,
Aftershock,
Frenzy,
2 free slots,
Res signet

Use skills 1->4 with frenzy activate for the spike.

Workeds on monks around 80-90% life, but I don't play it as there are other builds that can do the job better with factions now. This build was fun if the monk had 15% DP, as they would be dead from full hp in 1 go from the combo.

Well for pve...since you did say thats more what you wanted...I would think that a cyclone axe+a few Aoe skills for all foes near you or whatever should work...maybe something with kinetic armor, cyclone axe, shockwave, crystal wave, earth attunement, stone daggers,...etc
no?

Well for pve...since you did say thats more what you wanted...I would think that a cyclone axe+a few Aoe skills for all foes near you or whatever should work...maybe something with kinetic armor, cyclone axe, shockwave, crystal wave, earth attunement, stone daggers,...etc
no?

LOL! Double post strikes again! Anyway, you can also JUST use needed skills from warrior or ele, like in Soutern Shiverpeak missions, you can use Balanced Stance to keep from being interrupted by knockdowns, Ive used Warriors Endurance as energy management before, ect.

I use it all the time in fort aspendwood to piss off melee characters.

12 sword
9 tactic
rest in fire/water
left over in energy storage

sever artery
gash
hundred blade
frenzy (YES! ZOMG)
protector stance
shield stance
conjur flame/ice
blurred vision/firestorm (for blinding interrupt ranger on turtle or to take mines)

server artery + gash + hundred + high level conjur + frenzy = a huge spike

seeing an ele in melee seem to piss off many warriors, and they would build heavy attention on me. All the better to keep them outside with me.

I played a couple E/W builds and the earth builds are generally only good for absorbing damage.

The one build that did the best was a fire ele build.

I used the point blank area effect spells.
Inferno, Flame burst, Star Burst and Conjure flame.
The above with ele attunement made for some serious damage in a crowded area over short period of time.

The problems I had were if I was targeted by the majority of the party and I dont run fast enough I die.

With the new updates this type of build is going to be a lot stronger than it was before.

Ohh the other thing a build like this does well is remove spirit spammers.

I think with the recent buff in Conjures you could do something almost valid.. making up for only being able to get 12 in your weapon mastery. *shrug*
Don't bother me for it, though. The rule is- use an IAS and put in deep wound somehow. =P
Dr. Strangelove, your build looks like great fun.