Rapid Smiter worth it?

Keero89

Keero89

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

Fairbanks, Alaska

Me/Mo

I was thinking about making a Me/Mo toon, and to be unique, I was thinking about a Smiting Prayers one so I can KD or have both Chaos/Holy armor bypass damage. But are the Smiting skills worth it? Or should I roll another secondary?

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

How will you maintain energy? channeling?

Keep in mind you can only pump Smiting to 12, versus the 16 for Monks, unless you use Signet of Illusions.

Terra Xin

Terra Xin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2006

New Zealand

Me/R

If you're meaning Chaos/Holy, you might be stretching your attributes too thinly.

The only build I've used as a Mesmer with smiting prayers, was to run a signet build and utilize holy wrath because you don't need the energy. Mantra of Inscriptions makes a big difference, but your fast casting attribute will be redundant.

Other than that, Scourge Healing/Enchantment seems to be a popular choice for Mesmers who want to spec into Smiting Prayers, so have a go at that the next time you decide to go Shutdown.

Puebert

Puebert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mo/

I've done that, when it was only factions and prophecies. I used Mantra of Recovery (or w/e its called) and banish and what not.

Doesn't work too well anymore.

=DNC=Trucker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

TLA

Me/

I use something like this for the areas in N Kryta. You can even farm dead weapons in HM by hiding behind a wall and killing Skel Rangers. The enchantments are merely there to fuel Mystic Wrath, but I am sure one or more could be swapped out for Signet of Rage, etc.. if traveling with a party throw in leach sig and holy wrath. Use leach sig to re-apply mantra.

12-13 Inspiration
12 Smite
8-9 Illusion

[skill]Mantra of Inscriptions[/skill] [skill]Signet of Judgment[/skill] [skill]Bane Signet[/skill] [skill]Banish[/skill] [skill]Signet of Mystic Wrath[/skill] [skill]Channeling[/skill] [skill]Illusion of Weakness[/skill] [skill]Watchful Spirit[/skill]

If the update to FC in signets comes out, you can be sure I'll be looking into this again as the build is a little iffy.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

Even at 16 Smiting Prayers, smiting is still pretty weak imo. Using it with FC doesn't really make it all that much better and only being able to get a max of 12 makes it even worse.

beltran13579

beltran13579

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Mo/E

it might be better now that fast casting also includes signets

1.5 sec Res Sig FTW

Keero89

Keero89

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

Fairbanks, Alaska

Me/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by =DNC=Trucker
[skill]Mantra of Inscriptions[/skill] [skill]Signet of Judgment[/skill] [skill]Bane Signet[/skill] [skill]Banish[/skill] [skill]Signet of Mystic Wrath[/skill] [skill]Channeling[/skill] [skill]Illusion of Weakness[/skill] [skill]Watchful Spirit[/skill]

If the update to FC in signets comes out, you can be sure I'll be looking into this again as the build is a little iffy. How are you able to have a DF skill on there if you go Me/ primary? O_o

So if Smite isn't the best damage wise, is there any other Monk line that works well with a Mesmer, or should I roll like a Me/E, or Me/N?

phool

phool

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

[skill]Signet of Judgment[/skill][skill]Bane Signet[/skill][skill]Signet of Disruption[/skill][skill]Leech Signet[/skill][skill]Signet of Humility[/skill][skill]Purge Signet[/skill][skill]Signet of Removal[/skill][skill]Signet of Disenchantment[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill][skill]Mantra of Inscriptions[/skill][skill]Holy Wrath[/skill]

I see builds using 8 of those ran in RA from time to time and occasionally in TA. All of the skills listed are pretty useful, pick your poison - soj gives spike assist, bane will help with spike preventation if you've got a monk, everything else is pure utility. A few extra seconds on SoH and high recharge is more useful than a little extra damage from smiting I guess.

A mantra of recovery can make pretty good use of 8-10 pts in smiting where the following becomes fairly effective without really restricting the rest of the build.

[skill]smite Hex[/skill] (60 damage with that massive aoe is not at all bad in addition to the hex removal), [skill]Spear of Light[/skill] (it's not good but it's the best direct damage you're going to get if you badly want some), [skill]Auspicious Incantation[/skill]+[skill]Balthazar's Aura[/skill] (usable approximately every 20 seconds, can be expected to net a decent 10 energy). Vengeance is a fairly nice 4v4 skill too with mor. It effectively caps your monk's DP at 15, while maxing out their health+energy every 30 seconds with just a couple of seconds downtime, or giving a warrior a noticable damage buff.

Judge's Insight synergises a great deal with some builds (and enemies) so that can be a good skill to take with the right team. All in all smiting isn't exceptional though. Smite hex is the best thing it offers imo.

As for other uses of the /mo, [skill]Gift of Health[/skill] is another skill that goes nicely with [skill]Mantra of Recovery[/skill] but a lot of people won't be able to multitask with their shutdown or whatever else offensive role and use GoH effectively and on some builds I don't think anyone could. Still a 87-105heal for only 5 energy at 9 healing up to every 3 seconds is very nice if your build allows for frequent target switching. Another 4v4 thing. Mesmers are very good with monk hex removal in general. Yet another mantra of recovery skill combo is with auspicious incantation+heal party or (for abaddon) extinguish. They don't require weapon switching to be used effectively as much as 25e skills do and when they're actually netting you energy a mere 50 for the party isn't bad going. Unlike some of the nicer AI fodder (deep freeze, eruption) there's no downtime at all, like with conjure nightmare.

Finally a me/mo is an excellent smiter-smite bonder duo in some areas as mantra of recovery allows for 100% soa coverage. It's safer than a monk in areas where you don't need the monk's versatility of secondary.

=DNC=Trucker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

TLA

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keero89
How are you able to have a DF skill on there if you go Me/ primary? O_o

So if Smite isn't the best damage wise, is there any other Monk line that works well with a Mesmer, or should I roll like a Me/E, or Me/N? The ench are purely there to fuel mystic wrath. The +2 from watchful doesn't depend on your lvl in DF. Its just one or two time I would get hit with bleeding and this did the trick.

Like I said, this worked great in N Kryta where one roll down your skillbar would wipe out 2 skelies, all of which recharge in 10 secs. Other than than, I do agree that the search for the best signet build is still in the air.

hmmm... only if signet of illusions worked on signets and not just spells

Snype

Snype

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

.:Pro Guildhopper:.

Mo/Me

If you go into inspiration and smiting you can create a smite (team) build based off of signet of removal. Use mantra of inscriptions, sig of removal, ether sig, bathazars aura, strength of honor, zealots fire, and draw conditions. After the signet FC update, this build will be wayyy overpowered.