best initial elite skills
khanites
i am about to start thinking of getting elite skills in PvE. Which are the best first few elite skills to go for in a sucessful PVE where creatures swarm you a bit?
Stormlord Alex
Lyssa and Melandru are the elites I steer towards using the most.
The hierarchy looks something like this...
[skill]avatar of lyssa[/skill][skill]avatar of melandru[/skill] > Other stuff > [skill]onslaught[/skill] > No elite > Empty Skillbar >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [skill]avatar of balthazar[/skill]
The hierarchy looks something like this...
[skill]avatar of lyssa[/skill][skill]avatar of melandru[/skill] > Other stuff > [skill]onslaught[/skill] > No elite > Empty Skillbar >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [skill]avatar of balthazar[/skill]
Sirius-NZ
weeellll... actually, I think I might just take AoB over an empty skill-bar, but your point is clear...
And for the record, Onslaught is probably only much use with Rangers.
P.S. @ OP: Try Lyssa + Heart of Fury. Should do a pretty good job. I'd recommend using Eternal Aura (go to Sunspear Great Hall hero skill trainer if you don't have it) and 2-3 scythe attacks as well. One of them should be Eremite's Attack because it hits faster than the others, which is important for Lyssa since you can then time the hit for your target's skill activations. If you want some extra survivability, put about 8 or so points in Earth Prayers and take Conviction + Mystic Regeneration (assuming you can get them that early - I don't remember any more ...). Should be fairly hard to kill you, and you'll do a lot of damage to mobs.
P.P.S. OK on checking, Conviction and Mystic Regen are both Mouth of Torment skills. 'Tis a pity. Still, bring a prot monk and you should still be OK.
And for the record, Onslaught is probably only much use with Rangers.
P.S. @ OP: Try Lyssa + Heart of Fury. Should do a pretty good job. I'd recommend using Eternal Aura (go to Sunspear Great Hall hero skill trainer if you don't have it) and 2-3 scythe attacks as well. One of them should be Eremite's Attack because it hits faster than the others, which is important for Lyssa since you can then time the hit for your target's skill activations. If you want some extra survivability, put about 8 or so points in Earth Prayers and take Conviction + Mystic Regeneration (assuming you can get them that early - I don't remember any more ...). Should be fairly hard to kill you, and you'll do a lot of damage to mobs.
P.P.S. OK on checking, Conviction and Mystic Regen are both Mouth of Torment skills. 'Tis a pity. Still, bring a prot monk and you should still be OK.
MBP
What's the point of Onslaught on a ranger? They already have expertise.
As for a Derv elite...I'd say [skill]reaper's sweep[/skill] Lyssa and Melandru are the most worthwhile. Later pick up [skill]wounding strike[/skill]- that's a bit further into the game.
Some other attacks that work great with Lyssa (for the same reason as Eremite's) are [skill]mystic sweep[/skill] and [skill]protector's strike[/skill]. You don't really need Heart of Fury if you'll be using attacks like this because of the super fast activation. You could save that skill slot for a utility skill like [skill]aura of thorns[/skill] or [skill]wild blow[/skill].
As for a Derv elite...I'd say [skill]reaper's sweep[/skill] Lyssa and Melandru are the most worthwhile. Later pick up [skill]wounding strike[/skill]- that's a bit further into the game.
Some other attacks that work great with Lyssa (for the same reason as Eremite's) are [skill]mystic sweep[/skill] and [skill]protector's strike[/skill]. You don't really need Heart of Fury if you'll be using attacks like this because of the super fast activation. You could save that skill slot for a utility skill like [skill]aura of thorns[/skill] or [skill]wild blow[/skill].
Sirius-NZ
Exactly. Expertise + Onslaught = nearly free attacks! Most significant with the really expensive ones.
Nyktos
Reaper's Sweep, AoL, and AoM. I don't really like Wounding Strike much, there are better skills than an elite Dismember.
MBP
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirius-NZ
Exactly. Expertise + Onslaught = nearly free attacks! Most significant with the really expensive ones.
I'd rather use a better elite for a ranger but that's a different thread.
Coloneh
dont forget Vow of Strength. might not have the Pure DPS of a lyssa build, but VoS builds still tage down targets and live to tell about it.
Marverick
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirius-NZ
Quote:
|
dont forget Vow of Strength. might not have the Pure DPS of a lyssa build, but VoS builds still tage down targets and live to tell about it.
So basically you just admitted it does less damage, and you still advocate it..
You can't see me
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
Lyssa and Melandru are the elites I steer towards using the most.
The hierarchy looks something like this... [skill]avatar of lyssa[/skill][skill]avatar of melandru[/skill] > Other stuff > [skill]avatar of balthazar[/skill] > No elite > Empty Skillbar >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [skill]onslaught[/skill] Fixed, AoB still is /win against undead mobs. At least it has a very very small use. Onslaught is just garbage. blurmedia
Quote:
Originally Posted by You can't see me
Fixed, AoB still is /win against undead mobs. At least it has a very very small use. Onslaught is just garbage.
I'd MUCH rather take AoM + AoHM intead of AoB...
Stormlord Alex
Quote:
Originally Posted by You can't see me
Fixed, AoB still is /win against undead mobs. At least it has a very very small use. Onslaught is just garbage.
Onslaught's skill icon is cool.
AoB's Holy damage is nothing, Aura of Holy Might gives you Holy damage already and does something worthwhile
Coloneh
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marverick
So basically you just admitted it does less damage, and you still advocate it..
of course it does less damage. nothing is even close to being on par with the DPS of lyssa in PvE. that dosnt mean VoS builds arent good. you need 2 offensive skills to dish out decent damage. that leaves you 5 skills for self defense and utility.
MBP
Once I get my Kurz title going for AoHM I'll be switching to a vow build for a while...too bad getting faction is so damn annoying...
Nyktos
Vow of Strength isn't bad overall, but I'd rather use Lyssa/Melandru/Reapers/Wounding.
You can't see me
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
Onslaught's skill icon is cool.
AoB's Holy damage is nothing, Aura of Holy Might gives you Holy damage already and does something worthwhile Holy damage isn't the only thing AoB does. Now, I'm not saying that it's a good elite, but it's better than Onslaught at any rate.
MBP
I'd rather use Onslaught..
You can't see me
Quote:
Originally Posted by MBP
I'd rather use Onslaught..
Then use Onslaught.
Sirius-NZ
Speaking of which, I wasn't suggesting Onslaught is a terribly good use of a Ranger, especially since I'm really not very familiar with Rangers, but it seemed to synergise better with them than Dervishes.
I've actually tried Vow of Strength + Aura of Holy Might + Heart of Fury ... it does pretty reasonable damage, but it's no Lyssa really as it can't do tactical damage... it is merely easy to c-space. Wait no, I lie ... it wasn't Heart of Fury, it was Heket's Rampage or something like that, because I figured I might as well bring along a pet to do something with the other skill slots. It seems there is no real consensus on whether wounding strike or reaper's sweep is the better elite. I guess that's a "try both and pick the one you like the most". ~ Dan ~
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyktos
Vow of Strength isn't bad overall
It's terrible vs high AL targets
 Say if you're attacking a warrior.. Mystic sweep's bonus damage means you'd still do a fair bit. However, vow of strength: 5 dmg x 35% more is still worthless.
Turtle222
VoS with AoHM is legendary w/ 14/15 SM D:
Burst Cancel
The point of VoS is damage stacking. It multiplies *all raw damage* (i.e., it goes at the end of the formula), so any +X stuff you tack on gets multiplied, and it gets stupid with armor penetration. If you're just using it by itself, it's not going to do much, but when you add AoHM, Great Dwarf Weapon, "I Am the Strongest!", Judge's, etc. the damage improves very quickly (consider: +20 turns into +28 at 12 earth).
Of course, it's also naturally better against lower AL targets. So if you're helping someone in normal mode, VoS is a good option. That said, it takes a lot of work to make VoS good, whereas Lyssa is amazing out of the box. Kingof the mice
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirius-NZ
P.P.S. OK on checking, Conviction and Mystic Regen are both Mouth of Torment skills. 'Tis a pity. Still, bring a prot monk and you should still be OK.
You can unlock a skill in PvP and then buy it from a skill trainer on the right continent I think. Or at least you used to be able to.
~ Dan ~
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingof the mice
You can unlock a skill in PvP and then buy it from a skill trainer on the right continent I think. Or at least you used to be able to.
Course you can. It's just the issue that alot of people winge they don't want to PvP.
Coloneh
Quote:
Originally Posted by Burst Cancel
The point of VoS is damage stacking. It multiplies *all raw damage* (i.e., it goes at the end of the formula), so any +X stuff you tack on gets multiplied, and it gets stupid with armor penetration. If you're just using it by itself, it's not going to do much, but when you add AoHM, Great Dwarf Weapon, "I Am the Strongest!", Judge's, etc. the damage improves very quickly (consider: +20 turns into +28 at 12 earth).
Of course, it's also naturally better against lower AL targets. So if you're helping someone in normal mode, VoS is a good option. That said, it takes a lot of work to make VoS good, whereas Lyssa is amazing out of the box. you forgot how VoS is like "auto-god-mode" when your already at high earth prayers applying a bunch of enchantments, mystic regen just makes mobs feel silly. A few days a go in hell's preciple i decided to take a pug (god knows why). anyways, by misfortune, my lyssa build and sad human monking everyone wiped on the lich, except 1 VoS derv, who preceded to solo the lich. I love lyssa, but VoS is really underestimated.
Sirius-NZ
...I see. I'm just out of the loop; I thought that skill trainers would only show a pre-set list of skills.
Burst Cancel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coloneh
you forgot how VoS is like "auto-god-mode" when your already at high earth prayers applying a bunch of enchantments, mystic regen just makes mobs feel silly.
10 regen isn't godmode. Mystic Regen completely destroys degen pressure, but it's not going to help much against enemies that do massive direct damage.
However, I agree that high earth spec - and more importantly, a mostly empty skillbar - allow you to take many defensive skills 'for free'. |
