Basic Guide to Playing Dervish

~ Dan ~

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver
Oh wow, you're right.

There was no reason for it, it was simply overlooked.

I'll fix it in due course. Pfft, slacker.

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

Update:

Updated BBCode. If anyone noticed any errors please let me know and I'll get it fixed.

It's a shame I can't make in-line-text tags as before. Looks a bit messy now with little boxes everywhere...

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

Question, I was told Victorous Sweep isn't that great a skill because of the condition attached to it. I like using it, but is it really a worth-while skill?

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

It has a 4 second recharge, which is the lowest recharge on any Scythe Mastery skill.

It deals more bonus damage than a lot of the other non-elite Scythe Mastery skills at 12 Scythe Mastery.

You gain health if you meet it's condition.

I like it. I see the health as a bonus, which after one or two hits, the condition of <50% HP is often easily met (and, depending who you're fighting, you may have taken some splash damage which needs healing up). You need to ask yourself:1. Does it fit into my build, or is there another skill which would be more beneficial?
2. If I never need the health from it, is it worth me taking it?My reasoning for using it, is that it deals a high amount of damage, and has a short recharge, though I wont use it in builds such as Avatar of Lyssa, where the quicker attacks (Mystic Sweep, Eremite's Attack) are more beneficial. It is a good skill in Alliance Battles where you may not necessarily have a Monk to back you up.

Faer

Faer

La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo

Join Date: Feb 2006

[AoB Dervish;OgGikysM5eJGKd1cxUMG6fJAAA]

CV and RT swappable for AoHM and EA for PvE usage (if you don't like using PF with that pair, swap your IAS to HoF or Flail (or Drunken Master if your Deldrimore Rank doesn't suck and you have the booze to waste; I don't like the idea of using an IAS that requires grinding to Rank 10 and spending money to use as effectively as skills that require no grinding, however)). BS can be traded for Wild Blow if you are in a PvE area with lots of foes that use annoying stances (Kourna comes to mind). With the changes to various skills over the past year, Avatar of Balthazar has become more of an attractive option for both PvE and PvP, compared to the days when it was completely overshadowed by every other Avatar, especially Melandru and Grenth. Keep in mind that the +40AL granted by the skill is only a small added bonus - the idea is to deal damage, not to tank, and the constant 33% speed boost greatly assists in the damage dealing process.

Equipment Code:
Code:
PkphQvYH+kqOplI90SplIDLFplI7TNplI3jRplIDLA Standard melee weapon rules apply. Carry Sundering, Vampiric, Zealous, and Elemental at all times. If you are cheap, or poor, or just lazy, at least carry a Sundering and Vampiric pair to swap between (you'll make babies cry if you don't).

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

Thanks Faer.

Added Dervish Running Build

I got sick of people posting just to request running builds. Now, if anyone else does, they can be directed to this thread. The build added does not require Eye of the North, or any PvE skills, and is tried and tested.

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver
My reasoning for using it, is that it deals a high amount of damage and has a short recharge Thanks for the reply. The short recharge and decent damage was also an attraction for me. At first, I used it for the healing though, because I often had vital boon on me.

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

i think it's time to add the conjure strike build to the list

[build prof=D/E name="Conjure Strike" scythe=12+1+1 windprayers=8+1 mysticism=8+1 airmagic=7][wounding strike][mystic sweep][chilling][signet of mystic sp][conjure ligh][attackers in][heart of fury][resurrection sig][/build]

of course you need to use a shocking scythe for this particular build. you could also use [conjure frost] or [conjure flame] and use the appropriate elemental scythe. if using [conjure frost], you can use [grenth's fin] to get the desired damage conversion without an icy scythe.

if using it in AB, you can take out res and use [faithful int] or another utility.

most people already know about this build and it's so popular right now i just thought it might be a good idea to add it.

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

Thank you joshuarodger. I've added that to the main guide, and tweaked it a little.

MegaVolti

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2008

Me/Rt

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirius-NZ
Ok, let me run the numbers here.

Fortitude mod gives you 30 hp, no questions asked.
5 armor defensive mod reduces damage to 2^(-5/40), giving you an effective HP multiplier of 2^0.125 = 1.091. (9.1% boost).
So, if you have 500 HP, you will take as much damage (compared to before) as if you had 500 * 1.091 = 545 HP... so that's a 45 HP boost.

OK, I can see where that would come from. It's not a huge boost, and it doesn't work against armor-ignoring damage, but it is something (and scales with your HP).

P.S. With further thought, in the end it also depends whether the armor boost is enough to actually reduce the damage you're taking. If 8.2% reduction won't affect the numbers - i.e. if you're taking damage in small packets - you will get little benefit from the armor boost. If you're taking more than 10 damage a hit, there will be a difference - and in spots where the damage reduction is close to 8.2% (more likely to happen for 20 damage hits and over) you'll start to benefit from +5 armor more than you would from +30 hp.

So, fortitude is better if, uh, you're getting wanded to death. Or for armor-ignoring damage. Apart from that, defense, shelter or warding should do slightly better. One more thing to add:
The +armor has another nice side-effect. It indirectly increases the health you gain from healing spells.
Since damage you receive is reduced, the monk has to heal ~10% less for the damage you took. In the long run this helps the monks.
A simple +health mod will of cause never have that effect.

Drizzitdude

Drizzitdude

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

why would i tell you?

The Final Kingdom

D/W

This is a great guide. It seems when PVE Lyssa is definatly the way to go. Sorry if i sound like a nub but I dont have a dervish. But i will soon My nightfall pack will get here soon.

Hanuka

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2008

Gr8 guide! thx xD

aww, btw, how come I can't view the Card and Build thingys visually here? I only see the forum code..
I.E. "[build prof=D name=..."

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanuka View Post
Gr8 guide! thx xD

aww, btw, how come I can't view the Card and Build thingys visually here? I only see the forum code..
I.E. "[build prof=D name=..." The code is not working at the moment - hopefully they will be working again soon.

_Nihilist_

_Nihilist_

Will Bull's Strike for $!

Join Date: Apr 2006

Isle of the Dead

Code is working now (has been for a month or more, yay); just wanted to stop by and say TY for a great guide, Beaver. My main is a Warrior, but I've got a Derv (playing mule @ the moment) who has been wanting to see some action. This helps me get him ready so the first skills I use with him don't tally up to EPIC FAIL.

Thanks again!

Picuso

Picuso

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

far far away

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by bpphantom View Post
While true, you then get dinged by the Ranger's +30 vs Ele which puts you in the same boat as you were.
Quote: Of course; I was just listing a few examples that came to mind. And wild blow should be one of the standard attack skills to have on your bar unless you're running SY.

Quote:
# Weapons causing Holy damage do not ignore armor.
# Holy damage is neither physical nor elemental damage.
# Nothing protects specifically against Holy damage. Stupid question: Holy Damage does or doesn't ignore Ranger's Bonus armor?

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

No, it doesn't.

The Meth

The Meth

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2007

R/

Yes, it does. Of course it does. Ranger armor works against elemental. Holy is not elemental. Why would you think otherwise?

Picuso

Picuso

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

far far away

W/

I thought it does, but I'm not sure after reading bpphantom's post...

I will test it asap...

papaschtroumpf

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2009

[Moon]

You mention runes but not insignias, any of them worth using?

Field

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2009

Hi.

I just wanted to say thanks for the guide, it helped me chose my class.
(just bought Factions, Nightfall and Eye of the North today)

Im a bit confused about what secondary to pick though.
Im thinking about Ritualist. It was mainly the ability to Ressurect that pulled me in that direction.
Plus, its a new class (for me anyways) that i havent tried yet from the expansion.
I think ill pick that unless its going to gimp me alot.
(If anyone got tips on a good PvE secondary, please tell me)

Alot of people say its not the strongest class as a primary.
But lets be honest, Dervish looks really cool and that makes up for it, sorta.
A class so cool it even gets to take on the avatars of gods =)

Plus, being one of the less popular classes means we are "special" i guess.
I hate having 1/3 of everyone you see the same class as you.

Marty Silverblade

Marty Silverblade

Administrator

Join Date: Jun 2006

Monks and Paragons can resurrect aswell. Para isn't much help, but Monk offers more than just a rez (as opposed to Rits, which don't). Some condition removal is nice. Also, from what you've written, I don't think you realise you can change your secondary freely when you pass a certain point in the game.

Field

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2009

Hmm, i didnt know you could change a secondary later on.
Im still kinda new, the highest level i have gotten so far is 15 (in the factions campaign)

I just remember from earlier when i was playing factions as a M/E.
With a npc party i would often get stuck on a mission if i was the only one who survived after
a battle when i had already used my signet.

It did seem like a waste to use a secondary just for the ability to res.
But at the time i didnt really think the other professions offered anything i really needed.
I guess /W makes sense though.
Edit: This may sound stupid but how does adrenaline work when you arent a Warrior primary?
Do skills use energy instead?

Field

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2009

Thanks.

/W it is then =) (when i get to change from /Mo)

~ Dan ~

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Revelations View Post
Assuming the guy is talking about pve - neither of the first two are incredibly helpful, and the third is only really useful in certain places. I'd still probably go /W for prot strike and SY though.
His initial selection of /Rt for a hard res isn't completely terrible. Death pact is pretty strong for decent hero setups. /E for conjure on WS isn't terrible either. Death pact is ok on frontline but i'd still leave hard res to the midliners and take a sunspear sig on my bar - Though lately I haven't taken a res at all.

Revelations

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2009

Not Dead

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by ~ Dan ~ View Post
Of course; I was just listing a few examples that came to mind. And wild blow should be one of the standard attack skills to have on your bar unless you're running SY.
I suppose with the high crits of scythes wild blow is pretty decent. Given a choice between it and prot strike I'd probably still run the latter though, especially running something like Zealous Vow.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ~ Dan ~ View Post
Death pact is ok on frontline but i'd still leave hard res to the midliners and take a sunspear sig on my bar - Though lately I haven't taken a res at all. Agreed on this. I normally run a copy of death pact somewhere in the midline, and hench monks are strong at res chanting shit while their team is blowing up, so I usually don't run a res myself either. As far as sunspear sig goes though, there's so many stupid overpowered pve skills around that I'd rather not waste a pve slot on it.

Kotetsu Rain

Kotetsu Rain

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Utopia

D/

Soo... who's gonna write up the new one?