Shield on an Elementalist

I have an elementalist, and I was wondering if there is any reason to use a shield on her. I see people doing this alot. I am running an e/a on her for pvp and for some farming. This build requires me to get in close to enemies. Is there any reason to use a shield on her, i have around 86 energy with it. Should I use a focus instead and have more energy? Thanks.

On a similar note, I am also using a chaos axe also. Is it better to go with a 40/40 set or is it better to use the chaos axe with +5 energy and +30 health ( i am only using one enchant so the 20% seems kind of pointless). Thanks.

The whole concept of martial weapons on a caster is usually only used by monks because they play a defensive role. You as an offensive caster should stick to caster weapons like staves and whatnot.

I typically keep two weapon sets: a 40/40 set and a high energy set in case I need the extra energy.

A shield will give you have the base armor if you dont meet the req. IE- base armor is 16. An ele will get 8. +10 for shield type

You get 18 extra armor from a shield

Are you using full Radiant + 2 Attunement runes?

In PvP, you would generally want more Health rather than more Energy.

20 (base) + 10 (armor) + 8 (Radiant) + 5 (axe) + 39 (13 Energy Storage) + 4 (2 Attunement runes) = 86

All depends on what you need and what you are running. Eles, and other casters can use shields if their build allows for them to function well with the missing energy. This is especially important when you are playing a caster who needs to get within melee range. IW Mesmers or PBAoE eles, Melemancers can all benefit. If you are running ursan, that's another good time to bring a shield since your energy isn't really an issue if you are doing it right.

If you really want to get some of the benefits of a shield and retain some energy, you can use the Zehtuka's Horn green item, it grants the energy (to the correct caster class), -5 20% and Health + 30. You can also use a standard +12 (or +27) offhand and put a -5 20% or if not using 15-1, put an armor +5 inscription on it. It is all about knowing what you need.

Don't be a sheep and accept what people say is THE way to do something. You know what build you have, what you need to make it work right. Seek balance with all that you know your build needs to do. You just have to think about it. How do you think all those people come up with the "new" builds all the time? They don't follow the status quo.

I don't know how you can make a connection between playing a defensive role and using martial weapons.

The reason casters bring shields is not for crappy builds.

Nor is it for -5/20%, which is absolute trash.


Having higher armor has a passive benefit - you take less damage. Having higher energy doesn't have a benefit; you only need it when you've burned through the energy you already have. If you're out of energy on your shield set, you swap up to your high energy set, cast, then swap back to the shield set.

Because of the 20% enchant, fort and unconditional +5 energy mods that you can't get on a wand. That's the connection I make.

I don't see why that ties martial weapons to monks specifically and not casters in general.

Monks are the only professions I've seen that really use a martial weapon/shield combo. Eles and other offensive casters in my experience have used either 40/40 or higher energy weapons.

You obviously don't pay that much attention to other caster classes, as they all have 3 main sets that usually never change.

A 40/40 set
A sword/spear/axe and shield set
A +30/-2 high energy set

The 4th slot is flexible but the first 3 are pretty much set in stone for any caster.

In answer to that question, the reason for carrying a shield would be for the armor. Whether or not it's a good idea is open to question, but I'd say it depends on the build.

I've been wondering the exact same thing. I play an elementalist a lot, "The Amethyst Mage" and I've been looking for any excuse to give her an Amethyst Aegis.

My main prof is elementalist.

When playing i have 4 sets of weapons.

staff - casting builds
axe and shield - farming builds
longbow - pulling
wand and focus - high energy

When farming eles usually want to be up close for sliver armor. The shield does add armor, but i use it for looks usually. The added armor doesn't really make a diffence to an ele with at least 3 armor skills.

plz. dont tlk about staff that u seem to be clueless.

decent players will have a shield+axe\sword\spear on each and every class ( seven sins...) the fact that u can get up to +60 hp and -2 while something or +10 vs something.

try standing aginst a fire ele with +10 fire shield or with your everyday 40/40...
also keep in mind that a shield hide energy (only +2 energy diff from the -5 offhands) so.

in short, every class that i play i use shield+sword set.

ty move on.

The great thing about shields is that you haven't actually 'lost' energy by switching to it, you actually 'hide' it. As an ele, the +energy does absolutely nothing for you unless you would be unable to cast without it (ie until you have wasted your 86 base energy) and at that point you can make the decision to switch to a staff and burn through that last bit. Since you are saying you are getting close to enemies, I absolutely recommend a shield on you most of the time. If you are playing further off and are targeted less, go for the 40/40 and switch to the shield when in danger.

As for your exact equipment, +30 health is good for your axe but +5 energy, again, does nothing but hurt you vs energy denial or death unless you have actually burnt through the rest of your energy first, so even if 20% enchant is providing a nominal benefit, its still providing a benefit. Also, make sure you carry a few different types of shields with different +10 vs damage type mods, then pop it into your quick slots based on what you see the enemy using.

No, it isn't open to question.
It is a good idea, period.
Learning to weapon switch is ftw.

I don't know what you mean, a shield "hides" energy. There is no mod to add energy to a shield is there, or am I missing something?

Example:

Lets say you are a ele who has 50 base energy with a shield on. You are also have a wand and focus weapon set that gives you 65 energy. With the shield equiped your energy is "hidden" because if your energy drops to 0 you can switch to the wand and focus, and BAM! You have 15 energy.

This was nicely answered by Savio and very very true!


you don't need an excuse, my ele is very happy with its shiny thing, but with an armor swap I changed shield again too.

Elite Hydromance armor dyed in the amythist shield colors is wicked, but now I'm again on norn armor with an aureate aegis. all very pretty lookswise.

If you get ganked with a Sword/Axe + Shield, granting you greater Health and Armour, you're more likely to survive than with an Adept Staff of Enchanting.