I'm fairly experienced with Ritualists, and i've been rolling with a channeling build for the past couple of weeks, but it's starting to age. At first, I used a Gaze from Beyond-Spirit Burn-Essence Strike chain with Bloodsong, then I tried using Channeled Strike with Cruel Was Daoshen, which was kinda low DPS for me.
People keep telling me that Ancestor's Rage is the best Rit skill out there, but all of the people that claim to be warriors are fighting one-on-one with baddies, making it deal 37 damage to one foe.
My current Build:
Channeling Magic: 12
Restoration Magic: 7
Spawning Power: 5
Bloodsong
Spirit Burn
Essence Strike
Spirit Rift
Ancestor's Rage
Splinter Weapon
Cruel Was Daoshen
Flesh of My Flesh
My question:
Is an offensive spirit wrangler a good alternative to a "shocker" channeling build?
Channeling or Communing?
Cosmic Error
Biostem
I use the following skills:
Channeling: 12 + 2 + 1
Spawning Power: 9 + 1
Beast Mastery: 9
[skill]bloodsong[/skill][skill]spirit burn[/skill][skill]spirit rift[/skill][skill]vampirism[/skill][skill]essence strike[/skill][skill]nightmare weapon[/skill][skill]heal as one[/skill][skill]charm animal[/skill]
That's if I'm h/h-ing it or w/ a good group, otherwise I'll take a rez and either another attack skill, spirit summon, or heal skill in place of the 2 BM skills.
Here are some common skills to replace the 2 BM skills:
[skill]flesh of my flesh[/skill][skill]signet of spirits[/skill][skill]spirit light[/skill]
I sometimes also mix [skill]Weapon of Aggression[/skill] with [skill]spirit's strength[/skill]
Regardless, I found communing to be a rather unspectacular skill line; it has good general utility, but doesn't excel in any 1 area.
To answer your question: I find that the 3+ second activation to summon spirits, unless you're using the alliance skill to tp them around w/ you, is too long to be effective in normal battles. In more prolonged fights, where you need to hold an area or such, then a so-called "spirit spammer" is quite useful.
Channeling: 12 + 2 + 1
Spawning Power: 9 + 1
Beast Mastery: 9
[skill]bloodsong[/skill][skill]spirit burn[/skill][skill]spirit rift[/skill][skill]vampirism[/skill][skill]essence strike[/skill][skill]nightmare weapon[/skill][skill]heal as one[/skill][skill]charm animal[/skill]
That's if I'm h/h-ing it or w/ a good group, otherwise I'll take a rez and either another attack skill, spirit summon, or heal skill in place of the 2 BM skills.
Here are some common skills to replace the 2 BM skills:
[skill]flesh of my flesh[/skill][skill]signet of spirits[/skill][skill]spirit light[/skill]
I sometimes also mix [skill]Weapon of Aggression[/skill] with [skill]spirit's strength[/skill]
Regardless, I found communing to be a rather unspectacular skill line; it has good general utility, but doesn't excel in any 1 area.
To answer your question: I find that the 3+ second activation to summon spirits, unless you're using the alliance skill to tp them around w/ you, is too long to be effective in normal battles. In more prolonged fights, where you need to hold an area or such, then a so-called "spirit spammer" is quite useful.
Dr Strangelove
Well, part of the problem is that you're heavily running the channeling direct damage spells - most of them are bad. Splinter weapon is mandatory, ancestor's rage is mandatory, everything else is fluff. Spirit rift is ok, but it's really expensive and hard to aim, and essence strike is ok for energy. Don't even consider anything else. They're bad.
Moving on.... Spirit spam builds are almost universally bad. There's going to be a mob coming behind me announcing that they're the best thing since decapitated Rurik, but they're insanely slow. The only time they should be used is if you don't plan on moving at all - say, Vizunah Square.
For your build, drop spawning power all the way down and grab your att point quests ASAP. Toss in some fun restoration stuff, like weapon of warding, vengeful weapon, mend body and soul, etc. and you should be good to go.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Biostem
Moving on.... Spirit spam builds are almost universally bad. There's going to be a mob coming behind me announcing that they're the best thing since decapitated Rurik, but they're insanely slow. The only time they should be used is if you don't plan on moving at all - say, Vizunah Square.
For your build, drop spawning power all the way down and grab your att point quests ASAP. Toss in some fun restoration stuff, like weapon of warding, vengeful weapon, mend body and soul, etc. and you should be good to go.
Quote:
Beast Mastery: 9
No
EDIT: Figured I'd copypasta my overly posted build in here
Most used PvE rit build for me:
[skill]splinter weapon[/skill]
[skill]ancestors' rage[/skill]
[skill]Weapon of Warding[/skill] or [skill]weapon of shadow[/skill]
Some PvE skill, usually the ebon vanguard ward or another defensive skill like [skill]protective was kaolai[/skill] or pure was li ming.
Another utility slot/PvE skill, often pain inverter,summoned sin or [skill]spirit rift[/skill]
[skill]offering of spirit[/skill]
[skill]recovery[/skill] or [skill]life[/skill] or [skill]recuperation[/skill]
[skill]death pact signet[/skill]
The only things glued to my bar are splinter, rage, DP signet and offering. 4 slots to push out whatever utility you like most is awesome.
Heinously copied from my post in another thread.
EDIT: Figured I'd copypasta my overly posted build in here
Most used PvE rit build for me:
[skill]splinter weapon[/skill]
[skill]ancestors' rage[/skill]
[skill]Weapon of Warding[/skill] or [skill]weapon of shadow[/skill]
Some PvE skill, usually the ebon vanguard ward or another defensive skill like [skill]protective was kaolai[/skill] or pure was li ming.
Another utility slot/PvE skill, often pain inverter,summoned sin or [skill]spirit rift[/skill]
[skill]offering of spirit[/skill]
[skill]recovery[/skill] or [skill]life[/skill] or [skill]recuperation[/skill]
[skill]death pact signet[/skill]
The only things glued to my bar are splinter, rage, DP signet and offering. 4 slots to push out whatever utility you like most is awesome.
Heinously copied from my post in another thread.
Oso Minar
[skill]Echo[/skill][skill]Arcane Echo[/skill][skill]Ancestors' Rage[/skill]
2-1-3-2-1-2 Yeayuh!
The direct damage Ritualist spells USED to be good, until people realized that they were good in PvP, and they subsequently got nerfed to their current crippled versions.
In tough missions and Hard Mode, I think that offensive spirit-spammers are underpowered as well. For one, it takes an awful long time just to get your spirits up. Furthermore, once an enemy takes it down (and they seem to target spirits awfully fast, due to their low health), you're stuck doing piddly damage.
2-1-3-2-1-2 Yeayuh!
The direct damage Ritualist spells USED to be good, until people realized that they were good in PvP, and they subsequently got nerfed to their current crippled versions.
In tough missions and Hard Mode, I think that offensive spirit-spammers are underpowered as well. For one, it takes an awful long time just to get your spirits up. Furthermore, once an enemy takes it down (and they seem to target spirits awfully fast, due to their low health), you're stuck doing piddly damage.
Cosmic Error
I'm seriously starting to fall in love with Spirit Rift and Ancestor's Rage.
Splinter weapon was looking overtly disappointing. Whoever I cast it on ended up attacking a lone caster outside the fray. Then I casted it on myself, and... I was wanding things to death.
Current Build:
Channeling: 12+1+3
Restoration: 12
[card]Bloodsong[/card]
[card]Spirit Rift[/card]
[card]Vengeful Weapon[/card] <= I love this weapon spell.
[card]Ancestors' Rage[/card]
[card]Splinter Weapon[/card]
[card]Cruel Was Daoshen[/card]
[card]Blind was Mingson[/card] (Didn't know what else to put here, I can't cap Offering yet. I just slapped this on because it has the most badass skill icon ever drawn.
[card]Flesh of My Flesh[/card]
Rock on.
Splinter weapon was looking overtly disappointing. Whoever I cast it on ended up attacking a lone caster outside the fray. Then I casted it on myself, and... I was wanding things to death.
Current Build:
Channeling: 12+1+3
Restoration: 12
[card]Bloodsong[/card]
[card]Spirit Rift[/card]
[card]Vengeful Weapon[/card] <= I love this weapon spell.
[card]Ancestors' Rage[/card]
[card]Splinter Weapon[/card]
[card]Cruel Was Daoshen[/card]
[card]Blind was Mingson[/card] (Didn't know what else to put here, I can't cap Offering yet. I just slapped this on because it has the most badass skill icon ever drawn.
[card]Flesh of My Flesh[/card]
Rock on.
yommi
Communing lacks a lot of depth. Usually it's just used for spirit spamming, which imho, is actually pretty good.
Spirit spamming annoys the hell out of your foes in AB, as well as PvE. Other pvp arenas usually aren't good because if you are a spirit spammer, you're more likely to be targeted just because you're a caster. It's good to use in AB when you have giant mob battles and/or guarding a shrine. Other than that, communing needs a buff (actually... the entire Ritualist class.)
Spirit spamming annoys the hell out of your foes in AB, as well as PvE. Other pvp arenas usually aren't good because if you are a spirit spammer, you're more likely to be targeted just because you're a caster. It's good to use in AB when you have giant mob battles and/or guarding a shrine. Other than that, communing needs a buff (actually... the entire Ritualist class.)
Cosmic Error
Quote:
Originally Posted by yommi
Communing lacks a lot of depth. Usually it's just used for spirit spamming, which imho, is actually pretty good.
Spirit spamming annoys the hell out of your foes in AB, as well as PvE. Other pvp arenas usually aren't good because if you are a spirit spammer, you're more likely to be targeted just because you're a caster. It's good to use in AB when you have giant mob battles and/or guarding a shrine. Other than that, communing needs a buff (actually... the entire Ritualist class.)
I don't trust you.
Spirit spamming annoys the hell out of your foes in AB, as well as PvE. Other pvp arenas usually aren't good because if you are a spirit spammer, you're more likely to be targeted just because you're a caster. It's good to use in AB when you have giant mob battles and/or guarding a shrine. Other than that, communing needs a buff (actually... the entire Ritualist class.)
I don't trust you.
Biostem
A couple of things to add:
I like having a pet - I find it fun, thus why I put points into beast mastery. With only 2 spirits on my bar, both of which recharge pretty quickly, and 1 weapon spell, which is good for 3 shots only, the increased life and duration from spawning power isn't a big loss - we're talking about a 13 in spawning w/o beast mastery vs a 10 with it.
Also, while people talk a lot about how good ancestor's rage is, I find it annoying to have to micro-manage which teammate I cast it on. I also find the 3-second delay w/ ancestor's rage to actually be quite useful - I cast it on an enemy heading towards us, and by the time I'm done casting it they've already engaged the melee characters on my team, so the delay is fine.
I prefer nightmare weapon over splinter weapon because it is still useful when there is only 1 enemy, it ignores armor, and it can double as a heal.
The most important thing is that you are having fun, and so I say go w/ w/e you enjoy!
I like having a pet - I find it fun, thus why I put points into beast mastery. With only 2 spirits on my bar, both of which recharge pretty quickly, and 1 weapon spell, which is good for 3 shots only, the increased life and duration from spawning power isn't a big loss - we're talking about a 13 in spawning w/o beast mastery vs a 10 with it.
Also, while people talk a lot about how good ancestor's rage is, I find it annoying to have to micro-manage which teammate I cast it on. I also find the 3-second delay w/ ancestor's rage to actually be quite useful - I cast it on an enemy heading towards us, and by the time I'm done casting it they've already engaged the melee characters on my team, so the delay is fine.
I prefer nightmare weapon over splinter weapon because it is still useful when there is only 1 enemy, it ignores armor, and it can double as a heal.
The most important thing is that you are having fun, and so I say go w/ w/e you enjoy!
xDusT II
Quote:
Originally Posted by Biostem
A couple of things to add:
I like having a pet - I find it fun, thus why I put points into beast mastery. With only 2 spirits on my bar, both of which recharge pretty quickly, and 1 weapon spell, which is good for 3 shots only, the increased life and duration from spawning power isn't a big loss - we're talking about a 13 in spawning w/o beast mastery vs a 10 with it.
Also, while people talk a lot about how good ancestor's rage is, I find it annoying to have to micro-manage which teammate I cast it on. I also find the 3-second delay w/ ancestor's rage to actually be quite useful - I cast it on an enemy heading towards us, and by the time I'm done casting it they've already engaged the melee characters on my team, so the delay is fine.
I prefer nightmare weapon over splinter weapon because it is still useful when there is only 1 enemy, it ignores armor, and it can double as a heal.
The most important thing is that you are having fun, and so I say go w/ w/e you enjoy! You've completely mixed up Ancestor's Rage and Spirit Rift. Spirit rift is a target foe based AoE spell with a 3 second delay, the damae is centralized where the spell was first cast. Ancestor's Rage is a target ally based enchantment spell (Although it's technically a skill) that has a 1 second delay before doing AoE damage centralized on the ally you targeted.
Splinter weapon is an interesting skill. For all the times it does nothing there are times where it blows up mobs. When used at the right place at the right time and on the proper person, this spell will easilly outclass Nightmare Weapon, which deals less damage then what a warrior would be doing normally.
I like having a pet - I find it fun, thus why I put points into beast mastery. With only 2 spirits on my bar, both of which recharge pretty quickly, and 1 weapon spell, which is good for 3 shots only, the increased life and duration from spawning power isn't a big loss - we're talking about a 13 in spawning w/o beast mastery vs a 10 with it.
Also, while people talk a lot about how good ancestor's rage is, I find it annoying to have to micro-manage which teammate I cast it on. I also find the 3-second delay w/ ancestor's rage to actually be quite useful - I cast it on an enemy heading towards us, and by the time I'm done casting it they've already engaged the melee characters on my team, so the delay is fine.
I prefer nightmare weapon over splinter weapon because it is still useful when there is only 1 enemy, it ignores armor, and it can double as a heal.
The most important thing is that you are having fun, and so I say go w/ w/e you enjoy! You've completely mixed up Ancestor's Rage and Spirit Rift. Spirit rift is a target foe based AoE spell with a 3 second delay, the damae is centralized where the spell was first cast. Ancestor's Rage is a target ally based enchantment spell (Although it's technically a skill) that has a 1 second delay before doing AoE damage centralized on the ally you targeted.
Splinter weapon is an interesting skill. For all the times it does nothing there are times where it blows up mobs. When used at the right place at the right time and on the proper person, this spell will easilly outclass Nightmare Weapon, which deals less damage then what a warrior would be doing normally.
bosstweed
Quote:
Originally Posted by xDusT II
You've completely mixed up Ancestor's Rage and Spirit Rift.
Ah, Biostem usually mixes things up anyway. 
But if I feel like going communing, I sometimes go Communing/Resto combo with defensive spirits to help heal. Mainly, I throw up displacement or union, and start a-spammin' mend body and soul/spirit light/weapon of warding, and my team is all "sweet Im alive" and Im all "dude np lolz"
But if I feel like going communing, I sometimes go Communing/Resto combo with defensive spirits to help heal. Mainly, I throw up displacement or union, and start a-spammin' mend body and soul/spirit light/weapon of warding, and my team is all "sweet Im alive" and Im all "dude np lolz"
Biostem
You're right.. I did confuse AR w/ SR, but I still do prefer SR.
As for the SW/NW issue - as I said, NW heals, thus increasing the versatility of the build. SW is good if you want to max out AoE damage, but it is useless on enemies that aren't close together or when fighting only 1 enemy. It also cannot do double-duty as a heal.
My main issue w/ AR is that I have to see where my allies are, then use the skill on them when there are a bunch of enemies around them. Since there is no "taunt" mechanic in GW to force enemies to attack the warrior, they aren't always guaranteed to have a bunch of enemies around them. SR is just "target an enemy and click"...
As for the SW/NW issue - as I said, NW heals, thus increasing the versatility of the build. SW is good if you want to max out AoE damage, but it is useless on enemies that aren't close together or when fighting only 1 enemy. It also cannot do double-duty as a heal.
My main issue w/ AR is that I have to see where my allies are, then use the skill on them when there are a bunch of enemies around them. Since there is no "taunt" mechanic in GW to force enemies to attack the warrior, they aren't always guaranteed to have a bunch of enemies around them. SR is just "target an enemy and click"...
Biostem
Quote:
Originally Posted by bosstweed
Ah, Biostem usually mixes things up anyway.
I'm sorry, it happens...
I'm sorry, it happens...
horseradish
I never have a problem with Splinter Weapon and Ancestors'.
With AR, i usually just cast it on the warrior. You're supposed to be surveying the battlefield anyways, so if ur teammate is being harassed by a minotaur or Afflicted sin, [skill]Ancestors' Rage[/skill] --> [skill]Weapon of Warding[/skill] --> [skill]Wielder's Boon[/skill].
Splinter Weapon is a loosely situational skill. More than likely, you're gonna run into mobs, to which Splinter weapon > Nightmare weapon. If you only see a random dude, then just cast AR.
The benefits outweigh the cons imo, but they're both good weapon spells.
With AR, i usually just cast it on the warrior. You're supposed to be surveying the battlefield anyways, so if ur teammate is being harassed by a minotaur or Afflicted sin, [skill]Ancestors' Rage[/skill] --> [skill]Weapon of Warding[/skill] --> [skill]Wielder's Boon[/skill].
Splinter Weapon is a loosely situational skill. More than likely, you're gonna run into mobs, to which Splinter weapon > Nightmare weapon. If you only see a random dude, then just cast AR.
The benefits outweigh the cons imo, but they're both good weapon spells.
xDusT II
Considering how flexible the rest of your bar is on a ritualist, there's no real point to take a compromised healing option just to save the abundance of space you'll have on your bar. Wielder's Boon and Mend Body and Soul both function as cheap effective heals without the drawbacks of Nightare Weapon and without eating up a weapon spot on whomever you cast it on. Ancestor's Rage doesn't need to be cast on allies being attacked. If you cast it on a warrior there should be atleast something adjacent to him or else he's doing something very wrong. Otherwise you can always watch who's being trained and cast Ancestor's on them.
As for a rit bar, I'd go for something like this:
Elite
Splinter Weapon
Ancestor's Rage
Wielder's Boon
Weapon of Warding / Weapon of Shadow
Mend Body and Soul / Spirit Light / Both
Life / Recovery / Recuperation / Res
Protective Was Kaoli / Pure was Li Ming.
Essentially it's quite similar to everything else posted here. Rit bars are generally quite flexible when it comes to skill space and quite limited when it comes to skill selection. The ability to play a support role with some nice offensive capabilities at your fingertips is probably what you'll be aiming to achieve as a ritualist anyway.
As for Elites, it really is quite optional. Offering of Spirit, Weapon of Remedy and Expel Hexes are all choices I've used. Once again the elite position is rather flexible so you can really optimise it to the area you are in.
As for a rit bar, I'd go for something like this:
Elite
Splinter Weapon
Ancestor's Rage
Wielder's Boon
Weapon of Warding / Weapon of Shadow
Mend Body and Soul / Spirit Light / Both
Life / Recovery / Recuperation / Res
Protective Was Kaoli / Pure was Li Ming.
Essentially it's quite similar to everything else posted here. Rit bars are generally quite flexible when it comes to skill space and quite limited when it comes to skill selection. The ability to play a support role with some nice offensive capabilities at your fingertips is probably what you'll be aiming to achieve as a ritualist anyway.
As for Elites, it really is quite optional. Offering of Spirit, Weapon of Remedy and Expel Hexes are all choices I've used. Once again the elite position is rather flexible so you can really optimise it to the area you are in.