Ok, just got my Rit to Kaineng and got her a bunch of resto skills to complement the channeling skills like everyone seems to recommend. However, I tried running it and I failed at managing both my offence and team members health. Now that I think about it, it would have been better to use channeling skills that target allies like [[Ancestors Rage], but meh. If I want to heal people, I'll play my Monk, so I figure I'll go back to my preferred Chanelling/Communing setup.
Basically what I'm asking is for some good Channeling/Communing builds (found an offensive spirit spammer in the sticky but it's not really what I want). Even if it's not 100% efficient (i.e, don't give me 'OMG noob you fail just be conformist and run resto/chan builds'), I really want to give this a go.
So far I'm running (iirc);
[Splinter [email protected]][Brutal [email protected]][Ancestor's [email protected]][Channeled [email protected]][Mighty Was [email protected]][[email protected]][[email protected]][Painful [email protected]]
Splinter and Ancestors are nice, you won't be able to get them off without numerous spam PMs and a petition. Brutal is ok, I find that Splinter Weapon is sometimes a waste of a slot where nothing bunches up, so Brutal buffs the damage a bit. Channeled Strike is just a direct nuke, I'm up to change this. Mighty Was Vorizun is crap, but I need something to fuel Channeled Strike (if theres something better to replace CS, suggest something to replace this, doesn't have to be an item spell). Pain/Bloodsong are my damage spirits, they're fun, I'd like to keep at least one. Painful bond for obvious reasons.
Getting skills isn't a problem for me, I'm loaded with cash and I can unlock anything I want (via the uber PvP mode, Zaishen Challenge). IF you suggest an elite thats a long way off (I'm not buying an elite tome), suggest a temporary replacement.
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Sorry for the long block of text. Please help. Thanks in advance.
Channeling/Communing builds?
Marty Silverblade
Alex the Great
in all honesty, without a dedicated spirit build they wont do much damage, and you'd be better off brining resto spells, but if you are adament on sprits bring [vampirism] and [summon spirits] along with bloodsong. Take out the item spell and channeled strike and bring spirit rift. when you use summon spirits, you spirits will both synch to the same target, so slap painful bond on it.
frojack
Communing has some good skills, but the problem is they have always never been worth the spec. The Pain & Bloodsong + Painful Bond combo is actually pretty good as general passive offense. Weapon of Quickening is also a very good skill and sits nicely with that combo.
[Additionally, I'd love to see a buff to Weapon of Quickening that increased cast/creation time as well as recharge]
While Brutal Weapon looks like a great skill, it's actually pretty iffy for front-liners since monks will be protting them constantly with enchantments, so you lose the benefit. Having it on a paragon or a ranger in your team can work well however as long as your monks are aware of it.
Sundering weapon is verging on 'good'. Cracked armour is pretty useful, especially with all the obscure skills on physicals that can make use of it, but this skill just isn't there yet (+10%, 8 second recharge imo). Also in anet's desire to see Necro's playable in PvP beyond retarded hexes, they've made Weaken Armour stupidly over-powered. So you might aswell just use that instead.
Vital Weapon is ok. Not amazing but it has it's uses. Guided Weapon can work, but it's a bit too clunky. As it stands, if it worked, it would probably be over-powered. It's just one of those skills. Needs a much shorter duration (like 0-4 seconds) to have it's costs/cast adjusted.
Binding Chains could be made more fun also. Or maybe that would just be more annoying...
[Additionally, I'd love to see a buff to Weapon of Quickening that increased cast/creation time as well as recharge]
While Brutal Weapon looks like a great skill, it's actually pretty iffy for front-liners since monks will be protting them constantly with enchantments, so you lose the benefit. Having it on a paragon or a ranger in your team can work well however as long as your monks are aware of it.
Sundering weapon is verging on 'good'. Cracked armour is pretty useful, especially with all the obscure skills on physicals that can make use of it, but this skill just isn't there yet (+10%, 8 second recharge imo). Also in anet's desire to see Necro's playable in PvP beyond retarded hexes, they've made Weaken Armour stupidly over-powered. So you might aswell just use that instead.
Vital Weapon is ok. Not amazing but it has it's uses. Guided Weapon can work, but it's a bit too clunky. As it stands, if it worked, it would probably be over-powered. It's just one of those skills. Needs a much shorter duration (like 0-4 seconds) to have it's costs/cast adjusted.
Binding Chains could be made more fun also. Or maybe that would just be more annoying...
horseradish
I have a very hard time implementing Communing in a build.Weapon of Quickening is an obvious choice though.
I'd suggest against Channeled Strike. It means you lose the benefits of your weapon, which is ftl in my book. .__.
I agree with Alex, replace it with Spirit Rift. You just need to practice timing.
I also find SW to be a waste sometimes, but it's too leet to remove it. I understand you bringing Brutal Weapon, but Nightmare Weapon would be a better choice.
Attack Spirits aren't too good outside of a Spirit Spammer's bar unless you use it to fill the "must have spirit" clause on a few spells. [essence strike] for example.
[Weapon of Quickening]
[Ancestors' Rage]
[Splinter Weapon]
[Nightmare Weapon]
[Essence Strike]
[Spirit Rift]
Optional
Rez
>_>
<_<
I'd suggest against Channeled Strike. It means you lose the benefits of your weapon, which is ftl in my book. .__.
I agree with Alex, replace it with Spirit Rift. You just need to practice timing.
I also find SW to be a waste sometimes, but it's too leet to remove it. I understand you bringing Brutal Weapon, but Nightmare Weapon would be a better choice.
Attack Spirits aren't too good outside of a Spirit Spammer's bar unless you use it to fill the "must have spirit" clause on a few spells. [essence strike] for example.
[Weapon of Quickening]
[Ancestors' Rage]
[Splinter Weapon]
[Nightmare Weapon]
[Essence Strike]
[Spirit Rift]
Optional
Rez
>_>
<_<
MasterSasori
Since everyone else posted about Communing, I want to try introducing the hybrid....
Your problem stems not from the skills you choose, but the ROLE of the Rit. The rit is meant to be support in whatever it does. Don't try to out heal the monk or out damage the elementalist as you will probably fail. The Rit shines when he/she augments the role of the other classes.
You probably shouldn't be running offensive spirits, and probably not even Communing or Spawning. I recommend this build:
[skill]Offering of Spirit[/skill][skill]weapon of warding[/skill][skill]ancestor's rage[/skill][skill]mend body and soul[/skill][skill]splinter weapon[/skill][skill]Protective was Kaolai[/skill][skill]Life[/skill][skill]death pact signet[/skill]
You can also try these:
[skill]flesh of my flesh[/skill]
[skill]essence strike[/skill] (if you take out OoS)
[skill]Warmonger's weapon[/skill] or [skill]nightmare weapon[/skill]
[skill]recuperation[/skill]
The Elite slot for Rits is also very flexible. You should also consider using a few skills from other classes that may suit your purposes.
The Rit is a very fun class to play as long as you know your role and play accordingly.
Your problem stems not from the skills you choose, but the ROLE of the Rit. The rit is meant to be support in whatever it does. Don't try to out heal the monk or out damage the elementalist as you will probably fail. The Rit shines when he/she augments the role of the other classes.
You probably shouldn't be running offensive spirits, and probably not even Communing or Spawning. I recommend this build:
[skill]Offering of Spirit[/skill][skill]weapon of warding[/skill][skill]ancestor's rage[/skill][skill]mend body and soul[/skill][skill]splinter weapon[/skill][skill]Protective was Kaolai[/skill][skill]Life[/skill][skill]death pact signet[/skill]
You can also try these:
[skill]flesh of my flesh[/skill]
[skill]essence strike[/skill] (if you take out OoS)
[skill]Warmonger's weapon[/skill] or [skill]nightmare weapon[/skill]
[skill]recuperation[/skill]
The Elite slot for Rits is also very flexible. You should also consider using a few skills from other classes that may suit your purposes.
The Rit is a very fun class to play as long as you know your role and play accordingly.
Dr Strangelove
Communing is something of a weak line, since most of the spirits are useless to splash into a build. However, [weapon of quickening] can be a lot of fun with PvE skills, spirit rift, and ancestor's rage. It also becomes extremely powerful in a team packed with damage casters. Since it's elite, you can't use everyone's favorite energy management, [offering of spirit], so [essence strike] and a superior rune will do in a pinch.
Other highlights include [sundering weapon] for a marginal cracked armor skill, [brutal weapon] if single-target punch is more important to you, and [dulled weapon] for an extremely powerful defensive skill in hard mode. You'd be amazed how much less things hurt without crits.
Off the top of my head...
[splinter weapon][ancestor's rage][spirit rift][weapon of quickening][essence strike][dulled weapon][bloodsong][flesh of my flesh]
On your posted build, a few general tips:
More than one spirit is almost always a bad idea for balanced build. They just take too long to use and lug around. If you want to do the offensive spirit thing, lug around a bar full of them and painful bond. It's boring and inflexible, but the damage is nice.
Essentially all the single target channeling skills are bad, thanks to ritspike. I would recommend against using any of them, except for essence strike (which isn't for damage anyway).
Mighty was Vorizun isn't that great, since it really just substitutes for intelligent weapon swapping, and makes you lose recharge bonuses from your weapons.
Other highlights include [sundering weapon] for a marginal cracked armor skill, [brutal weapon] if single-target punch is more important to you, and [dulled weapon] for an extremely powerful defensive skill in hard mode. You'd be amazed how much less things hurt without crits.
Off the top of my head...
[splinter weapon][ancestor's rage][spirit rift][weapon of quickening][essence strike][dulled weapon][bloodsong][flesh of my flesh]
On your posted build, a few general tips:
More than one spirit is almost always a bad idea for balanced build. They just take too long to use and lug around. If you want to do the offensive spirit thing, lug around a bar full of them and painful bond. It's boring and inflexible, but the damage is nice.
Essentially all the single target channeling skills are bad, thanks to ritspike. I would recommend against using any of them, except for essence strike (which isn't for damage anyway).
Mighty was Vorizun isn't that great, since it really just substitutes for intelligent weapon swapping, and makes you lose recharge bonuses from your weapons.