Spear Dervish

avilia

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2008

I'm trying to create a spearthrowing Dervish for general PvE.
What do you think? Any suggestions/improvements?

Mysticism: 12+1+2
Spear Mastery: 12
[Spear of Fury][Spear of Lightning][Asuran Scan][Heart of Fury][Mystic Vigor][Avatar of Lyssa][Eternal Aura][Faithful Intervention]

zelgadissan

zelgadissan

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2008

The Warrior Priests [WP]

Me/Rt

It's PvE, so it'll work, but...why would you give up the strongest weapon in the game?

TBH you should have at least three spear attacks. I'd probably run [Spear of Fury], [Swift Javelin], and [Merciless Spear]. Pitch Mystic Vigor to make room.

Richardt

Richardt

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

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If my dervish is using a spear, I'd either use Cruel Spear or Ebon Dust Aura and blind spam.

But I see that you're trying for a high DPS spear derv. build, and I have to wonder if you'd be doing more damage if you used a scythe here. The only advantage I'd see in using a spear is 1) being able to use a shield and 2) having a higher attack speed.

Scythe's already do crazy damage so I'd be inclined to think you'd get more bang for your buck in terms of DPS from the scythe in spite of the slower attack speed.

obsidian ectoplasm

obsidian ectoplasm

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by zelgadissan
It's PvE, so it'll work, but...why would you give up the strongest weapon in the game?

TBH you should have at least three spear attacks. I'd probably run [Spear of Fury], [Swift Javelin], and [Merciless Spear]. Pitch Mystic Vigor to make room. yes i would agree there is no pooint gainign all that adrenaline with no adrenaine attacks

avilia

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2008

Thanks for the replies everyone.

You ask why I would give up the almighty scythe for a spear? The answer is because I am safer attacking from a distance and I don't have to worry about snares (particularly water magic ones and cripple) or enemies running away. The fact that spears attack faster partly compensates for their lower base damage. The real power of a scythe is the fact that it can hit multiple enemies, but how often does that really happen? How many percent of your scythe attacks actually hit three enemies? Add to that the fact that Asuran Scan can only be applied to one enemy at a time and I can make a case for the spear.

My main issue is, is it stronger than (or at least comparable to) a standard paragon spear build?

And you're absolutely right. I need a third spear attack. I don't know what I was thinking taking just two. I was thinking more of adding [Blazing Spear] though. Just a matter of preference I think.

isamu kurosawa

isamu kurosawa

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

United Kingdom

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by avilia
My main issue is, is it stronger than (or at least comparable to) a standard paragon spear build?
The only profession that can match spear damage with a paragon is an assassin due to crit strikes. Rts can get high dmg with spirits strength but thats clunky.

The pain perpose of a spear dervish is condition pressure rather than damage. The ability to easily spread blind etc accross a team is very useful in pvp. In PvE however a spear derv is not really worth it and you may as well go with your scythe.

Quote:
Originally Posted by avilia
The real power of a scythe is the fact that it can hit multiple enemies The real power of a scythe is actually its high base damage. Couple that with critical strikes, sundering and skills like [[aura of holy might]/[[asuran scan] and you have a damage powerhouse.

Burst Cancel

Burst Cancel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Domain of Broken Game Mechanics

You're giving up the 9-41 base damage of the scythe and the +32DR from Aura of Holy Might just for a ranged attack.

I don't see the point, but if I really wanted to play ranged Lyssa dervish, I'd probably go /R over /P. Triple Shot + Lyssa is ftw (3x47 = +141), and you can use more fast-draw skills like Power/Sundering/Penetrating. You can also use preps to further boost your damage or attack speed.

Edit: and, now that I think about it, Silverwing Recurve + Lyssa probably looks pretty cool.

Sir Pandra Pierva

Sir Pandra Pierva

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2007

Sardelec yelling at Tenshi

Angels Of Strife

E/

pics are required for that

isamu kurosawa

isamu kurosawa

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

United Kingdom

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burst Cancel
You're giving up the 9-41 base damage of the scythe and the +32DR from Aura of Holy Might just for a ranged attack.

I don't see the point, but if I really wanted to play ranged Lyssa dervish, I'd probably go /R over /P. Triple Shot + Lyssa is ftw (3x47 = +141), and you can use more fast-draw skills like Power/Sundering/Penetrating. You can also use preps to further boost your damage or attack speed.

Edit: and, now that I think about it, Silverwing Recurve + Lyssa probably looks pretty cool. I did that myself just for fun. Although i ran interrupts. Savage + Lyssa etc

Burst Cancel

Burst Cancel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Domain of Broken Game Mechanics

Quote:
Originally Posted by isamu kurosawa
I did that myself just for fun. Although i ran interrupts. Savage + Lyssa etc
IIRC, the problem with interrupts is that they don't trigger the Lyssa damage bonus because you interrupt the skill before Lyssa checks for activation. Otherwise, interrupts would be the logical choice for their faster 1/2s draw time.

I suppose if you were really l33t you could use spell interrupts against non-spell skills to trigger the damage bonus :P.

Edit:
Quote: Originally Posted by Sir Pandra Pierva
pics are required for that Here you go:

isamu kurosawa

isamu kurosawa

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

United Kingdom

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burst Cancel
IIRC, the problem with interrupts is that they don't trigger the Lyssa damage bonus because you interrupt the skill before Lyssa checks for activation. Otherwise, interrupts would be the logical choice for their faster 1/2s draw time.

I suppose if you were really l33t you could use spell interrupts against non-spell skills to trigger the damage bonus :P. A useful skill i found to trigger it was [[deft strike]. I was hitting high numbers with Savage Shot but im not sure if it was triggering lyssa's. I just did it for fun one day when bored.

Edit: Here is a screen of my own.



Edit2:
After a little testing it seems interrupts do still trigger Lyssa's damage. I guess its like waste not, want not. use it on a foe that has been interrupted but still has his skill cast bar showing and you don't get the energy.

does not trigger damage against a dazed foe however.

Burst Cancel

Burst Cancel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Domain of Broken Game Mechanics

Quote:
Originally Posted by isamu kurosawa
Edit2:
After a little testing it seems interrupts do still trigger Lyssa's damage. I guess its like waste not, want not. use it on a foe that has been interrupted but still has his skill cast bar showing and you don't get the energy.

does not trigger damage against a dazed foe however. Good to know. The wiki indicates that 'easily interrupted' and dazed foes don't trigger the damage bonus, but I guess normal interrupts don't work.

Penetrating/Sundering might still be better than Savage/Disrupting because the interrupts have aftercast delay and longer recharge times. You could easy run something like Penetrating + Savage or Triple + Savage and still get great damage compression though.

isamu kurosawa

isamu kurosawa

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

United Kingdom

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burst Cancel
Good to know. The wiki indicates that 'easily interrupted' and dazed foes don't trigger the damage bonus, but I guess normal interrupts don't work.

Penetrating/Sundering might still be better than Savage/Disrupting because the interrupts have aftercast delay and longer recharge times. You could easy run something like Penetrating + Savage or Triple + Savage and still get great damage compression though. Tested a triple shot earlier and hit for 70+ on each one

I like running the interrupts too as if you are used to interrupting you are not only guaranteed the bonus damage but also to prevent a foes action. I think i'll try a dungeon tommorow with damage skills but keeping in either [[distracting shot] or [[savage shot].

Either way it's a fun setup to run.

Tender Care

Tender Care

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Join Date: May 2008

Blackwater Park

MpF

P/

[barbed spear] [spear of fury] [blazing spear] [go for the eye] [vicious attack] [eternal aura] [Heart of fury] [avatar of lyssa]

Pure attack build which works great in PvE with monks support......[go for the eye] can be replaced also with [disrupting throw] or [spear of redemption] just in case u get blindness