Ritualist revisited!

Wang Fu

Wang Fu

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Mo/R

So I played rit when factions first came out, didn't really like it but now I am going to try it out. I read the guide but nightfall is the only game I don't own, anyone got any good builds with prophecies factions and eye of the north skills only? Or any other tips?

Masmar

Masmar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

Aberdeen, Scotland

We Gat Dis [HRUU]

E/

well i dont have builds but i think most popular rit builds are built using factions skills. Prophecies doesnt have any rit skills and the only well used rit skill from nf i can think of is Weapon Of remody

Damian979

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

There are no Proph skills for a ritualist and EoTN didn't add many skills that are all that outstanding. There are some really effective rit skills that unfortunately come from nightfall but your basic build is going to be mostly based off factions skills anyway.

Depending on whether you are trying to be a damage dealer or party support:
[energetic was lee sa] is not bad for a resto rit's e-management. [rejuvenation] can be a cheap low level party heal. [sundering weapon] and [weapon of renewal] are good for melee support.

I would say [soothing memories][spirit light][mend body and soul][spirit light weapon][rejuvenation][life][energetic was lee sa][flesh of my flesh] or even maybe swap out rejuv for something like [protective was kaolai] for a stronger party heal.

For damage stick with [ancestor's rage] [spirit rift] spike and throw in some [splinter weapon] and some other weapon spells of choice to boost your party.

If you do decide to get nightfall however RT/R [spirit's strength][volley][splinter weapon] or [weapon of aggression] is fun.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

PvE Resto Rits should generally be using [Attuned Was Songkai] or [Offering of Spirit] for infinite energy. The latter lets you sneak splinter weapon onto your bar too, which is pure pwn for the physicals in your party. There's also [Expel Hexes] if hexes are really a problem.

Nightow

Nightow

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Kindred Order of Souls [KOS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxBat
PvE Resto Rits should generally be using [Attuned Was Songkai] or [Offering of Spirit] for infinite energy. The latter lets you sneak splinter weapon onto your bar too, which is pure pwn for the physicals in your party. There's also [Expel Hexes] if hexes are really a problem. Yes but [Offering of Spirit] is Nightfall.

Wang Fu might want to consider [Assassin's Promise].

Rhamia Darigaz

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxBat
PvE Resto Rits should generally be using soul reaping for infinite energy.. fixed for great justice

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

Minion Bomber can do just fine with Factions and EOTN skills. See my thread for skillbars.

Nightow

Nightow

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Kindred Order of Souls [KOS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhamia Darigaz
fixed for great justice More like a slap in the face in my opinion.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

[ancestor's rage][splinter weapon][weapon of warding][protective was kaolai][soothing memories][no skill][no skill][no skill]

Rits don't have much to offer in terms of elites when it comes to no Nightfall. You're probably going to have to rely on secondary skills in terms of elites.

Oh, and whatever you do, do not spam Weapon of Warding on recharge. Use it incredibly sparingly.

@Damian: Spirit Light Weapon is pretty meh. It's basically an elite Healing Breeze that's 5 energy cheaper and unremovable, but with a need for a spirit to even compete with Healing Breeze.

Rhamia Darigaz

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightow
More like a slap in the face in my opinion. should i sugar coat the truth to soften the slap to people's figurative faces?

Damian979

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyla
@Damian: Spirit Light Weapon is pretty meh. It's basically an elite Healing Breeze that's 5 energy cheaper and unremovable, but with a need for a spirit to even compete with Healing Breeze.
Thank you captain obvious, all factions rit elites are pretty meh. Maybe, if have a wonderful elite option that I'm not seeing then by all means I'll give you props. All I'm seeing though are 5 general skills and a stab at me.

Then again, you'll argue not matter what I say, but I know it's only because you love me. So here goes...

You need to meet two basic needs as a healing rit.
-High enough points in resto so you aren't casting rit versions of [orison of healing] and [mending] all the time.
-A way to manage energy

Effective e-man for a rit is either going to come from spawning power or a secondary. Most viable options being the ever popular [glyph of lesser energy] which works as long as you aren't interupted and doesn't work with binding rituals or [assassin's promise] which requires a moderate investment in deadly arts just to be worth it.

AP is not a bad option seeing as you don't need anything in spawning to run it and you can still have heavy investment in resto with points left over. One major drawback: You aren't controling damage output as a healing rit. If your target recieves a major healing spike after you have cast AP and your team isn't able to counter it, there is a good chance you just screwed your e-man for the next 45 sec. Which is why I don't like to run it.

Or you can go down the monk line for your elite but with no more than 12 points in any attribute, you are just a below par monk. Which bring us full circle. High enough points in resto and e-management.

With the maximum points in resto possible and other e-man possibilities flawed, there is little choice left but spawning power. You have [attuned was songkai] which has to be up all the time making any weapon mods useless or you have [energetic was lee sa]. Both needing heavy investment in spawning and not leaving much for a third attribute split to be at least effective enough to run an elite for that.

As we have already covered, factions rit elites are crap so the best we have to choose from now are [preservation][spirit light weapon][attuned was songkai][spirit channeling] or run no elite at all.

I hate random heals, I hate causing myself health degen, and I like my weapon mods. That being said, unstrippable 30+ health per sec is not so bad considering a healing rit should have at least one spirit up at all times while your team is fighting.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian979
Thank you captain obvious, all factions rit elites are pretty meh. Maybe, if have a wonderful elite option that I'm not seeing then by all means I'll give you props. All I'm seeing though are 5 general skills and a stab at me.
That's because they are optional slots. Anything can go in there. Oh, by the way, I'm not "taking a stab at you", I'm merely explaining that it's bad. You're better off with no elite on that point.

Keeping this in mind, there are a few elite skills you could use.

[empathic removal][weapon of quickening][expel hexes][echo][assassin's promise][energy drain]

Yes, Assassin's Promise and Energy Drain have little to no synergy to that bar I posted, but they are infinitely more viable than Spirit Light Weapon.

Quote: You need to meet two basic needs as a healing rit.
-High enough points in resto so you aren't casting rit versions of [orison of healing] and [mending] all the time.
-A way to manage energy Considering the only two skill lines worth my attribute points in the Ritualist skill lines are Restoration and Channeling. That, and energy management would also be coming from the way you use your skills.

Quote: Effective e-man for a rit is either going to come from spawning power or a secondary. Most viable options being the ever popular [glyph of lesser energy] which works as long as you aren't interupted and doesn't work with binding rituals or [assassin's promise] which requires a moderate investment in deadly arts just to be worth it. This isn't PvP where interrupts are prioritised, binding rituals are mostly bad.

Quote:
Or you can go down the monk line for your elite but with no more than 12 points in any attribute, you are just a below par monk. Which bring us full circle. High enough points in resto and e-management. Ritualists have access to Splinter Weapon. Instead of heal / prot, Ritualists are more adept in damage / heal, with bringing a tiny bit of prot.

Quote:
As we have already covered, factions rit elites are crap so the best we have to choose from now are [preservation][spirit light weapon][attuned was songkai][spirit channeling] or run no elite at all. See the beginning of this post.

Quote:
I hate random heals, I hate causing myself health degen, and I like my weapon mods. That being said, unstrippable 30+ health per sec is not so bad considering a healing rit should have at least one spirit up at all times while your team is fighting. One or two wand hits kills spirits. Sorry, what were you saying about it?

By the way, for a more "complete" bar...

[protective was kaolai][soothing memories][weapon of warding][splinter weapon][ancestor's rage][channeled strike][empathic removal][flesh of my flesh]

Channeled Strike / Ancestors can be changed for another hex removal or condition removal, go /Me for Energy Drain and an interrupt such as Power Spike, Cry of Frustration or Power Drain.

Damian979

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

Empathic Removal would be a nice alternative for an elite that wouldn't divert points that could be more useful elsewhere. I'm a man of my word and kudos.

There are a couple little details you missed though...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian979
healing rit.
The one particular build I suggested doesn't have anything to do with anything but keeping the party alive so....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyla Ritualists have access to Splinter Weapon. Is irrelevant.And...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyla
One or two wand hits kills spirits. Sorry, what were you saying about it? being smart about placing spirits makes this irrelevant. [mend body and soul] and [spirit light] healing rit's best friends.

I do however fail to see where a build that has zero management of energy, does a little damage, even less healing, and doesn't excel at either one would desireable in any situation.

zelgadissan

zelgadissan

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2008

The Warrior Priests [WP]

Me/Rt

Damian - if you're making a rit that devotes your entire bar to healing, you've made a fail rit. Rits are arguably the most versatile class in the game in that they can heal through Restoration and deal respectable damage through Channeling at the same time. Not using both is just a waste.

BTW calling Splinter Weapon irrelevant is a bad way to prove a point.

Wang Fu

Wang Fu

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Mo/R

Ok this is all good stuff guys thanks, I was just wondering if there is any way to be fully offensive rit? or is that just wrong/ a waste??? :P

Damian979

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by zelgadissan
Damian - if you're making a rit that devotes your entire bar to healing, you've made a fail rit. Rits are arguably the most versatile class in the game in that they can heal through Restoration and deal respectable damage through Channeling at the same time. Not using both is just a waste.

BTW calling Splinter Weapon irrelevant is a bad way to prove a point. I make any bar with any class I play that's devoted to what the team needs. If it's damage, I prefer to have a build with oppressive amounts of damage not just enough to piss off a monster. If it's restoration, I prefer to have a bar that can keep an entire party up.

I have never had a team that needed someone that can't do a respectable amount of either.

btw comparing splinter weapon to a bar that obviously isn't made for damage IS irrelevant.

Bobby2

Bobby2

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2007

Delayed in order to meet ANet's high standards

[MaSS]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian979
I make any bar with any class I play that's devoted to what the team needs.
So you go all-out healing, obviously. I lol'd


Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian979 If it's damage, I prefer to have a build with oppressive amounts of damage not just enough to piss off a monster.
...what? AI doesn't rage.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian979
If it's restoration, I prefer to have a bar that can keep an entire party up. re-roll a monk, they do it better, or roll a Necro

for great justice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian979
I have never had a team that needed someone that can't do a respectable amount of either.

btw comparing splinter weapon to a bar that obviously isn't made for damage IS irrelevant. The concept of 'party support' is obviously alien to you. Poor toon.

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

Will you boys quit teasing each other? :-p And keep the Necro-is-better junk in the Necro Forum, not here.

They did say one thing right, though. A Ritualist is not a specialist. Going fully ANYTHING is pretty much gimping yourself. More so when you don't have access to NF Heroes, and just the EOTN ones. If you want offensive-based builds, there's Splinter Barrage, Channeling/Resto, Echo VwK, various kinds of Spirit Spamming, and of course, Minion Bombing. Cover the gaps in your offense with Heroes/Henchies. Other than that, just experiment. You've got plenty of time until GW2 comes out, there's no hurry.

Rule #1 of Guild Wars: HAVE FUN!

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

For the nightfall-deprived, I almost forgot about [skill]Signet of Spirits[/skill]. No its not nearly as good, and you need to be very careful where you put your spirit, but it still provides energy and good spec for splinter weapon, while still being superior to Spirit Junk Weapon.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damian979
Empathic Removal would be a nice alternative for an elite that wouldn't divert points that could be more useful elsewhere. I'm a man of my word and kudos.

There are a couple little details you missed though...
Hm?


Quote:
The one particular build I suggested doesn't have anything to do with anything but keeping the party alive so....
So you'd pass up one of the most powerful offensive buffs in this game? A pure Ritualist healer is a complete waste of a Ritualist. A hybrid between damage and heal isn't.

Quote:
Is irrelevant.And... No, it's not. It's what makes Ritualists that powerful.



Quote:
being smart about placing spirits makes this irrelevant. [mend body and soul] and [spirit light] healing rit's best friends. Being smart about spirit placement? Positioning is an aspect of almost everything you do anyway. Where you place your spirit won't do much if the spells affected by it are in earshot, and this applies even more to areas which don't offer much to cancel out ranged attacks.

Quote:
I do however fail to see where a build that has zero management of energy, does a little damage, even less healing, and doesn't excel at either one would desireable in any situation. Energy management: Player skill. If you really want it, slot in GoLE.

Damage: Have you ever used Splinter Weapon?

Healing: My bar contains an incredibly strong party healing skill, and an unstrippable Guardian. It may be less of a healer, but who said you can't slot in an additional healing skill?

Your bar has minimalist versatility. All it can do is heal, and it doesn't even contain the staples of a part Resto bar.

Darcy

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

The OP needs to explain how he intends to play his ritualist. He said "offensive," but is that h/h or in a group.

If you are going h/h and you want to be a damage dealer then you don't need to get fancy. Your monks will heal and revive, so you can stick to damage skills.

[Pain][Bloodsong][Shadowsong][Dissonance][Spirit Boon Strike][Essence Strike][Signet of Spirits][Summon Spirits]

is pretty much what my basic bar contains; nothing fancy and all Factions.

The Summon Spirits requires rank 1 in the Kurzick title, but is well worth the faction farming time. Any of your characters can farm it and the skill purchase can be made by your rit in your guild hall.

Signet of Spirits cannot be obtained (unless you have it unlocked and use an elite tome) until you reach Ferndale, but it is not a serious requirement on the bar.

I realize that I will get a lot of derision from the more expert players, but, as I said, it works for me.

Wang Fu

Wang Fu

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Mo/R

Well, offensive in meaning most of the replies argued about ways to be rest/offensive, so I was wondering if there were any builds for only offensive, btw is spawning power even worth putting points into?

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

There are skill bars that are fully offense, but only those which have been tested and played and vetted and mocked and tweaked and such by your fellow players have the honor of being called "builds." Almost every one of such Ritualist builds at least acknowledges the need to diversify, even if it's just to adapt for different areas/bosses/missions. Often, after experimenting with several types of play styles, a player builds bars for each of them, with usually one or two favorite builds. Per Profession. Per Character Slot. Per Campaign. Per Account.

Spawning Power is... odd. The Ritualist is unique/gimped in that you do not HAVE to put so much as a single point in Spawning Power if you don't want to. Spawning Power is not the signature Attribute of the Ritualist, even though it is the Primary Attribute. If your BUILD calls for Spawning Power, then you use it. If it does not, it does not.

From your impressions of the Ritualist, how would you like to play? Spirit Spamming? Echo + Venge Was Khanhei? Splinter Weapon/Ancestor's Rage? Splinter Weapon + Barrage? Minion Bombing? Your own mix and match?

spirit of defeat

spirit of defeat

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2007

Holland

Rt/

I advise you get NF

Nightmare Venom

Nightmare Venom

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2007

Bonnie Scotland

N/Mo

You did say that you wanted to try and be a fully offensive Ritualist. Your best bet is then to go down the Channeling line, seeing as there are a number of skills there that focus on attacking.
But if you would prefer to summon spirits to do your attacking for you, then it's advisable to put some attribute points into both Communing and Channeling, with some going into Spawning Power as well. [Pain] is worth considering taking if you plan to go down that path. A good Ritualist elie *shock and horror* for someone who just focuses on summoning spirits is [Ritual Lord] This will recharge your spirits quicker. I know that the Ranger skill [Serpent's Quickness] can also do the job, but [Ritual Lord] is that little bit more handy.
[Painful Bond] can also help the spirits you have summoned do more damage. Taking Mesmer as a secondary can help you hex more foes with it, rather than having to wait for the recharge.
I would also suggest getting Nightfall, that gives you some more choices in the skills you can take as a Ritualist.

Zodiac Meteor

Zodiac Meteor

Imma Firin Mah Rojway!

Join Date: Aug 2008

At the Mac Store laughing at people that walk out with anything.

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyla
[empathic removal][weapon of quickening][expel hexes][echo][assassin's promise][energy drain] [Lyssa's Aura] +3 Energy Regen at 10 Inspiration.
Why is this so underused? Especially for a party Healer/Support/Damage with most spells at 5 energy.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

I don't really thing Lyssa's Aura deserves that much of a merit, but I guess it could be quite useful when it comes to energy intensive builds.

upier

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

Edit:
Just wanted to compare LA and other available options in the game as a reply to ZM rather then giving a reply to the OP.
So feel free to skip this if you are interested in the original discussion.
Apologies for going a bit off.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zodiac Meteor
View Post
[Lyssa's Aura] +3 Energy Regen at 10 Inspiration.
Why is this so underused? Especially for a party Healer/Support/Damage with most spells at 5 energy. You need to target a foe with a spell every 10 secs.
Splinter/Ancestors aren't spells that target foes.

You need to invest into Inspiration.
That's SERIOUSLY bad for normal PvE play.

You can run Offering instead.
LA (at 10) gives you (approx) 10 energy per 10 secs. You waste 5 to get LA going and then at least 5 to renew it. So you only have an net gain of 5 energy in the first 10 secs BUT you need to waste that as soon as you get it! After the first 10 secs you finally start getting 10 energy every 10 secs IF you can keep it up. You won't be able to do so.
Offering at 10 gives you back 14 energy (9 net gain) every 15 secs.
Keep in mind that you CAN use runes which means that you not only are able to boost your channeling for additional e-gain - you are also decreasing your HP - which comes in very handy if you don't happen to have a spirit around - since saccing 20% of a smaller HP pool means that a smaller HP amount needs to be healed.
AND you can use a 40/40 set when activating OoS - which gives you the chance to use OoS more often. A 40/40 Inspiration set ONLY comes in handy IF you lost your LA (so that you don't need to wait 30 secs) but if LS isn't removed - the fact that it recharged faster means NOTHING.

And now look at AP which not only gives you OoS e-returns BUT also recharges all your skills.

Darcy

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

@Zodiac - thanks for not panning AP, you would have started Upier off on another rant.

But, yes, I have tried AP on my rit and once you get your timing down, it is wonderful. Between that and the Kurzick skill [Summon Spirits], your rit has few energy worries anymore.

s s

s s

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2007

Rt/

I highly recommend using Bargamers tactic of using the minion bomber build, i tried it a few weeks back... it is unbelievably easy and fun to use, it is helpful to the team (watch the yellow numbers go!) plus it is completely offensive! At the very least give it a go !!!