Build: Trouble Deciding on skills

So, I have been really happy with the performance of my current build, but there is a slot that has been really frustrating. My current build:

[[email protected]][Spirit [email protected]][Essence [email protected]][Ancestors' [email protected]][[email protected]][Mend Body and [email protected]][Death Pact [email protected]][Echo]

Ancestors' Rage just irritates me because I feel like I rarely use it. I have to rely on a melee hench, melee hero, melee partner, run into the fray, wait to have things attacking me. Also, in HM, lightning damage is heavily resisted. SO! This in mind I have been trying out Splinter Weapon. Same frustration though if mobs don't clump up... though the armor ignoring part is nice.

So, I defer to the hive mind. Nightmare Weapon? Soul Burn?

Thanks in advance.
-DR

Quote: Originally Posted by digitalruse So, I have been really happy with the performance of my current build, but there is a slot that has been really frustrating. My current build:

[[email protected]][Spirit [email protected]][Essence [email protected]][Ancestors' [email protected]][[email protected]][Mend Body and [email protected]][Death Pact [email protected]][Echo]

Ancestors' Rage just irritates me because I feel like I rarely use it. I have to rely on a melee hench, melee hero, melee partner, run into the fray, wait to have things attacking me. Also, in HM, lightning damage is heavily resisted. SO! This in mind I have been trying out Splinter Weapon. Same frustration though if mobs don't clump up... though the armor ignoring part is nice.

So, I defer to the hive mind. Nightmare Weapon? Soul Burn?

Thanks in advance.
-DR If you have issues with mobs not clumping up I have to ask, what's the rest of your party usually look like?

About the build itself, it looks like it's pretty solid. Although I would switch out Rejuv for [[email protected]] or [Protective was [email protected]] and maybe consider [Weapon of Warding (PvE)@13]. Other than that, it looks fine. How's your energy? What do you normally echo? Ancestors?

Soul burn is meh, I'd leave the burning to the eles and paras. Nightmare weapon can make for a decent spike but the golden rule about PvE is the more AoE, the better.

My heros are as such:

[Build=Healer;OANDYcz/QxVNgTfbEfEbaJgVVA]
[Build=Earth;OgRDcWy8OpiTxO0OsK6zIDYB]
[Build=Ranger;OgATcZ8kZyVqC8WDz4SEM8xIMEA]

I use Rejuv for a fast party wide sort of heal. Life is okay except it can't be used in a pinch. I have tried running with it and plopping it down before BS, but it just never seems to fire at a good time. Maybe I am just using it wrong.

Energy is fine if BS or Rejuv is out. I can use ES to keep energy up. If there are no spirits up... it can get dicey, but never tragically.

Echo is used for any and all of the skills. Generally, I will echo SR to start. I can usually spam off about 6 if I have a spirit up and can ES in between. If healing starts to slack, I echo MB&S or Rejuv. I can plop one down and just as it starts to die plop the second down. If I have a good conduit or am surrounded I will echo AR. The times this does happen it is incredibly useful. Probably one of the few reasons I keep it on my bar.

EDIT: Sorry... I don't know how to make the pvp tag go away.

Ok, my first recommendation would be to take out the ranger hero and switch it out for a MM hero with [Jagged [email protected]]. That'll be a big help as far as clumping them up. If you really need the interrupts, bring [warmonger's [email protected]] or an interrupt hench.

Secondly, if I'm running with H/H in areas like NF, EotN I tend to bring the two healer hench. I find that if they aren't sufficient, I switch one of them out for either a WoH/hybrid or a Ether Renewal E/Mo. What I usually put in to replace that slot is a Zealous Vow Derv.

[build=OgGjkyq7qRDYMXNXSiBFhbEYCAA]

Yes, I know many will tell you that melee heroes fail but the imba-ness of the scythe along with the synergy between Rit's and melee makes up for it in my opinion. It lets you throw around stuff like [Strength of Honor], [Castigation signet], [smite hex], [smite condition], [weaken armor], [barbs], [great dwarf weapon] along with what's already been mentioned.

How does this all sound to you?

If sticking with those heroes definately bring splinter, or great dwarf weapon because with volley, thats either aoe knockdown or aoe spike. Also if u micro his/her BHA and bring epidemic thats also aoe interupts.

Couple of things about the rangers build... 1 too many attacks. 2 Preperation and Volley. 3 Conc Shot + BHA. Imo, swap out conc + the prep, and maybe slothhunters although that is nice damage.

Quote: Originally Posted by digitalruse

My heros are as such:

[Build=Healer;OANDYcz/QxVNgTfbEfEbaJgVVA] Unless you need hex removal, you would be better off using N/Rt. N/Rt can synergize with your spirits such as Mend Body and Soul and Spirit Light.

PwK is also too good to miss out. If you need to have hex removal, take out some attack skills on your ranger to give him or her [skill]Remove Hex[skill].

Quote: Originally Posted by MasterSasori

Unless you need hex removal, you would be better off using N/Rt. N/Rt can synergize with your spirits such as Mend Body and Soul and Spirit Light.

PwK is also too good to miss out. If you need to have hex removal, take out some attack skills on your ranger to give him or her [skill]Remove Hex[skill]. and healing prayer skills are scaled with divine favor, ritualists dont have that so there heals are better than healing prayers without DF.

Quote: Originally Posted by digitalruse

splinter is a must in PvE... ancestor's in HM is pretty weak due to high armor and no AP. if it was me I'd bring another skill instead of [echo] as Rits have some pretty nice elites... however it's really up to you, as that bar works pretty well I guess.

your problem are the heroes. people have already commented on your Ranger, I'd add the N/Mo HB Necro. while a pretty unique idea I think it's inferior to the good old N/Rt healer, especially since you already bring spirits so you can syngergize your build with the N/Rt for even better defenses. also your Ele is pretty useless Imho. these single target spells won't do much in HM besides a KD here and there, and it really won't help you much. [unsteady ground] will KD attacking foes, ok for defense, but with so many defensive characters I fail to see where your offense is... HM is all about killing, and killing quickly, and your current set of heroes fails at that.

now I'm not saying, run sabway, discordway, rojway, etc. all I'm saying is that you need more damage from your heroes, cause henchies are pretty bad at that, while their monks(with your help) should be fine with some mid line defense.