Spirit Spam Sidekick

iToasterHD

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2007

We Need Therapy [NOW]

Rt/

I often join groups that already have a Ritualist, and low and behold that Ritualist is a spirit spammer. So I want to create a build that works with the Spirit Spammer to aid in battle.

This is under the assumption that all the party's healing needs are already being met. And there are minions, such that Defensive Communing Rituals would die in a matter of seconds (right?).

I was playing around with using Mesmer as a secondary just because I've never made one, and wanted to learn more.

Domination - 12
Channeling - 14

Spirit Siphon
Splinter Weapon
Chaos Storm
Cry of Frustration
Energy Surge
Painful Bond
Arcane Echo
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You begin with casting Splinter Weapon on Melee, then begin using dual painful bonds to aid the Spirit Spammer when they start taking down multiple foes. Use spirit siphon on Spirit Spammer's spirits, and spam Cry of Frustration, Chaos Storm and Energy Surge as needed.

Let's keep things pleasant people, I am just toying with an idea. Also, I do NOT use EotN PvE Skills.

*EDIT*

Also curious, would a Rt/R build that uses a pet work? Something like 12 Beast, 14 Communing/Channeling using mostly beast mastery with a weapon spell for the pet? Like Splinter Weapon or Brutal Weapon. Not really worth having all those points in one attribute line and only use one skill. Any ideas?

Arctica

Arctica

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2008

Hungary

Ministry of Fate [MoF]

Rt/

Hm, interesting idea, but I am not sure it could be effective. I would go /N and put some spells from the curses line on my bar instead of domination. Like Enfeebling blood, Weaken Armor or Mark of Pain, providing that noone else plays the role of a cursing necro.

The main problem with the defensive spirits is that they are pretty expensive. The fact that they die very fast would not be a problem if you use Assassin's Promise as your elite, but the energy they require to spam them is still very high.

As for a pet Rt/R, I experimented with a build and it worked relatively well. It was before the buff to pets, so I presume it may work better now. You may use splinter weapon or Ancestor's rage on the pet, with Enranged Lunge as your elite. I would still recommend Great Dwarf Weapon, too: a higher damage output and chance to knockdown is very nice.

Nechrond

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2009

Netherlands

Utrecht Usurpators

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctica View Post
I would still recommend Great Dwarf Weapon, too: a higher damage output and chance to knockdown is very nice. All PvE-only skills are lame. Powerful, but lame.

cognophile

cognophile

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2005

USA

It's definitely annoying being excluded from a group as a ritualist because they already have one, and the leader thinks the only thing a primary ritualist can do is spirit spam.

Great Dwarf Weapon can work very well on a team with physical attackers, and a primary ritualist can easily maintain it on 4 or more people.

Daesu

Daesu

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2008

To synergize with a spirit spammer, I would still go communing and bring spirits like Anguish, or maybe Shadowsong (if spirit spammer doesnt bring that), and perhaps 6 points to Command to bring Anthem of Disruption/Envy/Weariness.

Mikkelet

Mikkelet

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

Rt/

or http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Team_-_Dual_Spirit_Spam =)

upier

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

Just a side-note:
Chaos Storm will cause foes to scatter, which means that all your AoE damage skills will be insanely less useful.
You'll probably do more damage by just spamming Splinter and AR on recharge than you'll do with all those mesmer skills in the same time period.

Depending on your party composition I would also suggest Curses. If you are running minions then Barbs will make any foe just blow up. Combine that with Shadow Of Fear and Enfeebling Blood and you have a very nice addition to the party.

iToasterHD

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2007

We Need Therapy [NOW]

Rt/

On pvx there is a build that mentions using a few skills from Channeling, and the rest anything you want. And they have suggestions for Necro and curses as well. And I guess my only real complaint with that was most of the curses required physical damage. This would be great along side minions, but Spirits not so much.

However, necro curses are a perfect example of what I was thinking of. Skills that enhance the minion master like Weaken Armor, Barbs and Mark of Pain. Just enhancing Spirits rather then minions.

smilingscar

smilingscar

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2007

Frontline Legion

Me/

I second the vote for offensive communing. If there's already a channeling spirit spammer in the group, they will already be bringing Painful Bond. I personally don't find two copies to be useful.

The best way you can support the team, in my opinion, is to take advantage of the free painful bond being thrown around (free to you) and bring as many communing attack spirits as you can. Something like:

Signet of Ghostly Might
Anguish
Shadowsong
Dissonance
Disenchantment
Pain
Summon Spirits
Spirit Siphon

maybe drop a spirit for AoU in HM.

iToasterHD

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2007

We Need Therapy [NOW]

Rt/

I get frustrated with communing rituals because they last 1/3 of their recharge time. So for part of the time, you have no spirits. Also, specifically with Anguish I use it in my spirit spam build, and I don't know too many that don't. That means that they are already using it so I can't (now I could tell them to remove it and pain, thus I take communing they take channeling. But you'd be surprised how difficult even that can be). The idea is to not have to tell them to do anything, and confuse their little minds. So pain and anguish are often off limits.

This is when I wish ANet took my idea about Spirit Walls, in which two spirits form a barrier in between themselves that can block enemies and cut large groups in half.

I am still experimenting with Communing Defensive Rituals, but find that generally ineffective (especially with minions). I did create an interesting Restoration Spirit Spam, but not sure what my intentions are with it. I don't want to be a "healer" but rather a support healer using rituals and weapon spells. But I often find people pigeon hold me into just healing.

Daesu

Daesu

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by iToasterHD View Post
I get frustrated with communing rituals because they last 1/3 of their recharge time. So for part of the time, you have no spirits. Also, specifically with Anguish I use it in my spirit spam build, and I don't know too many that don't. That means that they are already using it so I can't (now I could tell them to remove it and pain, thus I take communing they take channeling. But you'd be surprised how difficult even that can be). The idea is to not have to tell them to do anything, and confuse their little minds. So pain and anguish are often off limits.
I know what you mean. I take Pain in my spirit spam build, but I dont take Anguish. This is why I wanted some alternative skills to bring along with the option of replacing certain offensive spirits in my communing bar to fit in. I looked into the Paragon's Command chants for that.

Signet of Ghostly Might is nice but provided you bring enough offensive spirits on your own bar. If the PUG spirit spammer happens to bring many offensive communing spirits too, then SoGM may not be worth it for supporting just 2 offensive spirits on your own bar?

Quote:
I am still experimenting with Communing Defensive Rituals, but find that generally ineffective (especially with minions). I did create an interesting Restoration Spirit Spam, but not sure what my intentions are with it. I don't want to be a "healer" but rather a support healer using rituals and weapon spells. But I often find people pigeon hold me into just healing. PUGs tend to ask you to go restore also because healers can be hard to find. I dont think all defensive communing spirits are that bad, especially when used with Ritual Lord and AoU. Did you try Displacement and Union?

Mervil

Mervil

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

Wherever Nick the Traveler is

Guardians of Light [GoL]

W/

Clarification on SoGM please:

It only affects spirits summoned by you, and not all spirits summoned by other party members, correct?

upier

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

It also depends what kind of a group you are running.
If you run someone that is able to grab aggro and hold them together - one PB is sufficient given how it's AoE already.
If not, then yeah I can see how multiple PB would be beneficial.

Axel Zinfandel

Axel Zinfandel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

Northeastern Ohio

LaZy

P/W

A4JCJ7xkzUzEy1C0uYM5jjlD

*whistles innocently*

Copenhagen Master

Copenhagen Master

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

El Centro CA

Lazy Imperius Legionis (LaZy)

W/P

Another build that is annoying along with a Spirit spammer. Try using wanderlust along with earthbind spirit and just other spirits that other rit doesn't have monster stay on there butts longer than usual and rest of the spirits do there job

iToasterHD

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2007

We Need Therapy [NOW]

Rt/

Oh my god, how have I never noticed that Painful Bond affects target foe and all nearby foes...

glacialphoenix

glacialphoenix

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2008

Singapore

Royal Order of Flying Lemmings [ROFL]

Mo/

Quote:
It's definitely annoying being excluded from a group as a ritualist because they already have one, and the leader thinks the only thing a primary ritualist can do is spirit spam. Actually, IDK - I see quite a few groups taking restore rits because they just don't have enough healers. Of course, whether or not they know what you're doing is a different matter - I got someone who wondered why I was casting Weapon of Warding on him.