Ditch my warrior for a monk?
Casonetto
I have a warrior I started a while ago but haven't put too much time into him. I have an incredible urge to try a monk but the 4 character limit is irritating me. I don't want to delete him but short of getting another account I am out of options. What is a good self sufficient monk build? I mentioned in the monk basics thread that I already have 2 characters that are mesmer secondary but if it's the best choice I will go for it. I have a Ne/Me and an Ra/Me, the ranger should have been Ra/W but I will just have to wait until 20 for that. Thanks.
tmtracy
Well, I'm a big fan of mo/me. you can heal well...seeing as your a monk, but you can also do some damage with something like conjour phantasm...or even use empathy or backfire. Maybe some mana stealing spells.
Something that I did that I liked okay was a n/mo. I used all healing spells, but dumped a lot of points in soul reaping. I would easily keep a party alive. Only bad thing was people dont like /mo's because they think you wont heal well, but I will tell you this, my ne/mo would totally hold its own against any monk. Seeing as there are a lot of people who are monks who don't know how to play em well. I know it does not sound hard...and its not that hard, but we have all had our fair share of suck suck monks. Now, my ne/mo was a good monk, but he was a superb assist monk. I found that when the monks were out of mana, I was always full due to my high soul reaping.
Something that I did that I liked okay was a n/mo. I used all healing spells, but dumped a lot of points in soul reaping. I would easily keep a party alive. Only bad thing was people dont like /mo's because they think you wont heal well, but I will tell you this, my ne/mo would totally hold its own against any monk. Seeing as there are a lot of people who are monks who don't know how to play em well. I know it does not sound hard...and its not that hard, but we have all had our fair share of suck suck monks. Now, my ne/mo was a good monk, but he was a superb assist monk. I found that when the monks were out of mana, I was always full due to my high soul reaping.
Casonetto
Hmm, that's something. I hate to admit it but I am very fond of the way monk primaries look.
Fireaznboy
but your forgetting about the best part. Divine Favor
Eagle923
I have a Mo/Me20, El/Mo15 and a R/N3... I just can't get into the ranger and Warrior. I don't even play my El/Mo that often except to goof around. I almost always stick to my Mo/Me.
If you wanna try healing without being stuck, go El/Mo. Some people argue they are as good as a primary Mo. I can say that they aren't, but they are superb as a secondary or pinch healer. The fact that they can spam 5 and 10 point heals all day helps... but missing a 40point divine favor heal really can add up.
The nice thing about trying El/Mo is that if you hate the healing position, switch over to a great offensive role with some self healing
But if you go Mo/XX you won't regret it, it really puts the game in a different perspective.
If you wanna try healing without being stuck, go El/Mo. Some people argue they are as good as a primary Mo. I can say that they aren't, but they are superb as a secondary or pinch healer. The fact that they can spam 5 and 10 point heals all day helps... but missing a 40point divine favor heal really can add up.
The nice thing about trying El/Mo is that if you hate the healing position, switch over to a great offensive role with some self healing
But if you go Mo/XX you won't regret it, it really puts the game in a different perspective.
tmtracy
Well, I'm NOT forgetting devin favor. =p It's a great division of the monk, for sure. but! its a trade off, devine favor for spamming many smaller spells. devine boon only heals an extra 25 points, but thats still...25 points. =p
Casonetto
I can't bring myself to delete my warrior. I just don't have enough character slots. Both Monks AND Mesmers look cool as primaries and I am sure they're good classes but I am getting fond of the warrior and I don't really feel like deleting him. I wish there were some other way.
EDIT: Did anyone here buy the game twice just to get more character slots?
EDIT: Did anyone here buy the game twice just to get more character slots?
Casonetto
Update, I might have another character slot. Now I just need to make up my mind between monk primary or mesmer primary. Which sounds like a better setup, the mo/ne build or the me/mo build? Thanks a bunch for reading.
Casonetto
Morning bump, if anything else is better build-wise let me know.
Z-Shinrei
As a Mesmer primary, you can be a ressurecting monster (fast cast cuts the ressurect time by a lot at high levels). As a monk primary, I assume that you can heal mor ethanks to divine favor. It;s your choice, ive seen both played well.
Casonetto
Is it possible to be a me/mo and not be a resbot? Are there any other options?
Tutompop
For healing purposes my OPINION (others will fight you tooth and nail saying otherwise) is that a monk is the best primary coupled with divine favor using small heals 60with orison+32 with divinefavor 92 point heal for 5 power. I don't use divine boon since it usually causes me to overheal and waste power.
I use mesmer as my secondary and mostly use channeling. If there is one warrior tanking I'd rather use essence bond on him which is a monk spell not mesmer. As a mesmer/monk you will be horribly short of power due to a lack in heal strength. Yes he has spells in inspiration to help with this but power tap will gain 7-9 energy depending on spec level or channeling but that requires you to get REALLY close to the mobs and possibly draw aggro. I'm sure somebody somewhere makes the me/mo build work better than any mo/x build ever but i'll let him argue that point. If you want to go monk secondary go for the arcane healer build also known as an e/mo. Lots of power through energy storage coupled with the monks more energy hungry spells. Again opinions will vary on the builds but you are asking for advice and this is it.
As for popularity, everybody needs a monk. This is both a blessing and a curse since everybody does not deserve a monk. You WILL take verbal abuse from the idiots out there who do not deserve a monk. They will do stupid things like charge into another fight when you're at 5 power and ask you wtf you're doing not healing them as they play god. Perservere through this and you will hit the good groups eventually, you will have to be selective about which groups you join since everybody does indeed want a monk.
I use mesmer as my secondary and mostly use channeling. If there is one warrior tanking I'd rather use essence bond on him which is a monk spell not mesmer. As a mesmer/monk you will be horribly short of power due to a lack in heal strength. Yes he has spells in inspiration to help with this but power tap will gain 7-9 energy depending on spec level or channeling but that requires you to get REALLY close to the mobs and possibly draw aggro. I'm sure somebody somewhere makes the me/mo build work better than any mo/x build ever but i'll let him argue that point. If you want to go monk secondary go for the arcane healer build also known as an e/mo. Lots of power through energy storage coupled with the monks more energy hungry spells. Again opinions will vary on the builds but you are asking for advice and this is it.
As for popularity, everybody needs a monk. This is both a blessing and a curse since everybody does not deserve a monk. You WILL take verbal abuse from the idiots out there who do not deserve a monk. They will do stupid things like charge into another fight when you're at 5 power and ask you wtf you're doing not healing them as they play god. Perservere through this and you will hit the good groups eventually, you will have to be selective about which groups you join since everybody does indeed want a monk.
theclam
Me/Mo is very different than Mo/X. Fast casting really doesn't help you heal much better. Divine Favor does. Me/Mo would be a decent secondary healer, but it would be better at being a debuffer. In addition, if you go Mesmer, you give up Monk runes.
So, if you want to debuff, go Me/Mo. If you want to heal, go Mo/X.
So, if you want to debuff, go Me/Mo. If you want to heal, go Mo/X.
Casonetto
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tutompop
For healing purposes my OPINION (others will fight you tooth and nail saying otherwise) is that a monk is the best primary coupled with divine favor using small heals 60with orison+32 with divinefavor 92 point heal for 5 power. I don't use divine boon since it usually causes me to overheal and waste power.
I use mesmer as my secondary and mostly use channeling. If there is one warrior tanking I'd rather use essence bond on him which is a monk spell not mesmer. As a mesmer/monk you will be horribly short of power due to a lack in heal strength. Yes he has spells in inspiration to help with this but power tap will gain 7-9 energy depending on spec level or channeling but that requires you to get REALLY close to the mobs and possibly draw aggro. I'm sure somebody somewhere makes the me/mo build work better than any mo/x build ever but i'll let him argue that point. If you want to go monk secondary go for the arcane healer build also known as an e/mo. Lots of power through energy storage coupled with the monks more energy hungry spells. Again opinions will vary on the builds but you are asking for advice and this is it.
As for popularity, everybody needs a monk. This is both a blessing and a curse since everybody does not deserve a monk. You WILL take verbal abuse from the idiots out there who do not deserve a monk. They will do stupid things like charge into another fight when you're at 5 power and ask you wtf you're doing not healing them as they play god. Perservere through this and you will hit the good groups eventually, you will have to be selective about which groups you join since everybody does indeed want a monk. That's just it, I really don't want to be a group healer. I want to go solo with henchmen. What are the possibilities? I still haven't decided whether I want mesmer or monk primary because I haven't used either yet and they both look cool.
I use mesmer as my secondary and mostly use channeling. If there is one warrior tanking I'd rather use essence bond on him which is a monk spell not mesmer. As a mesmer/monk you will be horribly short of power due to a lack in heal strength. Yes he has spells in inspiration to help with this but power tap will gain 7-9 energy depending on spec level or channeling but that requires you to get REALLY close to the mobs and possibly draw aggro. I'm sure somebody somewhere makes the me/mo build work better than any mo/x build ever but i'll let him argue that point. If you want to go monk secondary go for the arcane healer build also known as an e/mo. Lots of power through energy storage coupled with the monks more energy hungry spells. Again opinions will vary on the builds but you are asking for advice and this is it.
As for popularity, everybody needs a monk. This is both a blessing and a curse since everybody does not deserve a monk. You WILL take verbal abuse from the idiots out there who do not deserve a monk. They will do stupid things like charge into another fight when you're at 5 power and ask you wtf you're doing not healing them as they play god. Perservere through this and you will hit the good groups eventually, you will have to be selective about which groups you join since everybody does indeed want a monk. That's just it, I really don't want to be a group healer. I want to go solo with henchmen. What are the possibilities? I still haven't decided whether I want mesmer or monk primary because I haven't used either yet and they both look cool.
raven214
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casonetto
I can't bring myself to delete my warrior. I just don't have enough character slots. Both Monks AND Mesmers look cool as primaries and I am sure they're good classes but I am getting fond of the warrior and I don't really feel like deleting him. I wish there were some other way.
EDIT: Did anyone here buy the game twice just to get more character slots? I bought a second account... this way my 1st account has 3 characters with 1 slot open (for experimenting/PvP), and actually I use the 2nd account mostly just for experimenting with builds... kinda annoying how you can't share things between 2 separate accounts -- at least, not easily.
EDIT: Did anyone here buy the game twice just to get more character slots? I bought a second account... this way my 1st account has 3 characters with 1 slot open (for experimenting/PvP), and actually I use the 2nd account mostly just for experimenting with builds... kinda annoying how you can't share things between 2 separate accounts -- at least, not easily.
Casonetto
God I'm such an idiot. Why the hell did I create a Ne/Me AND a Ra/Me? A Ra/Mo would have been a LOT better. And the necro should be a Ne/Ra so I could be a minion master easier. That's why I ran out of char slots, I made bad choices. My cousin is letting me use one of his slots, I really want to create something I will be happy with. For primary character I MUST choose between Necromancer, Monk or Mesmer.
Aranarth
Neither the Monk or Mesmer are really good choices to go it alone. You can do it, of course, but it will be a lot slower than if you went with something more directly offensive.
I would say that choosing either one is only for someone who is both experienced and patient with the game. You could go with a monk that has smiting to speed along the battles, but it would take some time to develop him. If you do group with people, they will probably not be happy with you as a smiter.
Mesmer primaries are generally considered the least suited to PvE of all of the classes.
I would say that choosing either one is only for someone who is both experienced and patient with the game. You could go with a monk that has smiting to speed along the battles, but it would take some time to develop him. If you do group with people, they will probably not be happy with you as a smiter.
Mesmer primaries are generally considered the least suited to PvE of all of the classes.
Casonetto
What about Mo/Ele or Mo/Ra?
I Am A Sasquatch
i'm wondering why no one has talked about monk smiting. agreed, monks cannot go at it alone, but a me/mo would be great for smiting because of the ablity of fastcasting. granted, you dont get good smiting spells until the end of the game, so you might want to use healing just on yourself until then.
Morganas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aranarth
Mesmer primaries are generally considered the least suited to PvE of all of the classes.
Mes/El is a far stronger fire nuker than an El primary can ever be, and fire is IMO the best pve line elementalist has. If you have mantra of recovery, they can go good as primaries with any of the other elementalist lines as well.
Kaleban
Quote:
Originally Posted by Morganas
Mes/El is a far stronger fire nuker than an El primary can ever be, and fire is IMO the best pve line elementalist has. If you have mantra of recovery, they can go good as primaries with any of the other elementalist lines as well.
Why? [the bold]
Morganas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaleban
Why? [the bold]
Because fire spells cast very slowly, meaning a mesmer can have far higher dps then an elementalist, and if you use fire attunement and inspiration drains (which have offensive benefits beyond just restoring your own energy), you can regen your energy faster then you lose it. Flare spamming with channeling helps too. If you have the right set of mesmer skills for any mesmer primary or secondary build, you'll never run out of energy, making energy storage pointless for anything but eating exhaustion penalties.
Kaleban
Would you mind posting the build you use, or is it secret? I'm interested in going the Me/E, simply for style, but I was not sure how viable it is, especially since I've heard that with Channeling for example, you need to be within like 5 feet of the enemy or something.
Morganas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaleban
Would you mind posting the build you use, or is it secret? I'm interested in going the Me/E, simply for style, but I was not sure how viable it is, especially since I've heard that with Channeling for example, you need to be within like 5 feet of the enemy or something.
Channeling's range has never been a problem for me, as I'm always standing in aoe range for lava font anyways. Just make sure to do a little run around the tanks if you get aggro.
Here ya go:
Spread your points into fast casting, inspiration, and fire, focusing mostly on fire. Use only minor runes and vigor runes, as your health is very important for grouping monsters for aoe, and you won't have the armor buffs an E primary will have.
For skills, basically, any combination of fire nukes and inspiration drains will work, as long as you NEVER use exhaustion spells, mesmers can't handle it.
Suggested Skills:
-Fire Attunement, necessary
-Ether feast if you don't have a healer, skip it if you can
-One of the following if you took ether feast, else take two(two is recommended): Channeling, energy tap/drain, ether lord, power drain, drain enchantment.
-Flare if you have channeling, otherwise just take conjure fire and make sure to cast it before attunement.
-Rodgort's Invocation, once you get enchanter's gear, but at first use something like fire storm.
-Lava font
-Phoenix
-Res signet/capture signet
Note the large number of slow cast spells, they take greater advantage of fast casting. You can add mantra of recovery later, unless you take energy drain, you'll have a free elite slot. Mind burn is not feasible.
Here ya go:
Spread your points into fast casting, inspiration, and fire, focusing mostly on fire. Use only minor runes and vigor runes, as your health is very important for grouping monsters for aoe, and you won't have the armor buffs an E primary will have.
For skills, basically, any combination of fire nukes and inspiration drains will work, as long as you NEVER use exhaustion spells, mesmers can't handle it.
Suggested Skills:
-Fire Attunement, necessary
-Ether feast if you don't have a healer, skip it if you can
-One of the following if you took ether feast, else take two(two is recommended): Channeling, energy tap/drain, ether lord, power drain, drain enchantment.
-Flare if you have channeling, otherwise just take conjure fire and make sure to cast it before attunement.
-Rodgort's Invocation, once you get enchanter's gear, but at first use something like fire storm.
-Lava font
-Phoenix
-Res signet/capture signet
Note the large number of slow cast spells, they take greater advantage of fast casting. You can add mantra of recovery later, unless you take energy drain, you'll have a free elite slot. Mind burn is not feasible.
Kaleban
So how does your Me/E do in PvP/E? Is it dissappointing to be unable to use the big spells like Meteor shower and such? And do you find yourself spending more time worrying about energy than you do actually playing?
I'm just wondering if playing the Me/E is less fun and/or effective than the E/Me. Would the loss of fast casting really hurt you in PvP/E?
I'm just wondering if playing the Me/E is less fun and/or effective than the E/Me. Would the loss of fast casting really hurt you in PvP/E?
Morganas
The fire build does extremely poorly in pvp (very good in pve though) due to the lack of an ability to do anything BUT dps, like knockdowns and such from meteor.
However, for pvp, I do either one of the usual domination builds, or I use the following build: lightening, inspiration, and fast casting
skills:
lightening strike
lightening javelin - interrupt attacks
spirit of failure - get energy when foes misses
blind - makes the enemy miss 90% of the time
power drain - in case there's a short supply of warriors to screw over
ether feast - drain enemies energy and heal.
mantra of recovery
rez signet
Using mantra of recovery will allow you to sustain blind and spirit of failure on 3 or 4 warriors at a time, effectively shutting them down, and you'll have more energy then you know what to do with (use it to nuke casters). Warriors are very popular in pvp, so this build is very effective and fun.
BTW, having tried both, a PURE mesmer is the most fun, a fast casting nuker is the least fun, but most effective of the 3, and an elementalist is a fair nuker, but has some utility the mesmer nuker doesn't. Really, I prefer going mesmer primary so I can respect to domination/inspiration/fast casting when I wanna be tricksy, but using your elemental skills with fast casting is very effective even without exhaustion skills.
However, for pvp, I do either one of the usual domination builds, or I use the following build: lightening, inspiration, and fast casting
skills:
lightening strike
lightening javelin - interrupt attacks
spirit of failure - get energy when foes misses
blind - makes the enemy miss 90% of the time
power drain - in case there's a short supply of warriors to screw over
ether feast - drain enemies energy and heal.
mantra of recovery
rez signet
Using mantra of recovery will allow you to sustain blind and spirit of failure on 3 or 4 warriors at a time, effectively shutting them down, and you'll have more energy then you know what to do with (use it to nuke casters). Warriors are very popular in pvp, so this build is very effective and fun.
BTW, having tried both, a PURE mesmer is the most fun, a fast casting nuker is the least fun, but most effective of the 3, and an elementalist is a fair nuker, but has some utility the mesmer nuker doesn't. Really, I prefer going mesmer primary so I can respect to domination/inspiration/fast casting when I wanna be tricksy, but using your elemental skills with fast casting is very effective even without exhaustion skills.
Aranarth
Fast casting is nice, but energy storage is better. You aren't using firestorm or meteor shower, and you can't go to 16 in the fire line. This makes makes a huge difference in DPS. I don't see how the mesmer keeps up with his limited energy pool. He has no tools for energy production that the El/Me doesn't have.
El/Me can get the benefit of power drain, or you can simply use Glyph of Energy.You can also use Aura of Restoration to heal yourself over Ether Feast.
Anyway, it's still generally accepted that a mesmer is the least suited to PvE. Any class can do it, but the mesmer will require some patience if you've already gone through with a more offensive primary.
And to the poster who asked why no one mentioned smiting monks - look two posts above yours please.
El/Me can get the benefit of power drain, or you can simply use Glyph of Energy.You can also use Aura of Restoration to heal yourself over Ether Feast.
Anyway, it's still generally accepted that a mesmer is the least suited to PvE. Any class can do it, but the mesmer will require some patience if you've already gone through with a more offensive primary.
And to the poster who asked why no one mentioned smiting monks - look two posts above yours please.
Morganas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aranarth
Fast casting is nice, but energy storage is better. You aren't using firestorm or meteor shower, and you can't go to 16 in the fire line. This makes makes a huge difference in DPS. I don't see how the mesmer keeps up with his limited energy pool. He has no tools for energy production that the El/Me doesn't have.
El/Me can get the benefit of power drain, or you can simply use Glyph of Energy.You can also use Aura of Restoration to heal yourself over Ether Feast.
Anyway, it's still generally accepted that a mesmer is the least suited to PvE. Any class can do it, but the mesmer will require some patience if you've already gone through with a more offensive primary.
And to the poster who asked why no one mentioned smiting monks - look two posts above yours please. Having a bigger energy pool is highly overrated if a battle lasts a significant length of time. Using attunements and the inspiration line you can gain more energy than you use.
Additionally, if you go elementalist primary you're missing out on mantra of recovery, one of the most powerful elites in the game, IMO the best. It goes with any build.
Your argument about runes is sorta valid, but look at it this way: any rune boosting fast casting is a direct boost to your DPS, note that the fact that you're using energy faster is offset by the fact that you're draining it faster too, using your inspiration abilities.
The cost of all of this really is the fact that you're skillbar will be full up with the few nukes you have and all the support skills you'll need, so you won'thave room for earth armors and such like elementalist will have. But you WILL be a better nuker.
Also, yes, pure mesmers are hard to level, but a mesmer elementalist will level just as well as a primary elementalist.
El/Me can get the benefit of power drain, or you can simply use Glyph of Energy.You can also use Aura of Restoration to heal yourself over Ether Feast.
Anyway, it's still generally accepted that a mesmer is the least suited to PvE. Any class can do it, but the mesmer will require some patience if you've already gone through with a more offensive primary.
And to the poster who asked why no one mentioned smiting monks - look two posts above yours please. Having a bigger energy pool is highly overrated if a battle lasts a significant length of time. Using attunements and the inspiration line you can gain more energy than you use.
Additionally, if you go elementalist primary you're missing out on mantra of recovery, one of the most powerful elites in the game, IMO the best. It goes with any build.
Your argument about runes is sorta valid, but look at it this way: any rune boosting fast casting is a direct boost to your DPS, note that the fact that you're using energy faster is offset by the fact that you're draining it faster too, using your inspiration abilities.
The cost of all of this really is the fact that you're skillbar will be full up with the few nukes you have and all the support skills you'll need, so you won'thave room for earth armors and such like elementalist will have. But you WILL be a better nuker.
Also, yes, pure mesmers are hard to level, but a mesmer elementalist will level just as well as a primary elementalist.
Casonetto
Do you have to use fire? And is Me/Mo as neat?
Also, is the 'minion swarm' necro useful when soloing with henchmen? I was pondering Necromancer/Ranger.
Also, is the 'minion swarm' necro useful when soloing with henchmen? I was pondering Necromancer/Ranger.
I Am A Sasquatch
*cough* smiting *cough*
Morganas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casonetto
Do you have to use fire? And is Me/Mo as neat?
Also, is the 'minion swarm' necro useful when soloing with henchmen? I was pondering Necromancer/Ranger. The reason fire seems like an obvious choice is because it's full of slow casting powerful spells that don't cause exhaustion.
Earth is too much of a support line to use as your main offensive line, and you can only take one elemental attribute as a mes/el. Water might work, never tried it.
Lightening doesn't benefit from fast casting, but it DOES benefit from mantra of recovery, see build above.
Monk's not a good secondary to mesmer, their only long casts are rez spells. You don't even get the pvp benefit of not being targeted as aggressively as say a nec/monk, as mesmers are often targeted before even monks are, at least by the other team's shutdown mesmers.
Mesmer, on the other hand, is a very good second to monk, mainly for the inspiration line as a support to a pure healer, and illusion adds some useful spells to keep away from warriors.
Also, is the 'minion swarm' necro useful when soloing with henchmen? I was pondering Necromancer/Ranger. The reason fire seems like an obvious choice is because it's full of slow casting powerful spells that don't cause exhaustion.
Earth is too much of a support line to use as your main offensive line, and you can only take one elemental attribute as a mes/el. Water might work, never tried it.
Lightening doesn't benefit from fast casting, but it DOES benefit from mantra of recovery, see build above.
Monk's not a good secondary to mesmer, their only long casts are rez spells. You don't even get the pvp benefit of not being targeted as aggressively as say a nec/monk, as mesmers are often targeted before even monks are, at least by the other team's shutdown mesmers.
Mesmer, on the other hand, is a very good second to monk, mainly for the inspiration line as a support to a pure healer, and illusion adds some useful spells to keep away from warriors.
Desperado1G
It's about what you find fun.
I have a 20 Mo/E that I beat the game with. And TBH, I think staring at health bars the entire time is boring.
I have a 20 Mo/E that I beat the game with. And TBH, I think staring at health bars the entire time is boring.
Aranarth
Having a large energy pool is a great help when you want to use powerful spells that have exhaustion. Your mesmer build is lacking there, and as we have already said, the Me/E and E/Me have the same ways to regain energy. You will still run out before the elementalist primary. The logic that having a larger pool is worthless during a long battle makes no sense. It means he can cast longer than you can.
Mantra of Recovery is an ok elite, but the elementalist will almost always use an offensive elite. Having a bar with 5 attack spells means he won't need to worry much about recharges, and having the energy to keep chain casting means he doesn't need to stop blasting and drain energy as soon.
Also, Flare is just poor DPS past the early levels. Don't use it.
Any rune boosting fast casting will let you cast a small amount faster, but it won't do near as much for your DPS as having 16 in fire rather than 12. Casting a fraction of a second sooner compared to hitting for 30 per tick of fire storm instead of 24, or hitting for 119 with Rodgort's instead of 91? We're talking a 25-30% damage increase on some of your major spells without increased energy cost over time. Fast Casting falls far short of this.
Edit: grammar
Mantra of Recovery is an ok elite, but the elementalist will almost always use an offensive elite. Having a bar with 5 attack spells means he won't need to worry much about recharges, and having the energy to keep chain casting means he doesn't need to stop blasting and drain energy as soon.
Also, Flare is just poor DPS past the early levels. Don't use it.
Any rune boosting fast casting will let you cast a small amount faster, but it won't do near as much for your DPS as having 16 in fire rather than 12. Casting a fraction of a second sooner compared to hitting for 30 per tick of fire storm instead of 24, or hitting for 119 with Rodgort's instead of 91? We're talking a 25-30% damage increase on some of your major spells without increased energy cost over time. Fast Casting falls far short of this.
Edit: grammar
Morganas
I only advocated taking flare if you have channeling as a spammable spell that's practically free in large pve battles (the only time you'd use this fire build is pve).
Fast casting is a direct boost to your dps not only because of faster cast times, but because of faster cooldowns due to mantra of recovery. You'll be sucking your enemies energy more often, and nuking more often. With fire, the cast is huge, also, many spells in the inspiration line are practically unusable without fast casting, very slow, and the interrupts are much easier to land if you can fast cast (power drain being my energy sapping skill of choice).
Energy storage's passive effect is only good for using exhaustion spells and resisting energy denial mesmers. Neither the mes/E or the e/mes will run out of energy on their own in a proper nuking build.
An elementalist with his bar stacked with nukes will have no energy management ability, and won't have the ability to sustain his nuking over a long battle. On the other hand, the ability to take along an elemental elite is probably the biggest argument in the el/mes's favor, as the mind X spells aren't all that reliable without energy storage, and if you don't take mantra of recovery, you're missing out on the mes/e's advantage.
What it boils down to is, the mesmer will have higher dps over both the very short term, due to fast casting, and the longer term, due to mantra of recovery and faster energy saps. The "middle term" advantage would certainly go to the elementalist who's stacked with nukes, systematically unloading them until he runs dry.
Fast casting is a direct boost to your dps not only because of faster cast times, but because of faster cooldowns due to mantra of recovery. You'll be sucking your enemies energy more often, and nuking more often. With fire, the cast is huge, also, many spells in the inspiration line are practically unusable without fast casting, very slow, and the interrupts are much easier to land if you can fast cast (power drain being my energy sapping skill of choice).
Energy storage's passive effect is only good for using exhaustion spells and resisting energy denial mesmers. Neither the mes/E or the e/mes will run out of energy on their own in a proper nuking build.
An elementalist with his bar stacked with nukes will have no energy management ability, and won't have the ability to sustain his nuking over a long battle. On the other hand, the ability to take along an elemental elite is probably the biggest argument in the el/mes's favor, as the mind X spells aren't all that reliable without energy storage, and if you don't take mantra of recovery, you're missing out on the mes/e's advantage.
What it boils down to is, the mesmer will have higher dps over both the very short term, due to fast casting, and the longer term, due to mantra of recovery and faster energy saps. The "middle term" advantage would certainly go to the elementalist who's stacked with nukes, systematically unloading them until he runs dry.