Ele/Mo >> smiting viable?

ph0ck

ph0ck

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

Hello,
i've been playing Earth and Water - Eles for a while now, and have been thinking of taking an Air Mage next BWE (providing you can still take all the skills you want). Having gone the Necro and Mesmer roads before i wanted to try some smiting (mainly for Scourge Healing).... so here it goes.
Quote:
Class: Elementalist / Monk

Assumed items:
+1 to Energy Storage
+2 to Air Magic

Attributes: (cost)
Energy Storage: 8+1 (37)
Air Magic: 10+2 (61)
Smiting Prayers: 12 (97) Total attribute points used: 195/200


Skills:
1) Banish - (5,1,10) Target foe takes 49 holy damage.
2) Gale - (5,1,5) Knock down target foe for 3 seconds. This spell causes exhaustion.
3) Holy Strike - (5,3/4,15) Target touched foe takes 46 holy damage. If knocked down, your target takes an additional 22 holy damage.
4) Smite - (10,1,10) This attack deals 46 holy damage. If attacking, your target takes an additional 22 holy damage.
5) Enervating Charge - (10,1,8) Target foe is struck for 41 lightning damage and suffers from weakness for 17 seconds. This spell has 25% armor penetration.
6) Lightning Orb - (15,2,5) Lightning Orb flies towards target foe and strikes for 82 lightning damage if it hits. This spell has 25% armor penetration.
7) Shield of Judgment (elite) - (15,1,45) For 18 seconds, anyone striking target ally with an attack is knocked down and suffers 26 damage. This is an elite skill.
8) Scourge Healing - (10,2,5) For 30 seconds, every time target foe is healed, the healer takes 67 holy damage. Scourge Healing is self-explainatory, the rest is direct attack stuff, but for SoJ which i put there because it looks so nice and Healers don't know any smiting. I think i shouldn't have too many problems with the long recharge times of the smite spells since I'll be pretty busy casting Scourge Healing most of the time.
Do you think this is playable or are the smiting attack skills just too bad? Or do you have any other suggestions? If so let's hear it

Acan Vishnu

Acan Vishnu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/N

What tends to happen while using Shield of Judgment is either the opposing team will remove the enchantment, or more often, they'll stop attacking that target until it wears off, either of which pretty much screws up the idea behind casting the spell in the first place (as a side note, that spell totally rocks in PvE -- It's absolutely amazing, a warrior buddy and I can take on pretty much anything while I'm using that)

I would also question using Holy Strike.. touch range really sucks for casters to have to be in, and because you have no way to heal yourself... I don't think even the synergy with gale makes up for having to be in melee range.

I liked using Balthazar's Aura actually, I could use it any time I saw a warrior beating on enemy monks, or when he got surrounded by enemies, really useful in king of the hill style games. Its expensive as hell, but worth it in many cases (also has applictions for protecting your monk from enemy warriors)

Signet of Judgment is also a nice skill, AoE style damage again, but with added knockdown, another nice one is Judge's Insight.. really nice to throw on your warrior or ranger.. that armor penetration can work wonders.

Overall I found that smiting monks work best as a supporting damage dealer, which tends to make their role a little harder to work into pickup groups, but can boost a team's overall effectiveness.. I do think you've got a good idea in using it in conjunction with elementalist primary though, makes high cost spells more viable and you don't loose anything from not having divine favor.

walder

walder

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=2400

This is where you want to look.

ph0ck

ph0ck

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Acan Vishnu
What tends to happen while using Shield of Judgment is either the opposing team will remove the enchantment, or more often, they'll stop attacking that target until it wears off
This is pretty much what i want? I thought i'd use it if a primary Monk has problems staying alive, if they don't remove it fast he's got some breathing room...

Quote: Originally Posted by Acan Vishnu I would also question using Holy Strike.. touch range really sucks Yes that's correct of course. I overlooked touch range...

Quote:
Originally Posted by walder
This is where you want to look. No, as this is not about smiting at all.

walder

walder

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by ph0ck
Hello,
i've been playing Earth and Water - Eles for a while now, and have been thinking of taking an Air Mage next BWE (providing you can still take all the skills you want). I was referring to this.