Is frenzy still viable with so much smiting?

ElderAtronach

ElderAtronach

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Mo/Me

Simple question, looking for a simple answer. I've never run a warrior primary in tombs, so I wouldn't know about how well they fare there... with so much smiting going on, you're bound to get hit by AoE most of the time right? Just wanted to get some perspective from an experienced warrior type.

Sagius Truthbarron

Sagius Truthbarron

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Animal Factory [ZoO]

A/

Most people just use Tiger's Fury and skills that don't make you take more damage. I haven't heard of someone using Frenzy in awhile. Like since pre-searing XD

But, then again, I've never really used a build that required it before.

ElderAtronach

ElderAtronach

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Mo/Me

Apparently you've never read the build discussion forums. I would like input from actual experience. The less theorycraft the better please.

MCS

MCS

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

I'll give someone a dollar to delete this thread before it turns into another Frenzy vs TF thread.

Not only is it viable it remains the only choice. If they use smiting as defensive (putting on monks you're attacking) then it's only taking pressure off your monks. If they use it as offensive getting hit with the occasional double damage balth as he runs by isn't going to hurt too much.

Racthoh

Racthoh

Did I hear 7 heroes?

Join Date: May 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Guild Leader (Not Recruiting)

Tack on 2 superior runes and make sure you have a constant protective spirit up.

If the group is organized enough, then yeah Frenzy is fine. Just make sure you inform your group that your using it so they know to watch out for it. Also, have a fallback stance that just in case you run into someone smiting you can quickly take it off.

If all else, watch what skills they're using and if you see them using smiting, just hold off on the frenzy.

Sarus

Sarus

Ministry of Technology

Join Date: Feb 2005

Washington D.C.

Idiot Savants

Mo/

Since every warrior should alwasy be using BOTH sprint AND frenzy you will in almost all cases be fine. Sprint is an obvious must to catch up to running monks (the only kind there are as far as I can tell) and frenzy is a must for the increased damage and adrenaline gain. If you find yourself in the middle of a frenzy bout and all of the sudden smiting goes up just use sprint to cancel it.

There are of course certain cases where you do not want to use frenzy.
  1. Avoid frenzy against smiting groups until the smiters have been identified or neutralized.
  2. Avoid frenzy against air spike groups where you will have no warning before getting spiked out with frenzy up.
  3. Avoid frenzy against downright awful groups that attempt to kill you before the monks.
Now when I say avoid frenzy I don't mean not to bring it. I mean just don't use it until it's "safe" to do so.

Arkayne

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

My Warrior build has used Frenzy and is loving it. It only lasts 8 seconds, so you use it for a big burst of damage/adrenaline, then if you're getting beat on, it will run out quickly and you'll just have to be careful how you use it. Balthazar's Aura/Zealots Fire and all those crazy smiting skills are definatly the bane to the Frenzy build, but when I see those numbers come up, I either just don't use Frenzy, or pick a new target.

Syno Nym

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2005

Les Grosbilloux

R/W

We had two warriors with frenzy yesterday in tombs, and it was ok (we didn't lose to a single smite group), despite of all these smite groups (almost 95% of the teams... ).

Our warriors only died one time because they forgot to hit Sprint when a smiter used his skills on the monk. But if you have good reflexes, there's no problem.

Krank

Krank

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

W/

Answer to your question is

Berserkers stance

LoneDust

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2005

That is not a good answer. Berserker's stance is very situational. There are builds where you can fit in regular attacks between skill spikes. Berserker's will stop when you start using the skills and your spiking damage will not be as fast as they could be.

Mhydrian

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2005

R/Me

Use frenzy if you want to die. I used to bring frenzy and hover my mouse pointer over a defense stance, trying to catch myself before I got creamed. Its just too risky, the only thing a warrior has going for it is its ability to survive, you completely destroy that by using frenzy.

You cant turn off fenzy without another stance, and there are many many times you dont want to be walking around with double damage going. If you play 4 on 4 random, you dont want to use frenzy. War vs War fights are commonplace there, people are more likely to target a war. And in general a very good percentage of teams you face will have warriors.

The only situation I MIGHT use frenzy is with a hammer warrior, and Im trying to take down a non-smiter monk. Just pray someone doesnt try to help the monk while you are vulnerable.

Warskull

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jul 2005

[out]

Mhyd, 4v4 random, 4v4 teams, and ToPK are entirely different games though. I agree fenzy is much more risky in 4v4 (where you are far more likely to get noticed and targeted.)

The edge you have in 8v8 is that it takes an extremely coordinated team to notice and spike a frenzied warrior. It almost never happens unless the warrior does something very stupid.

Sagius Truthbarron

Sagius Truthbarron

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Animal Factory [ZoO]

A/

Oops. sorry, I don't cut cookies very much in Tombs.

Nash

Nash

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2005

Sweden

The Cornerstone

MCS and Sarus' posts are the ones to pay attention to in this thread. Consider the question answered.

wolfy3455

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mhydrian
Use frenzy if you want to die. I used to bring frenzy and hover my mouse pointer over a defense stance, trying to catch myself before I got creamed. Its just too risky, the only thing a warrior has going for it is its ability to survive, you completely destroy that by using frenzy.

You cant turn off fenzy without another stance, and there are many many times you dont want to be walking around with double damage going. If you play 4 on 4 random, you dont want to use frenzy. War vs War fights are commonplace there, people are more likely to target a war. And in general a very good percentage of teams you face will have warriors.

The only situation I MIGHT use frenzy is with a hammer warrior, and Im trying to take down a non-smiter monk. Just pray someone doesnt try to help the monk while you are vulnerable.
In general, all you fight in RT is paladins and sword warriors with gladiators. Most of the time, I feel safe using frenzy against a sword warrior 1 v 1. If they use gladiators, just stop attacking them, maybe run around them with sprint for ten seconds.

Tigris Of Gaul

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Using Frenzy makes you a slightly weaker caster, for the period you do use it. So should people not bring casters unless "they want to die"?

Eonwe

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

New Jersey

Idiot Savants

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nash
MCS and Sarus' posts are the ones to pay attention to in this thread. Consider the question answered.
Agreed.

Savio

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tigris Of Gaul
Using Frenzy makes you a slightly weaker caster, for the period you do use it. So should people not bring casters unless "they want to die"?
I'm sorry, but...what are you talking about? Frenzy and casters don't mix. The OP is talking about whether warriors can use Frenzy while there are so many smite teams around.

In which case, I second Eonwe and hope this thread gets closed before another flame war breaks out.

Eonwe

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

New Jersey

Idiot Savants

Tigris was just comparing the amount of damage you'd take while under frenzy to what a normal 60 AL caster would take if he was being spiked. It is about the same.

IlikeGW

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Krank
Answer to your question is

Berserkers stance
/signed

Phades

Phades

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

What he meant was that you recieve slightly more damage than a caster AL would against attacks that do not bypass AL.

Eonwe

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

New Jersey

Idiot Savants

Hopefully the people who are suggesting Berserker Stance do realize that the large cooldown time and inability to spike with it do make it a skill that you want to stay away from if you're a warrior that actually wants to kill things. Leave that skill in the trash bin, where it belongs .

IlikeGW

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Not at all true, beserker's is great if you want to use high adrenaline skills, and you don't suffer a damage penalty with it

Tigris Of Gaul

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

But you can't use it with skills. The more time it takes to pull off your combos is more time for the monks to react.

Savio

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phades
What he meant was that you recieve slightly more damage than a caster AL would against attacks that do not bypass AL.
Oops, noob moment there. I really can't read. Eles with Frenzy, heh...

Calibretto_9

Calibretto_9

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

The Zanza Barbarians

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eonwe
Hopefully the people who are suggesting Berserker Stance do realize that the large cooldown time and inability to spike with it do make it a skill that you want to stay away from if you're a warrior that actually wants to kill things. Leave that skill in the trash bin, where it belongs .
Bah. I agree that in any large matches (PvP, GvG) frenzy is relatively the only way to go, but I'd say that in teams or random, your safe bet would be berserkers. With only 4 people, and hundreds of warriors playing in these arenas, you will be targeted and you aren't going to have the sheer healing power you have with those larger groups. Therefore I'd say in smaller matches sacrifice a little less damage to them so that there's a lot less damage to you. I also consider berserker to be a completely sound strategy for knockdown hammer warriors because of the fact that it ends when you use a skill, allowing you to time the subsequent attacks to get the full effect. Notice I did say sound strategy for knockdowns, not the best. ^_~

On the other hand Eonwe is right when it comes to larger matches. In any kind of "big" battle, you won't be targeted, and if you are, who cares. Just throw on sprint (Heck, you'll probably need in anyways since people quickly learn to run from warriors in frenzy) and you're good to go. And the sheer healing ability in larger matches makes sure that the double damage won't be anything to worry about. I just think that sometimes people forget the smaller 4 vs 4 matches exist, and to be frank, I think they're quite enjoyable every now and then. Hard to find a newbless match, but when you do 4 on 4 requires entirely different strategies, and in random it is fun to have to immediately form a strategy with what you have. Just my 2 cents. =)

Eonwe

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

New Jersey

Idiot Savants

Quote:
Originally Posted by IlikeGW
Not at all true, beserker's is great if you want to use high adrenaline skills, and you don't suffer a damage penalty with it
No, actually what I said was very true. What you said on the other hand, isn't. Frenzy is just as good for gaining adrenaline, and you're able to spike better with it, thus you get more kills.

Edit: I can also see where some of you are coming from since you probably do random arena, and the double damage from frenzy in random arena with the possiblity of having no monk support isn't too hot. But, I really don't consider random arena to be "competitive" pvp. So when I make posts, I base it on any type of competitive situation where you have some type of team build. I could care less about random arena.

Loki Gladius

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

[KOTL]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eonwe
No, actually what I said was very true. What you said on the other hand, isn't. Frenzy is just as good for gaining adrenaline, and you're able to spike better with it, thus you get more kills.
Berserkers Stance:
For 5-10 seconds, you attack 33% faster than normal and gain 20% more Adrenaline each time you hit in melee. Berserker Stance ends if you use a skill.

Great skill for charging up Adrenaline attacks, been using it ever since ive found it.

Tigris Of Gaul

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki Gladius
Berserkers Stance:
For 5-10 seconds, you attack 33% faster than normal and gain 20% more Adrenaline each time you hit in melee. Berserker Stance ends if you use a skill.

Great skill for charging up Adrenaline attacks, been using it ever since ive found it.
Hmm, 4 seconds of recharge or 30? The ability to throw out skills in rapid succession or 20% more adrenaline?

Loki Gladius

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

[KOTL]

Aye, 4 second recharge can be handy for a 1v1 situation, but ive much rather have a Berserkers Stance to charge up me Adren attacks when being attacked by numerous targets.

Savio

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki Gladius
Aye, 4 second recharge can be handy for a 1v1 situation, but ive much rather have a Berserkers Stance to charge up me Adren attacks when being attacked by numerous targets.
This thread is focusing more on Tombs and maybe Team Arenas, not Random Arenas. If in the first two you're a warrior getting pounded by numerous targets, taking more damage is a minor problem at best. If you're in Random Arenas, it might be ok, but Random Arenas are so unbalanced anyway that you typically either own the other team or you get your butt handed back to you.

Legendary Battousai

Legendary Battousai

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

CA

[Ryuk]

W/A

Frenzy is good for a target that you are attacking that is being healed a lot. You should probably call it out when you use frenzy, and tell your team [monks] before you enter the mission that you will use it so they know to keep a close eye on your hp. Frenzy, like someone said before, is probably best in the hands of a hammer warrior. IMO Tigers Fury should be for R/W only because you cant keep up tigers fury for an extended time, you gain about 7 energy every 10 seconds and every 10 seconds you lose 10 energy, so eventually you will run dry. For R/W, you gain 10 energy in 10 seconds, and only lose about 7 energy when you cast it [expertise]. Still, it is useful. But Frenzy is a gamble, like everything else, and many people like to gamble with everything else. Just remember its only a game, try it out, see how you like it and if it works out, you found something you like.

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

In response to the original poster - smiting has a minimal effect, if any, upon Warriors. Under most circumstances smiting is used upon Warriors who are up in the middle of your casters - your Warriors are as far away from that as possible. They take small amounts of splashed smiting damage, but even that usually comes when they're chasing down a Monk and they have Sprint on.

I can see smiting being a potential problem if you're running 3+ Warriors on the same target - then it starts to make sense to smite the Monk and chase off those Warriors. Of course builds with more than two Warriors on the same target have all sorts of problems already - body blocking your teammates for the lose.

Peace,
-CxE

ElderAtronach

ElderAtronach

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Mo/Me

Thanks Ensign, that's all I needed to know.

Mhydrian

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2005

R/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfy3455
In general, all you fight in RT is paladins and sword warriors with gladiators. Most of the time, I feel safe using frenzy against a sword warrior 1 v 1. If they use gladiators, just stop attacking them, maybe run around them with sprint for ten seconds.
Im really good but sometimes its very easy to swing through gladiators a few times especially when you dont know he has it. A sword warriors best attack skills are non elite. Galraths slash, final thrust , pure strike these all doing double damage to you is not a good thing at all, if they all hit, it would be well over 200 damage in seconds.

Im my experience frenzying against a good sword warrior, you would be crazy to let him get you anywhere near 50% health, where a final thrust does double damage anyways, then add frenzy double damage.

neoflame

neoflame

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mhydrian
Im really good but sometimes its very easy to swing through gladiators a few times especially when you dont know he has it.
Self-contradiction? And, while you might get hit by Gladiator's Defense once (if you damage yourself more than twice on consecutive hits against a warrior, you're not paying enough attention), nobody with a dangerous skill level is going to be carrying Gladiator's Defense in 8v8.

I personally wouldn't run TF outside of Arenas.

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

lmao. I used berserker stance once and I swore never to use it again. The recharge is TERRIBLE, better off with For great Justice

Santanus_Perro

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Scott Township, PA

Iron Rangers

W/Mo

Why not flurry? You give up a couple seconds of increased attack speed, but you don't have to worry about the damage done to you while in a fight.

ICURADik

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackace
Hi my name is For Great Justice, and when I'm playing with my friends Frenzy and Eviscerate I make Berserker Stance look like shit. Have a nice day!
You realize FGJ is bugged and only 150% adrenaline. I don't see it as a maintainable option in the least on a warrior primary. Add in Warrior's Cunning and a couple more Frenzy's and your at 0 energy.

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

Quote:
Originally Posted by ICURADik
You realize FGJ is bugged and only 150% adrenaline.
Which is more than 120% adrenaline.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ICURADik
I don't see it as a maintainable option in the least on a warrior primary.
Which makes it totally different from Berserker Stance and its 30 second cooldown.

Peace,
-CxE