Backfire

Backfire (availability) (Hex)
For 10 seconds, whenever target foe casts a spell, that foe takes 100 damage.

When is the damage dealt : when he starts or when he finishes the spellcasting ?
Will the damage be dealt if the caster is interrupted ?

i woulda sworn i posted my answer like 10 min ago, but i have back fire and im preaty sure its when ever they try to use a casting skill, but i may be wrong

Yes, the damage takes effect even if you are interrupted.

So the worst possible thing to happen is the following when casting a single spell.

1. Get Backfire cast upon you.
2. Get Arcane Echo'd Backfire cast on you (they stack as the 2nd is really arcane echo)
Try and cast ...
3. Get Power Spiked.

So you could in theory get hit for around 300 damage and not get the spell off. Of course this would just never happen in practice. Since you would never cast if you had 2 backfires on you.

In GvG once I did this too an Elementalist.... Silly goose casted and got Power Spiked. Arcane Conundrum for teh win!!!11111oneoneone

I'm going to make a Ranger/ Mesmer and mess around with all these caster killing spells. Might make him a trapper. But that's what refunds are for I suppose.


But yeah... backfire murders casters whenever they try to cast (stupid mesmers against my monk... *walks away grumbling angrily*)

Thanks for the info about backfire

Are you positive about that ??? Arcane Echoing any hex/enchant permits to stack them on the same target ??

EDIT: I'm quite sure you're wrong. As per definition of AE, Nash's confirmation, and basic game balance... think of double fragility.....

I have heard of a number of people that have done this successfully. So yes, if they are to be believed ...

Arcane Echo is treated as if it is Arcane Echo with the same effects as backfire. So, you get the effects of Backfire two times. I would imagine that it should also work with Fragility or any other spell.

Backfire (domination tree)..hex- for 10 secs...targetted foe takes 22-116 damage for attempting to cast a spell



the damage is dependant upon skill level of course but it is a set amount and it is straight damage.

From everything I have read up on arcane echo and its effects... yes you can feasibly get a double dose of backfire out of it. (as someone else stated...arcane echo is still its own skill)..so yes..if your level of skill grants you 100 damage with it then your target would take 200 because of the echo you cast as well. Do I know with concrete certainty that it will work....ummm not yet ::evil grin::

Edit : (disclaimer).. well being that I wrote this post 1st week of march it was right then..but it isn't anymore..as Pharalon stated below. So it won't double on an echo anymore. Its now mid April. (eh i got bit by beta )

This question doesn't seem to be answered.

Does the caster's spell actually work before they take backfire damage, or is it interrupted by backfire?

I'm trying to decide between backfire and power spike.

Backfire's damage is dealt when the actual cast occurs, as opposed to on activation.

You can still hit someone with Power Spike and Backfire on the same cast, but you need to land your Power Spike after the cast, but during the aftercast.

An Arcane Echo'd Backfire won't stack with a regular one. It did at one stage, but that was a bug, which has since been fixed.

As for choosing between Power Spike and Backfire, it depends on the circumstances. In arena vs poor opponents, Backfire will wipe the floor. In competive GvG, Power Spike is a much more reliable option.

According to this thread (http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=2544) Backfire is triggered upon spell completion. As such Backfire will not trigger if the spell is interrupted.

AFAIK the only way for to hit someone using both Backfire and Powerspike is to have Powerspike hit as the enemy's spell is entering the aftercast stage. The spell is not interrupted (therefore triggers Backfire), but Powerspike still deals damage because the secondary effect still work. If you can do this consistently then *bow*

*Bah Pharalon beat me to it*

Thanks Pharalon and mostro. I know what to do now.

I'd take Power Leak instead of Spike, though.

I can't say that I've completely worked out my build, but wow! I like the Ranger/Mesmer combo a lot! At least when I have someone protecting my butt (casts raised eyebrow look at wife!)