Air Spiker Build~~~Plz post your opinions!

This is the air build I've been running in CA (effective there because matches are generally short), and is also very nice in 8v8, as long as you have a battery necro, its very energy demanding (the way I usually play it) with only ele attunement for energy management.-

Air: 16 (12+1+3)
Inspiration: 8
Energy Storage: 11 (10+1)

I use an insightful air staff of enchanting to get a little longer EA.

Skills:

1) Archane Echo (mainly used for orb, used for strike in certain situations)
2) Lightning Orb
3) Lightning Strike
4) Enervating Charge
5) Gale (love to turn tables on kd/interupters)
6) Elemental Attunement
7) Mantra of Resolve (lasts 62 seconds w/ -4 energy on blocked interupt with current att.)
8) Res Sig

As I said, this build works nicely in CA, where the matches are generally short enough that energy management isn't much of a factor with it. In 8v8, be it tombs or gvg, it really can benefit a ton from some help from a battery necro (although he shouldn't be neglecting the monks in favor of you). It can be viable without one, although I would recommend drain enchantment be worked in for some energy return in 8v8, and in that case, I'ld recommend dropping energy storage a couple points and boosting inspiration for better energy return.

Mantra of resolve and gale have become my loves since I started running this build. Interupters become no problem, and even an interupt/damage combo from a ranger can be kept in check enough for you to outdamage him if you lay in a couple well timed gales. Gale can also let you act as psudo-interupt, although very sparingly, but the right spell/skill getting interupted (see res sig) can change the tide in a match.

Before I added AE, I used to run chain in my build, but I seemed to rarely use it. Now, I AE orb, and have a 4 skill spike chain without the exhaustion of chain, and it does more damage as well, the only problem is needing line of sight to use the orbs, although using AE with strike can help with that, and get hiders to come out and open themselves up to other attacks, very helpful on maps that have bridges that people hide on/under.

As NatalieD said, ditch the res spells for sig. They take too long to cast with your 60al, and no defensive skill other than gale (which I tend to use more offensively, but that may be just me), and coming back with anything less that 100% health just make someone the target, and unless they're a warrior with little need for energy, the energy the res spells give is too low for someone to do anything worthwhile other than run for thier life. I sometimes run vengence on a monk secondary in CA, but sig is generally a better choice.

My suggestion would be to firmly stick with Elemental Attunement + Air Attunement combo on your E/Mo, but work in Stoning. Sure, it's costly, but Knockdown interrupts casting, attacking, AND running Just make sure you have Enervating Charge to cause Weakness first.

As for Resurrection Signet v. Light of Dwayna, I prefer the latter. Why? Light of Dwayna is reusable, even with its 30s cooldown, and can bring back multiple allies. This can matter in CA random battles when you're the only one standing. With both Attunements and the massive Elementalist energy pool, 25 energy should not hinder your casting ability much, and Enervating Charge + Stoning can give your teammates the precious seconds they need to get away.

Of course, I also usually play an Earth Ele with Enervating Charge instead of an Air Ele with Stoning, so your results may vary.

Ok, I updated my build. How's this?

1. Elemental Attunement
2. Air Attunement
3. Arcane Echo
4. Lightning Orb
5. Lightning strike
6. Enervating charge
7. Resurrect Sig/ Blinding Flash
8. Mantra of Resolve/Mantra of Concentration

Is it really necessary to have res sig in a pvp battle or gvg for an ele? Or can I concentrate on other spells? like blinding flash or gale?

Edit: Ok I understand we need res sig in 4v4 and probably 8v8 but must we have it in gvg?

If you're playing an air ele, most likely you're part of some spike group. In which case, arcane echo isn't really needed. Personally, I'd replace lightning strike and arcane echo with blinding flash and gale. Otherwise, you're just a medium damage source with no other utility.

Also, you might want to think about replacing air attunement with channeling, as it's much more effective as a cover enchantment.

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Well Thanks for all of your advice,

I'll let you know how your build turns out Traversc

Still do we need res sig in gvg? Is it necessary?

Ares what traversc is saying, altough very poorly, is that if you are using an Air Spiker you should be in Tombs playing in an Air Spike team. These teams consist of usually 6 Air Spikers running generally your build and 2 monks.

The key to Air Spike teams is that you have to hit your skills at the general same moment. Like your skills Lightning Orb and Enervating Charge. You say they do a total of 150 Damage (I run with 4 but whatever and I do about 250) well if you have 6 Air Spiker hitting the same target at the exact same time preventing any heals, then you're doing around 900 dmg per attack.

This is probably very obvious to you I just wanted to try to explain what traversc was trying to say, better. No offense if you felt I was talking to you as if you were a noob. I don't think you are as you respond in saying you think Lighting Strike is necassary. I agree.

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energy surge + orb works wonders

you get a 200 dmg spike out of one ele and knock down. before they can get up you've nailed them lightning strike or charge. you'll need some energy fixing someway. best leave that up to the necros.

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OK that came out a bit wrong. I didn't mean it so much that Air Spikers are useful only to Air Spiker teams. I was just saying that's TYPICALLY what I see on an Air Spiker build. I've also seen 5 Spikers, 2 Monks, and an energy necro. I think Lightning Strike is a good skill to have when you are Air Spiking only because its fast and energy saving. I understand it doesn't do much damage, but I still think it's a good skill to have equipped. Now the Energy Surge+Orb combo is very nice.

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mantra of resove ftw