Why -energy items for monks?

Thock

Thock

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Achieving Deficiency [aD]

I have heard of monks (and some other casters) keeping items with a -energy stat on a switch, Why would you do this? to combat energy denial is the only thing i can think of.

Tetris L

Tetris L

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

Germany

Servants of Fortuna

The only reason why anyone would keep an item with a negative energy bonus or energy regen is because it has some kind of really good bonus to compensate for. For example vampiric or zealous weapons always come with -1 energy/health regen. Also, there are some weapons/items with a good energy bonus, but -1 energy regen. You use them at the beginning of a fight, and when you've used the initial energy bonus you switch to an other item with no -1 regen.

Jenosavel

Jenosavel

Master of Beasts

Join Date: Jul 2005

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

Actually, it's usually to combat hexes like Malaise which end when your energy reaches 0. A quick switch to a negative energy weapon and back to your normal set can be a hex-removal with little penalty in those cases.

muelon

muelon

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

Dgreat

Mo/E

Easy Answer,

I play primary monk in PVP.
Run Boon to boost healing, also have energy management skill which is mesmer/channeling.
Sometimes run out of energy.
Ah oh im dead no energy.
Well not really.
Just switch weapons from staff that had +10 energy
to rod and offhand that give something like +28 energy (not sure of the exact number but something like that).
Wow all of a sudden I got an extra +18 energy from 0 energy.
Saves the day (maybe).

U can get all this good stuff(rod and offhand) from the desert collecters.

Carinae

Carinae

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

Inside

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Guys, I believe the OP is referring to negative energy weapons/offhands. (ie: -5 energy) NOT negative regeneration items, like the +15/-1 offfhands.

Those are often used to end spells that terminate at zero energy, like Wither and Malaise.

They can also be equipped before using spells like Rebirth or Ether Lord, so less energy is lost.

Kidney Licker

Kidney Licker

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Europe Server

To counter Wither/Malise, switching to an empty weapon slot will do much the same job of dropping Energy to 0, or even using an offhand for another character class.

I've seen ppl buying some of those items but I hadn't realised they were actually using them. I had thought they were just "collecting" them.

Usually those items have another attribute like +4 armour to counter the energy offset. It may be that attribute they are looking for.

Epinephrine

Epinephrine

Master of Beasts

Join Date: Mar 2005

Ottawa, Canada

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

You can also use them in builds that run spells that drop your energy to 0; Ether Lord or Rebrth for example, to protect your energy. Swap to a -5/-3 set for example, cast, then swap back to +12 and you protected 20 energy. Or when facing an energy denial build; swap to your+12; cast a spell, swap back to negative to protect the rest; you get hit with a signet of weakness at 2 energy? You lose 2 - you swap and have 20 energy still, cast a spell and hide your energy again.