User:The Sins We Live By/My Skill Area

December 6th 2008

Today's skill is going to be Empathic Removal At first look, the skill seems underpowered when compared to it's "big brothers" Blessed Light and Divert Hexes. However, it isn't tied to an attribute, so it can be taken on any other classes bar with no negative impact due to attributes.

In one example, I run it on a Foul Feast MM with Infuse Condition, this allowed for complete condition removal through Foul Feast, and any that were not automatically redirected by Infuse Conditions, were removed by Empathic Removal. Along with this synergy, it assists in hex removal, which in many builds can be something of a problem. (Due to most hex removals being high recharge, or highly specialized.)

On another note, I've been exploring the synergies of multiple elites with Arcane Mimicry. By placing this on the MM, when hexes and conditions starting pressing, I noticed my Hero stole empathic removal and they just started melting away.

Quite an interesting skill in my opinion. Feel free to comment and elaborate as you will.

December 12th 2008

So last night there was a huge elite update for unused elites. Among them, Avatar of Grenth was changed. In PvE, they added life steal on hit, along with the enchanted foes cannot block your attacks clause. My first thought was, meh whatever. But when I looked at it for a minute, I decided that it reminded me much of Spirit's Strength. I threw together my normal Spirit's Strength build, and replaced the ritualist skills with dervish equivalents. Avy of Grenth for Spirit's Strengh. Heart of Fury in place of Weapon of Aggression, Eternal Aura to keep the avatar up indefinitely (and helps aoe damage). Then I threw in Meditation to round out the bar for energy management.

By doing the form, then casting heart of fury, eternal aura, then stripping eternal aura, I got a +33% IAS to last 45+ seconds without downtime and energy stayed quite optimal thanks to the high mysticism energy return. All in all I will test this whole bar out more later, but am quite pleased with the results.

Comment as you will.

January 13th 2009

It's been awhile. Thought I'd throw something in here. It's not really new to me, but it's one I've have to defend several times. Blessed Light I've had several "experienced" monks berate me for using the elite citing it as too expensive and underpowered. Though for utility sake on a protection build, it's pure gold. It may be too expensive for spamming purposes (over the long term) but it removes hexes, conditions, AND heals. (one of each) I have run it on a bar in FoW, UW, DoA, and most any normal PvE area to great effect. It supplements the heal monks powers, and compresses the bar effectively. As far as hex management goes, short of being an over specialized skill like Divert Hexes (only useful against multiple hexes), or Peace and Harmony (no healing ability), it is a great way to melt hexes away. the 3 second recharge is twice as fast remove hex, and 4 times as fast as things like Cure hex, Smite hex, etc.

On the topic of energy, there are several ways to mitigate it. First and simplest, Glyph of Lesser Energy For general use, this will suffice, allowing two free casts. Also the simple amount of energy in most bars (40-50) will allow for a few uses, even spammed. Another possibility is Selfless Spirit or Divine Spirit both of which I've found moderate success in their use. Though I find Selfless Spirit to be better applied in 5energy skills, the energy reduction is still very nice.

As always, feel free to comment as you will.