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Why not almost all DoT skill on the backbar for DK?

DigiAngel
DigiAngel
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Topic :) I guess I'm wondering why almost every build I see has the claw on one bar, and the breath on the other. Why not just put them both on the backbar?

Best Answer

  • Vevvev
    Vevvev
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    Fiery Breath has a harder hitting initial hit but a weaker damage over time, while Searing Strike has a weaker initial hit, but a much harder hitting damage over time.

    Single target damage over time effects, which both abilities have, scale off your offensive stats when cast. This means if you cast the abilities on a bar with more offensive power even if you bar swap they'll hit just as hard with no changes... until you get into weapon traits, weapon passives, penetration, and critical chance. This is why you'll see someone placing the damage over time abilities on the most powerful bar they can unless they don't have the bar space for it so put their weakest DoTs on the back bar.
    PC NA - Ceyanna Ashton - Breton Vampire MagDK
    Answer ✓
  • DigiAngel
    DigiAngel
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    Perfect..thank you!
  • Oreyn_Bearclaw
    Oreyn_Bearclaw
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    DigiAngel wrote: »
    Topic :) I guess I'm wondering why almost every build I see has the claw on one bar, and the breath on the other. Why not just put them both on the backbar?

    At least for mag DK, Most meta parse builds I see have both on the front bar. Virtually every bar setup is Whip, Breath and burning Embers, and the last two skills are some combo of FOO, IL, and Trap.

    With Stamina, its a little more varied depending on weapon choice as some weapon skills are tied to a bar (stamina builds generally use more weapons skills). Some Stam parses dont even use both claw and breath.
  • DigiAngel
    DigiAngel
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    Thanks as always for the insights Oreyn!
  • kringled_1
    kringled_1
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    One additional consideration for magDK builds using molten whip is that you get stacks of seething fury for each cast of another ardent flame ability, up to 3, but those abilities have to be on the same bar as whip.
  • Vildebill
    Vildebill
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    Molten Whip is your answer, you'd want FoO, Burning Embers and Engulfing Flames on the same bar as Molten Whip to build up Seething Fury stacks.
    EU PC
  • Hescrow
    Hescrow
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    It also depends on content type and playstyle.

    As stamdk I prefer use spam skills front bar and dot skills backbar for pve.

    For PvP breath and spam on front and cc / utilities on back.
  • DigiAngel
    DigiAngel
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    Thank you. As for Seething Fury, so far my experience is hitting Flames of Oblivion 3 times and I'm at full stacks.
  • kringled_1
    kringled_1
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    DigiAngel wrote: »
    Thank you. As for Seething Fury, so far my experience is hitting Flames of Oblivion 3 times and I'm at full stacks.

    Well, yes, that's how it works. But it very much depends on your build and situation. Most of my experience is as a mDK in pve content, with whip as a spammable. I'm going to cast embers and engulfing anyways, I might as well get the buff from those. Multiple casting of FoO is only something I'll do as either an out of combat prebuff, or in a few places where I use FoO instead of whip as a pseudo spammable, either because I've got 3 or more targets, or I can't get to melee range.
    Otoh, the calculation is very different if you're only using whip with seething fury as a passive bar buff ability, which I've been told has been done in some stamDK setups like in your other thread? At least in older patches.
  • Vevvev
    Vevvev
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    DigiAngel wrote: »
    Thank you. As for Seething Fury, so far my experience is hitting Flames of Oblivion 3 times and I'm at full stacks.

    Against less than or equal to 3 enemies that's a good idea since it's cost effective, however with 4+ enemies hitting them with Engulfing Flames as a spammable might work out better since it'll hit them all if they're in front of you. Situation depends but you have the right idea.
    PC NA - Ceyanna Ashton - Breton Vampire MagDK
  • DigiAngel
    DigiAngel
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    Appreciate the feedback all...really enjoying the freedom to create mediocre builds :smiley:
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