I've been using a lightning staff heavy attack mag sorc build for PVE for years. Like a lot of you I've had to adjust the build over time to account for gear set changes etc. I've been using Noble Duelist Silks and Undaunted Infiltrator with the back-barred Maelstrom staff lately. The big buffs to heavy attacks were from:
1. NDS set
2. UI set
3. Causing concussed/off-balance with back-barred Maelstrom lightning staff with shock glyph and infused w/ Elemental Blockade
Now with the change to Wall of Elements I was thinking the best way to get max damage from the same play style would be using the same sets (except Maelstrom staff). However I'd also replace my monster set with the Oakensoul ring to get empowered.
The only staff would be the Undaunted Infiltrator lightning staff w/ shock glyph so I was thinking the best trait would be charged to maximize the chance of concussion/off-balance with Elemental Blockade. Instead of casting that skill on back-bar with the maelstrom staff and then quickly swapping to the front bar to heavy attack with another staff, Blockade would be cast on the front/only bar and then you would just heavy attack. With Oakensoul you'd have empower, you'd have the 2 set buffs still to heavy attacking, and you'd hopefully get concussion/off-balance still. Based on my knowledge of how heavy attacks work and how you proc concussion/off-balance I thought this above build would be about the best anyone could do to buff up their lightning staff heavy attacks as much as possible using Oakensoul and a 1-bar accessibility build.
1. Noble Duelist Silks buff
2. Undaunted Infiltrator buff
3. Empower from Oakensoul +80% HA damage
4. Concussion/off-balance from Elemental Blockade and the lightning staff (charged trait and shock glyph) +70% HA damage
Do you agree, disagree and why? Am I missing something here like a way to change/improve the build to milk out even more damage to lightning staff heavy attacks? If you have both set buffs, concussion/off-balance, and empower, that to me seems like it should be stronger lightning staff heavy attacks than were possible before. I need to test.