Can't find a good AOE equivalent for Plaguebreak PvE

Gargath · June 2023

So sad that this set is now completely useless in PvE.
I was searching through all available sets and could not find anything giving at least similar bombing effect, level of damage and fun from utilising special technique.

I'm doing mostly overland content without Oakensoul or other mythics and PB was simply ideal, trully unique of it's kind.
This set deserves a named statue, or in game poem, or a relic to be digged in antiquity system.
Any way is good to memorize it as probably best aoe set before patch.

Anyway, I cannot find anything for replacement. Need to pair it well with Selistrix 2pcs monster and 5pcs. Venomous for Stamplar with bow/bow.
Considering only Overland sets (that can be bought in guild stores), or Crafted (I can craft myself).
No dungeons/trials/arena sets since I have no time and patience to grind for hundred times the same activity.

I tried something to apply status effect on multiple mobs to get damage from occult overload, was thinking about Hrothgar's Chill, but damage is not even comparable, and it does not affect bigger mobs that are immune to stun/immobilise.

So I ended up with 5pcs. Claw of the Forest Wraith to potentially increase overall damage on spammed Jabs. Opening attacks with Explosive Charge. So far its good, but I miss something, it's not giving the feeling of power. I could change if there was something better. If anyone has a better idea considering the above conditions (overland/crafted sets with bows), please share.

YandereGirlfriend · June 2023

Use Azureblight. It was Plaguebreak before Plaguebreak.

Soarora · June 2023

The only other AoE booms I know of are dark convergence and detonation and both tickle since they’re both post-nerf. Very unfortunate.

LunaFlora · June 2023

void bash or the rune of displacement morph of the imperfect ring skill from the arcanist class

WrathOfInnos · June 2023

YandereGirlfriend wrote: »

Use Azureblight. It was Plaguebreak before Plaguebreak.

This, Azureblight works great on Templar with jabs. If you really can't stand running normal Lair of Maarselok to get it then try Mechanical Acuity for AoE burst. Or better yet, use both sets together.

Necrotech_Master · June 2023

i would think the best options would be azureblight or dark convergence

though azureblight from experience only works well if you have a dot heavy build

not sure why it would work with templar jabs anymore, i thought they fixed jabs to count as all direct hits, and azureblight only counts with dot dmg

Mansquito · June 2023

No idea why the nerfed Plaguebreak to be honest, just more knee jerk reaction to some complaints and it lowers build variety and fun on the game.

Gargath · June 2023

YandereGirlfriend wrote: »

Use Azureblight. It was Plaguebreak before Plaguebreak.

Azureblight (5 items) When you deal damage with a damage over time effect, you apply a stack of blight seed to your target for 5 seconds. At 20 stacks, the Blight Seeds explode, dealing 1745 Disease Damage to the target and nearby enemies.
An enemy that has reached 20 stacks cannot be infected with Blight Seed for 2 seconds.

Like @Necrotech_Master pointed this set is designed for "dot heavy build". I'm curious how many dot abilities need to be applied in rapid succession to get 20 stacks within 5 seconds? Damage is the same on all mobs. It's some option for PB, but sadly not best for me.

Plaguebreak (5 items) Dealing direct damage causes (player) enemies to become a Plague Carrier, dealing 1000 Disease Damage over 10 seconds and applying the Diseased status effect. If the plague is removed early it explodes and deals 735 Disease Damage to all enemies within 8 meters of the carrier, increasing by 50% per enemy hit. This effect can occur once every 20 seconds per target, once per attack, and scales off the higher of your Weapon and Spell Damage.

Plaguebreak needed only 2 skills not based on damage over time. Bow's Bombard direct damage to root & apply plague, then 2-3 Jabs to remove the plague off a weakest mob and start chain reaction on all others with damage increasing without limitation. With Occult Overload for excessive damage via PB deseased status effect. Wiping out entire groups in a blink of eye. Stacking mobs around bosses for even more fun and much easier dungeons.

I'd like to see Plaguebreak be reversed to a version pre-patch but available as new Mythic item, instead of being a simply overland drop. I would not be surprised if ZOS will restore it in a new chapter only to increase it's overall sales, like they did with Oakensoul ring for High Isle.

As for the sets I keep playing with Claw of the Forest Wraith trying a hybrid of stamina and magicka abilities.
I use Dark Convergence on another character Magicka Templar, set is okay but this 4 second delay is a problem. To take highest damage the mobs need to stay in 3 meters range and 4 seconds is enough for them to spready away of the center.

Anyway thanks all for your opinions.

Zastrix · June 2023

TBH I just use rushing agony + mora's whispers + valkyn skoria + pillar of nirn + maelstrom backbar and do this combo:

Race against time > Caltrops > Stampede > AOE Fear (NB skill) (You could use the Hypnosis CC or Turn Evil fear CC) > spammable > DW exec when in exec.

In real content with 1-2 more DDs I do around 150-200k damage. Bonus points that I get massive damage while the tank has to work less, i.e. not proc void bash (if they do it applies CC immunity so I can't AOE Fear).

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1075182656565809273/1116655759128789102/output.mp4

~120k solo on vFL first trash pull. DPS went down because of lack of stamina on a mag build but if I had another DD w/ me (or didn't forget to bow proc) would've been above 100k.

mocap · June 2023

Dark Conv + Inevitable Det + Scalding Rune + Occult Overload CP passive is all you need. Add Stormfist monster set on top if possible.

Throw Inevitable, then Scalding Rune to proc DC. Enjoy boom.

Zastrix · June 2023

@mocap personally DC has too high of a cooldown, RA is instant and only 8 seconds cooldown but generally the same idea.

mocap · June 2023

Zastrix wrote: »

personally DC has too high of a cooldown, RA is instant and only 8 seconds cooldown but generally the same idea.

Rush of Agony is ok, sure. OP said, though, he is looking for BoE sets only.

Necrotech_Master · June 2023

@Gargath

azureblight used to work good on a templar, because i believe at the time jabs used to count as a dot, not a series of sequential direct hits, so it could apply several stacks of azureblight per second (before u35 it was 4 stacks per second, which would take 5 seconds to trigger the azureblight explosion)

also before u35, the necromancer dmg tether was super efficient at applying azureblight because it ticked at a rate of 3x per second

from what i saw u35 indirectly nerfed azureblight by making all of the dots tick slower (slower ticks = slower azureblight stacks)

the necromancer dmg tether now ticks at a rate of every .66 sec (so about 1.5 times per second or 3 times per 2 seconds), they fixed stuff like templar jabs and dual wield flurry from counting as dots so as far as im aware they shouldnt be able to even apply azureblight anymore, and with most other dots ticking at a rate of 2 sec its just far too slow to apply azureblight stacks to proc it in a meaningful time

1x 2-sec tick dot would take 40 sec to proc azureblight explosion (obviously you would be using more than 1 dot, each additional 2-sec tick rate dot would cut that time in half)

2 2-sec dots would take ~20 sec
3 2-sec dots would take ~10 sec
4 2-sec dots would take ~5 sec

those timers are obviously lower than they would be in "real use" because you couldnt start all 4 dots simultaneously (it would take 4 sec alone to have all of the dots ticking, so the real explosion with 4 dots is still probably roughly 8-9 seconds for the first explosion, then as long as you kept it up you would see an explosion every 7 seconds, due to the explosion cooldown of 2 sec before new stacks, and then the 5 sec for those 4 ticking dots to get back to 20 stacks)

using the necromancer tether or 1 sec dots can obviously help that, though most of the 1 sec tick rate dots dont last long (acid spray or burning talons for example only last 5 sec)

the necromancer dmg tether was actually one of the most efficient dots to use to proc azureblight quickly

before the nerf the tether ticked at a rate of 0.33 sec (3x per second), so by itself it could get to 20 stacks of azureblight in 7 seconds, after the nerf the tether ticks at a rate of 0.66 sec (1.5 times per second), so its still the most efficient dot to proc this clocking in at 14 sec by itself

if you stacked the necromancer dmg tether and a couple other sticky dots, you would likely get 2 explosions before the tether needed to be refreshed (the tether lasts for 12 sec)

to be honest i really liked the idea of azureblight, with the low cooldown, no cooldown on applying stacks, but the problem ive always had with it is that the stacks apply super slow (even slower since u35) unless your running a full dot build because a stack is generated only when the dot ticks, 1-2 dots and you likely wont ever see the explosion go off unless your like soloing a group dungeon or bastion nymic because the mob would likely die before it reached 20 stacks

YandereGirlfriend · June 2023

Gargath wrote: »

YandereGirlfriend wrote: »

Use Azureblight. It was Plaguebreak before Plaguebreak.

Azureblight (5 items) When you deal damage with a damage over time effect, you apply a stack of blight seed to your target for 5 seconds. At 20 stacks, the Blight Seeds explode, dealing 1745 Disease Damage to the target and nearby enemies.
An enemy that has reached 20 stacks cannot be infected with Blight Seed for 2 seconds.

Like @Necrotech_Master pointed this set is designed for "dot heavy build". I'm curious how many dot abilities need to be applied in rapid succession to get 20 stacks within 5 seconds? Damage is the same on all mobs. It's some option for PB, but sadly not best for me.

Plaguebreak (5 items) Dealing direct damage causes (player) enemies to become a Plague Carrier, dealing 1000 Disease Damage over 10 seconds and applying the Diseased status effect. If the plague is removed early it explodes and deals 735 Disease Damage to all enemies within 8 meters of the carrier, increasing by 50% per enemy hit. This effect can occur once every 20 seconds per target, once per attack, and scales off the higher of your Weapon and Spell Damage.

Plaguebreak needed only 2 skills not based on damage over time. Bow's Bombard direct damage to root & apply plague, then 2-3 Jabs to remove the plague off a weakest mob and start chain reaction on all others with damage increasing without limitation. With Occult Overload for excessive damage via PB deseased status effect. Wiping out entire groups in a blink of eye. Stacking mobs around bosses for even more fun and much easier dungeons.

I'd like to see Plaguebreak be reversed to a version pre-patch but available as new Mythic item, instead of being a simply overland drop. I would not be surprised if ZOS will restore it in a new chapter only to increase it's overall sales, like they did with Oakensoul ring for High Isle.

As for the sets I keep playing with Claw of the Forest Wraith trying a hybrid of stamina and magicka abilities.
I use Dark Convergence on another character Magicka Templar, set is okay but this 4 second delay is a problem. To take highest damage the mobs need to stay in 3 meters range and 4 seconds is enough for them to spready away of the center.

Anyway thanks all for your opinions.

Use AOE DOTs. Most of them still tick at a rate of 1 tick per second.

Use Caltrops (you will want Major Breach anyway) + weapon AOE DOT (e.g. Ele Blockade, Stampede) + class AOE DOT if you have access to one (e.g. Boneyard, Necro Tether, Winter's Revenge, Conduit, NB Path, DK Eruption, etc.) + any supplementary "sticky" 1 tick/second AOE DOTs that you might have (e.g. Acid Spray, DK Talons) + any other mix of the game's DOTs that tick every-other second.

Do that and it is super easy to max out stacks quickly.

Also, IIRC Jabs still does proc Azureblight. I was testing it for a different set and it was still double-dipping into both buckets (e.g. Direct and DOT).

And then this isn't necessarily for you but more for other PvE PB users that I have been reading across various threads on the topic: don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Look, PB isn't coming back - so you have to find the next-best thing. Rather than slag other options for "not being PB" (because, news flash, nothing will be PB), open your mind a little bit to viable alternatives. You can do some crazy things with Azureblight - you just need to modify your build a bit. If someone is unwilling to do that, then, well, we are all wasting our time because they would rather pout about PB than actually find a constructive solution.

YandereGirlfriend · June 2023

Update: Jabs STILL procs Azureblight.

Necrotech_Master · June 2023

YandereGirlfriend wrote: »

Update: Jabs STILL procs Azureblight.

good to know lol

though i thought when they redid this skill and flurry with u35 that they supposed fixed all instances where it was counting as a dot, guess they still missed this lol

if that never gets fixed, that would make templar probably the most efficient azureblight user, with necromancer a close second

VaranisArano · June 2023

Mansquito wrote: »

No idea why the nerfed Plaguebreak to be honest, just more knee jerk reaction to some complaints and it lowers build variety and fun on the game.

From the patch notes:

"Developer Comment: This change was made to correct a behavior we've been seeing in PvP areas where you could apply this set to entities (such as pets or guards) that lacked critical knowledge of how to counter-play the mechanics introduced. This also hits the truly creative uses of the set in PvE where we have seen some humorous videos that wipe out entire dungeons with relative ease, which while we appreciated the ingenuity, it was *slightly* over performing."

WrathOfInnos · June 2023

Yeah jabs has always procced Azure, extremely effectively due to the fast AoE ticks. It's just counterintuitive because jabs is considered direct damage against in most other ways (MAA not Thaum).

If you cast a couple DoTs before entering combat (Deadly Cloak, Solar Barrage, etc.) then you can get Azure to fire within 4s of pulling. Other classes cannot make that claim (maybe Arcanist only).

Zastrix · June 2023

mocap wrote: »

Zastrix wrote: »

personally DC has too high of a cooldown, RA is instant and only 8 seconds cooldown but generally the same idea.

Rush of Agony is ok, sure. OP said, though, he is looking for BoE sets only.

Oh I completely missed that mark. Honestly in that case you don't have anything good except for Order's Wrath light armor for the pen. Everything else without entering dungeons and such is mostly meh at this point.

Gargath · June 2023

YandereGirlfriend wrote: »

If someone is unwilling to do that, then, well, we are all wasting our time because they would rather pout about PB than actually find a constructive solution.

Don't worry, I'm willing to adapt and already up for getting this Azureblight to test.
If there are no BoE sets capable, one must look for constructive alternatives, yes

.

Sugram22 · August 16

they should change the nerf, it no longer blows up and spreads just leaves the damage and poison/disease dot, that's only thing i care about for bow build, that i can make good poison or disease damage and leave good poison or disease dot with snipe

Necrotech_Master · August 16

Gargath wrote: »

YandereGirlfriend wrote: »

If someone is unwilling to do that, then, well, we are all wasting our time because they would rather pout about PB than actually find a constructive solution.

Don't worry, I'm willing to adapt and already up for getting this Azureblight to test.
If there are no BoE sets capable, one must look for constructive alternatives, yes .

outside of azureblight, i think the new set from gold road is pretty good, macabre vintage

its an overland set and makes it so NPCs that you kill explode dealing 50% of their max hp in dmg in about 6 meter radius (its capped at about 24,000 dmg, but a vast majority of NPCs have more than 48,000 hp to hit that cap) so for stuff like public dungeons it will still be pretty good

it does have a small cooldown on the explode (0.5 sec) so it might not always chain kill, but its the closest thing to what plague used to be

dark convergence is still OK for grouping and dealing dmg to npcs, but it has a fairly long cooldown (about 25 seconds)

Tigertron · August 18

Mansquito wrote: »

No idea why the nerfed Plaguebreak to be honest, just more knee jerk reaction to some complaints and it lowers build variety and fun on the game.

It was totally broken in PvP. Going through walls and using NPC to explode entire groups. Fun but broken.

Then they saw some YouTuber chain explode an entire dungeon and pulled out the nerf hammer. Limiting the number of players hit and making it useless for PvE

It was not a PvE exploit. Who cares if you can blow up a level 15 dungeon? It sure was fun though. Now I keep my crit chance as high as I can and use an AoE to melt them. Not as satisfying but almost no difference.

BXR_Lonestar · August 21

I know this is an old post, but try Macabre's Vintage, which came with Gold Road. It is crazy fun and powerful on a heavy attack sorc. Its an overland set too, so you can buy it at a trader if you don't have the content.