The Sub Contractor. Pet MagSorc for PvP theorycraft.

thedude33

I am horrible when it comes to plumbing work, electrical work or construction. When I need something done I hire a sub contractor.

I am horrible in PvP. I was thinking maybe a sub contractor might work for this also.

So I grabbed some gear from my bank. Changed around some abilities and theory crafted a pet magsorc. I'm sure there are far better combinations of gear and abilities. Was hoping people might offer some good suggestions.

5 Shacklebreaker - 2 heavy, 2 light impen, Frost staff, Resto staff
5 Necropetance - 2 light Impen + 3 jewelry
domihaus arms

volatile and Matriach pets all 3 bars

Bar 1 - Destructive Reach, Elemental Blockade, Hardened Ward. Ult = power Overload
Bar 2 - Streak, Minefield, Healing Ward
Bar 3 - buff bar - Boundless storm, Power surge, Defensive Rune

I was testing out Daedric Prey for Bar 1. Wasn't impressed with the extra pet damage

Before fights I pop an Immovable and magic pot. Set up AOEs and let pets got to town and also hinder LOS. After a stun, pop Overload and go to town. Worked well last night, but I'm sure there is a better way.

Sixty5

Tried out something similar with my sorc, running Necropotence, Engine Guardian and Blessed Armour.

It works pretty well, but the issue is that it becomes rather difficult to finish people off, as you lack burst damage. For me at least, I ended up entirely relying on Implosion procs to kill people off.

But apart from that the build worked pretty well.

Biro123

Good sets - used that combo for a long time.. (only with one pet tho)

Not sure about your skill choice though.. I would..:

Drop healing ward - With twilight matriarch, you don't need it. Either take harness or use the slot for inner light - or another offensive ability (see below)

I'd also go for more ranged, single-target ability - ie.
switch from frost to flame (shields should be big enough to not need the frost block benefits)
use the standard curse/frag/CS rather than reach/blockade/mines

This lets you fight effectively at max-range, making it less likely you will get ganged up on (shields don't do well when outnumbered) - and more likely you can escape when outnumbered.

but that's just how I like to roll. (personally, I'd drop the volatile familiar for open world too - but that isn't what your build is about).

Oh, and it's VERY risky using overload offensively without a shield on your overload bar..

thedude33

Biro123 wrote: »

Good sets - used that combo for a long time.. (only with one pet tho)

Not sure about your skill choice though.. I would..:

Drop healing ward - With twilight matriarch, you don't need it. Either take harness or use the slot for inner light - or another offensive ability (see below)

I'd also go for more ranged, single-target ability - ie.
switch from frost to flame (shields should be big enough to not need the frost block benefits)
use the standard curse/frag/CS rather than reach/blockade/mines

This lets you fight effectively at max-range, making it less likely you will get ganged up on (shields don't do well when outnumbered) - and more likely you can escape when outnumbered.

but that's just how I like to roll. (personally, I'd drop the volatile familiar for open world too - but that isn't what your build is about).

Oh, and it's VERY risky using overload offensively without a shield on your overload bar..

Thanks for the input. I have a lot to learn. Couple of questions.

- I have seen in videos also mentioning that using overload bar is risky. I never understood that ?
- I think you are correct about healing Ward. Harness Magicka sounds like a good idea.
- I put Frost Staff in both for the block and AOE damage/snare. Haven't decided if it's worth it.
- Not a lot of experience. I agree staying at range would be ideal. Seems like every fight ends up with someone in my face. Which is why I thought the minefields, aoe damage/snare and blocking might buy time for pets to do some damage. All theory mind you.

You guys with your real world experience > than my theory craft !

Biro123

The problem with overload is its clunkyness with enabling/disabling it. I counts as a full ability unlike a normal weapon-swap - so you can't ani-cancel with it like a normal weapon-swap - and you have to wait for your current ability to fire first before using it.

Lets say, for example, you're on your overload bar in the middle of casting something - and you get ganked by a nb, taking down your shield and a bit of health. You now need to re-shield very quickly... but first, you need to :
1. Wait for your current attack/ability to finish (lets say half a second)
2. switch overload off - 1 second
3. cast your shield - takes almost a second for it to take effect.

That's 2.5 seconds from the initial hit to getting a shield off.. You're already dead by then. So basically, if your overload bar only has out of combat utility stuff on it (like rapids, defensive run etc) - don't use it to fight with. If you want to fight with overload - it needs to be built as a combat bar - with shields, other damage abilities (curse ideally) and possibly some cc. Which is difficult with 2 pets.

In terms of long/short range - and single-target/aoe:
Mines is a useful defensive mechanic - rated by many players - but I've had limited success with it, and always find better options on my bar. Yes - you cannot avoid melee fights... but when its many v many, and one guy rushes in to melee while the other are doing ranged damge - its that melee guy who puts himself in range of everyone else and so dies quick..

If as a sorc, you get hit by 3+ melee opponents gap-closing at the same time - you're either dead - or full on the defensive (shield, shield, dodge) before being dead very quick.. You won't be able to attack them much.

If its one guy - you have a reasonable fighting chance - which is probably better with single-target focussed abilities.

The combo of abilities you chose - with it's CC may still work well in these situations (I've honestly never tried) - but they will be gimping you with ranged encounters due to your limited bar-space..

But then the downside of attacking ranged targets for you is with the volatile familiar. It will keep dying. If you're adamant on using it, your setup could work but would have to rely on keeping your pets on passive, and trying to lure individuals to come to you where you can put them on aggressive.
But you may find that with mines down, they can either just tank through them or will stay away. If the former, they are VERY expensive to keep replacing. Also, opponents usually just move out of gtaoe's (which is why I don't like blockade). The theory could be that you can just stand in it while they have no choice but to come to you - but if your setup is relying on 'setting up house' ie. mines/blockade) and fighing on that spot - the reality may well be that in most cases, that one guy attacking you is followed by others so you don't want to be in that spot anymore. you will need to be mobile as the ebb and flow of the battle moves. In many cases, 'setting up house' can often end up being a waste of resources.
But on the other hand is very useful at chokepoints like keep-doors etc.

Good luck out there!

thedude33

Biro123 wrote: »

The problem with overload is its clunkyness with enabling/disabling it. I counts as a full ability unlike a normal weapon-swap - so you can't ani-cancel with it like a normal weapon-swap - and you have to wait for your current ability to fire first before using it.

Lets say, for example, you're on your overload bar in the middle of casting something - and you get ganked by a nb, taking down your shield and a bit of health. You now need to re-shield very quickly... but first, you need to :
1. Wait for your current attack/ability to finish (lets say half a second)
2. switch overload off - 1 second
3. cast your shield - takes almost a second for it to take effect.

That's 2.5 seconds from the initial hit to getting a shield off.. You're already dead by then. So basically, if your overload bar only has out of combat utility stuff on it (like rapids, defensive run etc) - don't use it to fight with. If you want to fight with overload - it needs to be built as a combat bar - with shields, other damage abilities (curse ideally) and possibly some cc. Which is difficult with 2 pets.

In terms of long/short range - and single-target/aoe:
Mines is a useful defensive mechanic - rated by many players - but I've had limited success with it, and always find better options on my bar. Yes - you cannot avoid melee fights... but when its many v many, and one guy rushes in to melee while the other are doing ranged damge - its that melee guy who puts himself in range of everyone else and so dies quick..

If as a sorc, you get hit by 3+ melee opponents gap-closing at the same time - you're either dead - or full on the defensive (shield, shield, dodge) before being dead very quick.. You won't be able to attack them much.

If its one guy - you have a reasonable fighting chance - which is probably better with single-target focussed abilities.

The combo of abilities you chose - with it's CC may still work well in these situations (I've honestly never tried) - but they will be gimping you with ranged encounters due to your limited bar-space..

But then the downside of attacking ranged targets for you is with the volatile familiar. It will keep dying. If you're adamant on using it, your setup could work but would have to rely on keeping your pets on passive, and trying to lure individuals to come to you where you can put them on aggressive.
But you may find that with mines down, they can either just tank through them or will stay away. If the former, they are VERY expensive to keep replacing. Also, opponents usually just move out of gtaoe's (which is why I don't like blockade). The theory could be that you can just stand in it while they have no choice but to come to you - but if your setup is relying on 'setting up house' ie. mines/blockade) and fighing on that spot - the reality may well be that in most cases, that one guy attacking you is followed by others so you don't want to be in that spot anymore. you will need to be mobile as the ebb and flow of the battle moves. In many cases, 'setting up house' can often end up being a waste of resources.
But on the other hand is very useful at chokepoints like keep-doors etc.

Good luck out there!

Great information. Hopefully my abilities can get to a place where I can take advantage of these suggestions. Currently, all an enemy has to do is look at me, and I die. Just trying to find a way to last a little longer.

Think of me as a 5 year old learning to ride a bike. The bike needs training wheels.