What is the best class/abilities (Not weapon ability) for AOE damage?

Thorvik_Tyrson

I apologize if this has been asked before, but I could not find a question like this in the forums.

The wife and I tried the public dungeon Sunspire in Summerset last night. I started with my 50/120 magsorc, but got eaten on the first set of trash mobs, so then I switched to my magplar (Level 36) which seemed to have much better AOE abilities than the sorc class did. (Yes, I am aware of the destro staff abilities) Using the Templar with the wife on her 38 Warden, we were able to run thru and compete the dungeon with just the two of us.

So this got me to wondering which class has the best combination of class AOE abilities?

Thanks in advance for any replies!
Thorvik

Narvuntien

Stam Sorc Hurricane I think.

Liquid lightning for Magsorc is fine though.

Nightblades path got nerfed too much.

Also, I like sub assault from Wardens.

I am not sure how good the Nerco AoE (graveyard?) is.

MashmalloMan

Magplar seems to have the best aoe toolkit imo.

AoE Skills:

• Spammable = Puncturing Sweeps
• AoE Ground DoT = Blazing Spear (Huge 8m radius) Synergy for group sustain and upfront dmg that means the skill can also be used as an AoE spammable.
• AoE Ground DoT = Ritual of Retribution (Massive 12m radius) Synergy for group, cleanse, weaker but still useful DoT and HoT.
• AoE Self Buff DoT = Solar Barrage (Huge 8m radius)
• Cleave DoT = Reflective light
• Cheap AoE Ultimate (72 cost)= Crescent Sweep

Passives:

• Aedric Spear abilities grant minor Protection for 3s (From your Spammable and AoE Ground DoT/Spammable)
• +10% Crit Dmg
• +6% Spell Dmg
• +10% spell Dmg from Minor Sorcery Group Buff
• Aedric Spear abilities proc Burning Light for extra strong single target dmg

Magsorc (Stamsorc too) come as a close second imo due to Lightning Flood, Scamp, Curse, Boundless Storm (weak, but major expedition and major ward/resolve), Suppression Field but most importantly Surge for healing on Crits. They also have useful passives that translate well to staff abilities like templar.

Dagoth_Rac

Thorvik_Tyrson wrote: »

I apologize if this has been asked before, but I could not find a question like this in the forums.

The wife and I tried the public dungeon Sunspire in Summerset last night. I started with my 50/120 magsorc, but got eaten on the first set of trash mobs, so then I switched to my magplar (Level 36) which seemed to have much better AOE abilities than the sorc class did. (Yes, I am aware of the destro staff abilities) Using the Templar with the wife on her 38 Warden, we were able to run thru and compete the dungeon with just the two of us.

So this got me to wondering which class has the best combination of class AOE abilities?

Thanks in advance for any replies!
Thorvik

The public dungeon in Summerset is called Sunhold. Sunspire is the 12-man Trial in Elsweyr.

Thorvik_Tyrson

Marshall1289 wrote: »

Magplar seems to have the best aoe toolkit imo.

AoE Skills:

• Spammable = Puncturing Sweeps
• AoE Ground DoT = Blazing Spear (Huge 8m radius) Synergy for group sustain and upfront dmg that means the skill can also be used as an AoE spammable.
• AoE Ground DoT = Ritual of Retribution (Massive 12m radius) Synergy for group, cleanse, weaker but still useful DoT and HoT.
• AoE Self Buff DoT = Solar Barrage (Huge 8m radius)
• Cleave DoT = Reflective light
• Cheap AoE Ultimate (72 cost)= Crescent Sweep

Passives:

• Aedric Spear abilities grant minor Protection for 3s (From your Spammable and AoE Ground DoT/Spammable)
• +10% Crit Dmg
• +6% Spell Dmg
• +10% spell Dmg from Minor Sorcery Group Buff
• Aedric Spear abilities proc Burning Light for extra strong single target dmg

Magsorc (Stamsorc too) come as a close second imo due to Lightning Flood, Scamp, Curse, Boundless Storm (weak, but major expedition and major ward/resolve), Suppression Field but most importantly Surge for healing on Crits. They also have useful passives that translate well to staff abilities like templar.

Thanks for this! you have confirmed what I thought might be the answer. I had a look last night and I was using all but the Ritual of Retribution, but that may be due to my class level and I have not morphed all abilities yet.

vesselwiththepestle

With your Sorc CP 120 and your Templar below level 50 you shouldn't draw conclusions too fast. The difference in difficulty is probably more the cause of level scaling and gear. Sorc has plenty of aoe damage with lightning flood, hurricane, volatile familiar, curse, mage's wrath... If you are using weapon abilities add elemental blockade to that. If you are using a lightning staff, your heavy attacks will do aoe splash damage. You definitely hadn't difficulties in the public dungeon due to missing aoe power from the class.

Thorvik_Tyrson

vesselwiththepestle wrote: »

With your Sorc CP 120 and your Templar below level 50 you shouldn't draw conclusions too fast. The difference in difficulty is probably more the cause of level scaling and gear. Sorc has plenty of aoe damage with lightning flood, hurricane, volatile familiar, curse, mage's wrath... If you are using weapon abilities add elemental blockade to that. If you are using a lightning staff, your heavy attacks will do aoe splash damage. You definitely hadn't difficulties in the public dungeon due to missing aoe power from the class.

Thanks! I'll have a look at my Sorc after I get home from work tonight. I was hoping that the Sorc would have some good AOE, but I have not found it yet myself.

MashmalloMan

Thorvik_Tyrson wrote: »

vesselwiththepestle wrote: »

With your Sorc CP 120 and your Templar below level 50 you shouldn't draw conclusions too fast. The difference in difficulty is probably more the cause of level scaling and gear. Sorc has plenty of aoe damage with lightning flood, hurricane, volatile familiar, curse, mage's wrath... If you are using weapon abilities add elemental blockade to that. If you are using a lightning staff, your heavy attacks will do aoe splash damage. You definitely hadn't difficulties in the public dungeon due to missing aoe power from the class.

Based on radius alone, mTemplar is better than mSorc which seems to be a bit more condensed and thus bursty.

Boundless Storm 5m radius (weak dot, self buff) < Solar Barrage 8m radius
Lightning Flood 6m radius < Blazing Spear 8m radius
Daedric Curse 5m radius (just a guess) < Ritual of Retribution 12m radius
Volatile Familiar 6m radius > Reflective Light 3 enemies within 5m
No AoE spammable, would use D Staff Pulsar 6m =/= Puncturing Sweeps Spammable with nice cleave/healing
Mages Wrath 4m radius execute > Radiant Destruction execute which isn't aoe.

Ultimates are hard to compare, but mSorc has nothing cheap like 72 ult for Crescent Sweep, I would use Elemental Rage 7m radius for 213 ult or Supression Field 8m radius for 192 ult. Both very strong ults in different ways more comparable to Nova 8m radius for 250 ult on Templar.

Lastly lightning is more powerful for mSorc with +5% lightning dmg meaning it's slightly more viable to use a lightning staff front bar which buffs all AoE damage by 8% instead of single target attacks by 8% from fire staves. Lightning heavy attacks are also AoE.

You can make mSorc an AoE powerhouse and they're very fun for solo because of Surge self healing.

Red_Feather

It's a trick. The answer is actually Caltrops + Volley + Whirlwind. Your class doesn't matter.

Iskiab

I think what you’re looking for is magtemplar even though I’m not sure if they’re the highest dps.

Spears, puncturing strikes and sustain is all you need to clear anything that won’t one shot you. I made a magtemplar alt (at high CPs that make things a lot easier) and could solo places like Skyreach. Best to bring someone else though for the xp bonus. Even if another class has better aoe the healing from sweeps is awesome.

Ysbriel

Sorcerer Magicka , Liquid lightning and boundless storm, but with the sorc you also want to make sure you slot the shield skill and the matriarch and you will be able to eat away every trash mob everywhere and survive.

SaintSubwayy

Marshall1289 wrote: »

Magplar seems to have the best aoe toolkit imo.

AoE Skills:

• Spammable = Puncturing Sweeps
• AoE Ground DoT = Blazing Spear (Huge 8m radius) Synergy for group sustain and upfront dmg that means the skill can also be used as an AoE spammable.
• AoE Ground DoT = Ritual of Retribution (Massive 12m radius) Synergy for group, cleanse, weaker but still useful DoT and HoT.
• AoE Self Buff DoT = Solar Barrage (Huge 8m radius)
• Cleave DoT = Reflective light
• Cheap AoE Ultimate (72 cost)= Crescent Sweep

Passives:

• Aedric Spear abilities grant minor Protection for 3s (From your Spammable and AoE Ground DoT/Spammable)
• +10% Crit Dmg
• +6% Spell Dmg
• +10% spell Dmg from Minor Sorcery Group Buff
• Aedric Spear abilities proc Burning Light for extra strong single target dmg

Magsorc (Stamsorc too) come as a close second imo due to Lightning Flood, Scamp, Curse, Boundless Storm (weak, but major expedition and major ward/resolve), Suppression Field but most importantly Surge for healing on Crits. They also have useful passives that translate well to staff abilities like templar.

there is no 6% Spelldmg buff on magplar, its Weapondmg only.

IMO with the recent magDK AOE Buffs, magplar will be out deepsed in pure AOE fights, if the DK chooses to go all in on AOE dmg.

Englufing -> AOE Cleave, that stack up up 375 extra Spelldmg
Eruption -> as strong, if not stronger than Spear, due to 10seconds longer duration
Standard of Might -> exponential DMG boost, and decend DMG mitigation
Draw Essence ->Strong Selfheal, Great AOE DMG (can replace a shield)
Flames of Oblivion -> Can hit 2 enemies, and does very high direct DMG

Last Sundays Progress run at Sunspire Endbossfight DPS:

Mariusghost84

Ysbriel wrote: »

Sorcerer Magicka , Liquid lightning and boundless storm, but with the sorc you also want to make sure you slot the shield skill and the matriarch and you will be able to eat away every trash mob everywhere and survive.

What shield skill?

idk

The answer for the OP is simple and it is not class skills. Below is an easy mode AoE for a Sorc.

• First use Power Surge as it will increase your damage and give you passive healing..
• Then use Volatile Familiar. The AoE damage from it's active skill is good enough to use for single target. The other morph is horrible for a magicka build, does poor damage and has a bad heal.
• Best to use a lightning staff, drop WoE and heavy attack.
• Harden Ward can be used to reduce the damage you take if that is an issue.

Simple, straight forward. Pre-buff with PS. WoE>Familiar>WoE>Heavy attack. Repeat with WoE and Familiar every 8 seconds.