Interupting and blocking for casters?

spinedoc

So far I'm a caster Templar and I'm really liking it. Since this game relies so much on interupts, blocks and dodging I'd like to make sure I understand how they work in terms of range.

1) Is there any way to interupt a magic attack from far away. When the mob has that red glowing graphic I know if you are in melee range you can click right mouse to block and then hit your attack at the right moment to interupt and stun them. Is there any way to do this from far away? It's a bit annoying to play as a caster, but have to run up in melee range to fight caster mobs, especially if my strategy is to kite a lot and I don't want 3 mobs beating on me.

2) Can any of the range attacks be blocked, and/or does the block reduce damage? Both for magic attacks and weapon attacks. I'm thinking in particular something like the scamps flame column, or other mobs have these shuriken looking weapons they throw.

sadhi

I don't think you can interrupt from a distance since it is usually not the task of the mage

Brascus

The only way I've found to interrupt an attack like that is to use an ability that will stun or knock down. Otherwise, just try to get out of the way.

San_Unkara

Ranger can interrupt with der poison shot

to the topic is there some way to interrupt this shuriken throw from those melee Mobs?
that one throw those more dmg than everything i have seen so far in this game
those mobs are melee mobs but they throw this thing much more than hin me with there daggers

Shimond

Any melee style interrupt will handle the throwing knives (or whatever it is they throw). I don't think the poison arrow will because it's not technically a spell.

Tannakaobi

1) Some skills have an interrupt but, as a ranged player you won't need to use the 'both mouse buttons interrupt' to often. You will need to dodge and possibly use the interrupt skills.

When you say caster, does this mean staff? Bow? Anyway, As a ranged Templar Sun Fire then morphed into Reflective light is your bread and butter. Any casters will be dead after being hit with that a couple of times. I find Puncturing sweep a nice finisher for anyone that gets close enough. Binding Javelin works well against casters to interrupt ( An looks great).

2) Better to dodge imo! Most spells can be seen coming a mile off most of the time you can just walk sideways.

I have a level 26 ranged (Bow) Templar and so far nothing even gets close enough to hit me most of the time. I have heard they are weaker later on, but by that time I'm sure I will adapt. My sequence is pretty much - Dark Flare on any ranged targets followed by Venom Arrow. If there is more than one caster I will use this as an interrupt. Then a couple of Reflective Lights. That's usually enough to end the battle but against heavy Armour or larger groups I run in and finish them with Puncturing Sweep. Repentance is a nice refresher. My build is 5 light 2 heavy. I wear a heavy chest so as not to be in a gown. All my stats are for magic and magic recovery. My other weapon is rest staff as a healer. Retreating Maneuver is really helpful for both weapons. I use Solar Prison On my bow as the ultimate. As far as ultimate's go, meh! I may change this when I go back on this Alt.

My main is NB because I just love their ultimate's. Wish I could use them all. I use 10 times the number of interrupting and blocking on my NB as I do my Templar.

Sharee

Destruction staff: Force shock morphed into Crushing shock: Stun and off-balance casting targets.

traigusb14_ESO2

Any skill that stuns or knocks down/back will stop them from "red special casting", as stated above. There is a Destro staff skill that will. At least 1 bow skill... sometimes you have to morph things to get the effect.

Also, whatever gets cast may be blockable, no matter how it gets interrupted on starting cast. If it isn't an AOE, or it doesn't snake on the ground usually you can block it. (There is even a sorc passive that gives you mana for blocking spells)

Blockable ranged examples:

Default staff type effects - fire, ice, electric balls, green crap, purple stuff, red crud.

That "red cast" thrown knife thingie.

Lots of "beam" spells including some point to point lightning (though you may be better off blocking then rolling rather than just holding the block, especially if you have no points in Stamina).

Remember for all of this though though block isn't a 100% resist, so you will still take damage (Shields seem to have the least spill through, not sure how 2H,DW, staff etc compare to each other). So if a beam is blockable you will still take damage over time, just less than if you didn't block.