Why do people spam impulse?

ExiledKhallisi · September 2014

When its based on weapon damage....

I see everyone and their mom using it.... I understand its a decent AOE...but some players seem to use it as main attack lol... Most people who spam it are wearing full light armor and i Assume are magicka/spelldmg based builds.There are MUCH better AOE's based on spell damage/magicka.

For instance:

Blazing Spear:

Because of the Aedric Spear passive that gives 25% chance to proc an additional amount of damage (based on spell damage/magicka) You can reach a point in vr12 gear where you hit EACH target for 800-1200 damage per cast.

ers101284b14_ESO · September 2014

Somebody probably thought impulse was OP so all the sheeples ate it up.

Soulshine · September 2014

eh... maybe because not everyone is a Templar so Blazing Spear is not an option

Khami · September 2014

Give a better example than one class ability.

Elemental Ring does more damage then the NB's AOE ability, power extraction.

Impulse is the best AOE for every class. Which is why people use it.

Phinix1 · September 2014

Also, as far as I know, they still haven't fixed the stacking max health debuff on the Pulsar morph when multiple people with different elemental destruction staves (Fire, Frost, Lightning) cast it on the same target.

So, get a group of three people spamming Impulse on you with three different elements and your max health is down 30%.

Also, there is an AOE cap of 6 on the ability, but if you get 4 or 5 people spamming it in a blob, you can be certain to hit everyone even in a large zerg vs. zerg situation.

Not that I support such lazy PvP or that it isn't simple to counter.

ExiledKhallisi · September 2014

Khami wrote: »

Give a better example than one class ability.

Elemental Ring does more damage then the NB's AOE ability, power extraction.

Impulse is the best AOE for every class. Which is why people use it.

Maybe some classes.... If you are a tempalr and u use Impulse vs Blazing Spear..you are failing.

-Steel Tornado (Duel wield) can do insane damage with stamina/crit builds.
-(Sorc) Liquid Lightning+EnergyOverload Heavy attack combination is devastating but for some reason have only seen a few people do it. I personally lvled my sorc alt through most of his levels doing this.
-Dawnbreaker+Expert Hunter when fighting undead..... 1 shot entire packs of Daedra.

tordr86b16_ESO · September 2014

AlienDiplomat wrote: »

Also, as far as I know, they still haven't fixed the stacking max health debuff on the Pulsar morph when multiple people with different elemental destruction staves (Fire, Frost, Lightning) cast it on the same target.

So, get a group of three people spamming Impulse on you with three different elements and your max health is down 30%.

Also, there is an AOE cap of 6 on the ability, but if you get 4 or 5 people spamming it in a blob, you can be certain to hit everyone even in a large zerg vs. zerg situation.

Not that I support such lazy PvP or that it isn't simple to counter.

This happens all the time in PvP now. It is godawful boring, get caught in the aoe train and you're f'd.

ExiledKhallisi · September 2014

I actually watched a guy yesterday near a dolemen get attacked by some random mob and jsut spammed impulse the whole time...the same guy was in a solo dungeon with me and all he used was impulse..... xD

Honfold · September 2014

ExiledKhallisi wrote: »

Khami wrote: »

Give a better example than one class ability.

Elemental Ring does more damage then the NB's AOE ability, power extraction.

Impulse is the best AOE for every class. Which is why people use it.

Maybe some classes.... If you are a tempalr and u use Impulse vs Blazing Spear..you are failing.

-Steel Tornado (Duel wield) can do insane damage with stamina/crit builds.
-(Sorc) Liquid Lightning+EnergyOverload Heavy attack combination is devastating but for some reason have only seen a few people do it. I personally lvled my sorc alt through most of his levels doing this.
-Dawnbreaker+Expert Hunter when fighting undead..... 1 shot entire packs of Daedra.

I am a Night Blade. I just switched my Dual Wield bar from single target to AOE with focus on the Power Extraction/ Steel Tornado synergy. The major problem with it is the fact that CCs require stamina to counter them whether it be immovable or the normal break. Other than that I can normally pump out 400-700 damage per enemy.

I die very quickly though since I do not have any way to counter CCs. The problem is not the abilities, but the stamina drain caused by CCs.

So in the end Impulse still seems the most viable.

Varicite · September 2014

ExiledKhallisi wrote: »

Khami wrote: »

Give a better example than one class ability.

Elemental Ring does more damage then the NB's AOE ability, power extraction.

Impulse is the best AOE for every class. Which is why people use it.

Maybe some classes.... If you are a tempalr and u use Impulse vs Blazing Spear..you are failing.

-Steel Tornado (Duel wield) can do insane damage with stamina/crit builds.
-(Sorc) Liquid Lightning+EnergyOverload Heavy attack combination is devastating but for some reason have only seen a few people do it. I personally lvled my sorc alt through most of his levels doing this.
-Dawnbreaker+Expert Hunter when fighting undead..... 1 shot entire packs of Daedra.

You can't block while using Overload, though I do love this Ult on my Sorc. I use Power Overload, though.

Also, you can't really compare using Ultimates to a spammable AoE. Of course an Ultimate will be comparable, or better.

But you can also use Impulse morphs w/ most of the better AoE Ultimates for even greater damage potential.

Impulse is simply hands-down the best upfront AoE damage ability that everyone can use, that's why it's used so much. Steel Tornado is probably second.

But people rarely choose the second best when they could just as easily choose the best instead.

PS) Wearing Light Armor does not mean that you are focused on spell damage, it just means that you use a lot of magicka.

Destro staff damage is all based on weapon damage / magicka, and the cap for weapon damage is quite a bit higher than spell damage. Crushing Shock builds are still very popular, and utilize weapon damage.

Draxuul · September 2014

I don`t use it and probably never will.
I don`t like that kind of ability. I mean instant cast AoE`s such as impulse . It gives the gameplay more of a Diablo game feel rather than an Elder Scrolls game.

In Diablo all you do as a caster is spam AoE`s , i rather enjoy a type of combat that relies more on complexed techniques and good positioning and maybe a few single target knock backs rather than simply standing still in the middle of a group of ennemies and spamming the same button over and over again untill everything is dead.

It`s kinda boring if you ask me. Actually , if the game did not offer any form of instant cast AoE`s i think the game would be better off. PvP would be much more enjoyable as well as PvE grouping .

I find it really sad to know that the majority of players these days will choose simplicity over complexity. I know i might be an old timer but i`m not that old lol. Going on 32 at the end of this month yet the new generations of gamers make me feel like i`m some kind of fossil for enjoying hard work in a game lol.

Draxuul

Varicite · September 2014

Draxuul wrote: »

I find it really sad to know that the majority of players these days will choose simplicity over complexity. I know i might be an old timer but i`m not that old lol. Going on 32 at the end of this month yet the new generations of gamers make me feel like i`m some kind of fossil for enjoying hard work in a game lol.

Draxuul

I would call it choosing "efficiency" over "style", personally. Unfortunately, games like these are generally all about numbers; who can put up the most numbers the fastest, etc.

Impulse does that. Single target killing things doesn't. It's just that simple. I'll agree that the latter is a lot more fun, though. : )

PS) I'm older than you, don't feel bad.

Skafsgaard · September 2014

It's used a lot, because on top of your blazing spar, power extraction, liquid lightning and ultimates it allows to AoE a lot, esp with swarm for example. So 2-3 players can run in a big unorganized zerg and start AoEing.

frosth.darkomenb16_ESO · September 2014

As someone else said, it is because of the aoe target cap.

Impulse by itself is mediocre, and most classes have better aoes which also have range.
Even volcanic rune is superior to impulse, and that one can be used by everyone too.

However, when the optimal strategy is to stack up to avoid damage, and all you have to do as a group member is to follow the crown, a pbaoe is very easy to use.

The group leader doesn't need to call out targets to focus, he just walks there and everything on his path dies.
Simple as that.

Soliss · September 2014

People spam impulse (or whatever ability) because there isn't enough ability slots to really have many options.

In games where there are cooldowns on abilities, you'll find a lot more variation on the skills used. In ESO because of the limited number of abilities you can have on a bar, people will generally spam 1 or 2 skills because that's all they have room for.

So, by game design, ESO becomes a spam-fest.

ExiledKhallisi · September 2014

Forgot to mention.... Using the stack Boundless storm/Liquid Lightning/Energy overload is so good also because of the passive that gives you a chance to vaporize your targets with lightning damage.

Draxuul wrote: »

I find it really sad to know that the majority of players these days will choose simplicity over complexity. I know i might be an old timer but i`m not that old lol. Going on 32 at the end of this month yet the new generations of gamers make me feel like i`m some kind of fossil for enjoying hard work in a game lol.

Draxuul

It is sad, people these days dont think. I really feel in Cyrodil all the dress/stick players are as predictable as the weather in a rainy state.

timidobserver · September 2014

ExiledKhallisi wrote: »

When its based on weapon damage....

I see everyone and their mom using it.... I understand its a decent AOE...but some players seem to use it as main attack lol... Most people who spam it are wearing full light armor and i Assume are magicka/spelldmg based builds.There are MUCH better AOE's based on spell damage/magicka.

For instance:

Blazing Spear:

Because of the Aedric Spear passive that gives 25% chance to proc an additional amount of damage (based on spell damage/magicka) You can reach a point in vr12 gear where you hit EACH target for 800-1200 damage per cast.

As someone that uses blazing spear a lot(like a whole lot), it isn't as effective at hitting a moving target as impulse. Impulse uses you as a center, whereas blazing spear has to be thrown into the air and come down on your target. Impulse/Elemental ring have effects that proc and stick to a target, whereas Blazing Spear needs the target to stand in the AoE to receive the DoT.

Also, impulse does fire damage(if using fire staff), which means it is going to hit a lot harder on vamps(99.1% of pvp players.) It also takes advantage of the destro staff passives like increased crit, spell penetration, applying status effects, returning magicka, ect.

Mondo · September 2014

Saw another NB sneaking around and chased him. Thought it could be a rly cool fight between 2 badass killers. He was just spamming impuls, i killed him with all my moves but he almost killed me too. Spamming Impuls no skill. Impuls = WOW Kid Skill number 1

Curragraigue · September 2014

ExiledKhallisi wrote: »

I actually watched a guy yesterday near a dolemen get attacked by some random mob and jsut spammed impulse the whole time...the same guy was in a solo dungeon with me and all he used was impulse..... xD

If he was just using Impulse he was doing it wrong.

Leaving to one side the boredom I personally would have with just spamming one attack if he isn't using the stacking effects that others have mentioned he is wasting his time just using Impulse for an AoE. Maybe give him the benefit of the doubt that he was just trying to level up the skill?

Tonnopesce · September 2014

HE he funny, yesterday i was in a little fight in pvp and this guy started to come at me spamming impulse.... but it was 30 meters away i just take my distance to avoid the aoe and then bam... he used the vampire ultimate when it has ended he has started to impulse again (probably a dk) he tryed to come near but i was just rolling away..... so i've just taked my bow and whitout using abylities just heavy attak i've killed him....
Ok impulse is a little op as an aoe but if your enemy is 30 meters away is worthless imo

zaria · September 2014

Use impulse some but its not standard on bar, main weakness, you have to stand in middle of the enemies you fight doing an high damage attack, not so smart wearing a dress. prefer the set off attacks as the lighting flood and the volcanic rune.

mousekime111rwb17_ESO · September 2014

Honfold wrote: »

ExiledKhallisi wrote: »

Khami wrote: »

Give a better example than one class ability.

Elemental Ring does more damage then the NB's AOE ability, power extraction.

Impulse is the best AOE for every class. Which is why people use it.

Maybe some classes.... If you are a tempalr and u use Impulse vs Blazing Spear..you are failing.

-Steel Tornado (Duel wield) can do insane damage with stamina/crit builds.
-(Sorc) Liquid Lightning+EnergyOverload Heavy attack combination is devastating but for some reason have only seen a few people do it. I personally lvled my sorc alt through most of his levels doing this.
-Dawnbreaker+Expert Hunter when fighting undead..... 1 shot entire packs of Daedra.

I am a Night Blade. I just switched my Dual Wield bar from single target to AOE with focus on the Power Extraction/ Steel Tornado synergy. The major problem with it is the fact that CCs require stamina to counter them whether it be immovable or the normal break. Other than that I can normally pump out 400-700 damage per enemy.

I die very quickly though since I do not have any way to counter CCs. The problem is not the abilities, but the stamina drain caused by CCs.

So in the end Impulse still seems the most viable.

Use reapers mark on a target - put blood craze on it, light attack weave then mash steal tornado with light attack weave on your marked target - you shouldn't really die, shoot to softcap stamina and use potions for long fights. Power extraction is good and all, but unless you've got purple grade food to boost your magicka I struggle to keep it on my bar given that I need to cast reapers mark (which also gives a huge + weapon damage boost) multiple times.

CapuchinSeven · September 2014

I hate AOE gameplay, I think it's lazy PVP. That said, outside of the zerg trains, I've seen a few people running into small groupsand spamming it lately like sheep, I run up, hit fear, then watch as everyone rips him to pieces.

Same with DK's holding block and spamming the same skill while they stand in in a pack.

Phantax · September 2014

Why do people spam impulse?

Because we played WoW for 6 years and we only know how to do a 0ne-button rotation !

jambam817_ESO · September 2014

my sorc Encases, Lightning Splashes, Impulse untill next Splash, repeat.

I spice it up, spamming only impulse is for baddies.

This is in PVE, by the way.

Kewljag_66_ESO · September 2014

I love it when someone tries to 1v1 me with impulse, I do 4x more single target damage to them DW flurry

smeeprocketnub19_ESO · September 2014

you know what bugs me, pulsar and elemental ring (I really should switch to that but I only ever use this in pve) can do as much damage to me as other single target attacks. It seems like, if you are able to hit multiple people, the attack should be less potent.

Since that is not the case, that is probably why people spam it.

I use light armor and my weapon damage is always higher than my spell damage, even with spell damage glyphs on some of my jewelry. Kind of sucks since my attacks use spell power and it's borking my ultimate damage (I think)

edit: there's no way you are actually doing 4x impulse damage with flurry lol

Nestor · September 2014

I find not spamming Impulse to be a better tactical response.

I put down an Elemental Wall first, then one hit of Impulse, then wait to let the DoT have some effect, then I hit EW, then Impulse again, or I will fire off some light attacks. The net benefit is Finesse gives me more loot than just hitting the Impulse button over and over again.

Although, after a tougher battle, particularly with healers, I will stand amongst the corpse and spam Impulse until I am depleted. What can I say, sometimes I am vindictive and desecrating NPC corpses is one way I lash out.

Aeratus · September 2014

My only complaint with impluse is that people are using fire staff in craglorn grind, and the fire explosion really makes my eyes tired when every single member in the group is spamming it.

Please use ice staff for craglorn grinding!

ExiledKhallisi · September 2014

timidobserver wrote: »

ExiledKhallisi wrote: »

When its based on weapon damage....

I see everyone and their mom using it.... I understand its a decent AOE...but some players seem to use it as main attack lol... Most people who spam it are wearing full light armor and i Assume are magicka/spelldmg based builds.There are MUCH better AOE's based on spell damage/magicka.

For instance:

Blazing Spear:

Because of the Aedric Spear passive that gives 25% chance to proc an additional amount of damage (based on spell damage/magicka) You can reach a point in vr12 gear where you hit EACH target for 800-1200 damage per cast.

As someone that uses blazing spear a lot(like a whole lot), it isn't as effective at hitting a moving target as impulse. Impulse uses you as a center, whereas blazing spear has to be thrown into the air and come down on your target. Impulse/Elemental ring have effects that proc and stick to a target, whereas Blazing Spear needs the target to stand in the AoE to receive the DoT.

Also, impulse does fire damage(if using fire staff), which means it is going to hit a lot harder on vamps(99.1% of pvp players.) It also takes advantage of the destro staff passives like increased crit, spell penetration, applying status effects, returning magicka, ect.

Please show me a screenshot of someone doing more damage than this with impulse.

Blazing Spear spam only.... 3 casts = dead pack of mobs.

smeeprocketnub19_ESO · September 2014

Nestor wrote: »

I find not spamming Impulse to be a better tactical response.

I put down an Elemental Wall first, then one hit of Impulse, then wait to let the DoT have some effect, then I hit EW, then Impulse again, or I will fire off some light attacks. The net benefit is Finesse gives me more loot than just hitting the Impulse button over and over again.

Although, after a tougher battle, particularly with healers, I will stand amongst the corpse and spam Impulse until I am depleted. What can I say, sometimes I am vindictive and desecrating NPC corpses is one way I lash out.

You don't get finesse points in pvp though, which is really the only thing that matters.