Why do people spam impulse?

spinedoc · September 2014

Probably a noob take on this, but I seem to get more damage out of Crystal Blast in terms of aoe. Equipped with a resto staff, 10% bonus, about 30% crit with inner light my CB does about 650 on the main target and 300 aoe plus I get a knock down on the main target. I know it's a long cast time, but it casts faster than it's animation or at least seems like it does. I've soloed to VR6 so far with this and even fighting groups of 7-8 in public dungeons it works well. Send in pet let it get aggro, crystal blast each mob but try not to do 2 in a row and I usually don't get aggro, 4 or 5 blasts and the entire group is dead and I have taken no damage.

I'm not sure what the cap is on how many get affected by the CB aoe, but even with groups of 7-8 it doesn't seem to be a problem. For some reason it doesn't seem to burn thru my magicka as badly either.

eliisra · September 2014

It's not the dmg itself that's the problem, it's everything else:

You cant block Impulse.

You cant reflect Impulse.

During the time it takes to cast a GT AoE likes Blazing Spear, you can cast at least 3 Impulse. Use a macro and it goes like a frickin machine-gun.

You can hold down block while casting Impulse, so no vulnerability.

You dont need to target anything or anyone while using Impulse, just run over them or be in 8 the meter radius.

Impulse, being elemental and weapon dmg, also has great synergy with multiple class passives and skills.

It's hands down the best AoE skill in the game. Both in PvP and PvE.

smeeprocketnub19_ESO · September 2014

Maybe I'm just a noob, people kill me plenty with elemental ring and slightly less often with pulsar. Usually it's when I'm in a tight space and can't get out of the way, it always seems to happen when I am trying to get through a breach and turn left or right. Of course my main goal then is to kill that person, but my attacks are targeted, and they move around a lot, my view gets blocked by enemies and friends alike, etc. I just don't think it should be THAT effective since it is an untargeted 360 aoe.

Varicite · September 2014

Nestor wrote: »

I only see the animation and the increase in mana from single kills. I looked for it on multiple mobs and did not see it. I will test again tonight, because I was hoping this would work this way (getting a mana rebate for everyone killed)

Because, if kill 12 zombies with Impulse/Wall of Elements, a frequent activity in Coldharbor, I should get fully recharged on my Mana, and I am not. Maybe I get one mob's worth of rebate, but certainly not for all of them.

This is very strange, as my Sorc always finishes off AoE packs like these at both full health and magicka, thanks to Crit Surge and the Destro staff passive.

Erock25 wrote: »

Osmiumium wrote: »

Varicite wrote: »

Nestor wrote: »

NukaCola wrote: »

And if someone dies you get mana back. Going against single target its useless of course, unless you run Pulsar then you might cast it once.

I don't think you don't get the Mana back on multiple mobs, at least from what I can see. I have only received the mana rebate on single mobs with single target attacks. I know this because I have killed 12 or more mobs with Impulse and had no mana left after it was over.

You most definitely get magicka back for each mob that you personally kill w/ the destro staff, including against multiple mobs.

I have screenshots that will easily prove this, if necessary. : )

I will also second this. You DEFINITELY get the mana back.

So in PVE, here is why a Sorc would Impulse spam:
1. One slot is Critical Surge: increases weapon damage...and Impulse is a weapon damage based attack
2. Critical Surge heals only from weapon attacks, i.e. the Staff. So class abilities don't benefit from it.
3. One slot is Inner Light to get 20% more crit and commensurately increased healing back
4. Each mob returns mana: Using Impulse to kill 5 mobs means you FINISH with a FULL mana bar!! So it is great for grinding
5. Flawless Dawnbreaker ultimate also adds weapon damage, i.e. increase Staff attacks and not class abilities....another reason to Impulse
6. You can block & move while spamming Impulse, and hit them all with no need to either ground target or have a particular facing.

All told, any time there are 2+ PVE mobs, Impulse is the fastest most efficient choice, and to do requires only 3 slots on your bar. Sure, it isn't a good choice for 1 mob...but it isn't super bad to do either, and therefore you have 2 free slots for whatever you feel like...like say, abilities you want to level while you do the boring grind of PVE mobs.

Critical Surge definitely does not ONLY heal from weapon attacks. So much misinformation going around.

Also, this is true, any attack that crits will heal you through Critical Surge.

Erock25 · September 2014

eliisra wrote: »

During the time it takes to cast a GT AoE likes Blazing Spear, you can cast at least 3 Impulse. Use a macro and it goes like a frickin machine-gun.

Unless you are incapable or pressing a button once every second, there is no way a macro would let you cast impulse faster.

Varicite · September 2014

http://i.imgur.com/RlShIpJ.png

Figured I'd put this to rest.

Took this screenshot about 5 minutes ago in-game. As @Nestor mentioned that he was specifically having this issue against zombies, I decided to go out to Coldharbour and hit the zombies myself.

I ran into a group of 5, spammed Pulsar, and took a screenshot of my combat log. Unfortunately, my chat window wasn't large enough to capture ALL of the deaths, but you can clearly see that I regain Magicka from 3 of the mobs when they died to my AoE.

If the Magicka Restore mechanic isn't working for you, I'm not sure what the issue is, but it's certainly working for me.

Nhines · September 2014

I'm assuming you're talking about PVE as the PVP "ball-o-pulsar/bat spam" is it's own thing. In pve on my sorc, pub dungeons/graglorn, my aoe is basically just crit surge, liquid lightning, spam pulsar while blocking, refreshing the first 2 as needed. Unless something hits you really hard, you'll heal through any dmg, and you regain a lot of your magicka back from the kills, which is kinda important if it's a craglorn delve boss fight or the like where there's tons of trash and you're shortmaning it.

On my templar it's basically just for the initial dmg/debuff/dot, and then as an execute for the magicka gain.

moXrox · September 2014

Why ? - because:

* its an AoE ability for every class (not every class has similar good Aoe cababilities)

* Blocking bogus comes into gameplay, the similar nonsens like animation canceling.

Tuttebel · September 2014

zaria wrote: »

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.

Pulsar (Impulse morph), because of it being weapon damage based, works great combined with Critical Surge ( + 65 weapon damage and selfheal for 65% damage on crit). The heal on crit works for every skill, not just weaponskills. I can easily maintain a 1/3 crit rate which enables me to stand in the middle of a pack of mobs and burn them down. Blocking heavy attacks is mandatory (duh)

Spamming pulsar will proc Crystal Fragments making it instacast and a lot cheaper. Great for those overpowered npc healers

Mage's wrath as execution spell when targets near 20% life.

A standard pack of 3-4 mobs usually takes about 10 seconds to kill leaving me with 100% hitpoints and 30%ish magicka.
Some may call it cheesy but it works just fine.

Woolenthreads · September 2014

I haven't been using it but that's mostly because most of my characters have concentrated on other skills than Destruction Staves. I won't "Stick and Robe" till I move one of characters past L50 unless they are a Sorcerer. The single Sorcerer I made when I started I schooled in a number of things but I concentrated on Restoration rather than Destruction for the weapon (though he uses Destruction now). What my development of Alts has shown me, is what I like:

* Instant Use Perks in Combat with Time-based Perks only for an initial attack (Critters will kill you while you wait) * Aiming (including Aimed AoE) takes time you can only afford when they are not beating on you. * One Stamina Perk on the Bar (usually Silver Bolts) for when you need an alternative * Observe the Critters/PC's and revise the Bar(s) if necessary (and time permits) from single target to AoE * Low cost is generally safer despite efficiency in some high cost perks, have one low cost perk on a bar because it'll be useful sooner than the others. * Any Perks that do CC or teleport are well worth it. * Fire Glyphs and Harm Glyphs are great.
Impulse is pretty good in this regard as it's instant cast, of low cost and sets enemies on fire (Though that might be the Fire Glyph). I've also noticed that it does knockback on occasion, so for AoE against groups it's pretty awesome.

Spamming it? Well, only if surrounded since I think direct-attack perks do more damage

.

Brasseurfb16_ESO · 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.

It is very much related to the recent kidnappings involving video game players. Investigators suspect Illuminatis are involved. They replace players one by one with waterbirds and are coming one step closer to complete their dark shemes.

Their sinister purpose however is still unknow these days...