Light-attack Weaving

Dorjee · October 2014

Which of the following rotations are more effective DPS wise (in PvE & PvP)? Also, an explanation as to why -

Light Attack (destro staff) / Crushing Shock / -Repeat-

or

Light Attack (destro staff) / Crystal Fragments / -Repeat-

...and of course keeping Inner Light and Critical Surge up at all times.

Thanks in advance.

AshySamurai · October 2014

I dont use staffs, but IMO first variant is better because of speed. Crystal Fragments have 1.3 sec cast time.

Inversus · October 2014

I'm not exactly an expert
but I believe that crushing shock + light attack is superior for a couple of reasons

Firstly it's not magicka efficient to spam crystal fragments however when it procs and you can cast it at half price it's worth it, so it may be worth keeping it on your bar and casting it when it procs
Secondly the cast time of crystal fragments lowers its dps, which again is countered when crystal fragments procs

Crystal fragment's knockdown can be useful in pvp, although crushing shock can also trigger freezing/burning etc

Leeric · October 2014

You should cast fragments if it procs while casting crushing shock. Since it is also insta cast.

Soloeus · October 2014

Neither.

1. Inner Light, Crit Surge, Crushing Shock, Mages Wrath, Volcanic Rune/Caltrops. U: Devouring Swarm (lifeleech bats). (Sometimes if I can't get close before dying I swap in a different ultimate, either barrier or negate).

You are looking to keep Crit Surge up at all times. I like to use 1-2 shots of Light Attack/Crushing Shock if I see a batspammer or impulser or bolt escaper or healer. This brings them to a knee. I swap Volcanic/Caltrops for Impulse if there is an organized looking Zergtrain I can jump into.

Then if I see a reflective scales, I throw down Caltrops. When I throw Caltrops, I swap bars.

2. Inner Light, Crit Surge, Hardened Ward, Rapid Regeneration, Purge. U: Flawless Dawnbreaker. (Note, you don't use this crap. You keep it for the passive dps).

If I can tolerate it, I swap out Inner Light for Bound Armaments to increase my Heavy Attack Resto Staff DPS on targets in the caltrops. I take a Potion of Weapon Power, Weapon Critical, Restore Stamina.

If there is an enemy Zergtrain, I take the potion, caltrops from stealth, vamp bats + impulse + hardened ward. I let the bats do my damage and spam Hardened Ward to survive instead of using Impulse. I charge back out as quickly as possible and swap to bar 2 for another caltrops after taking another potion if time and survival permits.

I also use Caltrops because when groups of players fight each other, it helps my group when the streakers breaking the line are hit with caltrops. When sacking a keep, I swap in volcanic rune, sneak up to the wall, and fire volcanic rune upwards on siege to alleviate pressure from the enemy siege.

And, I don't "light attack weave."

superfluke · October 2014

Who cares what you use for rotation the OP is asking which of the two is more effective for light weaving and why.

OP: your first one is more effective because by definition light attack weaving cancels animation for instant cast skills. Has no effect on channeled spells like crystal fragments in this context.

Soloeus · October 2014

I am saying that I get better use out of strategy than I do out of light attack weaving. It will probably be removed soon and I won't be a lost puppy who was dependent on it.

That said, Crushing Shock downs casters to a knee. Sometimes you can catch healers, streakers, impulse bat swarmers, etc. But its punishing when you get reflected on. For that reason I like to use Mages Wrath because when targets are low it can often kill them or lead to their immediate deaths and its less harmful for me to get hit with a reflected wrath than a reflected shock.

Shards is okay to proc but its too painful to get reflected on, so I am conservative about its use even when it procs.

Edit:

And, many people who don't have a good rotation use Light Attack Weaving by Animation Cancelling as an "Easy Button."

Having a good rotation negates the need for that. It is also more fun. So, I must address a good rotation. My problem with Attack Weaving is you get into a rhythm that you can't so easily break when a targeted DK casts reflective scales or a templar pops you with its reflect. You just push 3-4 buttons and by the time you know it, you are dead in large part from yourself.

guybrushtb16_ESO · October 2014

For levelling, you'll want to use light attack + crushing shock as your default and crystal shards when it procs, and of course always use mage's wrath when <20%.

Later, you might want to drop crystal shards anyway, because it scales off spellpower which doesn't synergize with crushing shock.

kewl · October 2014

Soloeus wrote: »

Neither.

1. Inner Light, Crit Surge, Crushing Shock, Mages Wrath, Volcanic Rune/Caltrops. U: Devouring Swarm (lifeleech bats). (Sometimes if I can't get close before dying I swap in a different ultimate, either barrier or negate).

You are looking to keep Crit Surge up at all times. I like to use 1-2 shots of Light Attack/Crushing Shock if I see a batspammer or impulser or bolt escaper or healer. This brings them to a knee. I swap Volcanic/Caltrops for Impulse if there is an organized looking Zergtrain I can jump into.

Then if I see a reflective scales, I throw down Caltrops. When I throw Caltrops, I swap bars.

2. Inner Light, Crit Surge, Hardened Ward, Rapid Regeneration, Purge. U: Flawless Dawnbreaker. (Note, you don't use this crap. You keep it for the passive dps).

If I can tolerate it, I swap out Inner Light for Bound Armaments to increase my Heavy Attack Resto Staff DPS on targets in the caltrops. I take a Potion of Weapon Power, Weapon Critical, Restore Stamina.

If there is an enemy Zergtrain, I take the potion, caltrops from stealth, vamp bats + impulse + hardened ward. I let the bats do my damage and spam Hardened Ward to survive instead of using Impulse. I charge back out as quickly as possible and swap to bar 2 for another caltrops after taking another potion if time and survival permits.

I also use Caltrops because when groups of players fight each other, it helps my group when the streakers breaking the line are hit with caltrops. When sacking a keep, I swap in volcanic rune, sneak up to the wall, and fire volcanic rune upwards on siege to alleviate pressure from the enemy siege.

And, I don't "light attack weave."

Thanks for sharing. I will definitely incorporate some of your tactics.

Inversus · October 2014

Soloeus wrote: »

I am saying that I get better use out of strategy than I do out of light attack weaving. It will probably be removed soon and I won't be a lost puppy who was dependent on it[...]

I wouldn't light attack weave in pvp situations, like you have described
But in pve vs bosses it can be a good tactic to use as if siphon spirit is also cast light+force attack weaving helps keep the attack sustainable

Soloeus · October 2014

In PVE situations, I find myself using Crushing Shock for the early part and Mages Wrath for the later part.

I use Rune Cage to remove one mob from battle which gives me 19.9 seconds to kill the remaining mobs.

I also use Volcanic Rune.

zbtiqua · October 2014

If you are using crushing shock, you should partially charge a heavy attack instead of using a straight light attack. This is because of the benefit gained from the destro staff passives. Just charge the heavy attack the minimum possible amount so that it provides two fireballs, and then you are good to go.

butterfly442 · October 2014

You want people to help you cheat?

Wow.

Valymer · October 2014

Based on what I've read, I'm not even sure that casting CF when it procs does more dps than just continuing to spam CS/LA, although it may be more magicka efficient, I'm not sure.

For PVP I like using CF because of the stun, but using Crushing Shock in your PVP build might not be the best idea anyway since it relies heavily on critting and real PVPers are gonna be running Impenetrable. There are other ways to fish for CF procs such as Velocious Curse and Mage's Wrath/Endless Fury.

If you are just farming AP from PVE geared people or lagging your way through a zerg then I guess your build doesn't really matter anyway.

Valymer · October 2014

butterfly442 wrote: »

You want people to help you cheat?

Wow.

Do you have a link where someone at Zenimax confirmed this to be "cheating," or is this just your opinion? Unless you have to use macros to do it (which you don't), it is not a violation of the Terms of Service.

For example: http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/2aduth/confirmed_animation_cancelling_not_intended/

Soulshine · October 2014

The role of animation canceling:

Animation and attack priority is currently driven by gameplay mechanics, and animation design is created to support the gameplay features. Animation cancelling with macro usage is “cheating”, but the way that attacks currently interact is intended, but will hopefully be improved in the future.

butterfly442 · October 2014

Valymer wrote: »

butterfly442 wrote: »

You want people to help you cheat?

Wow.

Do you have a link where someone at Zenimax confirmed this to be "cheating," or is this just your opinion? Unless you have to use macros to do it (which you don't), it is not a violation of the Terms of Service.

For example: http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/2aduth/confirmed_animation_cancelling_not_intended/

Don't need a link. Getting more attacks than what was intended is a bug. Abusing a bug is cheating.

End of story, bro.

Luvsfuzzybunnies · October 2014

butterfly442 wrote: »

Valymer wrote: »

butterfly442 wrote: »

You want people to help you cheat?

Wow.

Do you have a link where someone at Zenimax confirmed this to be "cheating," or is this just your opinion? Unless you have to use macros to do it (which you don't), it is not a violation of the Terms of Service.

For example: http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/2aduth/confirmed_animation_cancelling_not_intended/

Don't need a link. Getting more attacks than what was intended is a bug. Abusing a bug is cheating.

End of story, bro.

Well I guess if you never use basic attacks then you are not guilty of this. If you do count yourself a cheater because if you use any skill without your attacks animation finishing you have now animation canceled. It was never an exploit as far as information zenimax has provided to the community. Now it is used by everyone to increase dps (as zenimax has said working as intended for now). If you can honestly tell me every ability you have ever cast has been cast at least 3 seconds after you used a light or heavy attack I would be surprised.