Making the best of dark flare?

BreacaT · January 2016

I run a v12 pve dd magicka Templar and have recently slotted dark flare in place of reflective light as part of my rotation but find the cast time a pain as most times the foe are upon me as it actually casts and don't like the time taken to cast it when under attack.

I cast structured entropy before it, which alerts the foe and they start running towards me and generally reach me whilst I'm still casting.

My full rotation would normally be chanelled focus, harness magicka, structured entropy, dark flare (or reflective light) and then start weaving biting jabs with SE and maybe throw in a blazing shield if it's a bit cqc until things are dead or there is enough space to start again.

So, is there a better way to use dark flare or what?

Ta.

dodgehopper_ESO · January 2016

You could try to use something like Volcanic Rune to juggle them and give yourself time for the cast to complete on Dark Flare. Just toss down your Rune between yourself and the targets, fling structured entropy, and then follow up with dark flare.
Alternately you could use reflective light which has a weak slow compared to other abilities, but is still probably enough for you to launch a dark flare afterward.

puffy99 · January 2016

Dark flare for group PvP-
Reflective light and for crowd control Blazing spears for PvE/Dungeons.

This assumes you want to heal/off heal as well. If you don't then you can slot anything.
I found dark flare too slow, and often will prevent you getting heals off just when someone needs it the most.
At least Blazing is instant cast and it is also easier to move around and group them up then nuke them with dawnbreaker or go to town with jabs.

Also I never use SE. slot inner light instead. Another button you have to press that is not needed IMO.

BreacaT · January 2016

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes, I always have inner light slotted. So, looks like I will switch out dark flare and save it for pvp range attacks.

Cheers.

Daveheart · January 2016

BreacaT wrote: »

I run a v12 pve dd magicka Templar and have recently slotted dark flare in place of reflective light as part of my rotation but find the cast time a pain as most times the foe are upon me as it actually casts and don't like the time taken to cast it when under attack.

I cast structured entropy before it, which alerts the foe and they start running towards me and generally reach me whilst I'm still casting.

My full rotation would normally be chanelled focus, harness magicka, structured entropy, dark flare (or reflective light) and then start weaving biting jabs with SE and maybe throw in a blazing shield if it's a bit cqc until things are dead or there is enough space to start again.

So, is there a better way to use dark flare or what?

Ta.

If you're using biting jabs as a magicka dps, then you're doing it wrong. Puncturing sweep would be the proper morph. (I assume that's just a typo though). You're going to be best off leaving blazing shield off your bar. What weapons/armor/jewelry are you wearing on your toon? If you're going DW for max spell damage, you're going to be better off only throwing a light attack between every 7th sweep to maintain ultimate generation.

BreacaT · January 2016

Sorry, yes, puncturing sweeps.

I think my gear is set up pretty well for now.

Armour is 5 Julianos/2 Magnus Gift all divines with Shadow mundas, 5 light, 2 heavy.

Dual Magnus swords and resto staff.

Jewellery, the best I can sort at the moment is pendant and two rings of soulshine (710 + 787 Max Magicka and 560 Spell Crit).

Thanks for the tips.

Takes-No-Prisoner · January 2016

Dark Flare requires a set up to cast. In PvP on a player you ideally want to get them into a state where they are stunned/soft knocked down/hard knocked down/distracted to preform the move safely. And Templar has access to some cool knock back effects in their class tree to name a few; Aurora Javelin, Toppling Charge, Blazing Spear, Sweeps[last hit] etc. It should be noted however, that the knock down on some of these abilities differ and might be better for different playstyles. For example, Toppling puts them into a 'pined' animation where you go to their location -- where as Aurora Javelin boosts the enemy -into the air- and onto their back. While you retain the distance.

You can practice the set up in PvE on a non-boss enemy. Try this; Slot Aurora Javelin and Dark Flare, hit the enemy with Aurora and you'll see them fly back into a knock down state. That's where you charge Dark Flare, because it'll go off as the enemy npc is walking towards you. That's basically the jist of the type of set up you need for Dark Flare in 1v1 situations.

puffy99 · January 2016

What I try to do is use terrain in PvP to try to get to a spot where you are hidden or there is an elevation change.
Especially if they are grouped up and the server is lagging you can get massive kills/damage by simply spamming these.
In 1v1 unless you can keep your distance it will be tough. if there is a mosh pit and you have some cover you can do some big numbers!

Takes-No-Prisoner · January 2016

Terrain in PvP can work to your advantage for casting Dark Flare, or sometimes its disadvantage. It is definitely worth sciencing the max distance and to see if you have Line Of Sight to the enemy. Even trees and rocks can break the cast on it. That health debuff and increase damage on the next attack is worth it enough to make sure it lands correctly.