Returning MagSorc player, please advise me on how to get good PvE DPS

Vahrokh · October 2017

Hello,

I have recently returned to ESO. I play a Dunmer Mag Sorc, I used to do 2014-2015 hard mode AA, HRC, SO.

I've returned back and have seen some of my old "references" (gear, rotations etc.) are not active any longer, namely Yolo Wizard and others.

I've browsed a lot of Youtube HoTR mag sorc builds, in the end I ended up using the Alcast PvE sorc build.

Build and gear details:

One thing that most of the Youtube videos (Alcast included) show, is the almost universal 35k-41k DPS vs 3M health target skeleton, both with a "buff bot" friend or alone (slotting elemental drain instead of a shield).

I have finally purchased (took some grinding) the target skeleton. I have the gold gear (still farming for the headpiece) required for Alcast "Gear Setup 1", the spec and everything else, including various foods, I have bought the Witchmother Potent Brew recipe and much more. I have crafted and use the spell power / crit pots.

I have 450-460 CPs, I am using Alcast 300 CP build, with additional CPs being added to slowly transition to the 660 CP build.

However, no matter how long or hard I try, I cannot pass 22k DPS. I've tried with and without weaving, with and without ultimate(s). I've tried various foods... nothing.
I have some serious sustain issues so at about 2M damage done I run dry.
Before the 2M damage done, I get 20-22k DPS anyway, period.

I've installed a mod that tells me when DoTs have expired too.

What especially bothers me, is seeing Alcast / other Youtubers Heavy Lightning attack damage simply being double than mine, despite I am using the gear and buffs they use.

I cannot fathom how it's possible to "screw up" an heavy attack, if I have Liquid Lightning and Elemental Blockade etc. up, I should do a similar damage with a simple heavy attack, not half.

Now, doing half the damage is quite huge, it means there is something immensely wrong somewhere.
Sure, I am still training at keeping up everything in my rotation but... half damage?
Half damage Heavy Attack? This is just too gross, heavy attack is all about holding down a mouse button!
I can understand screwing up the rotation, but heavy attack ticks should be equal, given similar gear, spec and buffs.

So, here I am, asking to some good player for advice about what I could be doing wrong.

WrathOfInnos · October 2017

The damage from a lightning heavy attack is greatly increased by using a Maelstrom destruction staff when you cast Wall if Elements. Light and heavy attack damage also scales much better from spell damage than max Magicka (40:1 vs the typical 10.5:1 for most skills) so things like spell damage enchants on jewelry and weapons help a lot (just don't re-enchant a VMA staff until Clockwork City update).

Also consider sets that offer spell damage bonuses, Julianos will boost heavy attack damage much more than something like Necropotence. Netch set even more so, but it does nothing for magic or fire damage skills.

WrathOfInnos · October 2017

Other sets to try would be Infallible Aether, which increases damage by 8% through minor vulnerability, and boost heavy attack damage. Or Moondancer, which has a 50% chance to give 448 spell damage for 30s after activating a synergy. Both of these sets also have minor slayer as a 3 piece bonus for 5% damage increase in dungeons and trials.

Another thing that helps a lot is the exploiter passive from champion points. If you can get the target off balance (lightning wall after concussion) it adds 10% damage. This requires at least 75 points in Thaumaturge (or round up to 81 to avoid wasting a few points since CP's round down to the nearest whole %). Heavy attacks also get a big damage bonus against off balance enemies, independent of CP's.

The concussion status effect can be induced by any lightning damage (low chance), with a shock enchant having the highest chance. Concussion and IA set give the same 8% damage increase from minor vulnerability, so build for one or the other, but both are redundant.

Hope this helps!

FriedEggSandwich · October 2017

Vahrokh wrote: »

Hello,

I have recently returned to ESO. I play a Dunmer Mag Sorc, I used to do 2014-2015 hard mode AA, HRC, SO.

I've returned back and have seen some of my old "references" (gear, rotations etc.) are not active any longer, namely Yolo Wizard and others.

I've browsed a lot of Youtube HoTR mag sorc builds, in the end I ended up using the Alcast PvE sorc build.

Build and gear details:
One thing that most of the Youtube videos (Alcast included) show, is the almost universal 35k-41k DPS vs 3M health target skeleton, both with a "buff bot" friend or alone (slotting elemental drain instead of a shield).

I have finally purchased (took some grinding) the target skeleton. I have the gold gear (still farming for the headpiece) required for Alcast "Gear Setup 1", the spec and everything else, including various foods, I have bought the Witchmother Potent Brew recipe and much more. I have crafted and use the spell power / crit pots.

I have 450-460 CPs, I am using Alcast 300 CP build, with additional CPs being added to slowly transition to the 660 CP build.

However, no matter how long or hard I try, I cannot pass 22k DPS. I've tried with and without weaving, with and without ultimate(s). I've tried various foods... nothing.
I have some serious sustain issues so at about 2M damage done I run dry.
Before the 2M damage done, I get 20-22k DPS anyway, period.

I've installed a mod that tells me when DoTs have expired too.

What especially bothers me, is seeing Alcast / other Youtubers Heavy Lightning attack damage simply being double than mine, despite I am using the gear and buffs they use.

I cannot fathom how it's possible to "screw up" an heavy attack, if I have Liquid Lightning and Elemental Blockade etc. up, I should do a similar damage with a simple heavy attack, not half.

Now, doing half the damage is quite huge, it means there is something immensely wrong somewhere.
Sure, I am still training at keeping up everything in my rotation but... half damage?
Half damage Heavy Attack? This is just too gross, heavy attack is all about holding down a mouse button!
I can understand screwing up the rotation, but heavy attack ticks should be equal, given similar gear, spec and buffs.

So, here I am, asking to some good player for advice about what I could be doing wrong.

So what gear are you using specifically? Pets? No pets? I had a quick look at alcasts site but it wasn't clear to me which build you were running. What WrathOfInnos said about the vma staff is true. Also are you using curse in your rotation? Also overall dps rises during the execute phase, so judging your dps based on what it was half way through the fight is not being fair to yourself. I'm in a similar situation; can't break 26k dps on the target skele self buffed, but I know my issue is a consistency thing, and also lack of proc set. I just need to practice more and get Ilambris shoulder. Interestingly I can get 34k dps on the mage in vAA when I didn't think I was playing very well, but that's not strictly a single target fight. But you might find your trial dps is higher than your target skele dps anyway thanks to group buffs and more off-balance/vulnerability uptime.

Vahrokh · October 2017

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

The damage from a lightning heavy attack is greatly increased by using a Maelstrom destruction staff when you cast Wall if Elements. Light and heavy attack damage also scales much better from spell damage than max Magicka (40:1 vs the typical 10.5:1 for most skills) so things like spell damage enchants on jewelry and weapons help a lot (just don't re-enchant a VMA staff until Clockwork City update).

Also consider sets that offer spell damage bonuses, Julianos will boost heavy attack damage much more than something like Necropotence. Netch set even more so, but it does nothing for magic or fire damage skills.

I am using Julianos + Necropotence exactly as Alcast suggests. Jewelry has gold damage enchants. vMA did not exist when I stopped playing, so I have yet to grind the staff from there.

Vahrokh · October 2017

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

Other sets to try would be Infallible Aether, which increases damage by 8% through minor vulnerability, and boost heavy attack damage. Or Moondancer, which has a 50% chance to give 448 spell damage for 30s after activating a synergy. Both of these sets also have minor slayer as a 3 piece bonus for 5% damage increase in dungeons and trials.

Another thing that helps a lot is the exploiter passive from champion points. If you can get the target off balance (lightning wall after concussion) it adds 10% damage. This requires at least 75 points in Thaumaturge (or round up to 81 to avoid wasting a few points since CP's round down to the nearest whole %). Heavy attacks also get a big damage bonus against off balance enemies, independent of CP's.

The concussion status effect can be induced by any lightning damage (low chance), with a shock enchant having the highest chance. Concussion and IA set give the same 8% damage increase from minor vulnerability, so build for one or the other, but both are redundant.

Hope this helps!

I am re-grinding Aether. I have the old set (CP 120-140) but it's missing stats and bonuses. I thought ZOS would have "back-updated" the old set to get the modern bonuses, but they didn't.

I have 75 Thaumaturge, it's actually indicated in the Alcast build I linked above.

Vahrokh · October 2017

FriedEggSandwich wrote: »

Vahrokh wrote: »

Hello,

I have recently returned to ESO. I play a Dunmer Mag Sorc, I used to do 2014-2015 hard mode AA, HRC, SO.

I've returned back and have seen some of my old "references" (gear, rotations etc.) are not active any longer, namely Yolo Wizard and others.

I've browsed a lot of Youtube HoTR mag sorc builds, in the end I ended up using the Alcast PvE sorc build.

Build and gear details:
One thing that most of the Youtube videos (Alcast included) show, is the almost universal 35k-41k DPS vs 3M health target skeleton, both with a "buff bot" friend or alone (slotting elemental drain instead of a shield).

I have finally purchased (took some grinding) the target skeleton. I have the gold gear (still farming for the headpiece) required for Alcast "Gear Setup 1", the spec and everything else, including various foods, I have bought the Witchmother Potent Brew recipe and much more. I have crafted and use the spell power / crit pots.

I have 450-460 CPs, I am using Alcast 300 CP build, with additional CPs being added to slowly transition to the 660 CP build.

However, no matter how long or hard I try, I cannot pass 22k DPS. I've tried with and without weaving, with and without ultimate(s). I've tried various foods... nothing.
I have some serious sustain issues so at about 2M damage done I run dry.
Before the 2M damage done, I get 20-22k DPS anyway, period.

I've installed a mod that tells me when DoTs have expired too.

What especially bothers me, is seeing Alcast / other Youtubers Heavy Lightning attack damage simply being double than mine, despite I am using the gear and buffs they use.

I cannot fathom how it's possible to "screw up" an heavy attack, if I have Liquid Lightning and Elemental Blockade etc. up, I should do a similar damage with a simple heavy attack, not half.

Now, doing half the damage is quite huge, it means there is something immensely wrong somewhere.
Sure, I am still training at keeping up everything in my rotation but... half damage?
Half damage Heavy Attack? This is just too gross, heavy attack is all about holding down a mouse button!
I can understand screwing up the rotation, but heavy attack ticks should be equal, given similar gear, spec and buffs.

So, here I am, asking to some good player for advice about what I could be doing wrong.

So what gear are you using specifically? Pets? No pets? I had a quick look at alcasts site but it wasn't clear to me which build you were running. What WrathOfInnos said about the vma staff is true. Also are you using curse in your rotation? Also overall dps rises during the execute phase, so judging your dps based on what it was half way through the fight is not being fair to yourself. I'm in a similar situation; can't break 26k dps on the target skele self buffed, but I know my issue is a consistency thing, and also lack of proc set. I just need to practice more and get Ilambris shoulder. Interestingly I can get 34k dps on the mage in vAA when I didn't think I was playing very well, but that's not strictly a single target fight. But you might find your trial dps is higher than your target skele dps anyway thanks to group buffs and more off-balance/vulnerability uptime.

I am using the Alcast build I have linked above, which comes with DPS pet, double shock staff (or shock / fire, which my race boosts), off-balance. If you click on the link, it puts you exactly in the correct build page. Yes I am using curse, since it boosts the pet.
In the Youtube videos you can see players use the Combat Metrics addon. I use it too. That addon updates DPS every few seconds, not just at the end of the fight. I see these guys are hitting 40k before the execute phase. Tomorrow I put a screenshot with my buffed stats, in my opinion they are good enough to hit 30k, I just don't know how.

SoLooney · October 2017

run a pet, get 5 necro, 2 lightning staves, profit

Vahrokh · October 2017

SoLooney wrote: »

run a pet, get 5 necro, 2 lightning staves, profit

I posted my gear, it already includes what you say.

dpencil1 · October 2017

@Vahrokh
If you'd like to try my build, you're welcome to. You may end up with better results. It's hard to pinpoint your exact problem without watching you do a target dummy parse. In any case, here's what I would suggest for you, considering you do not have a vMA staff:

GEAR:

2 Necro or Julianos Infused lightning staves. Front bar - Shock Enchant. Back bar - Flame Enchant

3 Necro Jewelry (preferably Gold, but Purple will work)

Remaining 1 or 2 pieces of Necro on the body. 4 or 5 pieces of Julianos (depending on which staves you are using). The chest should be a heavy armor Julianos piece. The legs should be a medium armor Julianos piece.

The last piece should be a monster shoulder or helm that gives Max Magicka. If it is medium or heavy, change the corresponding Julianos piece to light.

Understand, this setup is fine, but you would get slightly better DPS with 5 Necro, 4 Infallible Aether, and 2 Monster set (my preference is Maw of the Infernal, but Ilambris is the more common choice).

All enchants should be Magicka (gold)
All armor should be Divines (gold)
Spell Damage glyphs on the jewelry.

Lover Mundus stone
Health/Magicka blue food
Spell power/crit potions on cool down.

CP should look something like:
75 Thaumaturge
46 Spell Erosion
49 Ele Expert
40 Elfborn
20 TaA
These are in order of importance.

ABILITIES AND ROTATION:

You should weave Light Attacks between each skill. There is no reason not to do this. Just make sure you get the timing down. If you are doing the full Light Attack animation, you are going too slowly. You should be canceling that animation with the next skill's animation.

LA = Light Attack
HA = Heavy Attack

Bar 1: Endless Fury, Shock Clench, Daedric Prey, Volatile Familiar, Twilight Matriarch, Shooting Star

Bar 2: Liquid Lightning, Blockade of Storms, Elemental Drain (Shield in real combat), Volatile Familiar, Twilight Matriarch, Thunderous Rage

Open with: Potion, Ele Drain, Thunderous Rage
[LA, Liquid Lightning, LA, Blockade of Storms, LA, Volatile Familiar,
Bar Swap
LA, Daedric Prey, HA, Shock Clench, LA, Ele Drain (every other rotation)
Bar Swap]

Use Shooting Star when it becomes available and refresh your potion on cool down.

Understand that having less than max CP, non-gold gear, and no vMA staff will hurt your overall dps somewhat, so just keep that in mind.

FriedEggSandwich · October 2017

Vahrokh wrote: »

FriedEggSandwich wrote: »

Vahrokh wrote: »

Hello,

I have recently returned to ESO. I play a Dunmer Mag Sorc, I used to do 2014-2015 hard mode AA, HRC, SO.

I've returned back and have seen some of my old "references" (gear, rotations etc.) are not active any longer, namely Yolo Wizard and others.

I've browsed a lot of Youtube HoTR mag sorc builds, in the end I ended up using the Alcast PvE sorc build.

Build and gear details:
One thing that most of the Youtube videos (Alcast included) show, is the almost universal 35k-41k DPS vs 3M health target skeleton, both with a "buff bot" friend or alone (slotting elemental drain instead of a shield).

I have finally purchased (took some grinding) the target skeleton. I have the gold gear (still farming for the headpiece) required for Alcast "Gear Setup 1", the spec and everything else, including various foods, I have bought the Witchmother Potent Brew recipe and much more. I have crafted and use the spell power / crit pots.

I have 450-460 CPs, I am using Alcast 300 CP build, with additional CPs being added to slowly transition to the 660 CP build.

However, no matter how long or hard I try, I cannot pass 22k DPS. I've tried with and without weaving, with and without ultimate(s). I've tried various foods... nothing.
I have some serious sustain issues so at about 2M damage done I run dry.
Before the 2M damage done, I get 20-22k DPS anyway, period.

I've installed a mod that tells me when DoTs have expired too.

What especially bothers me, is seeing Alcast / other Youtubers Heavy Lightning attack damage simply being double than mine, despite I am using the gear and buffs they use.

I cannot fathom how it's possible to "screw up" an heavy attack, if I have Liquid Lightning and Elemental Blockade etc. up, I should do a similar damage with a simple heavy attack, not half.

Now, doing half the damage is quite huge, it means there is something immensely wrong somewhere.
Sure, I am still training at keeping up everything in my rotation but... half damage?
Half damage Heavy Attack? This is just too gross, heavy attack is all about holding down a mouse button!
I can understand screwing up the rotation, but heavy attack ticks should be equal, given similar gear, spec and buffs.

So, here I am, asking to some good player for advice about what I could be doing wrong.

So what gear are you using specifically? Pets? No pets? I had a quick look at alcasts site but it wasn't clear to me which build you were running. What WrathOfInnos said about the vma staff is true. Also are you using curse in your rotation? Also overall dps rises during the execute phase, so judging your dps based on what it was half way through the fight is not being fair to yourself. I'm in a similar situation; can't break 26k dps on the target skele self buffed, but I know my issue is a consistency thing, and also lack of proc set. I just need to practice more and get Ilambris shoulder. Interestingly I can get 34k dps on the mage in vAA when I didn't think I was playing very well, but that's not strictly a single target fight. But you might find your trial dps is higher than your target skele dps anyway thanks to group buffs and more off-balance/vulnerability uptime.

I am using the Alcast build I have linked above, which comes with DPS pet, double shock staff (or shock / fire, which my race boosts), off-balance. If you click on the link, it puts you exactly in the correct build page. Yes I am using curse, since it boosts the pet.
In the Youtube videos you can see players use the Combat Metrics addon. I use it too. That addon updates DPS every few seconds, not just at the end of the fight. I see these guys are hitting 40k before the execute phase. Tomorrow I put a screenshot with my buffed stats, in my opinion they are good enough to hit 30k, I just don't know how.

Honestly idk how people hit 40k skele parses. Although I can see the weakness in my rotation I can't believe there's 15k worth of improvement for me. I refuse to use a pet but I'm using vma shock staff, Netch Touch and Infallible Aether, I'm just missing Ilambris. Having a fully penetrated skele for the whole fight will make a big difference. I think the 3m hp one has 15k spell resistance, so even if I slot ele drain for the fight I'm still not fully penetrating, can't remember how far off I am. There is a useful addon on minion called Aju's Penetration Display that will add your pen values to your char sheet. Knowing your pen value might shed some light on your damage potential.

Edit: being 200cp short of max will also affect your dps a bit too. Does the parse you saw alcast do only use 300cp spent? Or with full 660 spent?

SoLooney · October 2017

youre losing a lot of dps not running a pet, but thats up to you.

Alcasts builds are good but they arent the best dps you can try to get.

I pull my best dps with a pet in 2 ilambris, 5 necro, 4 moondancer, vma lightning, best was 42k

with non pet in 2 ilambris, 5 netch touch, 4 moondancer, vma lightning, best was 38k

All gear is gold except for the moondancer jewelry

Vahrokh · October 2017

dpencil1 wrote: »

@Vahrokh
If you'd like to try my build, you're welcome to. You may end up with better results. It's hard to pinpoint your exact problem without watching you do a target dummy parse. In any case, here's what I would suggest for you, considering you do not have a vMA staff:

GEAR:

2 Necro or Julianos Infused lightning staves. Front bar - Shock Enchant. Back bar - Flame Enchant

3 Necro Jewelry (preferably Gold, but Purple will work)

Remaining 1 or 2 pieces of Necro on the body. 4 or 5 pieces of Julianos (depending on which staves you are using). The chest should be a heavy armor Julianos piece. The legs should be a medium armor Julianos piece.

The last piece should be a monster shoulder or helm that gives Max Magicka. If it is medium or heavy, change the corresponding Julianos piece to light.

Understand, this setup is fine, but you would get slightly better DPS with 5 Necro, 4 Infallible Aether, and 2 Monster set (my preference is Maw of the Infernal, but Ilambris is the more common choice).

All enchants should be Magicka (gold)
All armor should be Divines (gold)
Spell Damage glyphs on the jewelry.

Lover Mundus stone
Health/Magicka blue food
Spell power/crit potions on cool down.

CP should look something like:
75 Thaumaturge
46 Spell Erosion
49 Ele Expert
40 Elfborn
20 TaA
These are in order of importance.

ABILITIES AND ROTATION:

You should weave Light Attacks between each skill. There is no reason not to do this. Just make sure you get the timing down. If you are doing the full Light Attack animation, you are going too slowly. You should be canceling that animation with the next skill's animation.

LA = Light Attack
HA = Heavy Attack

Bar 1: Endless Fury, Shock Clench, Daedric Prey, Volatile Familiar, Twilight Matriarch, Shooting Star

Bar 2: Liquid Lightning, Blockade of Storms, Elemental Drain (Shield in real combat), Volatile Familiar, Twilight Matriarch, Thunderous Rage

Open with: Potion, Ele Drain, Thunderous Rage
[LA, Liquid Lightning, LA, Blockade of Storms, LA, Volatile Familiar,
Bar Swap
LA, Daedric Prey, HA, Shock Clench, LA, Ele Drain (every other rotation)
Bar Swap]

Use Shooting Star when it becomes available and refresh your potion on cool down.

Understand that having less than max CP, non-gold gear, and no vMA staff will hurt your overall dps somewhat, so just keep that in mind.

Thank you! I need to get the monster gear (I keep getting bad traits).
The rotation is exactly the one I am using and with the attacks I am using, but you use the matriarch while I don't. I kept her out, mostly because I don't know if (how) to fit her special DPS ability.

Since you are using exactly my setup... do you know how much DPS you lose by doing an imperfect rotation? That is, if sometimes a DoT stays non casted for 1-2 seconds, is that the reason for half DPS? Because I have seen some guys doing 45k DPS in trials during some pretty intense sessions (in example, some MOL bosses) and I can't believe they always do the rotation at 100.00% perfection.

Vahrokh · October 2017

SoLooney wrote: »

youre losing a lot of dps not running a pet, but thats up to you.

Alcasts builds are good but they arent the best dps you can try to get.

I pull my best dps with a pet in 2 ilambris, 5 necro, 4 moondancer, vma lightning, best was 42k

with non pet in 2 ilambris, 5 netch touch, 4 moondancer, vma lightning, best was 38k

All gear is gold except for the moondancer jewelry

- Latest Alcast build has familiar.

- I'd signup with blood the ability to achieve "bad" 38K DPS.

X3ina · October 2017

Hey, was just passing by but then i saw that your mag sorc is a dunmer (as my main).

So... i have done some tests on pts and live servers, and i really think that BiS for dunmer magsorcs atm is:

2x Ilambris (about 4,5-5k dps from proc + some free max magicka (which maw have not unfortunately))
5x Burning Spellweave ( i know it was nerfed, but it still rocks (burning got huge buff btw))
4x Moondancer/Master Architect (max magicka + spell damage + 5% more damage done from all sources (more than 400 spell damage) lightning infused mainbar with fire enchant
1x Maelstrom inferno infused staff with shock enchant for backbar

Mundus - apprentice, food - hp + magicka

Bars (with good group support)

pet curse/ward/familiar/tomb/bound armor - destro ulti = mainbar
execute/liquid/familiar/blockade/bound armor - meteor = offbar

Bars (average or worse group support)

pet curse/ward/familiar/clench/bound armor - shooting star = mainbar
execute/liquid/familiar/blockade/bound armor - fire rage = backbar

But, for dummy dps tests i would recommend using double lightning staves with full netch set (instead of bsw), switching to a lover stone + having a pocket healer with worm cult for ele drain will increase you dps (because you don't spend 1gcd every 20 seconds for a debuff that doesn't deal any damage)

Icy_Waffles · October 2017

Back bar... which puts down dots... curse, liquid lightning, wall... use nirnhoned.

dpencil1 · October 2017

@Vahrokh
The Matriarch is the healing morph. Tormentor is the damage morph. I take the healer because I don't think the Tormentor's buff is worth the cost. She adds more dps just using her normal zap attack than using Bound Aegis (single target).

Fudging the rotation would cost you maybe 2-5k dps. Depends on how bad you do. No light attack weaving and waiting a couple seconds before reapplying dots every rotation, maybe as much as 10k dps loss. Remember that in Trials you are getting other buffs that you don't get solo. A good solo parse is around 35k.

Vahrokh · October 2017

Icy_Waffles wrote: »

Back bar... which puts down dots... curse, liquid lightning, wall... use nirnhoned.

I got that

Bobby_V_Rockit · October 2017

SoLooney wrote: »

youre losing a lot of dps not running a pet, but thats up to you.

Alcasts builds are good but they arent the best dps you can try to get.

I pull my best dps with a pet in 2 ilambris, 5 necro, 4 moondancer, vma lightning, best was 42k

with non pet in 2 ilambris, 5 netch touch, 4 moondancer, vma lightning, best was 38k

All gear is gold except for the moondancer jewelry

Could you get away with 2x Ilambris, 5x necro and 4x Infallible Mage instead of Moondancer?

dpencil1 · October 2017

The answer to your question @Bobby_V_Rockit is yes. I fact, IA can actually be preferable to Moondancer sometimes. They are essentially identically strong. I run IA myself for the extra Crit chance bonus, since you are very low with Necro and not using the Thief mundus anymore.

Vahrokh · October 2017

Here is a screenshot with my stats. What kind of DPS should I do with that? 20k? 30k? 40k?

Having returned recently, I still don't have Maelstrom staff (using 2 Julianos for now) nor Ilambris. I have a Skoria piece, but it buffs health, I am not sure I need that.

Gear is mainly Julianos + 5 Necropotence (3 Necro jewels), CPs are allocated as per Alcast PvE "summoner" (= with familiar pet) HoTRC build.

Vahrokh · October 2017

Today I got all 3 Infallible Aether Jewelry, Divines Aether Belt and Chest.

Anyone could be so kind to tell me if they can be matched with my Julianos or Necro to create a better setup than what I got to date?

I got gold Aether jewelry but also gold Necropotence Jewelry if it can be useful to create a better setup.

dpencil1 · October 2017

I run 5 Necro on the body, 3 IA jewelry, 2 Maw of the Infernal (or Ilambris if you prefer). Backbar staff is vMA Infused lightning, front bar is just a random Infused lightning staff with the shock enchant. An IA staff would be best, or when CWC drops, the Asylum staff for the front bar.

Vahrokh · October 2017

dpencil1 wrote: »

I run 5 Necro on the body, 3 IA jewelry, 2 Maw of the Infernal (or Ilambris if you prefer). Backbar staff is vMA Infused lightning, front bar is just a random Infused lightning staff with the shock enchant. An IA staff would be best, or when CWC drops, the Asylum staff for the front bar.

IA with +spell damage enchant?

dpencil1 · October 2017

Yeah

GrigorijMalahevich · October 2017

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

Other sets to try would be Infallible Aether, which increases damage by 8% through minor vulnerability, and boost heavy attack damage. Or Moondancer, which has a 50% chance to give 448 spell damage for 30s after activating a synergy. Both of these sets also have minor slayer as a 3 piece bonus for 5% damage increase in dungeons and trials.

Another thing that helps a lot is the exploiter passive from champion points. If you can get the target off balance (lightning wall after concussion) it adds 10% damage. This requires at least 75 points in Thaumaturge (or round up to 81 to avoid wasting a few points since CP's round down to the nearest whole %). Heavy attacks also get a big damage bonus against off balance enemies, independent of CP's.

The concussion status effect can be induced by any lightning damage (low chance), with a shock enchant having the highest chance. Concussion and IA set give the same 8% damage increase from minor vulnerability, so build for one or the other, but both are redundant.

Hope this helps!

Yeah, about that Infallible Mage (Aether) and Exploiter passive... Infallible debuff doesn't allow Concussion to happen from anything. The second you start to heavy attack with lightning staff a group of mobs - they become immune to Concussion...

Vahrokh · October 2017

Valera Progib wrote: »

WrathOfInnos wrote: »

Other sets to try would be Infallible Aether, which increases damage by 8% through minor vulnerability, and boost heavy attack damage. Or Moondancer, which has a 50% chance to give 448 spell damage for 30s after activating a synergy. Both of these sets also have minor slayer as a 3 piece bonus for 5% damage increase in dungeons and trials.

Another thing that helps a lot is the exploiter passive from champion points. If you can get the target off balance (lightning wall after concussion) it adds 10% damage. This requires at least 75 points in Thaumaturge (or round up to 81 to avoid wasting a few points since CP's round down to the nearest whole %). Heavy attacks also get a big damage bonus against off balance enemies, independent of CP's.

The concussion status effect can be induced by any lightning damage (low chance), with a shock enchant having the highest chance. Concussion and IA set give the same 8% damage increase from minor vulnerability, so build for one or the other, but both are redundant.

Hope this helps!

Yeah, about that Infallible Mage (Aether) and Exploiter passive... Infallible debuff doesn't allow Concussion to happen from anything. The second you start to heavy attack with lightning staff a group of mobs - they become immune to Concussion...

Does this mean training Thaumaturge to 75 is going to be less useful?

dpencil1 · October 2017

Honestly, I'm not sure if that issue still exists. But in either case, the 5th piece bonus of IA is not very good anyway.

RT_Frank · October 2017

@dpencil1 I'm liking your build but I have a couple of questions. What's your crit at in the necro/moondancer build and why have the matriarch when you already have the scamp? If the crit is kinda low, do you think it'll be good to replace the matriarch with inner light on front bar with a flex skill on back?

socivL · October 2017

hi guys - i'm going to be pretty far off topic here, i think, i am trying to find out what heavy attack crit damage numbers you are seeing off of destruction staffs.

trying to compare with a magicDK i've been playing on.
thx

dpencil1 · October 2017

@RT_Frank
I prefer Infallible Aether over Moondancer because you're right, the crit is very low with Necro/Moondancer. It's around 32% in that case. Inner Light is only useful if you are not drinking potions off cooldown. The spell power/crit potions provide the same buff. Now, when I am doing content and don't to be using any potions, I absolutely slot Inner Light on my front bar. It's a dps loss, but that's the trade-off for not needed to fund so many consumables. With the build I posted, with a potion up, you'd be sitting at about 45% crit.

As far as the Matriarch goes, I prefer going double-pet. She is strong enough, when using Daedric Prey in your rotation, that she actually provides higher single target dps than using Bound Aegis. Also, I think the Matriarch is the better overall choice, as I don't think that the Tormentor's bonus damage is worth its cost. I have tested both and the final dps difference is almost unnoticeable. Also, having an on-demand heal for you and both of your pets is worth sooo much more than the minuscule dps increase of Tormentor. She's great for soloing or for providing "oh crap!" healing support when a healer goes down.

@socivL
Looking at Combat Metrics, my highest Heavy Attack (Shock) is usually around 12k and my highest Shock Pulse is around 13k.