Which is better Maelstrom or Vateshran inferno staff?

Veinblood1965 · March 2021

Just finished my first run of vateshran and loved it! I've been trying to get the Maelstrom inferno staff for a two weeks now but might try for the Vat staff. Anyone have both or have thoughts?

The Vat staff stats says "casting weakness to elements", so does that mean i have to physically cast a spell in order to get the effect?

Vat Inferno Stats: "(2 items) Casting Weakness to Elements on a target within 15 meters of you causes a surge of elemental energy to tether between you for 10 seconds. While the tether persists and you remain in range, enemies touching the tether take 2371 Flame Damage, 2371 Shock Damage, or 2371 Frost Damage every 1 second, which increases by 1% each time it deals damage, up to 20%. This effect can occur once every 10 seconds."

Maelstrom Inferno Stats:"(2 items) Your Light and Heavy Attacks deal an additional 1353 to enemies in your Wall of Elements.
(Perfected) Grants up to 1190 Spell Penetration."

Bodycounter · March 2021

Firstly, yes you have to cast Weakness to Elements to proc the effect. But the cast is free and adds Minor Magickasteal. I really like Wrath of Elements in Solo or Pugs. In organized groups i do not even slot Weakness to Elements so Crushing Wall becomes strictly better.

Veinblood1965 · March 2021

Bodycounter wrote: »

Firstly, yes you have to cast Weakness to Elements to proc the effect. But the cast is free and adds Minor Magickasteal. I really like Wrath of Elements in Solo or Pugs. In organized groups i do not even slot Weakness to Elements so Crushing Wall becomes strictly better.

Thanks Bodycounter, that does make sense. I'll try for both but the drop rate is horrible on Maelstrom!

Vevvev · March 2021

Vateshran is good in PVP but in PVE it's usefulness is minor unless you can somehow position yourself so the beam cuts through multiple targets. Maelstrom staff just boosts the damage of your overall rotation through the light attacks, and odds are in a dungeon the tank or someone else has already applied breach to the target. So there is not really a need to slot Weakness to Elements anymore, especially since the minor magicka steal nerf and the introduction of the magic damage status effect that applies magicka steal.

robpr · March 2021

Vateshran should be better solo or when for some reason you cannot keep the enemy in the wall consistently without frequent recast.
Maelstrom is as good as you are with weaving LAs between skills, or do HA while enemy is in the wall.

Merlin13KAGL · March 2021

Non PvP, Vateshran's is very situational.

I've found the damage you lose from the MA buff rarely is made up for by the damage you gain from VH, plus the damage lost from the skill you're swapping out for ED.