18 réponses à ce sujet

[Kilborn]

Ok, I've looked around and I can't find an answer to my question, so hopefully I can get some answers here.  My question is: is the regular lightning spell even worth it?  200% weapon damage that costs a staggering 65 mana with a long 24 second cooldown versus chain lightning that is 250% damage that costs only 50 mana and a short 8 second cooldown.  So why even bother with lightning when chain lightning is superior in every stat?  Unless I'm missing something here....

[Selea]

Lightning Bolt is very useful on paper for the paralyze. However in practice the paralyzing duration is very low (only 2 sec) and to be effective you need the upgrade and some near enemies to increase its duration.

It is a somewhat situational spell but surely it can be useful under the right circumstances (for example with the upgrade to produce powerful combos with a rogue or moderate ones by yourself with Barrage or Spirit Blade or other eldritch detonators). If you go for Storm then it's an useful spell to have, if you pick and choose from different lines then much probably not.

[knownastherat]

Lighting Bolt has 200% bonus damage per creature within 4 meters and duration increases by same formula also. I sometimes use it to detonate Walking Bomb in the middle of Abyss filled with creatures. 

[Magma_Axis]

What about Chain Lightning vs Energy Barrage ?

 

And Lightning Bolt vs Conductive current ?

 

Because we need to choose two of them if we want to access the only reason for picking Storm tree, Static Cage+

[Jester]

What about Chain Lightning vs Energy Barrage ?

 

And Lightning Bolt vs Conductive current ?

 

Because we need to choose two of them if we want to access the only reason for picking Storm tree, Static Cage+

Energy Barrage is the best single target mage spell in the game, period. 

Very short cooldown, mana cost and 800% weapon damage + additional damage from weakening magic resistance.

Apart from that it's flexible (deals staff damage, so you can change it), almost assuredly activates Masterwork effects from the staff and works well with asleep targets.

 

This spell is an absolute must-have for any mage, not only the Storm focused one. 

[knownastherat]

5% damage for every 10% mana missing? That is 25% damage increase for 50% missing mana. Question is what one can cast with mana on 50%. I go Barrage - > Lightning Bolt -> Gathering Storm. 

[Magma_Axis]

Energy Barrage is the best single target mage spell in the game, period. 

Very short cooldown, mana cost and 800% weapon damage + additional damage from weakening magic resistance.

Apart from that it's flexible (deals staff damage, so you can change it), almost assuredly activates Masterwork effects from the staff and works well with asleep targets.

 

This spell is an absolute must-have for any mage, not only the Storm focused one. 

Good writeup

 

I just feel very happy now because i find Enhanced Static Cage Ring. It increase the duration to 14,5 seconds !

[Magma_Axis]

5% damage for every 10% mana missing? That is 25% damage increase for 50% missing mana. Question is what one can cast with mana on 50%. I go Barrage - > Lightning Bolt -> Gathering Storm.

Isn't Gathering Storm currently bugged and doesnt work at all ?

[Selea]

Isn't Gathering Storm currently bugged and doesnt work at all ?

Yes, it does absolutely nothing. It has been tested many times.

[knownastherat]

Too bad, +3 CON I do not really need. Tried Static Charge but prefer Mind Blast.

[Anelyn77]

Gathering Storm works, you just don't notice it because it has no animation. But the damage is dealt. Verified several times, easiest way to test it is to find an aggressive mob near neutral ones. Engage the aggro one with your party and go chase (without attacking, but having them selected / targeted) the neutrals and you will see the damage happening.

 

Energy Barrage is good, but I simply can't afford it (not lack of skill points, but lack of action bar space). Plus being a Rift Mage, Stone fist is 1000% weapon dmg (not accounting for the dmg boost vs weakness targets) on same cooldown with Energy Barrage. Considering the AoE upgrade, and the more targets near your target, multiply the damage.

 

I must have Barrier & Fade Step on. Then Lightning Cage, Chain Lightning and Pull of the Abyss. Mark of the Rift is a given. Fist of stone is a given as well. So 1 spot left. I prefer Veil strike with the upgrade because a) it's AoE weakness / knockdown low mana cost c) with my build is non stop control on enemy mages / archers (which on high / NM diff are insane if left alone).

[Demiga]

Gathering Storm works, you just don't notice it because it has no animation. But the damage is dealt. Verified several times, easiest way to test it is to find an aggressive mob near neutral ones. Engage the aggro one with your party and go chase (without attacking, but having them selected / targeted) the neutrals and you will see the damage happening.

 

Energy Barrage is good, but I simply can't afford it (not lack of skill points, but lack of action bar space). Plus being a Rift Mage, Stone fist is 1000% weapon dmg (not accounting for the dmg boost vs weakness targets) on same cooldown with Energy Barrage. Considering the AoE upgrade, and the more targets near your target, multiply the damage.

 

I must have Barrier & Fade Step on. Then Lightning Cage, Chain Lightning and Pull of the Abyss. Mark of the Rift is a given. Fist of stone is a given as well. So 1 spot left. I prefer Veil strike with the upgrade because a) it's AoE weakness / knockdown low mana cost c) with my build is non stop control on enemy mages / archers (which on high / NM diff are insane if left alone).

Dude, I have a similar setup to you, and trust me when I say, you should have energy barrage - for my main bar I have: Barrage, Stonefist, Immolate, and the rift mage force punch - on my second bar (among others) i have static cage with upg and the gravity ring from rift (cant remember name, the last ability fully upg in rift mage)  

 

What i do is use that gravity ring - pull in all enemies, including the bigger guys, drop static cage, then stonefist, they have all been weakened 2x now - then I alternate between using immolate and energy barrage - whats nice is every one of barrages projectiles activate storm cage so you are doing projectile damage(x12) x weapon damage % x Static cage lightning weapon damage - Ive downed many groups with this combo

[The Baconer]

I think Chain Lightning is crappy, especially when there's Energy Barrage. It's low damage output is inefficient with the mana cost, and if you play with friendly fire on it becomes relegated to super-long-range initiation only, because you'll be hitting yourself and your allies about 80% of the time otherwise. Its upgrade only makes this worse.

 

Lightning Bolt with its upgrade does more damage (to a single target), has a great CC, and also does an aoe knockdown. The knockdown is subject to friendly fire, but it will only do damage to the main target.

 

Overall I think Chain Lightning is just a waste of a point when you have Energy Barrage>Lightning Bolt or whatever. The only reason I'd ever want to take it is if I've already completed my build and I can use the surplus points to grab Stormbringer.

[Selea]

Gathering Storm works,

 

No, it doesn't. You are talking about Stormbringer, a different skill (Gathering Storm should reduce cooldowns on skills for every staff attack). Gathering Storm has been tested over and over again and cooldowns are not reduced at all. It is completely bugged.

As for Barrage it is the single most powerful spell in all the storm line. It is a waste to not take it no matter the build since apart the damage and versatility (given that the damage applied is the one of the staff) it is also great to proc combos.

[Necroe-]

Energy Barrage is the best single target mage spell in the game, period. 

Very short cooldown, mana cost and 800% weapon damage + additional damage from weakening magic resistance.

Apart from that it's flexible (deals staff damage, so you can change it), almost assuredly activates Masterwork effects from the staff and works well with asleep targets.

 

This spell is an absolute must-have for any mage, not only the Storm focused one. 

 

i disagree, stonefist is better, as it has half the cooldown so you can fire it twice for every energy barrage (500% spirit dmg x 2) as well as causing weakness, doing more damage through weakness AND causing mana regen through the many passives.

[lastpawn]

I really want to like Lightning but... I don't. 

 

Using the upgraded lightning on a bunch of clumped up enemies can make you feel like a boss, however. <= nicest thing I can say about it.

[JaegerBane]

So... Is the consensus that a storm mage is a decent choice?

I've been messing around with respecs and my initial plan was to balance out different elements alongside some KE standbys... But now I hear storm spells that everyone seemed to dislike all being mentioned favourably. Lightning bolt in particular.

[Jester]

i disagree, stonefist is better, as it has half the cooldown so you can fire it twice for every energy barrage (500% spirit dmg x 2) as well as causing weakness, doing more damage through weakness AND causing mana regen through the many passives.

Well perhaps. Best non-specialisation then.

 

Because if we include specs, Spirit Mark is superior to both. 

[Bhaal]

If you're playing without Friendly Fire, Chain Lightning is the best combo builder and does wonders with Stonefist. Pull of Abyss followed by fire mine(no upgrade), immolate, chain lighting, Stonefist; then start over 'till everything is dead.

 

Barrage is good but it's a single target spell and going for single target damage with a mage is a waste. Though it becomes the best spell if one is playing with Friendly Fire.