9 réponses à ce sujet

[SomeoneStoleMyName]

Going base damage vs crit%/critDMG is something I usually try to somewhat balance. But for some spells and abilities pure crit or pure attack% is better. 

For example:

Fire mine is a spell I'd consider being more powerful with high base damage, since the spell is already high damage but is not spammable - a higher damage comes out on top. As non-crits would render crit damage pointless if it doesent actually crit and the crit chance is completely wasted if it doesent land.

Energy barrage is a skill which puzzles me. Obviously it is already very powerful due to static cage and crafting procs, but what about the actual spell? It has 12xHits at 0.66 damage. However, staff base damage is very low (60-90 damage at endgame?). So how exactly would one maximize the damage?

Crit chance + Crit damage is obviously great as there are many hits.
But since each hit is so weak (low base damage further lowered to 0.6) I'm wondering if the damage from EB is actually better from a mage focusing pure attack% and base damage. Then again I though EB is THE spell which benefits most from a balance in base damage + crit% + CritDMG without focusing too much on one of them.

I dont have a save to test it myself. Anyone care to chip in with their opinion on how to balance base damage / crit% / critDMG when it comes to energy barrage?

 

[PapaCharlie9]

This is just an intellectual exercise, right? Because for 50 mana, a really long animation that blocks other active skill use, and no cooldown savings in the improvement, there are better uses for those two skill points.

 

EB + upgrade = (12 * 0.66) / 50 = 0.1584 damage factor/mana point; (12 * 0.66) / 16 = 0.495 damage factor/cooldown second

 

Immolate + upgrade = (4 + (8 * .75)) / 35 = 0.2857 damage factor/mana point; (4 + (8 * .75)) / 12 = 0.833 damage factor/cooldown second

 

Immolate's AoE arguably has an edge over EB's extended range, but even if you disagree, Immolate has another edge in that it's instantaneous and you can go and do something else, while EB is still doing its animation. Plus, the capper IMO, Immolate gives you a second element to your staff's base damage. Wield cold in the staff and Immolate as a skill and you've got 90% of resistances/vulnerabilities covered -- for practical play purposes.

 

That's only for basic damage, of course. If you've got procs that trigger per hit or you are trying to milk critical hits, as you mentioned in your post, EB might catch up a bit. For the crit/crit comparison, I'd want to know whether EB has an edge over plain auto attacks. It's not immediately clear to me that it would, with that long cooldown.

[Bigdawg13]

Energy barrage is one of my favorite mage abilities.  It's like leapoing shot with a guidance system on it.  To take advantage of this ability, make sure your staff and armor have an 'on-hit' ability.  Consider hidden blades and shield bash.  I believe you can stack hidden blades as long as they are from different tiers (5-hit and 4 hit for example).  

 

The other great thing about energy barrage is with the upgrade.  It reduces the targets resistance.  This is invaluable if the target is resistant to a hard-hitting elemental ability in your arsenal.  Consider fire-resist enemies and a fire mine.  Place the fire mine under the target and then hit them with energy barrage (assuming you have a fire staff).  The bolts should hit by the time fire mine goes off.  Please note that the reduction in elemental resistance only lasts 4.5 seconds so timing is paramount.

 

Really the key to getting the most out of energy barrage, leaping shot, or any multiple-hit ability is to use on-hit masterworks on armor and weapons.

[theflyingzamboni]

Energy Barrage is amazing when combined with on hit equipment. The damage is decent, but somewhat secondary to that. Throw in some offensive procs and you've got a good chance of triggering them a couple times in a very short period. Drop in some FT Silverite, and you can lead off any fight by generating 60 guard before anything is attacking you. If you're a KE, it becomes an even better defensive lead-off, since you get barrier and armor simultaneously. IIRC, with good attack/crit bonuses, one EB can get you at least close to half barrier.

[SomeoneStoleMyName]

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

"Obviously it is already very powerful due to static cage and crafting procs, but what about the actual spell?"

 

I know its good with on hit effects  

 

But I'm wondering how to build a mage stat-wise if you want energy barrage as your main damage nuke? /w flashpoint you have no CD. With resorative veil you have no mana problems? (10% mana regained for each hit?). But how about stat? Crit vs base damage in particular.

[Bigdawg13]

The questions you're asking have no relevance to any specific spell.  The answer is the same for any direct damage spell.  If you have less than 50% crit then stack attack% (through whatever means necessary, and that includes wisdom and/or magic).  If you have 50% or more crit, then go for crit damage.

 

As for damage, it's never going to hit as hard as firemine + chaotic focus.  There is a passive (conductive current) I think that gives +5% damage for every missing 10% mana (gives half of the bonus to non-electric spells), but I do not know if it counts energy barrage as an lightning spell if you use a fire or cold staff.

 

Seriously, the game is so damn bloody easy and you're asking for a detailed sensitivity study relative to a single spell.  We already told you how to take advantage of it's multiple hits (which you are obviously so aware).

 

So I repeat, stack attack% unless you have 50% crit or more.  Then stack critical damage% instead.  I can't think of a single build that isn't optimized by wearing superior prowler armor, stacking crit chance, dexterity, and critical damage.  If you go rift mage then you'll get your boost from weakened.

 

Really what you should be asking is how to augment your mage with other companions.  Make sure someone has war horn (either the spell or a proc on mastercraft).  Bring Varric with you everywhere (more crit and more damage for you).  Cassandra is a must have when fighting demons if you want to "max" your damage.

 

Asking how to max your damage in this game is like asking how to optimize a lamborghini so you can race it in a 12-year-old go-kart race.  By the time you have all the passives you desire to maximize energy barrage, you'll be bored stiff and will then ask us how to hire someone to bang their head on your keyboard so you can win the game with less effort.

 

 

*EDIT*

 

And in case you were too busy to go looking at the guides on these forums, wisdom and magic both give you 0.5% attack.  Wisdom is better because it gives you magic defense whereas magic only gives % bonus to barrier damage.  

[PapaCharlie9]

If you are relying on Flashpoint to reduce amortized CD, you have to prioritize crit chance. Apart from that, I agree with @Bigdawg3, Attack% (direct or Will/Magic) until 50% crit chance, then Dex for crit damage. And about hiring someone ...

[MadCat221]

Another mark in EB's favor: The rather wide arc the projectiles take off of the line of sight to the target makes them great at circumventing the tower shield that shield-bearing melee enemies have, unlike the direct fire of the standard auto-attack.

[Maker Be Damned]

Right now im using 2 mages pre skyhold nightmare both using barrier and barrage plus upgrade. Solas has a fire staff focuses on fire magic and Viv is lighting. These 2 with a tank seem to have most battles under control. The lighting holds mobs in place leaving them sitting ducks to fire magic. Energy barrage is important casted at long range it seeks the enemy down and temp reduces their resistance to your spells. I personally use it like magic arrow in other games, first attack spell for new mages. After skyhold and advanced classes it might not be worth it anymore.     

 

There is a very useful spell below it too, the more mana you are missing the more damage you do. Increased damage plus heat seekers that track down and lower the enemies resistance to magic seem like a really good use of 3 skill points IMO.

[SomeoneStoleMyName]

@DAIFAN: If you have 2 mages then I agree lightning + fire is the overall best combo. Vs magic immunes on nightmare it is far easier to kill rage demons than those flying annoying wraiths. 

Maker help me how I loathe wraiths -.-