lightning-specced Art - worth it?

[GlassJaw]

Is taking the Storm enhancements on an Artificer worth it?

I'm still fairly new to the Artificer class (level 9) but I'm intrigued by the lighting spells (lightning sphere, blast rod, lightning motes).

They seem like they would be a good AOE option alongside the flame turret (since the FT has a long casting time without Quicken), at least until BB.

How do these spells scale with level and enhancements?

[jakeelala]

motes synergizes well with a Lit2 repeater, I always throw it in bosses first thing.

Would really like to see all elemental options for the turret, we should be able to summon an electric turret, or cold turret, or whatever, based on the situation.

But to answer your question, without SLA's and Pre's that pump up DPS, Arty's dont really have the DPS to use single target DPS or non-DoT spells consistently. BB and Flame Turret are great because they're DoT over an area.

Perhaps someone else has a different experience.

[Lurzifer]

Spec for Lightning and then take the Draconic Incarnation Destiny on Lightning as well. Lots of fun there ;)

[FooWonk]

If you plan to use Toven's Hammer, then max out lightning.

Don't max out lightning just for spells as artificer lightning spells cap damage at level 10.

Tactical detonation is the only uncapped spell. It is force and fire type.
Blade barrier is capped at level 15 (when artificers get the spell). It is force type.

So if you want to spec for casting, force enhancements will work best.

[Mrphish]

for pre-bb leveling purposes specing for lightning is a great option, you have so many different spells for it that it's hard not to go that route (especially if your also useing the runearm from the turning tide chain... cant remember the name of it... pop a lightning mote and hit that on a full charge and your one shotting groups, quite nice at level)

however once you get bb, switch over to force, it will boost bb, prismatic strike, and tatical detonation, along with lucid dreams when you get it. later on if you get tovens you can switch over to lightning, tovens+motes+lit 2 repeater is some very nice damage on bosses.

[Postumus]

for pre-bb leveling purposes specing for lightning is a great option, you have so many different spells for it that it's hard not to go that route (especially if your also useing the runearm from the turning tide chain... cant remember the name of it... pop a lightning mote and hit that on a full charge and your one shotting groups, quite nice at level)

however once you get bb, switch over to force, it will boost bb, prismatic strike, and tatical detonation, along with lucid dreams when you get it. later on if you get tovens you can switch over to lightning, tovens+motes+lit 2 repeater is some very nice damage on bosses.

This is my advice as well.

[Jaid314]

my preference is to partial specialise in both, if you have the rune arms for both that is.

toven's will simply be superior by a significant margin for trash. the simple fact that it can be used to hit a group makes it very strong, the higher bonus damage per hit, and the lightning strike proc (plus the potential upgrades) make it a very powerful choice for those purposes.

but for a raid boss situation, you want the greater single-target damage, and that is all the way into lucid dreams territory.

bearing in mind that a full specialise into one element is 7 + 6 + 6 = 19 points, while a partial dual spec (7 + 1 + 1 = 9 points, times 2) is 18 points, and offers far more versatility and gives you a powerful option in both scenarios, that's my preference, personally.