Potency and Devotion

[Crumbol]

I'm a level 14 FS and somewhat new player. Currently, I have a Sup Devotion V shield. I understand that potency and devotion don't stack. Do most FS and Clerics switch to potency items or do they switch out as needed? I've had trouble finding decent potency items.

One final question - does potency effect BB?

Between devotion, potency, spell pen - what other items do i need to be on the look out for as I approach 20? What is the priority?

[Twerpp]

Good potency items only really come on weapons until you hit level 18 and get into Amrath. For now you've got to swap or be content with devotion items that you can wear. And even they are hard to get.

[Twerpp]

And yeah you need potency for blade barriers. Also maximize and empower, good wisdom, extend is nice, quicken is great, and you will gain a few extra DC with heighten later on too.

[Matuse]

When you have potency, and level 14 is enough for a Superior Potency VI item, you do not need devotion anymore. You should trivially be able to find (and afford) a Sup Pot VI item either in the auction house, or on the broker in the Inspired Quarter.

Yes, Potency works on blade barrier.

Spell pen is moderately useful, although I do just fine without it. It doesn't help BB (direct damage spells like BB bypass spell resistance without any help), but it does help Destruction (it would help Implosion too, if you actually put your hands on a Spell Pen IX item). I find that Destruction works just fine without it. There are 2 kinds of enemies you would use it on...lower level enemies with little to no spell resistance, or higher level devils with monumental spell resistance. Either way, +1 or +2 extra spell pen is going to make almost no difference.

[Crumbol]

Thanks - this is a big help.

I've lucked out with devotion shields so far. I've mostly been healing up to now - and any damage has been melee. At 14 I'm starting to find I have mana to do more damage spells - mostly BB at this point. Sounds like it is time to hang up my longsword for good and look for a good potency weapon.

[bcgone]

I find that Destruction works just fine without it. There are 2 kinds of enemies you would use it on...lower level enemies with little to no spell resistance, or higher level devils with monumental spell resistance. Either way, +1 or +2 extra spell pen is going to make almost no difference.

Not sure if you're still tracking your initial thread. I find Spell Pen is expensive but very useful for both my cleric and Wizard. Your FvS is not going to have any extra feats, so you will have to consider these options. Every single creature in Gianthold and the Vale of twilight and all their correlated quests has spell resistance, almost without exception. Which would mean you could destruct the worker bees but not the more senior bad guys (not even talking orange or red names, just basic mobs). Spell Pen items are also very affordable on the AH, you can get a spell pen VII (+2) item fairly easily and a greater spell pen VI (+3) as well. If you choose to go the route of SP you should try to work in at least one feat and then one or two enhancements. Otherwise it will be as Matuse said, +1 or +2 will not get you very far. I think you will find having spell pen +27 much more effective than +23, but it will come at great cost.

[vVAnjilaVv]

Spell pen is actually very important in end game and will probably be even more important in future high end content. I would try to get it as high as possible without sacrificing to much of ur planned build. U should make room for it, if u plan on using non-damage DC spells, which FvS's can have a lot of.

[SquelchHU]

I don't know what server you're on, but on Argo you can easily get Superior Potency 6 weapons at market price (~13k plat) or lower on the Auction House, and level 14 is just high enough to use them. 13k plat should not be a problem for you, even as a new player.

As long as you aren't planning on meleeing, that scepter need never leave your hand until you either get it on another slot (Amrath bard necklaces, level 18) or you get something better for casting purposes.

You can also use a Spell Pen scepter in the offhand, which is also easy to get. You would lose the shield this way, but chances are AC is not helping you anymore so the only reason to keep it would be for blocking... and if you're just going to be standing there blocking, you could switch for that. Easier than switching between potency + shield and spell pen + shield every time you want to go from Blade Barrier to Destruction and back.