Killing Earth Elementals

[Bonulino]

What is the best way for melee fighters to kill Earth Elementals?

[KingOfCheese]

Make sure you are maxing your damage output (power attack on, etc.) to maximize the amount of "1st number" damage you are doing. Earth Ellies have a damage reduction (DR) that cannot be bypassed. So hitting hard is the best offense. In addition, if you can use a weapon that does extra damage as a "second number"--all the better. For example, elemental bane weapons, acid weapons, etc.

Or the best method is to call your friendly neighborhood caster over to burn it down or insta-kill it.

[Spoprockel]

Shocking (burst) of (greater) elemental bane.

I don't think the damage type (blunt, slashing, piercing) matters

[Cam_Neely]

also have FoM via some source. a held melee is a dead melee

[Bonulino]

also have FoM via some source. a held melee is a dead melee

Don't I know it!!!

[Sarisa]

If you're high enough level, have Freedom of Movement cast on you (10 bard levels, 7 cleric levels, 8 FvS levels, 14 ranger levels can cast it). FoM prevents Earthgrab.

Be sure to have the most fortification possible for your level. Earthgrab allows for autocrits, so being grabbed will be extremely painful without fort.

They're also rather slow moving, so you can often see their attacks and attempt to dodge out of the way. Once they do an earthgrab, they are immobile for a period of time which allows you or another member of your group to beat them down without much threat.

If you're solo, the most base damage possible that allows you to hit. Power Attack if you can hit enough. If possible, use weapons with Elemental Bane, or a prefix like the aforementioned Shocking burst. They're true neutral so all alignment prefixes (Holy, Unholy, Anarchic, Axiomatic) do not work, but alignment suffixes (Pure Good, True Chaos, True Law) do.

If you're in a group, usually you'll want the arcane or divine casters to disable them in some way before attacking. Earth elementals have low will saves, so spells like Command, Greater Command, Otto's Resistible Dance, Dismissal, and Banishment all work well. They can be hard to trip, but that can work as well. Once you're high enough to use Paralyzing weapons, that's also quite effective.

[Razcar]

Do like this:

If you are low level, get the goggles from STK who gives you a +4 Reflex save (they bind to account). You don't need them but they can help on a fighter. (If you can get Freedom of Movement, much better. Think there's a cleric hireling that has it.) So equip them, run up to one, smack it a couple of times.

Then before it can attack you back, run backwards just out of its reach. It will try to earth grab you, hopefully you make your save (aided by the +4 from the goggles), While it is doing its lenghty earth grab animation you step forward and attack it. When it raises up again to try to hit you, you backpedal again. Repeat until it's dead.

Be careful if there are other mobs around though - you want to avoid to get earth grabbed when others are hitting you.

[Cardtrick]

They're true neutral so all alignment prefixes (Holy, Unholy, Anarchic, Axiomatic) do not work, but alignment suffixes (Pure Good, True Chaos, True Law) do.

Just nitpicking, since I agree with everything you said, but True Chaos and True Law are prefixes, not suffixes.

Earth elementals have low will saves, so spells like Command, Greater Command, Otto's Resistible Dance, Dismissal, and Banishment all work well.

This is key. Their will saves are very low. If you're playing solo, one good option is to bring along a bard hireling and set it to active mode -- some of them will either fascinate or cast Otto's.

[Kinerd]

Their fortitude saves are also surprisingly low, so if you have a good Banishing weapon that will serve you well also.

[moomooprincess]

There are cakes, cookies, or jellies that offer this. I believe they are from the Festivult. Look under potions in Auction house.

Get lucky, have a HIGH UMD for FoM scrolls. Not recommended.

There are boots from the Vault of Night, a Pay to play adventure pack, Kundarak Delving Boots. Ultra rare drop.

A hireling that has freedom of movement spell. (clerics or bards)

[TPICKRELL]

Paras tend to work well on earthies. Won't kill them as quick, but if you are taking damage they help a lot with managing the inbound damage.

[PopeJual]

What is the best way for melee fighters to kill Earth Elementals?

Hit them with melee weapons until they die.

[stille_nacht]

also, dont think anyone has said this, but a lower levels, using a good two hander will probably be better, even if you are a TWF fighter. this is because if you use two weapons, the dr 10/- affects two times (well, technically about 1.6-1.8 times, but whatever). when you get access to greensteel/ higher end weapons and strength, i think twf is better again.

[MrWizard]

A high trip DC is great for knocking them down, thus no grab.

banishers work on many lower level ones, work quite well. If you can get banishing rapiers and have improved crit pierce, any roll of 15-20 will force a save roll.

other than that, just keep hitting them. Fight them in lava (if you do not take much damage) or traps (if you do not take damage).