Best Savant

**GeoBob** · 10-06-2011, 12:33 AM

So, ive been contemplating about true reincarnating my main character (Empazio 34 pt wiz) back to a WF sorcerer. But, before i can do that....i have to acquire all of the grear necessary. One of which: the Savant ring from ToD. But, i dont want to..lets say, take the earth savant ring thinking that is the best savant, and tr...later to find its not what i want. I was thinking water savant is the way to go end game, but i wasnt sure... anyone care to clarify?

**barryman5000** · 10-06-2011, 12:43 AM

I'm partial to earth savant. The synergy between web and acid spells makes for really fun cc and dps. Acid also does damage to most everything in the game (except for thrask hounds?) Acid rain > firewall for most things except undead.

The sla's are good enough.

It also allows a bunch of dots going off. I even took the eletric one even though it has negative levels its still good for bosses.

The earthgrab is good but perhaps someone can give better info that has a higher con score. I haven't tried it in epics.

**DevHead** · 10-06-2011, 12:43 AM

I was Earth Savant until lvl 18 when I LR'd into Air. It's....amazing. So much pain. I can't answer for Fire or Water.

**barryman5000** · 10-06-2011, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by dozkal-mo

I was Earth Savant until lvl 18 when I LR'd into Air. It's....amazing. So much pain. I can't answer for Fire or Water.

Air is much much better than earth? Why the switch at 18?

**GeoBob** · 10-06-2011, 12:53 AM

I've seen some Berry nicce earthsavants. But I've also noticed that air savants can be nice, they just don't seem the best anymore. They don't have stuff like ice storm, Fw, or acid raised. Its not like they don't have lightning storm

**Diyon** · 10-06-2011, 01:05 AM

Air savants are good at clearing a room full of stuff very fast. They don't have any decent persistent AoE, but have some very strong instant ones (ball lightning, chain lightning). Throw in strong aoe SLAs (electric loop and lightning bolt), and you blast through most anything. The wind dance is also a nice touch as is the knock down immunity.

**lord_of_rage** · 10-06-2011, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Diyon

Air savants are good at clearing a room full of stuff very fast. They don't have any decent persistent AoE, but have some very strong instant ones (ball lightning, chain lightning). Throw in strong aoe SLAs (electric loop and lightning bolt), and you blast through most anything. The wind dance is also a nice touch as is the knock down immunity.

Water is the best as you get all three dots and do not suffer negs to cast them.

**Inferno346** · 10-06-2011, 01:27 AM

Yay acronyms...

I would pick one of the two that boost one of the DoTs, which are a large percentage of your long-term dps vs. single targets. I haven't run the new raids on my savant so can't comment on elemental resistances there.

Water savants have the highest single-target DPS, but lack a decent AOE SLA. They get ice storm boosted, which is a nice AOE DoT. They get minuses to fire, which means they are sub-average against undead/Abbot.

Air savants have good AOE SLAs. They also get wind dance, which is very powerful, especially in solo play. They have no AOE DoT boosted that I can think of. Lailat is completely immune to all electricity... not a huge penalty though since you can just use niac's. Minuses to earth means FtS has very low spell pen (I actually don't use FtS anyway on my water savant... level 6 is just way too crowded).

My choice is water... sorcs are (situationally) the best DPS class... why not be the best of the best?

**DevHead** · 10-06-2011, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by barryman5000

Air is much much better than earth? Why the switch at 18?

Well...I really wanted to build my Earth Sav for Epic content, specifically shooting for a nice Flesh to Stone + Web + Acid Rain and whatnot...but....FtS was barely mid-30's at 18 and I don't have time to gear out. I doubt I even would've gotten FtS into the 40's. Also, Acid Rain is strong, but it only lasts for 9 seconds at lvl 18, which is terrible. I was excited for Black Dragon Bolt, but it only has time for three ticks then....recast; that's...not useful. Though my stoneskins were totally boss, in high level content I had trouble staying alive long enough for my acid to wear down the enemies. Air savant has more spells that do more damage in a faster period of time to more enemies. And the SLAs are more useful. I really wish Earth would've worked out for me, but it didn't.

**wax_on_wax_off** · 10-06-2011, 03:05 AM

I love my earth savant sorc but went on my hiatus before hitting 20.

Some points:
1. Specced in acid damage is amazing for devil content. The acid focus lets you overcome the moderate acid resistance that devils have, lightning DoT still does great damage despite neg levels (as devils have no resistance to it) and niacs still works well.

Acid Rain really did make the entire leveling process just too easy and web really is great CC.

2. Acid spec suits WF Sorcs better than other races as they have the least reliance on DCs (so are hurt less by WF cha penalty). In contrast, I wouldn't make a WF air savant as they are super dependent on DCs and are survivable enough with wind step thingo anyway.

3. Acid spec probably gets the best efficiency for SP:damage ratio from the sheer amount of DoTs which might work well in epics when attrition is important. Additionally, the have the best CC in Web, FtS and Earth Grab so get more in epics again (though here fleshy might be better suited as DCs are important).

4. Acid spec is pretty nice for fleshy as they get bonus HP so get brought up to the HP level of a non-earth WF sorc.

Ok, so maybe I'm a bit biased ...

**Absolute-Omniscience** · 10-06-2011, 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by lord_of_rage

Water is the best as you get all three dots and do not suffer negs to cast them.

This.
Along with the best nuking spell (polar ray).

**Tid12** · 10-06-2011, 04:04 AM

This thread now occurs as much as the thread "wiz or sorc, who is the the best?".

There isnt a BEST savant, its your personal preference.

Earth: good AoE spells, stonestin is awesome, you can cc with web and FtS, +10 hp are not bad also. I didnt try it so i cant give an appropriate response.

Air: Electric loop and lightning bolt are imho just awesome slas. If you have a nice evocation DC, the stun with loop is really cool. The double strike of Lightning bolt is just unique, chain + light ball can clear a room full of trash in few seconds. The immunity to knockdown is something that i never regret and wind dance..yeah, its just THAT cool.

Water: At the moment, water doesnt not suffer a caster penalty in any of the DoT and it has, for this reason, the best bosses DPS. It also has a nice AoE spell (Ice storm) and the best no-save single spell, polar ray. Too bad Niac's cold ray is conjuration and the other 2 slas are evocation, so you gotta pick some conj focus if you want it to be usefull.

I personally went with Air and i never looked back.

**Shade** · 10-06-2011, 04:11 AM

low lvls:
Fire. Fireball is crazy awesome, 1 shots everything, flawless aoe. flawless targetting.. What more could you want... Well wall of fire too for those real tough enemies that survive a FB.

alt: Acid: acid blast/rain are very potent at mid lvls as well, especially in quests with fire immune mobs.

endgame:
Ice all the way.

Polar ray is the ONLY spell that gets any significant boost from savant. The rest are such mediocre junk far as DPS goes.

Electrics specials (knockdown immnity, wind dance) are far superior to ices... But who cares. Sorcs are about nuking, not dancing.

I mean i guess if your all about solo achievements, air wins.. But group play, water savnt hands down, without question. It's not even funny, it's not balanced at all, and it should be.

They REALLY need to uncap the rest of high lvl spells, really stupid that there cap'd anyways.

Well black dragon bolt was a step in the right direction (CL25 cap), but really the caps should be at least 30 and the +MCL garbage should be taken out, its illogical and unnecessarily complex. That and black dragon bolt is a junk spell for any serious about nuking at the highest levels of play/skill.

Well they'd have to code it to keep the caps for mobs, but not for players.. Else epic bosses like lailat will 1 shot us all with 44d6 chain lightning heh.

**Tid12** · 10-06-2011, 04:35 AM

Chain lightning is uncapped actually. But even with that, yeah i agree, they should do something about the cap of the spells. And give us a Fire DoT and an elec AoE.

**fuzzy1guy** · 10-06-2011, 05:04 AM

Leveling... Fire or acid or electric

Endgame. Ice or electric or acid

Fire just doesnt cut it anymore since the triple nerf to firewall. It still has some nice things but it's just not on par with the other savants at all. Unless you're going to use it to just farm necro or something undead related. Fire kinda sucks after level 16ish.

Ice is king of dmg on the endgame bosses.

Electric and acid are slightly less powerful than ice. But they have some other nice features. Air leap/knockdown immunity. Ac/earthgrab.

Idk why the hell my air sav does not get the electric aoe they just added for arti either. Or the other new electric spells. It's extra silly.

**Asmodeus451** · 10-06-2011, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by lord_of_rage

Water is the best as you get all three dots and do not suffer negs to cast them.

this is true.

that said...a WF Earth Savant is SCARY survivable. all that HP, super-powered Stoneskin, boost to earthgrab DC (from higher CON), lack of DC based acid spells, high power FtS, and awesome Webs

for feats, i'd reccomend Toughness, Maximize, Empower, Spell Focus: Conjuration, Greater Spell focus: Conjuration, Heighten, and Quicken. your spell pen will be boosted by your PL:Wiz. come to think of it, the active PL feat would be better than GSF:Conjure

**wolflordnexus** · 10-06-2011, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by Shade

low lvls:
Fire. Fireball is crazy awesome, 1 shots everything, flawless aoe. flawless targetting.. What more could you want... Well wall of fire too for those real tough enemies that survive a FB.

alt: Acid: acid blast/rain are very potent at mid lvls as well, especially in quests with fire immune mobs.

endgame:
Ice all the way.

Polar ray is the ONLY spell that gets any significant boost from savant. The rest are such mediocre junk far as DPS goes.

Electrics specials (knockdown immnity, wind dance) are far superior to ices... But who cares. Sorcs are about nuking, not dancing.

I mean i guess if your all about solo achievements, air wins.. But group play, water savnt hands down, without question. It's not even funny, it's not balanced at all, and it should be.

They REALLY need to uncap the rest of high lvl spells, really stupid that there cap'd anyways.

Well black dragon bolt was a step in the right direction (CL25 cap), but really the caps should be at least 30 and the +MCL garbage should be taken out, its illogical and unnecessarily complex. That and black dragon bolt is a junk spell for any serious about nuking at the highest levels of play/skill.

Well they'd have to code it to keep the caps for mobs, but not for players.. Else epic bosses like lailat will 1 shot us all with 44d6 chain lightning heh.

I likes having both an air and water savant so much win with the curse synergy it isn't even funny when all your dots go purple you know it's full on win.

**Asmodeus451** · 10-06-2011, 05:39 AM

just for fun, threw a build together for you.

i assumed from something you said in OP that you had PL:Sorc and PL:Wiz

Code:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.11.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Warforged Male
(20 Sorcerer) 
Hit Points: 242
Spell Points: 1924 
BAB: 10\10\15\20
Fortitude: 12
Reflex: 6
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             10                    12
Dexterity             8                    10
Constitution         20                    22
Intelligence         10                    12
Wisdom                6                     8
Charisma             16                    23

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance              -1                     6
Bluff                 3                     6
Concentration         9                    29
Diplomacy             3                     6
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                3                     6
Heal                 -2                    -1
Hide                 -1                     0
Intimidate            3                     6
Jump                  0                     1
Listen               -2                    -1
Move Silently        -1                     0
Open Lock            n/a                    n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     1
Spot                 -2                    -1
Swim                  0                     1
Tumble               n/a                    1
Use Magic Device      5                    17

{\b {\ul Notable Equipment }} \par Minos Legens \par Torc of Prince Raiyum-de II \par  \par Level 1 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Sorcerer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 3 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Arcane Initiate


Level 4 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 5 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 6 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell


Level 7 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 8 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 9 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell


Level 10 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 11 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 12 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Conjuration


Level 13 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 14 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 15 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 16 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 17 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 18 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell


Level 19 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)


Level 20 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)

alternatively, you could take Heighten at 15 and Quicken at 18, or swap out Quicken entirely for GSF:Conjur (not something i'd recommend)

**richieelias27** · 10-06-2011, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by barryman5000

Air is much much better than earth? Why the switch at 18?

If you can get your saves up, it is pretty amazing. If not, you will be less effective as an Air savant as the majority of electric spells (all but two) are based on a reflex save.

The switch at 18 is probably because the tier 3 SLA "Lightning bolt" is arguably the best SLA of all the Savants. Also Wind Dance + Knockdown immunity.

**Dark-Star** · 10-06-2011, 01:22 PM

Tried them all extensively.

End game Ice with all three DoTs is alluring, but AP are too tight to specialize in all three, with enough room for other essentials.

Air is what I keep coming back to. Knock down immunity and 3 second wings are so incredibly good it almost feels like playing a different class than the other Savants. Uncapped Chain Lightning, a nice ball lightning for back to back AoE nukes, ice and electric DoTs, Polar Ray, and two pretty decent SLAs.

For end game, Air Savant with cold secondary focus, max hit points.

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