Current Savant choice....advice needed.

[Helios]

Hello,

I have been out of the game for quite some time and am trying to wrap my brain around Savant's.

My question is what is the current Savant choice? I am using Fire during his TR level-up process and am leaning towards an Air/Cold build at 18 but am uncertain.


Thanks.

[sharachan]

Sounds about correct...

[Miow]

If you go air make sure you focus on evocation abilities because you will need to have it high enough to be effective.

[Helios]

If you go air make sure you focus on evocation abilities because your will need to have it high enough to be effective.

Lightning spells are that weak I take it.

[Jsbeer]

Lightning spells are that weak I take it.

It is more that lightning spells tend to have more saves for half which means they can be pretty worthless unless you have the DC to land them on evasion or improved evasion enemies. The lack of a lightning continuous AOE (similar to ice-storm, acid rain or firewall) also makes this issue even more important.

Air is a very good choice, but so is cold and acid. Detailed discussion can be found here:


http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=359386

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=345526

[Helios]

It is more that lightning spells tend to have more saves for half which means they can be pretty worthless unless you have the DC to land them on evasion or improved evasion enemies. The lack of a lightning continuous AOE (similar to ice-storm, acid rain or firewall) also makes this issue even more important.

I guess that's why I do not see many Air Savants. Hmmm.... perhaps Cold/Earth instead. Thanks for the links

[sharachan]

I am on a first life with little gear, and earth seems to be the correct choise for me. As soon as i get my gear together its going to be Cold/Air all the way.

[Miow]

I do run an air/cold savant and i love him, the new epic destinies make air savants really really fun.

[Helios]

I think I will swap around to the Air/Cold line at 18.....seems like a decent combo to test out. The one thing I like about the whole Savant implementation is you can just redo enhancments and swap a few spells and poof, new Savant.

[janave]

If you want to go generalist Sorc.
Earth + Force is a solid choice.
Air + Force is great too if you like some more energetic playstyle.

Air + Cold // Cold + Air is still a powerful combo.

One of the great things about Savants is the ease to switch between them. With that said, id first figure out what im running mainly. Esp considering raids and longer/more difficult epics.

There really isnt a best or a template option. It is too dependent on the content you are running. To save AP, a nice convention is to skip the cits on your minor elements, and focus on the damage lines only.

[Helios]

If you want to go generalist Sorc.
Earth + Force is a solid choice.
Air + Force is great too if you like some more energetic playstyle.

Air + Cold // Cold + Air is still a powerful combo.

One of the great things about Savants is the ease to switch between them. With that said, id first figure out what im running mainly. Esp considering raids and longer/more difficult epics.

There really isnt a best or a template option. It is too dependent on the content you are running. To save AP, a nice convention is to skip the cits on your minor elements, and focus on the damage lines only.

That's good advice, something I did not think of. So don't go with crit damage/chance on the secondary and put them into damage amp on the secondary instead?

[Spoonwelder]

The DC issue on evocation spells isn't really noticable until higher level content (amrath or forgotten realms or other L16+content on elite). Then you will notice your spells getting evaded regularily.

That is when spells like acid rain become friendly again since the reflex save is only on entry to the spell AOE but if the mobs stay in the AOE it will start ticking - same with fire wall. Thus Acid/Fire isn't horrible anymore in the FR stuff (but is in Amrath). I still think Water/Acid is a better combo - I like Frost Lance (fort save not reflex so ignores evasion) BDB, melfs.....with this combo you still get all the DoTs too (Eldars, Niac, BDB).

But everyone has their preferences.

[Helios]

Thanks everyone for the info and opinions thus far.

[Memnir]

I love my Earth/Cold savant.
The EarthGrab SLA is just fun. And, surprisingly useful in the new content.

[Coffee]

Water if you like to sit back and snipe. Ice does good damage but when you factor in the cool-downs - DPS is lower than air.

Air if you prefer to dump mana and devestate. Air has the most damage producing spells that you can fire off quickened and one after the other in dynamic and tense situations. To overcome the evasion problem, a fog clickie and/or spell and evocation focus makes air the clear choice if you want max DPS.

Ask Shade about Axer vs. Icedtea (Air savant) damage.