Are Arcane Bolt and Blast a trap?

[karl_k0ch]

I've recently dusted off an 18/2 Wizard to respec him to Evocation/Conjuration AM. Are Arcane Bolt and Arcane Blast as useless as I think?
Bad damage, no metas, APs and permanent SPs consumed for a damage spell which allows a save and pales to Magic Missiles?

[spectroum]

Yes exactly what u said...u might think they'r good in theory but in action they just make u wonder why u spent AP on them

Needless to say my sorc's wiz life was one of the worst i ever played (same idea WF 18wiz/2rog AM evoker..) :P

[karl_k0ch]

Needless to say my sorc's wiz life was one of the worst i ever played (same idea WF 18wiz/2rog AM evoker..) :P

My hopes are high that Shiradi will add a bit more fun, once I get there.

[spectroum]

That might be fun

[tekkentroop]

I also think 18/2 is a very good option for a WF shiradi evocation archmage, since spellpen and DC from capstone arent as important as on a PM or a necro archmage. The problem is getting there, I just unlocked shiradi on my PM, getting there was a pain but once I get lvl 2 shiradi Ill start normal quests again.

Arcane bolt/blast are probably useless, I rarely used necrotic bolt/blast during leveling on my last pm life since the damage just doesnt cut during elite streaks, and arcane bolt/blast can even be evaded...

[MnaSidhe]

I still like blast for the journey to the higher levels with the good spells... a cheap spell with the range of a ray, that I can use when I am down to echoes of power... then dump it like a hot potato when approaching cap.

[Inouk]

I also think 18/2 is a very good option for a WF shiradi evocation archmage, since spellpen and DC from capstone arent as important as on a PM or a necro archmage. The problem is getting there, I just unlocked shiradi on my PM, getting there was a pain but once I get lvl 2 shiradi Ill start normal quests again.

Arcane bolt/blast are probably useless, I rarely used necrotic bolt/blast during leveling on my last pm life since the damage just doesnt cut during elite streaks, and arcane bolt/blast can even be evaded...

Bad comparison. I still use necrotic bolt/blast all the time on my 25 PM in EH content. They are free and hit for up to 400 on crit, so they are a very nice SP saver, especially for finishing off a mob that is already low on HP or just doesn't pose a serious threat (like archers). For elite BB streak these SLAs worked just fine for me. Combined with death aura they will whittle down a group of mobs while regenerating SP at virtually no risk (with the right group of mobs).

On my AM however I dumped force/evoc line because I found the damage output to be just awful.

[Daemoneyes]

Bad comparison. I still use necrotic bolt/blast all the time on my 25 PM in EH content. They are free and hit for up to 400 on crit, so they are a very nice SP saver, especially for finishing off a mob that is already low on HP or just doesn't pose a serious threat (like archers). For elite BB streak these SLAs worked just fine for me. Combined with death aura they will whittle down a group of mobs while regenerating SP at virtually no risk (with the right group of mobs).

On my AM however I dumped force/evoc line because I found the damage output to be just awful.

this,
but SLA without shirady are beyond useless on eElite.
i just hope all those weak stuff gets buffed with enhancement rework (if it ever comes..)

[t0r012]

Bolt and blast are awesome when you first get them.
After a few levels they start to lose their luster. Not being able to apply meats really kills them.
I just expect everything to save and if the target has evasion , don't bother.

Still my 16/2 force Evo still spams them like they are going out of style. Makes a decent filler while waiting for MM and CM SLAs to come off of cool down.

I'm also impatient waiting for ice storm to do its job so I'll spam the force in to the mix.

Also have to say blast and bolt were great to toss in maybar.

[Cauthey]

I always thought that Necrotic Bolt and Blast were very good considering they are literally free. Are they no longer worthwhile, even with sufficient negative energy spell power and lore?

[Enoach]

I look at the Arcane Bolt/Blast and Necrotic Touch/Bolt/Blast SLAs not as primary damage nukes but as Starters/Finishers.

Reasons:

• Cheap - A couple spell points/HP for damage
• Not Meta capable

The Arcane SLAs are not stopped by spells that prevent Magic Missiles or Force Missiles, they do have a Reflex save which does give Evasion and Improved Evasion targets an advantage. However, their Dice levels are not restricted by level - Arcane Augmentation of Level 2 for bolt and Level 4 for Blast could allow for more damage dice.

While you do not gain the benefits of Heighten for either SLA their DCs can still be effected by Feats and Equipment focused towards Evocation and Force.

Necrotic SLAs on the other hand don't have a save, but are not useful against Undead or anything with Deathward. However, outside of PrE tiers and equipment there is not a way to increase their damage pre ED.

Now, when you throw in Sharidi Champion and begin to use its ranged features you will start to see some very interesting extra damage from these very cheap SLAs. Enough extra damage that it is comparable with some of the heavier nukes in your arsenal with a much cheaper cost. Again, these are subject to saves and unless you are specked for Evocation you may find using Arcane Bolt/Blast limited to non-Evasion mobs pretty much that same way you would/should choose which nukes to use.

While these spells won't be the powerhouse 1K damage spells, their ability to save SP as a finisher, or to be used for pulling mobs can be of great benefit.

[cdr]

I always thought that Necrotic Bolt and Blast were very good considering they are literally free. Are they no longer worthwhile, even with sufficient negative energy spell power and lore?

Necro bolt and blast are great all the way up to EEs; less useful in EEs maybe.

I did an AM TR life a year ago and took Arcane Bolt; I found it useful enough to justify the cost.

[HastyPudding]

I remember my AM life, I used them. I eventually got rid of arcane blast, but bolt I used until I TR'd. With force enhancements (I was ice/force specced), arcane bolt does quite nicely, and I remember I was hitting for around 150-200ish damage (it's nice when you use your holds, too). It's like an auto-attack for wizards that spend more SP on crowd control and less on offense (which is why I was ice/force specced, with polar rays and force missiles hitting held mobs). I really didn't see many reflex saves against it on EH.

[Kinerd]

Bolt isn't a terrible investment, it is only 1 AP and 50 SP, costs 2 SP to use, 3 second cooldown. Small benefit for small cost.

Blast is more problematic: still 1 AP but 100 SP, costs 6 SP to use, 8 second cooldown. To me that's a tough sell especially when you by definition already have Arcane Bolt.

[Nitesco]

Bolt isn't a terrible investment, it is only 1 AP and 50 SP, costs 2 SP to use, 3 second cooldown. Small benefit for small cost.

Blast is more problematic: still 1 AP but 100 SP, costs 6 SP to use, 8 second cooldown. To me that's a tough sell especially when you by definition already have Arcane Bolt.

Even with Bolt you then have to consider ramping up your Force lines and/or slotting an Impulse item.

[HastyPudding]

Even with Bolt you then have to consider ramping up your Force lines and/or slotting an Impulse item.

There are quite a few ways to bump up impulse, in fact the 'best' staff in the game for an archmage is probably the Twilight staff from CiTW, which gives both +3 enchantment DC's and +120 impulse as well as some other goodies. You can also note that impulse not only affects force spells (like magic missile and force missiles) but also affects spells like disintegration (untyped damage), ice storm (the bludgeoning part), and blade barrier (for clerics, artificers, and FVS). An archmage with high force/impulse will be dealing a surprising amount of damage with arcane bolt, as well as improving other spells, even their magic missile clicky you get from having an active wizard past life feat (which any dedicated spellcaster should have).

[karl_k0ch]

I appreciate your feedback, guys.

Even with Bolt you then have to consider ramping up your Force lines and/or slotting an Impulse item.

This is a non-issue for me, as I'm currently playing my caster as force/ice Conjuration/Evocation Archmage. Still, there's only little reason for me to take any of those.