Are the Spell Focus: Evocation feats necessary or worth it?

[Adelair]

I've been taking them as a caster but then I'm not sure if I could pick something better.

[Enoach]

This depends on a few factors...

School you commonly cast from, if you are taking Evocation Focus but primarily cast Necromancy Spells, it does not have as much value.

If you use Evocation Spells and even with the Feats you are getting tons of saves you may need to re-evaluate your spell choices and gear to make sure you are getting the best DC possible for your level.

[LawfulEvil]

Those feats are absolutely essential to make sure your Earthquakes are top notch in endgame EE content. Do not pass them up.

[Munkenmo]

Those feats are absolutely essential to make sure your Earthquakes are top notch in endgame EE content. Do not pass them up.

This. In epic elite you really want all 3 spell focus evocations and the wizard pastlife if you have it.

If you're only planning on running Epic hard or less, You'll probably be able to get away with 1 feat only.

Infact, you probably should take atleast spell focus evocation, purely because it's a pre req to unlock 5more DC's from the magister and draconic epic destinies

[unbongwah]

It largely depends on your gear and the rest of your build. On a first-life caster, I would recommend taking the full SF:Evo line (and perhaps Great WIS x2), because odds are your DCs can use all the help they can get; staying pure for the Season's Herald capstone also makes sense. Once you've leveled your EDs enough to unlock DI & Magister and geared up enough, you may be able to swap out GSF & ESF:Evo for other feats - again, though, it depends on what content you plan to run. As others have said, DC-based casting in EEs is a totally different ballgame from EN/EH content.

I think on my human pure druid, I did Max (1), Emp (1), Quik (3), Heighten (6), Enlarge (9), SF:Evo (12), Emp Heal (15), GSF:Evo (18), ESF Evo (21), WIS x2 (24&27). [Or rather I will; currently lvl 23.] Enlarge is great for your SLAs; I love tagging enemies from well outta aggro range. I backloaded Emp Heal b/c I really only wanted it for Regen & Heal. I've still got my LR +0 heart; so if & when I think my DCs no longer need the help, I'll swap around the last few feats.

[Rush007]

With a standing 50 DC I've run (pugged so no this isn't a static group thing) every EE with one evocation feat and max wis. Only thing that doesn't fall down are rogue type mobs and that is to be expected as reflexes are their thing. Success rate on them is not zero, they do still fall. Earthquake is a bit different in that it gets multiple hits, and procs the debuffs you need to make the mobs fall. The level 3 magister twist to proc -10 to reflex is key. Earthquake also seems to proc Autumnal Susurrus in the seasons herald tree for shaken which is another -2 saves. Stack your AOE's for more chances for these, drop icestorm for slow, water elemental -4 and evocation proc, storm of vengeance for susurrus shaken and earthquake for another chance of both on the same spot.

So standing 50 + 10 evocation debuff situational + 2 shaken situational+ 4 water elemental debuff guarenteed = 54 to 66 which is terrible according to the forums, yet in practice workable.

Do you absolutely need to knock down everything? Assassins are a pain but that what group memebers are for, stunning fist, nerve venom. One could try solid fog on the AOE's for another 5 or negative levels or weapon debuffs from say stumbling. There are a lot of ways to coordinate with the group to get those things under control. Your running EE so this isn't going to be a zerg for exp so coordination might not be frowned upon. Your likely doing EE for loot, favor and challenge.

Past the first feat, I would call the additional evocation feats a choice and weigh them against other feats but not required if you have the gear and twists.

[voodoogroves]

Popping in - I'm about to do a set of druid lives (I think) and curious as to the value of various feats. Even with past lives (including 3 sorc), I want to make sure I nail the evocations. I may do some epic as a druid, so I'll be taking the feats for sure - but I may push them off to later in heroic (15 and 18 maybe?)

Not done druid, just thinking I will *WANT* the SF feats, but the past lives will let me push them out.

I was thinking at the core
- PL Wizard
- SF Evoc
- GSF Evoc
- Quicken
- Maximize
- Heighten

Human gets two more, and there are several options - enlarge, empower, empower heal ... debating of these which to take - but I'm definitely doing the SF.

[Munkenmo]

heighten would be the first feat i'd drop tbh.

for the purposes of pastlives, i'd pick up power attack and cleaves to help with the first few levels. Cleaving wolf form is a very efficient way of leveling until you get to your elemental forms and have enough caster levels for your spells to really pack some punch.

That said though, druids aren't really sp bar killers, their CC and healing potential is top notch, but I find the best way is to back up my CC abilities with some melee.

[voodoogroves]

heighten would be the first feat i'd drop tbh.

for the purposes of pastlives, i'd pick up power attack and cleaves to help with the first few levels. Cleaving wolf form is a very efficient way of leveling until you get to your elemental forms and have enough caster levels for your spells to really pack some punch.

That said though, druids aren't really sp bar killers, their CC and healing potential is top notch, but I find the best way is to back up my CC abilities with some melee.

Yeah, I've got a "general cleaving guy" and a "perennial caster". Cleaving-guy will look a lot like pastlifenmo, but caster will be more castery.

[Munkenmo]

Yeah, I've got a "general cleaving guy" and a "perennial caster". Cleaving-guy will look a lot like pastlifenmo, but caster will be more castery.

In that case, I really would recommend a 17/2/1 (druid/monk/wiz[or fighter]) build. It's by far my favourite casting druid template.

in early levels sleetstorm + fom is your friend. once you get fireform though being a mobile firewall is so much fun.