Warlock, Arcane Sphere and Twists for 3 EPLs

[Feralthyrtiaq]

I'm 'bout to ETR my 20 Sun-Elf Warlock again and start on 3 EPLs in Arcane Sphere.

I'm LG atm but going to do an Alignment Change to TN first.

I have not done a Fiend Pact build and am considering trying it out with T5s in Souleater and TS Capstone.

I am considering a couple scenarios

-Draconic with a focus in Fire but wondering if Draconic Spell Augmentation Fire (15% for fire spells to do an additional 9d6 light damage) procs of Fire Pact damage and if the light damage scales with SP.

I only have 3 Twist Slots right now.

Empyrean Magic wouldn't work real well w/o ES I've done Consecrate + Sacred Ground + Cocoon as twists before and liked it.

-Magister (Nullmagic effects are awesome!) with Evocation Augmention fueling Binding Chain and...

Energy Burst Fire
Soundburst from EA
Cocoon

I've also considered Stormrage, Summer Smoke and Stay Frosty as twists but with only 3 Twist Slots (6/12 EPLs done) no Shining Through, Aura Temp Hp or cocoon I would be relying on Steal Life Force, Stanch, Scrolls and Pots for Healing. Maybe try this on another toon in EA or DC.

I don't know...hmmm

Prolly gonna try both.

Any thoughts?

[jalont]

I'm 'bout to ETR my 20 Sun-Elf Warlock again and start on 3 EPLs in Arcane Sphere.

I'm LG atm but going to do an Alignment Change to TN first.

I have not done a Fiend Pact build and am considering trying it out with T5s in Souleater and TS Capstone.

I am considering a couple scenarios

-Draconic with a focus in Fire but wondering if Draconic Spell Augmentation Fire (15% for fire spells to do an additional 9d6 light damage) procs of Fire Pact damage and if the light damage scales with SP.

I only have 3 Twist Slots right now.

Empyrean Magic wouldn't work real well w/o ES I've done Consecrate + Sacred Ground + Cocoon as twists before and liked it.

-Magister (Nullmagic effects are awesome!) with Evocation Augmention fueling Binding Chain and...

Energy Burst Fire
Soundburst from EA
Cocoon

I've also considered Stormrage, Summer Smoke and Stay Frosty as twists but with only 3 Twist Slots (6/12 EPLs done) no Shining Through, Aura Temp Hp or cocoon I would be relying on Steal Life Force, Stanch, Scrolls and Pots for Healing. Maybe try this on another toon in EA or DC.

I don't know...hmmm

Prolly gonna try both.

Any thoughts?

My first thought is that you're over thinking this.

Slarden's build (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...ld-Blast-Build) works in every destiny. I've solod every EE in the game on it in just about every destiny, including DI. I'd personally switch it around a bit for DI. You don't have a second heal, so take shining through. Twist in Cocoon, Empyrean Magic and the fire spell power from Divine Crusader or the light spell power from EA. I know you're excited to take different enhancement setups, and I was too at some point, but trust me, I always ended up going back to this build no matter what I tried.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

I've followed slarden's build progression over time and played several iterations of it minus shield. (I have an EE Skyvault in my bank but I am loath to give up Orb/Libram)

I know they work well. I can't say I have solo'd everything on EE but most Saga quests on EE have been challenging but doable.

After 3 Full Warlock lives and 5 EPLs in ES builds I know there has got to be another way to enjoy the warlock.

I did an ETR at lunch.

Turbine did not want my money for an Alignment change (Store wouldn't open) so stuck with Fey Pact, Took T5s in SE (37 points) and Capstone in TS (43 pts) and nothing in ES.

Gonna go Magister (Evocation) with Energy Burst (w/e depending on what I am doing), Soundburst, Cocoon.

Feats at 20. Max, Emp, Enlarge, Quicken, Completionist, FoP, SF Evoc.

Between Cocoon, Steal Life Force, scrolls and fancy foot work I should be fine.

[Morroiel]

After 3 Full Warlock lives and 5 EPLs in ES builds I know there has got to be another way to enjoy the warlock.

While the ES/TS is powerful, there is also the option of going SE/ES (an often overlooked combo due to people over emphasizing the impact of crit multiplier). This option uses Eldritch wave in place of spirit blast but otherwise plays very similarly to the build slarden uses. It tends to be a little weaker defensively but does better against bosses (particularly in long fights). I've tried SE T5 / TS capstone and while I wanted it to work - it just doesn't. You lose out on defenses too much for the offensive benefits - though this build could work in a formidable party | you will die a LOT more often though.

A lot of people forget that forgoing SE in favor of TS means that while you get crit multiplier you lose out on crit chance. Crit multiplier is more powerful but not by a significant amount. My testing indicates SE is better than TS for strictly dps purposes (the longer the fight the more in favor of SE it becomes).

[DrWily]

I've done extensive testing with Spell Augment, it only procs when using the Eldritch Aura. Just like everything else Eldritch Aura procs that normal blasts don't normally proc.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

I've done extensive testing with Spell Augment, it only procs when using the Eldritch Aura. Just like everything else Eldritch Aura procs that normal blasts don't normally proc.

Awesome to know mate. TY!

[Feralthyrtiaq]

While the ES/TS is powerful, there is also the option of going SE/ES (an often overlooked combo due to people over emphasizing the impact of crit multiplier). This option uses Eldritch wave in place of spirit blast but otherwise plays very similarly to the build slarden uses. It tends to be a little weaker defensively but does better against bosses (particularly in long fights). I've tried SE T5 / TS capstone and while I wanted it to work - it just doesn't. You lose out on defenses too much for the offensive benefits - though this build could work in a formidable party | you will die a LOT more often though.

A lot of people forget that forgoing SE in favor of TS means that while you get crit multiplier you lose out on crit chance. Crit multiplier is more powerful but not by a significant amount. My testing indicates SE is better than TS for strictly dps purposes (the longer the fight the more in favor of SE it becomes).

This is the feeling I got too. Clearing trash mobs hasn't been an issue but red names take a bit to deal with and what I've personally tried in SE helped with that.

My first Lock was mainly TS, T5s (Eldritch Ball works amazingly well for me both up close and Enlarged at a distance) and Capstone with the rest in SE.

After realizing the survivability ES brings I was all on board for several lives.

Although not optimal I am gonna roll for a bit with what I've laid out so far and see how it plays. I can always change it up in a matter of minutes.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

Absolutely works with Eldritch Blast to reduce reflex saves by 10!

[Morroiel]

Just an fyi (binding chain is a strength check so evoc augmentation won't help it as you envision). However, evoc augmentation would help your web / energy burst / pact damage (if fey) / etc.

Also, I have a suspicion that the aura procs all spell augmentations (I know for a fact it procs both evoc augmentation and conj augmentation).

[Feralthyrtiaq]

...running (Fey pact still) with a T5 SE + TS Capstone (with a few points in Sun Elf to offset ASF from my Epic Calvary Plate) in Magister with Null Magic Strikes and Evocation Augmention twisting Energy Burst, Soundburst, Cocoon was extremely fun and challenging but excellent DPS.

It locked out most if not all mob casting through null magic strikes, procced Confusion non-stop and debuffed Spell Pen and Reflex saves making Soundburst and Energyburst really shine. The Vulnerability Stacks and debuffing from Consume and Stricken was awesome and I really enjoyed the build. I really had to keep on my toes and step up my game relying on Cocoon and Steal Life Force with an occasional Heal Scroll or pot to keep myself up. Swapping between the Chain Blast and the Level draining single target.

So, this morning before work (I get up early starting the day doing EXACTLY what I want before spending 9-10 hours doing what the world wants...) I reset my enhancements to ES w/ T5s and Capstone, T4s in TS for Confusion procs and DW spell with a small dip into SE for Consume, Stricken and Hungry for Destruction plus the Fort save and Spell Pen debuffs. Reset Magister to dump the "Epic Mehment" Arcane Storm or w/e and picked up another point of Cha in its place. Swapped Energy Burst for Empyrean.

I jumped into a party doing EE GH and was just disappointed. The survivability was great (ofc) but it felt slow and low (DPS for trash and rednames) like I was just derping along bursting and waiting and bursting and waiting. Where as the other build was fast paced, non-stop, no waiting great damage and very engaging.

I suppose if I wanted to run without deathward, always relying on someone else casting/clicky/hireling/pot or whatever and dropped the 10% Confusion effect (this power is amazing though) I could increase single target DPS through buffing up Consume and Stricken. But...meh...it would probably rock with Draconic though (hmmmmm)

I am going to reset my enhancement setup tonite after work with T4s in SE for Vulnerability/T4s in TS for Confusions with DW core/T5s and 5th Core in ES skipping any capstone and give that a whirl. I think it will be a nice balance worth giving up capstones for and stay in Magister for a bit.

After I get the rest of my EPLs done I will FOR SURE go back to the SE/TS setup and run in EA with Empyrean and other twists (whatever strikes my fancy) for a bit to GRIND OUT LOOTGEN TO VENDOR FROM DDO'S RAIDS (I NEVER get tired of selling lootgen to vendors for plat....ffs)

[Holyavatar]

...running (Fey pact still) with a T5 SE + TS Capstone (with a few points in Sun Elf to offset ASF from my Epic Calvary Plate) in Magister with Null Magic Strikes and Evocation Augmention twisting Energy Burst, Soundburst, Cocoon was extremely fun and challenging but excellent DPS.

It locked out most if not all mob casting through null magic strikes, procced Confusion non-stop and debuffed Spell Pen and Reflex saves making Soundburst and Energyburst really shine. The Vulnerability Stacks and debuffing from Consume and Stricken was awesome and I really enjoyed the build. I really had to keep on my toes and step up my game relying on Cocoon and Steal Life Force with an occasional Heal Scroll or pot to keep myself up. Swapping between the Chain Blast and the Level draining single target.

So, this morning before work (I get up early starting the day doing EXACTLY what I want before spending 9-10 hours doing what the world wants...) I reset my enhancements to ES w/ T5s and Capstone, T4s in TS for Confusion procs and DW spell with a small dip into SE for Consume, Stricken and Hungry for Destruction plus the Fort save and Spell Pen debuffs. Reset Magister to dump the "Epic Mehment" Arcane Storm or w/e and picked up another point of Cha in its place. Swapped Energy Burst for Empyrean.

I jumped into a party doing EE GH and was just disappointed. The survivability was great (ofc) but it felt slow and low (DPS for trash and rednames) like I was just derping along bursting and waiting and bursting and waiting. Where as the other build was fast paced, non-stop, no waiting great damage and very engaging.

I suppose if I wanted to run without deathward, always relying on someone else casting/clicky/hireling/pot or whatever and dropped the 10% Confusion effect (this power is amazing though) I could increase single target DPS through buffing up Consume and Stricken. But...meh...it would probably rock with Draconic though (hmmmmm)

I am going to reset my enhancement setup tonite after work with T4s in SE for Vulnerability/T4s in TS for Confusions with DW core/T5s and 5th Core in ES skipping any capstone and give that a whirl. I think it will be a nice balance worth giving up capstones for and stay in Magister for a bit.

After I get the rest of my EPLs done I will FOR SURE go back to the SE/TS setup and run in EA with Empyrean and other twists (whatever strikes my fancy) for a bit to GRIND OUT LOOTGEN TO VENDOR FROM DDO'S RAIDS (I NEVER get tired of selling lootgen to vendors for plat....ffs)

Just saying..u kinda dont play ES/TS combo right imo..magister is a off ED for no DC focus warlock..its has basically no damage/defence increase for warlock,EA DI Shiradi are much more better..u mentioned null magic multiple times..but its not great as u thought..for endgame contents,only thing dat would kill u is high physcial damage mobs..plus warlock can reach 100+ MRR with ease..Besides,the true advantage of ES is u can spam spells with auto EB from auras..sunburst,dragon breath,hell ball,energy burst,ruin,avenging light,wizard pastlife,sun bolt etc..Btw,u should learn strategy to deal with mobs..ES+TS combo is not great if u play safe and kill mobs one by one..what i do is just pull like 10-20 mobs together then CC and nuke..although i have a hard time to deal with archers in EE TOEE..

[FranOhmsford]

I've also considered Stormrage, Summer Smoke and Stay Frosty as twists but with only 3 Twist Slots (6/12 EPLs done) no Shining Through, Aura Temp Hp or cocoon I would be relying on Steal Life Force, Stanch, Scrolls and Pots for Healing. Maybe try this on another toon in EA or DC.

I don't know...hmmm

Prolly gonna try both.

Any thoughts?

Fatesinger is a really good destiny for a Fey Warlock!

I don't know about Fiend and GOO but my Fey Warlock has done Magister, Draconic and Fatesinger and I personally feel Fatesinger was easily stronger than Draconic and massively stronger than Magister.