MM or Sonic Blast

[salmag]

Hello,

I just TR'd into my Sorc life.
I am curious as to what spells I should pick up.

I am looking at an Air Savant.
Should I go with MM or Sonic Blast for my level 1 spells? Is there a better option?

[cru121]

Sonic Blast.
Use that to daze mobs while waiting for your heavy hitting SLAs to recharge.

[salmag]

Sonic Blast.
Use that to daze mobs while waiting for your heavy hitting SLAs to recharge.

Thank you

[SirValentine]

Should I go with MM or Sonic Blast for my level 1 spells?

Not only does Sonic Blast have the nice AoE Daze effect on mobs, but, more importantly, it also breaks breakables! Clear winner over single-target-only damage-only option.

[Selvera]

MM is known for doing good damage if you can raise the maximum caster level and run in the Shiardi destiny, as it will get 5+ chances to proc all the shiardi damage for a very low mana cost. It's often associated with wizard, who can get it as a spell-like-ability (SLA).

Sonic blast is known for being a very good box-breaker spell for low mana cost and almost no investment. It also happens to be a pretty good spell for CC at low levels, but it falls off at higher levels. However, you'll have better spells to cast then!

[FuzzyDuck81]

Magic missile is great for shiradi casters in epic but in heroic levelling, i'd stick with sonic blast every time - iirc it's caster level will be increased by air savant, it's an AoE so can hit multiple mobs, breaks breakables, has the daze chance, does sonic damage which very few things are resistant to and can sometimes hit things through barriers too.

[Enoach]

If you only can pick one then Sonic Blast would be the more well rounded choice.

1. It actually hits more then one target
2. It has a daze effect (don't confuse this with stun)
3. At low levels it has a greater potential of damage then Magic Missiles due to effecting more then one mob as long as they are grouped

However, if you are trying to only hit a specific target Magic Missiles is that spell that will hit your target of choice and not get absorbed.

Next while rare at low levels mobs with shield or night shield effects will be immune to MM. This is actually seen more at higher levels.

[Alled78]

Sonic blast s great even in leg epics: did all mines pack R2-3 with sonic blast on drows

[SocratesBastardSon]

Of course most people know this, but it might be worth mentioning one of the downsides to SB: its damage is based on Perform, while MM and other evocation spells are based on Spellcraft.

Very few Sorcs or Wizards put points into Perform. At low levels though, the consensus is correct: SB is MUCH better. By around level 10-12 that flips around for a typical Sorc or Wiz, especially if you've put APs into force power and force crits. More, if you have the Chronoscope gear set you're getting a level boost and therefore more missiles sooner.

Does the spell power awarded by Air Savant make up for the lack of Perform skill points? Not to mention the fact that SB doesn't scale up as well? I did a mixed Air/Force caster once and my impression was, no, it didn't. However, that was awhile back and the answer will also depend on what gear you have. For instance, if you have farmed Cannith challenges and have the Blasting Chime (and Bracers of Wind), then maybe so. But all things being equal, SB doesn't keep up as you get into higher and epic levels.

But I always keep it around as a box breaker by setting all meta-magics on the spellbar icon to "Always Off."

[Careall]

Sonic Blast's base damage per mana point spent (non-meta'd) is really good; more than fireball and the damage cannot be saved against or blocked by a counterspell (shield or night shield).
While not as unerring as Magic Missile, Sonic Blast does adjust course to hit its target.
Sonic Blast can damage mobs through most doors, gates, wall, or other obstructions: Unlike Magic Missile, Sonic Blast does not need to be targeted.

Sonic Blast is an all-around useful spell that's good up to about Level 10.