Grim Spellbinder

[Darqueshadow]

At 20 when one becomes a Necro, you get this pet. I have seen many posts that this pet is primarily a DPS/Group pet. After LU13 and the combat revamp, I was worried that this pet was going to fold like a lawn chair if he was to start taking a beating. With a change in tactics, this pet rocks at Adept I even when using him to solo with! I will cast our root spell, DOT with Bludgeoning Earth, release the pet on him and by the time root normally breaks, we have nuked the mob down to 20-30% tops. With either the pet or myself taking aggro for the final couple seconds the mob is alive, fight is over much quicker then I have found with the tellurian recruit App IV/Adept I. I just do not see why this pet gets a bad rap as with a change in tactics, either group or solo mobs go down fast. Just my 2 cps... <div></div>

[hammong]

<DIV>At level 20, you still have a pretty good pet heal for your level (Sooth Servent).   The problem with Grim Spellbinder and his Warlock buddies, is that as you get higher in level, the mobs hit harder, and your ability to heal your pet goes down as a percentage of his available hitpoints.     By the time you get to 25-28 you'll find that the mobs in Nektulous Forest and Thundering Steppes are hitting significantly harder and faster, interrupting your Grim's spell casting, and beating him down quickly. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you think Grim tanks good, wait until you get Undying Adherent.   Ugly as he may be, he tanks exceptionally well.  HIgher grades of the spell (Adept III and Master I) are better tanks than most plate-class player tanks, although with less versatility.  At least we can control them without question.   hehe</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Nosewar]

<DIV>Grim Spellbinder becomes a beast if you chose Master Protective Brace earlier, defensive stance.  The added hp and dmg shield help beef up his durability in battle, making for a great solo pet.  This pet isn't as effective for groups of mobs however, because it lacks taunt and it opens with range attacks, unlike tank pets.  If you manage to root the mob, your caster pet will open with range attack and use a couple more while closing, increasing its effectiveness.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What I wish is that the caster pet would be smart enough to stand back and use range attacks from a distance, only engaging in melee when the mob reaches it.  That way you could concentrate on rooting the mob while the pet dd/dot it...but then maybe that'd be too easy. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>