Defilers...slow killers? (and PvP)

[Vismo]

I'm try out different classes and loaded up a defiler last night. First thing I notice is that they seem to kill..quite slowly. Does this improve at all? It's important because I play on a PvP server, so need a class that can do both PvE and PvP well. The defiler has peeked my interest some and I'm wondering how they do in open PvP (not duels).

[skidmark]

No it doesn't improve much.<div></div>

[snarfodg]

Defilers always kill very slowly with the numerous (though relatively weak) DoT/debuffs available to us. However, you do need to remember that in a fight, he who hits first isn't the winner... he who is the last standing IS... and Defilers do tend to survive well <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Docimodo]

<div></div>yes if you are solo be prepared for a long haul fight! (coming from experience of duelling on pve server) in a group situation however you will be keeping your group alive for a long time <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Chum]

<div></div><p>As a fairly accomplished defiler on Nagafen (PvP) I think I can answer your question.</p><p>No, it gets worse.  It takes forever to kill anything.  green no-arrow mobs are about a 1 minute ordeal, even with adept spells.</p><p>But you're a priest, you're not really a soloer.</p><p>However, if someone is within 3-4 levels of you and decides to fight you 1v1, you can kill any other class.  Monks are tough, but you can do it.  It just takes awhile and most people run before they get low enough for you to finish them off.</p><p>The tradeoff is that you can get out of most situations if you play your cards right.  The only exception is being chain snared by rangers running full speed and shooting you from behind.  But there aren't that many rangers.  (heh)</p><p>But in a group you're the man.  If you play your class right in a pvp group, you will seldom lose.  Group wards, group heals, AOE fear etc.  It's a tremendous class when grouped. </p><p>I can say this from experience.  I made destroyer rank on my Defiler and ran 95% of the time solo.  So it is possible to kill in PvP, just frustrating as hell.  And probably as much or more than any other class, you have to be smarter than your opponent.</p><p>However, I wouldn't roll one expecting to solo.</p><p> </p><p>Prymal</p>

[Kaitar]

<div></div><div>My Defiler takes .... long time... to kill anything.</div><div> </div><div>It's a good thing I duo with a bruiser ^^</div><div> </div><div>But yeah, I can see where solo'ing a Defiler would just be veeerrry tedious. Don't get me wrong, my Defiler is my 2nd favorite class so far (points to siggy....zerker love) and he's can out last when most could not...</div><div> </div><div>but wow it takes forever to kill anything solo</div><div> </div><div>In a group? Defiler is a blast though, that's what they're meant for <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div><div>Edit: on a side note...I know you asked not for duels but rather 'real' PvP.... but my Defiler whipped the tar out of my Fury friend who was the same level. Fury ran out of mana before I had even a quarter of mine gone <_< once all her heals were gone, I started DOT'ing, Cursing, etc quick as I could and it was cake from there. Before that? I just slapped on a ward and let the Fury waste mana trying to damage me XD mean I know, but hey.... that's what wards are for.</div><p>Message Edited by Kaitar on <span class="date_text">03-14-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:38 PM</span></p>

[Landaros]

I dont know what you expect from a healer with regard to PvP, but if you want to do deadly damage you should have rolled a scout or mage type.Other from that - defilers are descent in extending a PvP fight.Personal favourite: Defiler vs Defiler. (Keep your phone nearby for several pizza delivery calls)<div></div>

[Toxicmoon]

<div></div><p><font color="#ffffff" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I find that my defiler can do very well in solo and in group encounters. I’m very satisfied with the DPS and warding ability. I’m a bit unhappy with no snares for the runners.</font></p><p><font color="#ffffff" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I find that fights don’t take very long unless there are orange cons. I selected the Master <span> </span>Dot over the Ward from talents. I ended up getting an adeptIII version made for the wards later. But when given the choice I’ll take the dots. It really makes a difference. </font></p><p><font color="#ffffff" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I feel in the next two weeks I’ll be finished my 1st PVP vid as a defiler. I have 7mins of content now. <span> </span>I hope that it will allow you to see the feel of the Dot masters and the dps output. It’s really quite nice, it’s not scout like damage but I’m happy.</font></p><p><font color="#ffffff" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Fight a pally or a healer and use Distilled soul and really watch your dps increase =) </font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><font color="#ffffff">More then once I saw people heal them self’s to death with that on them.</font> </font></p>

[firewolf]

If you solo a lot as a defiler. Go for the dot master 2 when selecting traits. Adept 1 ward is enough for most grouping and soloing need at lower level. Hardly ever use the healing spell too. With master 2 dot, you can kill much faster. So far have no regret over selecting master 2 dot as the trait choice. However, the experience gain soloing is still very slow compare to grouping.<div></div>

[Craig3]

<div></div><p>I have a 22 Fury and last night I was chasing a 22 Defiler that was low on power. When his power reached full, he stopped to fight. We were in Antonica away from everything and literally the fight lasted 8 mins. We even hailed each other during the fight.</p><p>Luckily, he ran out of power barely before I did and I managed to kill him but needless to say YES we all kill very slowly but not really our job to kill anyway.</p><p>Just wait until your in a PvP group and the group you're fighting doesn't have a healer - no contest!</p>

[snarfodg]

At level 52 Defilers get Forced Cannibalize, which is a power regen/weak dot. Once you have that you will have no trouble exterminating any other healer class in a duel... I was killing clerics and druids 4-5 levels higher than me just by virtue of holding out until their power is exhausted and then letting loose with all my dots. I have Forced Cannibalize at Master 1... now that I'm 68, I was able to get the new Defile level 65 dot Master 1 as well... in the right fight I can out-dps a monk or bruiser, which is not bad for a medic!<div></div>

[Daisy Lou]

I am only a 59 defiler atm but Forced Cannibalize rocks.  I got in a group the other day chain pulling and never even came close to running low on power.  So Defile is the upgrade to this spell? <div></div>

[snarfodg]

No, sorry, I should have been clearer on that--- Defile is the all-new level 65 spell we get. It's a true AoE DoT that deals out massive damage, based on the current health of the mob when it triggers. In a nutshell, the more damaged a mob is, the more damage it will receive from Defile. If you use it at the start of a fight the damage it deals is insignificant, but once the critters turn orange or so, hit it and watch those damage numbers fly.<div></div>

[Daisy Lou]

now only 5 more levels to go, I can't wait to check this one out.<div></div>

[snarfodg]

I was in a high-level instance zone last night and was the only healer in a really good group... level 70 tank, lots of dps, and me. The 70 Dirge and 68 Monk had not apparently not heard of Defile before. The Dirge was using a combat stats plugin after most fights to see who was dishing out the pain. Not shockingly, my pet and I were always at the bottom of the list, as expected. One fight we got into however, we ended up fighting 8-10 dragon guys (unwanted adds from the ranger getting a bit too far away) and it was getting hairy and fun. When most of the mobs hit orange in their health I used Defile and ended up getting the kill shots on half the mobs that were on us. The Dirge used his combat parser and I had actually out-dpsed the monk <span>:smileytongue:I realize that there are some people (Defilers, even) who resent having this kind of dps for our class, even if its utility is limited to events similar to the above. Personally, after spending 10 minutes slowly grinding out mobs when I solo, I welcome the use of Defile to expedite the easy fights. Thanks, SOE, and please don't change a thing.</span><div></div>

[Daisy Lou]

heh, it'll probably be nerfed by the time I get there.<div></div>