Best Melee Priest

[Phaseo]

Hi guys, I'm trying to decide on a melee priest. So far I am playing a Mystic but I hear that wardens and Inquisitors are very good melee also. Mystic seems good but also seems short in the utility department so i'm not sure which to stick with. I like to solo/duo. I am not concerned with killing speed but I do want to be able to take as high lvl mob as possible when im 70. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Norrsken]

<cite>Phaseout wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hi guys, I'm trying to decide on a melee priest. So far I am playing a Mystic but I hear that wardens and Inquisitors are very good melee also. Mystic seems good but also seems short in the utility department so i'm not sure which to stick with. I like to solo/duo. I am not concerned with killing speed but I do want to be able to take as high lvl mob as possible when im 70. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. </blockquote>Inquisitor is by far the most melee of the priests. highest mit, most CAs, buffs for haste and DPS.

[VizP]

Don't forget certain important aspects of the shaman melee priest - there are three AA abilities that make them very formidable. Firstly the agi line allows for them to have permament 100% crits on all attacks and allows them to double attack on 33% of hits (this is almost permanent as a buff due to the requirements of the buff triggering happening very often). Then add to that the ability to haste yourself using the Str line (the haste is an area effect around the pet) and the ability to have an 8 second root using the Phalanx ability which is enough time to debuff a mob. Combine this sort of melee ability with say a defiler which has one of the heaviest debuffs in the game and then a true stack of wards that allow a large amount of survivability and its not really a hands down Inquisitor win because some of these shaman AAs are pretty impressive. Your last point is about taking high lvl mobs at lvl 70 - I think there is little argument about shamans being one of the most resilient of classes and currently I can take down triple up yellow heroics alone at lvl 70 (one on one of course - example is a gargoyle on the steps of Castle in Loping Plains) and Im only at sixty-something of my AAs so Ic an get even better. And trust me my wards take one heck of a pounding during that attack - I can only imagine a small number ofclasses that can do this at 70 solo either my pure huge rooted DPS (wizards etc) or say pet classes (necros, conjurors) or damage healers (fury) or perhaps some misc tricks. For the rest either you will not be able to sustain the damage incoming or as healers run out of power before getting close. A lot of my damage comes from my staff but also debuffs ensuring control is maintained and wards to keep me up. Having great power regen also helps (forced cannabalise, cannablise letc regen power).

[Norrsken]

Inquisitors get a real root, with a stifle nonetheless, ranged, which is good for debuffing and laying on the reactive damages they have before letting lose.  They can also spec for 33% double attack (I think they get a bit more with yaulp as well) and 100% melee crits. they do also get the ability to hit 75ish DPS self buffed, and 30ish haste (If I dont remember it completely wrong) <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Raith]

Ulvhamne@Nagafen wrote: <blockquote>Inquisitors get a real root, with a stifle nonetheless, ranged, which is good for debuffing and laying on the reactive damages they have before letting lose.  They can also spec for 33% double attack (I think they get a bit more with yaulp as well) and 100% melee crits. they do also get the ability to hit 75ish DPS self buffed, and 30ish haste (If I dont remember it completely wrong) <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote><p> The 3rd Tier of the Stamina line provides 100% Melee crit at 8 points, the 3rd Teir of the Agility line provides 32% Double attack and 32% shield effectiveness at 8 points.  Your 1st point in the Cleric tree grants you the Yaulp ability which provides 20% Haste, 20% DPS, and 20% Double attack.  Your L70 Spell Fanatacism (M1) provides 61% Haste. The L58 buff Consecrated Aura (Ad3) provides a 26% DPS buff, the M1 version gives 30~31% but apparently the RNG deems me unworthy (DPS mod items aren't as prevalent so I haven't included them, but they do exist).  Tier 7 Haste items usually range from 20~25%.  </p><p> Sum total you're looking at:</p><p>100% Crits on every melee attack/CA, 52% Double attack, ~101% Haste, 46% DPS.</p><p>But if you really want to play a Shaman, I heard they get a dog pet or something.</p>

[Phaseo]

Does either the mystic or inquisitor have any AOE abilities and utilities spells such as invis and or evac?

[Raith]

<cite>Phaseout wrote:</cite><blockquote>Does either the mystic or inquisitor have any AOE abilities and utilities spells such as invis and or evac? </blockquote> Inquisitors get a spell line which is an encounter nuke/interrupt; this can also be upgraded by the EoF Battle line to become a PBAOE, does about 1~2k to 8 targets at 70.  If you want Invis/Evac, you'll need a druid.  Inquisitors however do get a Root/Stifle and a Fear spell.  The Inquest line also gives you a mana tap proc that you can cast on an ally that gives you mana back.  Ferverent Focus gives you a self cure stun/stifle/root/mez/fear every 1m30s. 

[SacDaddy420]

INQ hands down.   for real.    dont forget...INQ's are also -plate-.    <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> along with everything else stated, the final ability in the battle Line also gives us some [Removed for Content] mitigation

[Hannalynn]

Inquis, battle cleric line in the EoF tree is incredibly awesome. As well as replacin gyour spells with melee versions, which actually do so much more damage and are better than the spells, you will get the final Battle cleric line which adds to your mit, reduces your battle cleric spell costs, and increases your crushing greatly. Also go ahead and get the extra range final ability as well from the other side of the tree, and get 100% melee crits from KoS tree. Tied together with a very nice 2h weapon, your crits will be booming and your damage will be incredibly nice... you might even make the parses, and I have know some Inq to do. Debuffs, buffs, nice heals, and dps... Inq have it all!

[Greeen-_-Ranger]

I vote brigand.

[CHIMPNOODLE.]

<p>Melee inquis attacks are mostly fast casting, low power cost DOTs or 1 cast multi procs, with nice complimentary Debuffs for meleeing (large Miti, STR and Skills debuffs).</p><p>I'd put Inquis as top meleer as well. For taking down tougher heroics, Wardens might have the edge though imo (not using melee as much...more by rooting. DOTing and Nuking).</p>

[Araxes]

I haven't played an Inquisitor, so I can't comment on them, and really, they very well may be excellent combatants as well - but I will say that my Defiler is by far the best solo/melee combatant I have played, aside from my Shadowknight.  Great debuffs, awesome warding ability allows taking on multiple mobs at once without going into the yellow.  Back up heals that do a pretty good amount of restoration, actually.  And most importantly - an extremely power-efficient class - you can outlast most opponents - or other players, for that matter.  I have also played a Fury and Warden up to around 37ish, and I can say that the Defiler is better than both of them in melee combat (although they certainly have the edge in overall damage output, being that they <i>are </i>druids).  Overall it will go a bit <i>slower</i> as a defiler, since, after all, a priest class is not a warrior class or a mage class ... but my defiler is one of my favorite characters to solo with.  As for a defiler in the group scenario - an added bonus - as a warlock main I will <i>SWEAR </i>by my guild's defiler.  I've become so spoiled by her warding abilities that I hardly can stand grouping with other healers anymore - their reactives and HoT's just don't compare, at all.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But honestly?  If you want a priest that is excellent at melee?  Play a Paladin. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Then you can Amend people like me and never worry about losing aggro again, as well. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Dannan]

<p>I'm with Araxes, if you like how your mystic plays and want more of a dps oomph switch sides and go defiler, they do have more dps to them than most people think.</p>

[Ama]

A good Melee priest would be a Fury if you want down and out offensive styles.  The Str line combined with the right weapon would be very effective at damaging the opponent and healing the group. 

[Bromir]

<p>Do a fury . Get the right AA's and stick a load of INT on him .. </p><p>They have formiddable AOE power .</p><p>I play a warden . We can take just about the same mobs as the fury just takes quite a while longer . IE. I have no problems with even con named tripple ups . Neither does the fury but he kills them 4 times faster . <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p><p>Yours</p><p>Bromir</p>

[Norrsken]

<cite>Araxes wrote:</cite><blockquote>I haven't played an Inquisitor, so I can't comment on them, and really, they very well may be excellent combatants as well - but I will say that my Defiler is by far the best solo/melee combatant I have played, aside from my Shadowknight.  Great debuffs, awesome warding ability allows taking on multiple mobs at once without going into the yellow.  Back up heals that do a pretty good amount of restoration, actually.  And most importantly - an extremely power-efficient class - you can outlast most opponents - or other players, for that matter.  I have also played a Fury and Warden up to around 37ish, and I can say that the Defiler is better than both of them in melee combat (although they certainly have the edge in overall damage output, being that they <i>are </i>druids).  Overall it will go a bit <i>slower</i> as a defiler, since, after all, a priest class is not a warrior class or a mage class ... but my defiler is one of my favorite characters to solo with.  As for a defiler in the group scenario - an added bonus - as a warlock main I will <i>SWEAR </i>by my guild's defiler.  I've become so spoiled by her warding abilities that I hardly can stand grouping with other healers anymore - their reactives and HoT's just don't compare, at all.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But honestly?  If you want a priest that is excellent at melee?  Play a Paladin. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Then you can Amend people like me and never worry about losing aggro again, as well. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </blockquote>Actually, my inq is better than my sk at toe to toe smacking heroics.

[Karlen]

>>>If you want a priest that is excellent at melee?  Play a Paladin.<<< I have a 69 Paladin and just reactivated my sleeping 60 Mystic (now 62).   My mystic has been parked since well before EoF came out, so I spent the weekend grinding AA points from EoF and the Village of Shin. With these new combat AAs (I just completed that tree last night), I do much more DPS than my Paladin and can take hits better as well (much larger wards available).   My Paladin has more AoE capability and has quite powerful damage spells -- but my mystics CAs are much more powerful than my Paladins. My Paladin never liked soloing heroics, while this seems to be an option (at least green and blue ones for the moment) for my mystic. As a group tank (with someone else healing), my Paladin would be better due to plate mail and taunts.  But for soloing, my mystic can mow through mobs much more quickly. Being able to buff STR/AGI/STA is helpful too -- my STR is mid-400s and that's without any special effort to get STR gear.