PvP Defiler?

[Morrak]

<p>basically i just want to know how we fare in pvp... my friend rolled an assassin, and i origionally was going to go fury, but then i decided to go defiler because they are poison/disease based like assassins... the problem is i do not want to play a class that cant do jack solo, i wont always play with my friend, so i need something that can do ok on its own... id like to hear from those of you who do pvp, what has your overall experience been as a defiler? if you advise me not to play one, what would go good with an assassin?</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>My pvp Defiler experience was pre-140 AAs....and I always had a group.   Meaning: I NEVER left town without a group...or at least an Assassin :;grin::    </p><p>The one story I can tell that explains how well Defilers do in PvP is:  We were standing on the docks in Thundering Steppes.  It was the habit of a bunch of Rangers to stand on top of the buildings at either end and wait to range people who probably couldn't jump up onto the roof fast enough to kill them before they killed you.</p><p>Three of them fired on our tank, and kept trying to kill us.  We kind of held the line while another group climbed up behind them and killed them.   About 5 minutes later, our tank got a furious tell from a level 1 brigand accusing us of cheating because even though their shots had critted, we took NO damage.  So...clearly it wasn't anything but cheating..and zomg they died while PvPing on a PvP server.   Wards had prevented them from even making a dent.</p><p>That's about how it goes...if you are solo healing in PvP as a Defiler and wards are breached, direct healing to regain health can be a bit dicey...but before that happens you have prevented a ton of damage and dotted and debuffed to very satisfying amounts.   In the Arena, a bruiser friend said I had debuffed him to 0 stats.   I just had no finishing blow with which to kill him.   An enemy at 0 stats and an Assassin or brigand as a partner..and you can see how effective that could be.</p><p>I stopped pvping on my Defiler at level 70 and haven't gone back.  I'm currently leveling one on a PvE server.  Although not in the PvP environment, I've spec'd down the INT line (since I'm soloing mostly) and am pretty amazed at how much damage I can do.  I'm not spec'd for the best healer I can be with that spec...but for my purposes, it's worth it.  Since PvP fights don't usually last very long, this spec might be just fine in PvP.  I'm kind of extrapolating from earlier and current experience to recommend it.</p><p>My 2.  My Defiler is a Dreadnaught..and likely to remain so ::smile::  Other, more current Defilers might be able to give you a better perspective (I have always admired Denna from the earlier days on Venekor..and would trust that advice).</p><p>Good luck if you decide this way to go.  It's not 'easy mode' compared to a druid healer (I have a 70 Dreadnaught Warden as well), but you can be a very effective, nasty, powerful healer if you can use the class to the best of it's ability.</p><p>Regards, </p>

[Morrak]

<p>awesome, thx for taking the time to post i really appreciate it. ill give it a go and see what happens <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> what would be the best way to spec aa?</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>I'm going to defer the AA spec question to those Defilers who are at 140.  They have probably tried all configurations of AA and can tell you which works best.  </p><p>One other thing I thought of..based on what you said about disease/poison damage.   Since pretty much everyone on the other side is a druid..and probably a Warden, to boot - a group disease DoT that ticks like the versions of "Defile" do...will really come in handy (it starts off small, and the deader the mob or pvp group gets, the bigger the damage tick).    </p><p>As a Warden, the one DoT that really annoys the hell out of me is group noxious.   I only have single target to cure it, yet it has to be cured.   So...good choice if you have 2 disease/poison spreaders against most healers.  (Fury has a group noxious cure, if I remember right, but it's got a long recast)</p>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

<p>I'm only at 120 AA, but I can give my insight on AA's for PvP.  </p><p>1. Scourge, enough said there.  Get it, use it often, especially after landing Seal line spell on someone. </p><p>2. Dog is somewhat useful in PvP.  AoE's won't hit him (if you have the last ability in STR line), and most people won't take the time to target him, and the random ward procs/aoe immune can be nice.</p><p>3. Ritual is nice if you group for PvP.</p><p>For Defiler tree, Enhance *. Chant and Emergancy warding are a must.  Anything in the Prevention line is worth investing points into (maybe not Spirit Avenger) and Enhance Defile if you have that.  Defile is great in PvP.  Last but not least, put points into enhance Fear, and get curseweaving.  25% lower resistability on Fear, and Curseweaving lets you cast anything in that line at 50% the recast speed.  27 Second recast on a 16.8 second duration Fear FTW!.  Just wish you didn't have to put 2 points into Enhance Umbral Trap to get it.  Such a waste of 2 points.</p><p>Feel free to ask me for more info if you are unsure about anything.</p><p>"I have always admired Denna from the earlier days on Venekor" - Why thank you!</p>

[Rahatmattata]

Take a look at <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=414735" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this thread</a> about shamans in pvp.

[Astornoth]

<p>pff give me a break in that PvP forum it alwyes about whiners and nerf bats ..like scout are overpowerd ..evac must go etc</p><p>I never felt like my defiler is worse PvP healer then warden...and when they are both in PvP group it`s amazing ..and since half of healer in nagafen server are druids so defiler presence will always be welcome <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<cite>Astornoth wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>pff give me a break in that PvP forum it alwyes about whiners and nerf bats ..like scout are overpowerd ..evac must go etc</p><p>I never felt like my defiler is worse PvP healer then warden...and when they are both in PvP group it`s amazing ..and since half of healer in nagafen server are druids so defiler presence will always be welcome <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" width="15" height="15" /></p></blockquote><p>Defiler is harder to PvP with well - but that's a person behind the keyboard issue, IMO...not anything wrong with the class.  Since spell casts are so slow (compared to Warden), you have to think ahead a few moves..kind of like Chess.    Wardens have fast enough spell casting to react to the thing that has already happened - Defilers have to plan ahead to be really effective. </p><p>If you don't mind playing that way - Defiler is a VERY good PvP class, IMO.</p>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

<p>Another thing that irks me about the other healer classes in PvP is power regen.  Defilers are supposed to be the masters of healer power management, but lately that just isn't so.  From what I have seen the other classes have access to pretty decent ways to regen power without spending health like we do.  Especially furies...  I have a lovely fear to the face followed by Scourge for any fury using animal form against me!</p><p>Edit: Spelling > Denna.</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<cite>Denna@Venekor wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Another thing that irks me about the other healer classes in PvP is power regen.  Defilers are supposed to be the masters of healer power management, but lately that just isn't so.  From what I have seen the other classes have access to pretty decent ways to regen power without spending health like we do.  Especially furies...  I have a lovely fear to the face followed by Scourge for any fury using animal form against me!</p><p>Edit: Spelling > Denna.</p></blockquote><p>/nod agree here...although I find in even the best PvP fight (short of someone revive zerging) no heal class uses up all their power - the fights just don't last long enough.    Any regen you have as a Defiler needs a longer fight to really get benefit - than most PvP fights last.</p><p>IMO, the difference between power on a Defiler and on Warden is less the regen than the initial power pool to begin with.  It's hard to find good chain armor with lots of WIS (therefore power), unless you are tippy top end raiding.    </p><p>My 80 used-to-raid Warden in middle of the road gear (couple pieces of fabled, mostly legendary, a few masters, but not many) has a self-buffed power pool  of 10,200ish.   You can't get that with chain...so already the regen is behind the curve since the initial power pool is smaller (self buffed).</p>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

I posted some thoughts in the Shaman thread in the PvP Discussion section if any of you guys want to read and give input.

[Astornoth]

<p>I`m now very close to 70lvl (and 100AA cap atm)and a lot more new AA choices waits for me.I play on Nagy (PvP server ) that`s why I borowed this one insted of starting another <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>My AA setup looks like this:</p><p>KoS:</p><p>    INT 4/4/8/6/2</p><p>   Wiss 4/4/8/6/2</p><p>   one point into doggy</p><p>EoF:</p><p>  Full Decaying line with finall ability Forced canibalism (21p)</p><p>  curses line with finall ability (alsaw 21p)</p><p>  Now I work on Preventation line just couplepoint in Eemrgency fear and ward</p><p>Here comes my questions.Where 2 put point next?I know more or less that next 10-15 point will go 2 Preventation and Soul ward but in KoS line I`m kinda well...I`m spell casting healer type and I paracticly never use meele in PvP fights,reflected damage and others unfrendly efects are not worth that crappy damage I could do.Even if I find some fabled nice weapon is it worth 2 put 20point into AGL line?.I heard some rumors about STA line maybe that will be beter any ideas?</p>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

<p>If you are PvPing most of the time, I don't know if I would put points into Soul Ward.  I have used it once or twice in PvP with mixed results.  </p><p>Partial Stamina line mixed with Agility is nice.  high crit chance with block and DA is always useful in PvP.</p><p>I think my PvP spec is full int and str lines to their end abilities and down the AGI line to faster cures.  I'll check it out next time I log in, but may be a few days.</p>

[Ruffinx]

To the question on aa spec, the one you're using is pretty nice.  As a 45 defiler I'm using agi/int instead of wis/int.  Int is a no brainer for pvp because Scourge is flat out awesome.  So then the question is what else?  Wisdom gives you more power, then an increased heal, higher disruption/subjugation, but the final two skills leave a little to be desired.  On the agility line, the first 4 points are pretty useless.  The next one point is nice because now you have a root, and even though it is not a strong root, it's enough to stop a runner dead in his tracks and let you scourge, fear, dot, etc. or let the rest of your group kill the runner.  The next three points upgrading your root are basically useless, but a root is nice to have.  Then 100% or near that on melee crits, a nice bonus to heal crits and a very nice end skill to be make the agi line nice for pvp.Your choices on the defiler tree seem dead on.  More dps, faster and better fears, etc.

[Astornoth]

Any1 checked Hexation finall ability in Defiler tree?...could be pretty usfull if soul ward is that bad in PvP

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>I can't imagine using Soul Ward in PvP - except to respec if you were going to raid  and stood a good chance of making it to the raid zone unmolested by pvp fights.</p><p>The goal of any PvP healer is survivability.  You are most often the prime target in any fight - any ability that takes your health as far down as this ability does - just in time for that one -shotting by a nice swashbuckler - ...it's like handing them your kill and tokens nicely wrapped with a bow.  I cant' imagine using it.</p>

[Astornoth]

<p>ERR hell no! ... I can`t imagine  casting in on group freind....but what about casting it on yourself?..5k + ward specelly at beging of group vs group battle would be pretty awsome.And telling your group healers about that so they can cast heals at U...even </p><p>And in solo fight :</p><p>1> leting him bang U a lil (so U can cure those pisky efeckts)</p><p>2>fear on target</p><p>3>cures and all courses U can handle on him</p><p>4>and now soul ward (your hp bar drops to red...but U got massive ward)</p><p>5>big heal and small heal(your hp should be at green then if not there are toon way 2 heal yourself..like alchemist potions etc..&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>6>Dots,Dots and couple more dots if U are lucky and your enemy is still at fear</p><p>At this point it`s like good like mirracle</p><p>/ps I just though about lil cheating with soul ward 2 <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />...have no idea if that`s work..U C enemy..U cast something fast on mob..then U are in combat so now U can  cast Soul Ward...and fight beging with U at red HP so even if U lost ...yadda yadda yadda <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />..but that`s coward tactic</p>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

I used soul ward all of 2 times in pvp.  both were when I was in a duo and we were fighting another duo/trio.  they were intent on killing my partner, and didn't even try me, so i used it, hit group heal and then healed myself up.  Needless to say we won both fights.  Other than those rare instances, its pretty useless.

[Ceolus]

I personally keep soul ward for pvp just in case, usually follow by fear (or before if I have time) to give me time to heal myself. If necessary I can just pop one of those city merchant items that give you a large self heal and a HOT..or use my 3.5k heal necklace asap.

[Sanchez469]

<p>Ahh yes pvp as a defiler is a love hate relationship.  Solo pvp pretty much forget it.  Don't get me wrong I've had my fair share of soloing, however, against swashy, assassin, brigs forget it... the stun lock and various stifles and stuns they throw at you with our slow heals and nerfed wards just do not keep up with their burst dps.  Hell throw in fear and even that stuff dont last as long as they have it written down.  Now group pvp is where we stand a chance especially if we are partnered up with another healer.  Solo healing in group pvp is a job and a half especially if your group goes against a warlock...rift or their aoe pretty much eats up your group wards in no time.  Let put it this way I see a defiler in pvp only as a utility healer not a main healer.  For PvE we are main healers.  Just my 2 cents.</p>