What is your offensive spec?

[Phelon_Skellhound]

<DIV>Ok, I have seen threads of "My offense is better than yours" but no details on how they did the mad damage.  I'm looking to respec my aa lines, jewelry and weapon choices a bit.  So I wanna see is how you guys do it.  I wanna see your tips and tricks to your mad damage.  Even if its situational.  No flames please, someone does don't respond.  I want this to be constructive, so I wanna see "Yes you can do that but would be better if you did this posts" ok. I want this to be useful for other SK's as well.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. AA lines: Where did you put your points?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2. What jewelry do you wear for offense?  Why?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3. What weapon choices do you have 1h and/or 2h?  Why?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4. Anything else you want to add?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks for taking your time to post here.</DIV>

[Ultimatum]

<div></div><div><blockquote><hr>Phelon_Skellhound wrote: <div>1. AA lines: Where did you put your points?</div> <div><font color="#cc0000"> for PvE servers I'd go Int, Sta, and Agi 4-4-8 and for PvP Int, Sta, and Wis 4-4-8...put your extra point wherever you like.  The PvE setup will allow for max spell and melee crits and give you a chance for your auto attack to hit 4 targets...just make sure you are pausing enough between spells to maximize your autoattack swings.  the PvP setup will still give you spell and melee crits, but instead of the extra dps from Trample you'll have an awesome group buff that will help cut through other players' resists much easier.</font></div> <div>2. What jewelry do you wear for offense?  Why?<font color="#cc0000">I'd look for anything with Int and +Disruption and/or Focus to max your spell damage and chance to land spells.  One of the feathers from the KoS feather collection has nice stats and + to pierce/slash/crush resists.</font></div> <div> </div> <div>3. What weapon choices do you have 1h and/or 2h?  Why?<font color="#cc0000">If you are tanking I'd go 1h/shield, otherwise a 2h like Rak'Leko, Awakened Skycrest Doomblade, or the Vraksikin Claw Club are your best bets...anything with a 2.5 or higher delay is going to work best, and any procs are a big plus...Also keep in mind your Int will increase your proc damage as well.</font></div> <div> </div> <div>4. Anything else you want to add?</div> <div> <font color="#cc0000">Look for gear that has a proc off of hostile spells...The Mystical Orb of the Invoker, Bone Clasped-Girdle, and Wand of Second Liife are a good start.  Always remember that spells are going to make up a good 70%+ of your total damage.  Autoattack is only going to be about 10-15% with Combat Arts filling in the rest.  Get used to pausing a few seconds between casting spells to allow for your auto attack to hit as much as possible, and if you can find an Illusionist and/or Troub to group with, make sure they give you their hostile spell proc buffs <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Hope this helps and good luck!</font></div> <hr></blockquote></div><p>Message Edited by Razerblaze on <span class=date_text>08-16-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:23 AM</span>

[Xanoth]

hmm lots of questions and i dont really have very clear answers, but i'll try not to confuse things1) well im utility spec'd so most of my points are in wisdom for fear immunity, skill buffs and a cheap group melee proc.. and with max spell crit of course.but if you want DPS you really need to consider your weapon options and look at were to put your points to make the msot of what you have. without a doubt you need spell crit maxed to take full advantage of the larger proportion of your damage. but in general pushing msot of your points into str will probably give more than going 50/50 with str/sta, unless your weapon has a high max damage to take advantage of the crit chance.2) usually bone clasped girdle for spell proc, anything that helps get my str and int maxed. preferably a haste item (amulet of the foresworn if you have it), but gauntlets of glorious speed are a good substitute (drop for MoA trial 1 named).3) depends on what group buffs i have, how high i can get my stats etc. if im in the MT group with a guardian and every other defencive class going thats offering me no int buffs or anything else thats going to do me much good, i generaly go for sword and shield, simply because the delay on the sword of shielding and its max damage means that its going to be giving me just as good DPS almsot as my 2h, and at the quick switch of stances i can off tank (all my defencive gear is hot bar'd so it only takes a few clicks to swap out for my mit boosting jewelry). i rarely look at DR anymore when choosing what to use, high delay and high max damage will always serve you best if your doing anything other than auto attack (which i believe is where the DR is calculated from). but for full offence, go with 2h, especialy if you have a coercers DPS buff.4) try to get a good group setup: bard, chanter, inq, fury... all give nice buffs that help us on our way if your focusing on DPS.be sure to time your spell usage inbetween your auto attacks as it does make a difference, try to minimise casting anything with more than a 2s casting time.casting blessing on anyone other than yourself reduces your DPS, as the spell triggers from them, not saying dont use it, but if the MT doesn't, its not going to be doing your DPS any favours.<hr>and just because i can't resist a moan... <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />actually i'll resist and go make a new thread about how i gimped myself <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Phelon_Skellhound]

<DIV>Well I was hoping to see more posts to help me compare.... I held back on posting me own gear to see what everyone had so I could find out if I could find it and compare... but now I'l go ahead and put my current gear to help another comrad in arms...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. I knew about 4/4/8 in the int line but was skeptical on the other lines to see what would be a better combo.. still trying to figure if str/agi or str/sta would be better for offence.... hence part of why i posted.....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2. well in a nut shell...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>neck: nizarri magical adept enhancer (off broker), yes i do have the MoA peice as well </DIV> <DIV>ear:  orb of the invoker (collection)</DIV> <DIV>wrist:  bracelet of the preserver, constables bracelet (both off broker)</DIV> <DIV>ring:  ancient gemmed band (quest bonemire), Khranz's claw ring of agression (great egg instance)</DIV> <DIV>waist: adjutants belt (str well the spectral sash i think may be overdoing it with 30 int)</DIV> <DIV>           replaced the Flowing Black Silk Sash with gauntlets of glorious speed long long long ago</DIV> <DIV>symbol:  emblem of exorcism (disruption/int off broker)</DIV> <DIV>drink: dancing halfling </DIV> <DIV>food: flying fish stew</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  I've always been more of a fan with 1h and shield, but off tank offensive I go 1h and symbol...but since i am reading more about 2h and long delays, I may be veering in that direction as well.... </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1h = lash of the beastmaster (int), orb of wyrms (disruption/int both off the broker)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2h = Ancient Velium Lance (off the broker)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.   yes I know the hard int cap is 520... so is it really worth it to go over it?  Supposedly not I imagine.. hence the adjutants belt for me waist</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For raids it all matters about the group set up... If I'm in the MT group with 3 healers and a dirge/coercer then Its top ten every single time cuz MT is a pally with amends on me and pretty much button smashing all dd's and aoe's (yes even if its one mob), I use our ae taunt and agony, followed by pestilant touch and all other disease based attacks on boss's, not to mention you should use a master rage first if it pertains to the critter you're killing.</DIV> <P>Message Edited by Phelon_Skellhound on <SPAN class=date_text>08-19-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>04:16 PM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Phelon_Skellhound on <span class=date_text>08-19-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:23 PM</span>

[Phelon_Skellhound]

<DIV>Bah, double post... Oh and do keep posting your tips and tricks to help improve up and coming shadowknights spec themselves in offensive stance....</DIV><p>Message Edited by Phelon_Skellhound on <span class=date_text>08-19-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:18 PM</span>

[Phelon_Skellhound]

<DIV>bleh triple post</DIV><p>Message Edited by Phelon_Skellhound on <span class=date_text>08-19-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:03 PM</span>

[gundali]

<DIV><SPAN class=time_text>Easy to post more than once isn't it :smileysurprised:</SPAN></DIV><p>Message Edited by gundalini on <span class=date_text>08-20-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:34 AM</span>

[gundali]

<DIV>Yes it is Roth-Cake :smileysad:</DIV><p>Message Edited by gundalini on <span class=date_text>08-20-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:34 AM</span>

[gundali]

<DIV>offensive spec:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Neck: MoA Instinct</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rings: Mastercrafted Moonstone Int and Acyrila Str for procs and stats</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Waist: Bone clasped girdle</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2-Hander: Grizzfazzle's great sword, seems to work well with BCG. But i'm still waiting for a nice fabled one with a longer delay. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Plate legs: Underworld legplates for the proc</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>BP: Garb of souls for the disruption</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Gloves: Gauntlets of glorious speed</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Potion: Grandmaster elixer of second sight</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I still have a shopping list of items i'd like to get hold of:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Staff of Second life</DIV> <DIV>Fitzpitzle's misty protector</DIV> <DIV>Relic to replace my Blackcoat armour</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Proc, Procs and more Procs seem to be on the cards. If the new death march really does help us get into the caster groups in raids i'll be much happier, MT buffer isn't really the place to do mad dps.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Roth-Cake WannabeaWarlock</DIV>

[EnraptureE]

<DIV>To go max offensive, equip any items that give procs, whether its rings, ranged, whatever, just something that can do any kind of dmg, it all adds up in the end.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For AA lines, I went 5 4 8 in INT, 4 4 8 in STA & STR.  This way, I have max spell crit, max melee crit, max haste.  Equip an axe or switch out do just to do axe strike for more dmg & more haste for 20 sec.  I usually go with a haste belt & between it & normal haste I have something like 39%, which is upped when axe strike is active.  The MoA is another good thing to have.  Anything beyond your items that proc, should be int & str for the obvious casting & melee dmg bonuses.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Basically I went for things that didn't require having to land to up the dmg, excluding the axe strike.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>While I'm not positive, I swear that going with melee crit, increases my melee proc rate some.  I generally proc, spell crit, something proc, about 1 in 3 hits, consistantly.  I definately noticed a difference between when I didn't have melee crit & do now.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In this state of the game, with no new lvls coming out with the expansion, don't buy or get adept 3 made, save up & buy the master.</DIV>

[Ultimatum]

<div><blockquote><hr>Phelon_Skellhound wrote:<div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> </div> <div>1. I knew about 4/4/8 in the int line but was skeptical on the other lines to see what would be a better combo.. still trying to figure if str/agi or str/sta would be better for offence.... hence part of why i posted.....</div> <div><font color="#cc0000"> I'm not at all impressed with the STR line for SKs...imo its much better for Pallys since they derive much more damage from melee and can benefit more from the haste.  As i've said a thousand times, haste is largely wasted on SKs due to all the spell casting we do.  Unless you plan on just standing there auto attacking (and thereby doing MUCH less DPS) don't waste your time with that line.  STA and either AGI or WIS are your best bets.</font></div> <div> </div> <div>3.  I've always been more of a fan with 1h and shield, but off tank offensive I go 1h and symbol...but since i am reading more about 2h and long delays, I may be veering in that direction as well.... </div> <div> </div> <div>1h = lash of the beastmaster (int), orb of wyrms (disruption/int both off the broker)<font color="#cc0000">Don't 'settle' on a 1h weapon because of the + to stats...all that you should care about with a weapon is the damage rating and if it has any procs. That whip has an ok 1h DR but if you can find a weapon with a similar DR and a proc, go with that.  If you ever do the Godking raid for your prismatic 2.0, get the wand of second life...its hostile spell proc eats most melee procs for lunch in the hands of an SK <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></font></div><hr></blockquote></div>

[Tarkin-Wretch]

<P>spell crit achievement is a no brainer but i couldnt figure out what else to spec to maximize dps in pvp since im on nagafen.  i was going down the agi line first to test it out.  im only 51 currently and dont have a ton of AP.  trample got me into some trouble the other day with grabbing non aggro adds for me.  needless to say this didnt help me.  after a few times of that happening i realized that pvp fights dont always happen where you want them and having to get rid of my trample buff at the beginning of combat so i dont get adds means the ability is not all that useful to me or better yet, there may be more useful or just as useful abilities that i dont have to keep an eye on.  i do like joust though.  wonderful CA.  ill miss it.</P> <P>in the wis line you get the buff that increases offensive skills for the group.  with 8 points into that, how often do you get resisted?  is this achievement going to have less usefulness with our off stance now getting disruption?  i know it benefits the whole group and that is important, but im concerned right now with maximizing my potential not someone elses.  so with this achievement and our off stance we can get a disruption boost of close to 70?  or around there.  i cant imagine ever getting resisted with this kind of a boost.  how useful is the health regen buff?  i assume it stacks with fury and zerk buffs right?  how useful is the fear immunity in pvp?  ive been intimidated by monks alot and feared by dirges as often as i see them.  originally i didnt think this would be useful but im beginning to change my mind.</P>

[Ultimatum]

<div><blockquote><hr>Tarkin-Wretched wrote:<div></div> <p>spell crit achievement is a no brainer but i couldnt figure out what else to spec to maximize dps in pvp since im on nagafen.  i was going down the agi line first to test it out.  im only 51 currently and dont have a ton of AP.  trample got me into some trouble the other day with grabbing non aggro adds for me.  needless to say this didnt help me.  after a few times of that happening i realized that pvp fights dont always happen where you want them and having to get rid of my trample buff at the beginning of combat so i dont get adds means the ability is not all that useful to me or better yet, there may be more useful or just as useful abilities that i dont have to keep an eye on.  i do like joust though.  wonderful CA.  ill miss it.</p> <p>in the wis line you get the buff that increases offensive skills for the group.  with 8 points into that, how often do you get resisted?  is this achievement going to have less usefulness with our off stance now getting disruption?  i know it benefits the whole group and that is important, but im concerned right now with maximizing my potential not someone elses.  so with this achievement and our off stance we can get a disruption boost of close to 70?  or around there.  i cant imagine ever getting resisted with this kind of a boost.  how useful is the health regen buff?  i assume it stacks with fury and zerk buffs right?  how useful is the fear immunity in pvp?  ive been intimidated by monks alot and feared by dirges as often as i see them.  originally i didnt think this would be useful but im beginning to change my mind.</p><hr></blockquote>Trample is much better for PvE than PvP imo.  Try out the STA line for melee crits.  While melee doesn't make up a large portion of our damage, the crit chance is a welcome addition, especially if you use something like the Ghostly Axe of Bylze where you can crit for upwards of 3-4k a hit.As for the Wis line, i believe it is essential for pvp.  Keep in mine the + to combat skills also affect fizzle rates, and the + to piercing/crushing/slashing reduces the chances of having your autoattack and combat arts get parried, blocked, or miss alltogether.  Apply this buff to your whole group and you have yourself the cornerstone of an excellent caster group for raid on raid pvp action.  The fearless AA is kind of a waste I think, since anyone who gets feared can easily hit crouch and shift-r to walk and they won't get feared too far...it also dispells the second you take damage so as long as you arent teetering on the edge of the world you should be fine.  </div>