Point of pestilence?

[RpTheHotrod]

<DIV>I just got pestilence. I was curious...is there a really good use I'm missing out on? I heard so much about it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It seems to just be a single DoT that's a taaaaaaaad more damage than our AoE DoT if the AoE hit only one target.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Lasting only 16 seconds, the spell normally expires before the mob dies. If you wait till it's almost dead, what's the point of using it?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Upon mob death, it travels to 2 other nearby enemies.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I mean, if the duration was a lot longer, or the damage was considerably higher, or if it wasn't just 2 targets, or if the recast wasn't so long, maybe I'd find it useful.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>However, I still heard it "owns". So, perhaps I am missing something. What is the big deal about it? It seems that our aoe DoTs are just far superior. Also, it seems that if you have to cast it just before the mobs death, and it spreads to other targets....in order for it to spread further...that one target has to be quick to death too. If that's the case, then you really wouldn't even need "spell help" to kill the mobs (if they dropped faster than 16 seconds).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What am I missing?</DIV> <P>Message Edited by RpTheHotrod on <SPAN class=date_text>10-01-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>01:45 PM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by RpTheHotrod on <span class=date_text>10-01-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:47 PM</span>

[shogun007]

At adept 1 with full crits aa line it does around 180 per tick ,180 x 8 = 1440 dam ,not too bad for a dot + nice graphics also if fighting an encounter and only dots are up when mob is red u can cast regular dot, the mob will die when it ticked once so u miss out on damage ,when cast pestilence it will transfer to another mob like a virus personally  i like it  better than other dots i am lev 65 sk too and i am enjoying it so far.

[Vexorkane]

<DIV>Pestilence is all about timing.  If used correctly you can increase your dps pretty substantialy if you're facing numerous mobs.  Other than that its just an ok single target dot.  Its also a great auto puller =P</DIV><p>Message Edited by Vexorkane on <span class=date_text>10-01-2006</span> <span class=time_text>03:55 PM</span>

[Kryptonix]

Run around and get 8 mobs on you. Put up blessing then cast all your AEs except for Tap Veins. When the mob your hitting gets to the 2nd bubble cast death march and pestilence. When pestilence spreads burn one of the mobs it spread to. With Death March and Pestilence running and all the DoTs on our AEs up, you have absolutely no idea how powerful you become and how much faster you kill mobs. Pestilence is pretty much a solo only spell for me. When I solo and have more than 2 mobs on me I always cast pestilence. The best place I have seen this spell work is on Gazer Isle and SoS. People say its useless because it spreads to only 2 other mobs and you gotta kill it fast etc etc. To me this spell is frickin awesome. With max spell crits and death march running its lethal. If you pull more than your usual 2 - 4 mobs at a time then youll see a huge difference. Try going into HoF into the drake pit, cast death march and pestilence and just AE like crazy, youll be surprised how many pestilence icons show up on your maintained spell bar. Most Ive gotten was 4. If you group a lot, pestilence may not shine since you got your dps to burn the mob down faster, and you rarely pull more than 4 mobs.<div></div>

[Beldin_]

The most funniest thing ever was, when i did the lightstone heritage and used death march in Bloodskull Valley, especially since i did that short time before with my ranger, and that was such a pain with endless autoattacking while out of mana .. with the SK i was ready and had still 60% mana because pestilence killed all of the mobs <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[RpTheHotrod]

How useful in pvp do you think it is?

[Norrsken]

I'd say its a monster in raid pvp.

[Xanoth]

its just another good reason to pull a whole room at a time

[Nicholai24]

The usual 2 - 4 mobs? Heh.Rp, try pulling 5 - 12 enemies at a time, and pop Death March. When the first mob is halfway dead, stick Pestilence. Watch for which mobs it spreads to, and manually target / tab-target them next. Kill them. Look for where it spreads. Kill that one. Etc, etc.200 - 300 damage criticals every 2 seconds for 16 seconds x however many you spread it to for 132 power. It's a beast.<p>Message Edited by Nicholai24 on <span class=date_text>10-02-2006</span> <span class=time_text>06:23 AM</span>

[Nocifer Deathblade]

Yep, upgraded DM+Pestilence combo OWNS... I have adept 3 DM and Master 1 Pestilence. I sure need to buy Master 1 DM heh.<p>Message Edited by Nocifer Deathblade on <span class=date_text>10-02-2006</span> <span class=time_text>08:00 AM</span>

[JBialo]

I have found it very usefull in raid situations with multi Mobs. After you get the timming down it is pretty easy to cast it and get almost the full dmg. out of it before the Mob dies and it spreads to 2 more. It usually doesn't trigger again before it finnishes but I have also noticed that on those long fights that I can cast it twice and help my dps a bit.

[RpTheHotrod]

<DIV>Here is what I'd hope for to make it more useful</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>One of the following:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. The damage dealt over 16 seconds, but the spell lasts 20-30 seconds (after 16 seconds, it no longer damages). That gives it more time for the mob to die and to properly proc.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2. Damage increased to make it worthwhile. Normal AoE is far superior (lil less damage per target but spreads instantly to targets, while pestilence spreads to two and stops unless you're fighting very weak mobs...in which you wouldn't need spell help anyway)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3. Reduce the re-cast timer from a minute to 30 seconds</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4. Allow it to spread to nearby enemies without a limit of 2</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5. Once a creature dies with pestilence, it spreads to 2 targets...but also refreshes the DoT if the only targets left already have it.</DIV><p>Message Edited by RpTheHotrod on <span class=date_text>10-03-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:52 AM</span>

[tooloose]

Killer spell in PvP, solo or group. Lead with it in solo fights, in group PvP time it for the spread.

[tooloose]

BTW, play with it somewhere like on the beach in nek or cl, you can clear the whole beach with one cast.

[CHIMPNOODLE.]

Love that spell...get it going with deathmarch on and a few Aoe dots and you can burn down multi-mobs in no time flat.

[Kryptonix]

<div><blockquote><hr>RpTheHotrod wrote:<div></div> <div>Here is what I'd hope for to make it more useful</div> <div> </div> <div>One of the following:</div> <div> </div> <div>1. The damage dealt over 16 seconds, but the spell lasts 20-30 seconds (after 16 seconds, it no longer damages). That gives it more time for the mob to die and to properly proc.</div> <div> </div> <div>2. Damage increased to make it worthwhile. Normal AoE is far superior (lil less damage per target but spreads instantly to targets, while pestilence spreads to two and stops unless you're fighting very weak mobs...in which you wouldn't need spell help anyway)</div> <div> </div> <div>3. Reduce the re-cast timer from a minute to 30 seconds</div> <div> </div> <div>4. Allow it to spread to nearby enemies without a limit of 2</div> <div> </div> <div>5. Once a creature dies with pestilence, it spreads to 2 targets...but also refreshes the DoT if the only targets left already have it.</div><p>Message Edited by RpTheHotrod on <span class="date_text">10-03-2006</span> <span class="time_text">10:52 AM</span></p><hr></blockquote>1. Dont need to change it, it already last long as it is. You just gotta time it right and be able to burn one of the mobs it spreads too. Once you get it to spread twice its usually enough to keep going without much effort. 2. If you look at it as "it spreads to 8 targets instantly" then yes the normal AEs are better. But Pestilence has no real duration or real target limit if you look at it. As long as there are enemies around and are able to kill before it runs out Pestilence will never end.3. Sounds good 4. Having it spread to more than 2 would be awesome, but if it stayed the same it would still be powerful.5. Dont really see the point of this. if you keep spreading Pestilence it will eventually hit the same targets again. This would make this spell way over powered IMO.Pestilence isnt some straight forward spell that you just cast just because you want to cast it. The spell is supposed to be used in combination with other spells. If you cast Pestilence without Death March you weaken it. If you do not have your AE DoTs running while Pestilence is up, then you lower your chance of it spreading quicker. Most people who view Pestilence as a useless spell, IMO have no idea how to use it. As I stated earlier, if you like pulling more than 4 mobs at a time or like chain pulling then Pestilence is one of the best spells we have. But if you are someone who likes the usual 1-4 mob pull then chill for a while then pull again, then I dont think you will ever see the true potential of this spell. We even have spells that help make sure Pestilence spreads: HT and Wrath. If you arent sure it will spread cast HT if you have Death March running you can get both of them to refresh.</div>

[Coica]

I agree. Awesome spell. but deffinately a timing thing and a large group thing.<div></div>

[tooloose]

<DIV>Yeah its great for getting and holding agro on grouped mobs and is a little kicker for adds. If its on and an ad comes in, I ae to keep it off the healer, then use everything I have to kill tgt mob and spread pestilence. It does enough dammage on the spread to pull agro off healers if the ae didn't get em.</DIV>