Holy Suck, Batman!

[Taeolen]

<DIV>Hi, gang.  I originally played the game as a Shadowknight (got to 51 and quit shortly after KoS launched).  I've come back tot he game recently and had nothing but trouble with my SK to the point where I could barely kill 2 down arrow yellow mobs.  Seems like I was always getting resisted, fizzles, interruptions, etc and just couldn't keep myself up and fighting no matter what.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Got so frustrated with the character that I shelved him, and made a Zerker (which is now level 40).  However I am now not sure what I want to do with my SK.  I had originally planned on playing my Zerker with my GF's new char until both were 51 before deciding what I wanted to play more.  Then I started working on the Betrayal Quest for my SK since I figured why not try a Paladin at the same level without having to level one up.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Have even given it thought about just stripping all his gear off of him, selling it and shifting the cash down to my Zerker, but I'm wanting feedback.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The thing is that I really loved playing my SK before but after returning just got so tired of feeling like a worthless piece of sucking trash and unable to do anything effectively.  Damage seems crappy, weak/squishy, and couldn't hold aggro from a weakly orphan child even when I tried.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>His gear isn't the best in the world.  Just some regular level 50 crafted Armor a few HQ items and obviously no AA points save the first one.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What I am wondering is that if this character is beyond "fixing" or would I simply just be better off rerolling my SK now that I am in a better position to outfit him with better gear/spell levels so I could start earning his AA points sooner (my Zerker already has around 6-7 points and it makes a world of difference it feels like).  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Or, should I just keep my 51 struggle with him and outfit him in good gear at 52 and simply learn to replay the class better to its strengths at this level?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I was in a frame of mind that the SK is kind of crap right now based on the experience I have had with mine since returning and some of the comments I have seen people make in game concerning them.  Not really sure that's the case anymore now since I have been reading through this forum and seeing people say how much the SK rocks and kicks [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn].</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyway, I suppose I will stop here before I start to ramble. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Jodah]

<DIV>Well, if you keep him until EOF he will probably have much more power, no fizzles at all, and if you pvp enemy resist wont be as high soo... I would at least keep him until the new expansion.</DIV>

[Taeolen]

Nice, I like the sound of that.

[Diern]

I'd suggest doing a search on these forums for good play strategies with a shadowknight. Outfit it with some decent equipment and make sure your key spells are at least adept 3. Shadowknights definately do not suck...

[Baaloc]

This might sound too obvious, but make sure your spell and weapons skills are up to par. There is a nice topic stickied to the top of this board written by MirageKnight indicating the importance of spell damage, as there are more spell arts than melee. Make sure the skill in the spells you are using, including focus, are up in line with your level. Also, as I see with so many SK's, use your blessing line for self heals! Some people don't realize that you can cast this spell on yourself even though the text doesn't imply it. GL to you. I'm on the AB server as well. Name is Gothik. Look me up if you want.

[Taeolen]

<DIV>Thanks.  <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Zard]

<P>I agree with the other posters, I'm actually kind of <EM>embarrassed</EM> at how good my SK is at <STRONG>soloing</STRONG> at level 53 and he has NO fabled, one Adept III, one Master I and one Master II; just taunts and ward, no offensive abilities.  He uses (original) Imbued Cobalt armor and weapons, nothing special, but I keep his combat and spell skills maxed (so maybe <EM>that</EM> is the difference?) </P> <P>Tactics make a difference too but those you can learn on your own or by reading these forums so hang in there, brother!</P>

[Lamprey_02]

<DIV>Prenerf cobalt is hardly "nothing special", the mitigation on it is as good as xegonite which is a whole tier ahead.</DIV>

[Zard]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Lamprey_02 wrote:<BR> <DIV>Prenerf cobalt is hardly "nothing special", the mitigation on it is as good as xegonite which is a whole tier ahead.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>You're right, I just haven't seen <EM>post-nerf</EM> T6 gear to know how much difference there really is. :smileytongue:</P> <P> </P>

[Coica]

well, if you can, take a look at eq2players and do a search for SK's your lvl and compare. you'll see quite a difference in the post and pre-nerf cobalt . anyways, dont give up SK dude. SK's are way better than most people think, but it does take some strategy and timing and at least a few decent pieces of equipment. get those spells to adept III at least .  may take some time, but worth it IMO. hang in there!!<div></div>

[Nicholai24]

In good equipment with upgraded spells, shadowknights feel 'about average' with 0 AAs at Level 50 - 54.Just keep fighting to 55. Trust me, Tap Veins is class-defining.Once you break 55, you'll have smooth sailing. Period. Just consider the struggle to get there as penance for the uberosity of 55+.Also, look into Intel. AAs when you're able to pick them up. 8 points in Wrath = 70% chance to spell-critical / lifetap / lifetap heal crit.<div></div>

[CHIMPNOODLE.]

<DIV>SKs are crazy strong once geared up and AA'd out. In raid or group, it's a great class, and also a blast to play. They are at least as good as any of the tank classes if played well.</DIV> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P><p>Message Edited by CHIMPNOODLE. on <span class=date_text>10-23-2006</span> <span class=time_text>08:43 PM</span>

[Beldin_]

<DIV>Ok .. First .. betray to Paladin is nothing that will help you <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Second .. its your decision to reroll if you have the time, i would really consider that, because its a good way to relearn the class and if you hit 50-55 you may have</DIV> <DIV>already enough AA-Points for 4/4/8 int what means max spellcrit.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Third .. if you have the possibilty to get T6 Mastercrafted gear you shoud outfit hin with cobalt armor and mostly pearl jewlery to push your INT primary, because</DIV> <DIV>since the combat revamp from DoF INT is our primary stat to push damage, then look to do as many blue quest you can , run through all</DIV> <DIV>Zones starting with Nek Forest/Thundering Steppes for discovery points, and look for all nameds that are at least green do to get AA-Experience <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>All i can sayed is, good skilled and geard and correctly played SK is the best Solo/Group char in my eyes because you are not only a tank that can heal himself,</DIV> <DIV>you also can often make damage near to rouges or wizards <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Mallfoy]

<P>Taeloen, I think alot of SKs were frustrated btwn the Dragons of Flame to the Kingdom of Sky expansion and that was mainly with taunting issues. I think most re-worked their playstyle when the big combat revamp came out. However now since the Kingdom of Sky expansion, I have been more pleased with the SK class than I've ever been before.  I'm now lvl 70 with 50AAs and this class just kicks shear [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]. I usually parse in the top 5 for overall raid DPS and yes I can still tank and solo. Lately they changed our Death March spell and IMO I really like the changes (also helps with my agro retaining abilities).</P> <P> </P> <P>A lot of the others have already given advice on how to improve but here's what I recommend</P> <P>1. Start looking at / for any and all INT gear. Whenever you don't have to tank, get your INT gear on (even if it's a robe for the chest slot) and go freakin nuts!</P> <P>2. Run all over Norrath. Not sure how many AAs you have now, but you can get a few by just running around Zek, Lavastorm, Feerrott - basically any old world zone. </P> <P>3. Learn which AAs SKs are utilizing the most (some of INT, some of STAM and some of STR). Basically anything that helps with spell crits, melee crits, and haste.</P> <P> </P> <P>GL out there man and FYI it's sacriledge that you even mentioned converting over to Pally :smileywink:</P><p>Message Edited by Mallfoy on <span class=date_text>10-24-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:13 AM</span>

[Taeolen]

<P>Thanks for all the help and feedback guys. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>I think I will have to keep him and dust him off once I get him some better gear.  I was checking his stats yesterday and his intell is only like 60 unbuffed. >.<</P> <P>I still may just reroll him too or make another SK alt to play to get back into gear with things on them.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Blaidd]

I felt similar to you in the early 50's. Was seriously tempted to betray but I kept with it. Now whenever I group with Pallies I feel sorry for them as they just dont seem as fun or anywhere near as good.Upgrade to cobalt (lvl 52 to use) and stick with it and you will be rewarded. Thoroughly enjoy my Sk and when a choice between Sk and Pally for who tanks I always get chosen <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Kryptonix]

<P>Early 50s is always awkward. It seems really hard but trust me once you get Tap Veins you will be UNSTOPPABLE. get the Right AAs ad you will be doing some pretty awesome DPS and be able to lock down hate. I would go through the INT line and max out your spell crits. Then maybe STR if you are having trouble with hate. </P> <P>Also remember that IN DoF there are always Giants, Cyclops, and Harpies groups. These are all zones where you can use a mount. So try out the AGI line and get Trample. Awesome DPS from that skill alone.</P>

[Taeolen]

<P>Just a question about AA lines real fast.</P> <P>I am thinking that I am going to go down the STA and INT lines, but which one to go down first?  INT to get to the spell crits first?</P>

[Ultimatum]

<div><blockquote><hr>Taeolen wrote:<div></div><p>which one to go down first?  INT to get to the spell crits first?</p><hr></blockquote>Disco!  That should always be the first choice as it not only boosts your DPS, but raises your ability to hold aggro at the same time.</div>

[CHIMPNOODLE.]

<DIV>If you are holding aggro fine and healers are having trouble keeping you up, maybe STA would be better first. So go with what you feel you need more right now....more dammage/aggro...or more abiltity to take a hit and live.</DIV>

[Wendingo]

I would go INT first.  STA and HP are easier to fix with gear than INT.  Spell crits will also help more if you happen to not be the main tank in the group.   

[Ardnahoy]

<P>My SK is also 51. He pretty much kills just about anything he wants. The only problem he has is running low on power, but that is more due to my playstyle. Like others have said, the crusader class is dependant on both gear and quality of spells. If any of these are lacking, you will be an unhappy crusader.</P> <P>First thing you need to do is put on some gear that doesn't suck. At the very least, you need to be wearing pre-nerf cobalt armor. On my server, I managed to gather a set, after the crafting upgrade, for about 20 plat. You won't need the boots since you should be wearing JBoots. You should be wearing the FBSS belt. You should have on mastercrafted or legendary jewelery.</P> <P>Next, you need to make sure every spell and combat art is at Adept III or better. For some, like our lifetap line, you must be at Master level. Check the Qeynos broker for cheap SK spells. T6 raws for adept spells sell for about 60 gold on my server, and most alchemists will do the combine for about 10 gold.</P> <P>Next, you need to get a few AA's under your belt. You need to get to 4,4,4 on the INT line as soon as possible. If you want to get some quick AA points, go back and do every T3-T5 heritage quest that you can. You can solo almost all of them. Before turning in the last quest item, find someone to mentor that will make the HQ blue in your quest journal (usually 2 or 3 levels above the level of the HQ). For some, you will have to bring a friend with you (HQ's that end in Varsoon's Lair or Nek Castle). For the rest, you can just look for someone in the zone of the appropriate level, and mentor them. HQ's give about 30-50% AA experience.</P> <P>Do as many non-repeating quests as you can that are within 3 levels of your adventure level. If you have a lot of green quests, find someone to mentor until the quests are blue and then complete them. Also, do every collection quest you can afford. You don't have to mentor to get the AA benefits for the lower level collections. The new page collections are really easy to do, and you can buy a lot of the pages on the broker for almost nothing. My illusionist earned between 10 to 12 AA's in one week from doing about 10 newbie HQ's and turning in approximately 5 plat worth of collection quests.</P> <P>Finally, if you last played before the combat revamp, you will need to clear out your hotbars and relearn all your abilities. This does not take long, just takes a little effort. Soloing with an SK is extremely easy. The main thing to focus on is our lifetaps and stuns. We get three lifetaps, and two stuns. If you time them properly, you will be at 100% health for the duration of the fight. Sprinkle in our DoT's, nukes, and pet, and mobs go down quick. The average SK can regularly defeat ^^^ blue named heroics, ^^ white heroics, and ^ yellows with ease. The exceptional SK can handle some ^^^ white heroics. My baby SK once soloed a green Epic x2, so anything is possible.</P> <P>If you like playing a fighter class, its hard to beat the SK for soloability.</P>

[Beldin_]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Ardnahoy wrote:<BR> <P>At the very least, you need to be wearing pre-nerf cobalt armor. On my server, I managed to gather a set, after the crafting upgrade, for about 20 plat. You won't need the boots since you should be wearing JBoots. You should be wearing the FBSS belt. You should have on mastercrafted or legendary jewelery.</P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>My 58 Woodelf SK wears the "nerfed" cobalt, and i absolutly have no problems with that. I play in a group with a Brigand,Fury and Defiler, and the last wipe i remember was in the caves when i she was still a gimpy Paladin <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Our brigand manage to peel aggro from me from time to time, but it was never critical till now <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Ardnahoy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <P></P> <HR> <P>Beldin_ wrote:</P> <P>My 58 Woodelf SK wears the "nerfed" cobalt, and i absolutly have no problems with that. I play in a group with a Brigand,Fury and Defiler, and the last wipe i remember was in the caves when i she was still a gimpy Paladin <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Our brigand manage to peel aggro from me from time to time, but it was never critical till now <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR></P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Sure, if you will group a lot, especially with a healer, you can probably get away with common crafted leather. I find it too frustrating to group with my SK, so she spends a lot of time soloing, and really needs the pre-nerf cobalt. I'm sure the new cobalt would be fine as well, but those KoS mobs hit so [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] hard, I'd go for the most mit possible.</P>