So today I’m posting (or posted) a video on a behind the scenes look at how I create my build. This will be a multiple part series aimed at trying to create the most powerful burst AoE magicka Sorcerer possible for small group PvP “Fusion.” This is designed for small group PvP only, jump in, blow up and get out. I’m following a step by step series in this order and need your help.
- Theory – Coming up with the idea, then laying out a road map to get the build start.
- Collecting – Now we know the idea, it’s time to start collecting all the missing pieces such as gear, skills and every bit of materials needed to push our build to the limits. Things like maxing Fighters Guild, making gear legendary, PvP’ing until you get a high enough Alliance rank, so forth.
- Testing- After we have everything, now we need to see if it even works and ways to improve it. I’ll sit out in a field somewhere endlessly beating on NPC or friends writing down results, changing gear, skills and CP and doing it all over again.
- Mastery – Now I’ve proven the build can work, it’s time to play a lot of hours to encounter every scenario possible in order to prove can preform properly and of course acquire kick arse footage 🙂
- Teaching- Finally, I put it all together and make a video to show you how I came about making this build in the first place.
Instead of just going about this myself, may you can help me test and answer some basic questions? All you need to do is reply in the comments with your answer and proof (picture, link, description). I will update the question as answered and give you credit forever on the site. And an extra shout out during the builds credits 🙂
Questions to be Answered (will check off with credit once I check comments)
UPDATE 12/9/2015
- Should I use Inner Light or Bound Armor or both (for max magic=more damage)?
- A: Both for max damage, Inner only for utility.
- What does more damage on a Sorcerer, max magicka or max spell power?
- A: By far max magicka plus it has the added benefit of pumping up our shields. I still like all Divines traits for PvE, PvP all Infused I think is the answer.
- What ability makes Proximity Detention Empowered (or 20% more damage)? I’ve tried Entropy and it doesn’t seem to work, even casting right before it blows up (most answer can be found on Tamriel Foundry courtesy of Asayre’s comment).
- A: Proxy Det cannot be empowered because it’s considered a DoT (Nifty). But you can Empower Dawnbreaker of Smiting which is devastating.
- What’s the most damage producing weapon for Proxy Det bar? 2H, Dual Wield, or Maelstrom Staff?
- A: Turns it out it’s not what bar you cast det on, it’s what bar you are on when it explodes. The Dual Wield bar with Torug’s swords is more DPS than a Maelstrom staff (tested by me).
- How to empower Dawnbreaker of Smiting (Fighter’s Guild Ultimate)?
- A: Entropy, animation cancel Smiting.
- What’s the best Mundus stone?
- A: Thief (Gilliam), I went with Shadow for pure damage BUT if you’re fighting groups, increasing your chances is better than one massive hit. Though I did get a 60,000 Dawnbreaker on NPCs in the sewers.
- Better to do all Divines or all Infused?
- A: The research on Tamriel Foundry suggest Infused on a High Elf is the ultimate for both PvE/PvP. I still use Divines with Thief and don’t want to recraft all my gear. BUT if you’re starting fresh with High Elf or Breton (max magicka 10%) go with infused.
- Any way else to making Proxy Det hit harder without using Thaumaturge?
- A: No, and the problem with the build is it doesn’t work as well do to Champion Points (Yahu and Pill0).
Items to Acquire (will check off as I obtain)
- 1 Heavy 1 Medium Julianos Divines or Infused (done)
- Maelstrom Lighting Staff (Precise/Sharpened) (still don’t have but I use nirnhoned crafted)
- Dual Wield Torugs Pact Swords (done)
Summary
Fusion isn’t going to work on the Sorcerer as I envisioned. And here’s why:
Apparently I’ve been playing the Sorcerer wrong for after the launch of Champion Points. Thanks to Yahu and Pill0, Elemental Expert is a much better choice than Thaumaturge. The only thing in my main rotation that uses Thaumaturge is Crystal Fragments. Pretty much everything else is Elemental (shock). While I spec’d fully into Thurm just to do a proxy det and dawnbreaker and instantly destroyed 4 players, the rest of the time I wasn’t optimized. Than when I do PvE I have to readjust my Champion Points. In comparison to a Templar or a Magicka Nightblade, this might be a better build for Fusion.
The bad news is Fusion doesn’t work on a Sorcerer the way I intend. The good is, however is I’ve learned a great deal from the community about Sorcerers and was playing it wrong for quiet awhile. And the Ignition PvE build is ready to rock and roll Overload style. A failure or a setback can lead to success and this is an example of such. The build didn’t work, but collectively we learned a lot, thus sharing our experiences and improving our gameplay. It’s a win overall and I can’t thank you know for teaching me about the mag sorc.
Why the choice for dawnbreaker as ultimate? Does it really hits that hard? I always thougt for max aoe dmg, go for meteor or shooting star (low ulti cost/reloads quick when hittin multiple targets) and heavy dot
I Believe he’s going for an ultimate with high damage at low-cost.
Yes, it hits very hard, plus you can use it often. Meteor is great but there’s so many counters for it. NB can cloak, DK reflect, sword and shield anyone can reflect, Sorcs can absorb it all.
Are you going to be doing this on pc?
Yes
As for 2h vs DW, DW all the way. Not only do you get a 2 piece set bonus from the weapons you get the same 5% damage increase as 2h but a 15% damage bonus from the ruffian passive against stunned, immobilized, disoriented or silenced enemies.
That’s a great point Mike.
Both Duel Wield and Two handed Sword today deals 5% more damage with abilities. But Duel Wield still gets more Spell Damage I believe. And the 15% more damage from Ruffian only effects the abilities from Duel Wield tree.
On another note have you thought of using Proxy Det with clouding swarm, this would give you more survivability as you are losing your wards, while greater aoe burst potential over dawnbreaker.
I have not, I always love Devouring. So you would just launch in there with this and boom? I’m going to have to try that.
Some of your questions are answered at http://tamrielfoundry.com/topic/pts-2-1-2-sorcerer-arithmagic/
or here:
http://tamrielfoundry.com/topic/two-handed-or-dual-wield-for-magicka-builds/
What about immovable? You cant get stuned and you can use other potions to get your damage high
Well it’s a big stamina dump and I rather have the use potions for 14 seconds.
Yeh clouding swarm basically makes you untargetable for its duration + its actual aoe as opposed to dawnbreakers frontal cone. Although dawnbreaker would be a better option on smaller groups or players that are spread out more.
I would like to suggest one thing. If I am right I believe the highest 1 hitting AoE ult today comes from the Dragon Knight ultimate Take Flight (Morpthed from Dragon Leap) and Proximity Detonation is the highest 1 hitting AoE ability in game. thx for me 🙂
Well this is a sorc build so take flights kinda out of the question.
Entropy will only boost it if Proxy is the next spell cast, it’s not a retrospective buff.
Either Destro/Desto or 2 Swords/Resto.
The mundus stone is iffy, if your below say 1400 regen then Atro, if not go for Spell Power.
Infuse Helm, Chest and Legs. Divines everything else.
If you didn’t know (you most likely do) 1009 Magicka gives the same damage boost as 100 Spell Power so going infused on the helm, chest and legs on v16 gives a huge damage bump.
A good nasty rotation is Magica Det, Curse, C Frag or Streak right before Curse and Det blow up, Mage Fury. 1 guy dead. Rinse and repeat.
I did not know that thanks for the tips.
Turns out the build doesn’t work very well due to some of your tips and others like CP. Elemental Expert is where it’s at not Thurm. I can smite a small group but everything else just sucks. I’ll update soon.
I was wondering why you picked a sorc for this. A Magic NB is just better suited for this particular task of pooping up/Blowing up, nuke um style.
You might find more success with it running, Bats + Proxi Det + Sap Essence spam. It’s VERY cheap but it is effective.
Yes it’s better as I updated my post below.
Don’t feel bad, I’m running into a similar situation testing a Magic DK High Elf trying to see if the new Elemental Sucession set can be used effectively, since skills like Crushing Shock or a dule elemental staff (inferno staff with a frost enchant) use multi elements. It’s not quite going as intended.
On a side note I did manage to make a self heal that is effective. Coag Dragons Blood (20% healing)+ 2 Heavy armor (2%) + CP (25%) with a Resto’s (5%) Rapid Regen. So I im up 2% healing when I use it on myself in PvP. It’s simple and work well with Power Lash and Burning embers heals as well.
Nice, well thanks for the help.
Hi Deltia, this was a great watch – Thankyou. I have a couple of questions about proxy detonation if you could help me understand it a little better?
1. As a wood elf magicka Nightblade, my tool tip for proxy detonation is much higher in stealth because of racial passives, But since you mentioned that the damage is based on your spell damage at the time of detonation, should I assume that its pointless to cast this from stealth as my damage will go back to normal by the time of activation?
2. If I use shadowy disguise to guarantee the crit, before casting Proxo det, will that make it a criticl hit? Or will the crit be determined based on my spell crit rating at the time of activation?
Thanks in advance 🙂
You cast det first than cast stealth at the 3 second or under mark so no.
It’ll make your next attack crit, thus you need to cast it RIGHT before it hits.