Spirit Spam Sidekick

I often join groups that already have a Ritualist, and low and behold that Ritualist is a spirit spammer. So I want to create a build that works with the Spirit Spammer to aid in battle.

This is under the assumption that all the party's healing needs are already being met. And there are minions, such that Defensive Communing Rituals would die in a matter of seconds (right?).

I was playing around with using Mesmer as a secondary just because I've never made one, and wanted to learn more.

Domination - 12
Channeling - 14

Spirit Siphon
Splinter Weapon
Chaos Storm
Cry of Frustration
Energy Surge
Painful Bond
Arcane Echo
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You begin with casting Splinter Weapon on Melee, then begin using dual painful bonds to aid the Spirit Spammer when they start taking down multiple foes. Use spirit siphon on Spirit Spammer's spirits, and spam Cry of Frustration, Chaos Storm and Energy Surge as needed.

Let's keep things pleasant people, I am just toying with an idea. Also, I do NOT use EotN PvE Skills.

*EDIT*

Also curious, would a Rt/R build that uses a pet work? Something like 12 Beast, 14 Communing/Channeling using mostly beast mastery with a weapon spell for the pet? Like Splinter Weapon or Brutal Weapon. Not really worth having all those points in one attribute line and only use one skill. Any ideas?

Hm, interesting idea, but I am not sure it could be effective. I would go /N and put some spells from the curses line on my bar instead of domination. Like Enfeebling blood, Weaken Armor or Mark of Pain, providing that noone else plays the role of a cursing necro.

The main problem with the defensive spirits is that they are pretty expensive. The fact that they die very fast would not be a problem if you use Assassin's Promise as your elite, but the energy they require to spam them is still very high.

As for a pet Rt/R, I experimented with a build and it worked relatively well. It was before the buff to pets, so I presume it may work better now. You may use splinter weapon or Ancestor's rage on the pet, with Enranged Lunge as your elite. I would still recommend Great Dwarf Weapon, too: a higher damage output and chance to knockdown is very nice.

Quote: Originally Posted by Arctica

I would still recommend Great Dwarf Weapon, too: a higher damage output and chance to knockdown is very nice. All PvE-only skills are lame. Powerful, but lame.

It's definitely annoying being excluded from a group as a ritualist because they already have one, and the leader thinks the only thing a primary ritualist can do is spirit spam.

Great Dwarf Weapon can work very well on a team with physical attackers, and a primary ritualist can easily maintain it on 4 or more people.

Quote: Originally Posted by cognophile

It's definitely annoying being excluded from a group as a ritualist because they already have one, and the leader thinks the only thing a primary ritualist can do is spirit spam. If I join a group with a ritualist in he/she is normally a SoS channeling rit. So I tend to go communing with Wanderlust, Earthbind and Shadowsong etc.

What greatly annoys me though is the /rt people. It used to be if a Necro/Ranger is /rt he had splinterweapon. But no nowadays half the party shows up as SoS spirit spammers, and does not bother to inform the rit. So here in the run you suddenly find yourself tanking with no spirits.

I don't like Codex at all, but I love the "Honor your profession" rule.

To synergize with a spirit spammer, I would still go communing and bring spirits like Anguish, or maybe Shadowsong (if spirit spammer doesnt bring that), and perhaps 6 points to Command to bring Anthem of Disruption/Envy/Weariness.

or http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Team_-_Dual_Spirit_Spam =)

Quote: Originally Posted by Mikkelet

Just a side-note:
Chaos Storm will cause foes to scatter, which means that all your AoE damage skills will be insanely less useful.
You'll probably do more damage by just spamming Splinter and AR on recharge than you'll do with all those mesmer skills in the same time period.

Depending on your party composition I would also suggest Curses. If you are running minions then Barbs will make any foe just blow up. Combine that with Shadow Of Fear and Enfeebling Blood and you have a very nice addition to the party.

On pvx there is a build that mentions using a few skills from Channeling, and the rest anything you want. And they have suggestions for Necro and curses as well. And I guess my only real complaint with that was most of the curses required physical damage. This would be great along side minions, but Spirits not so much.

However, necro curses are a perfect example of what I was thinking of. Skills that enhance the minion master like Weaken Armor, Barbs and Mark of Pain. Just enhancing Spirits rather then minions.

Quote: Originally Posted by iToasterHD

I second the vote for offensive communing. If there's already a channeling spirit spammer in the group, they will already be bringing Painful Bond. I personally don't find two copies to be useful.

The best way you can support the team, in my opinion, is to take advantage of the free painful bond being thrown around (free to you) and bring as many communing attack spirits as you can. Something like:

Signet of Ghostly Might
Anguish
Shadowsong
Dissonance
Disenchantment
Pain
Summon Spirits
Spirit Siphon

maybe drop a spirit for AoU in HM.

I get frustrated with communing rituals because they last 1/3 of their recharge time. So for part of the time, you have no spirits. Also, specifically with Anguish I use it in my spirit spam build, and I don't know too many that don't. That means that they are already using it so I can't (now I could tell them to remove it and pain, thus I take communing they take channeling. But you'd be surprised how difficult even that can be). The idea is to not have to tell them to do anything, and confuse their little minds. So pain and anguish are often off limits.

This is when I wish ANet took my idea about Spirit Walls, in which two spirits form a barrier in between themselves that can block enemies and cut large groups in half.

I am still experimenting with Communing Defensive Rituals, but find that generally ineffective (especially with minions). I did create an interesting Restoration Spirit Spam, but not sure what my intentions are with it. I don't want to be a "healer" but rather a support healer using rituals and weapon spells. But I often find people pigeon hold me into just healing.

Quote: Originally Posted by iToasterHD I get frustrated with communing rituals because they last 1/3 of their recharge time. So for part of the time, you have no spirits. Also, specifically with Anguish I use it in my spirit spam build, and I don't know too many that don't. That means that they are already using it so I can't (now I could tell them to remove it and pain, thus I take communing they take channeling. But you'd be surprised how difficult even that can be). The idea is to not have to tell them to do anything, and confuse their little minds. So pain and anguish are often off limits. I know what you mean. I take Pain in my spirit spam build, but I dont take Anguish. This is why I wanted some alternative skills to bring along with the option of replacing certain offensive spirits in my communing bar to fit in. I looked into the Paragon's Command chants for that.

Signet of Ghostly Might is nice but provided you bring enough offensive spirits on your own bar. If the PUG spirit spammer happens to bring many offensive communing spirits too, then SoGM may not be worth it for supporting just 2 offensive spirits on your own bar?

Clarification on SoGM please:

It only affects spirits summoned by you, and not all spirits summoned by other party members, correct?

Quote: Originally Posted by Mervil

Clarification on SoGM please:

It only affects spirits summoned by you, and not all spirits summoned by other party members, correct? From the Wiki it reads: "For 5...17 seconds, all spirits you control within earshot attack 33% faster and deal +5...9 damage."

Therefore, it only affects your spirits.

However! This brings me to my point originally lost in the first post. Painful Bond does, in fact, work with others spirits. Now, ideally your spirits attack one target until they are good and dead, but in most cases they don't. Because they often attack multiple targets, you can see how it would be advantageous to have multiple Painful Bonds. Three painful bonds would act to enhance the spirits' damage. Discuss.

P.S. If you have any builds you like to run when the other Ritualist is running SoS Spirit Spam, please post it!

It also depends what kind of a group you are running.
If you run someone that is able to grab aggro and hold them together - one PB is sufficient given how it's AoE already.
If not, then yeah I can see how multiple PB would be beneficial.

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*whistles innocently*

Quote: Originally Posted by upier

It also depends what kind of a group you are running.
If you run someone that is able to grab aggro and hold them together - one PB is sufficient given how it's AoE already.
If not, then yeah I can see how multiple PB would be beneficial. Agree. In a good team everyone should be targeting the same monster anyway and spirits do have a tendency to follow its caster in attacking the same target.

Another build that is annoying along with a Spirit spammer. Try using wanderlust along with earthbind spirit and just other spirits that other rit doesn't have monster stay on there butts longer than usual and rest of the spirits do there job