About Oracle

[kextreme]

I am using Oracle and I am thinking whether I should invest in Ice shard or Ternion.It seems that Ice shard has fixed around of ice damage while Ternion's damage is around 3 times the base damage of character which means it would have higher damage than Ice Shard as the weapon becoming more powerful.I don't understand people say it would be better to invest in ice shard.Is it coz of its penetrating power?

[Viper_Sweden]

Ice Shard is probably better early on until you find a real kick-*** staff...

[Uzael]

Originally Posted by kextreme

I am using Oracle and I am thinking whether I should invest in Ice shard or Ternion.It seems that Ice shard has fixed around of ice damage while Ternion's damage is around 3 times the base damage of character which means it would have higher damage than Ice Shard as the weapon becoming more powerful.I don't understand people say it would be better to invest in ice shard.Is it coz of its penetrating power?

There are a number of factors. 1st off, you shoot 5-6 shards at a time with ice shards and a faster speed of attack than a staff all things being equal. While ternion does fire 3 bolts, it rarely hits all 3 bolts on a target unless you are in melee range. You can also max the base damage rather quickly doing over 100+ damage per shard at a very early level, which is higher than the staff damage you have availible.

Eventually, when you get a high end staff, and equipment to increase it's speed, ternion can catch up and will pass up it's damage. Although, in point blank range against a large target, ice shards still kick some *** due to how many shards fire, but you probably won't be doing that against bosses often and In point blank range against a bunch of mobs, arcane lore, the synergy of ternion, will make it superior.

Anyways, if you want some early high end damage, ice shards works well. If you have great gear and staff, your ternion will take over it's damage somewhere in epic. For the levels 25-40ish, ice shards is most likely superior for most.

[The Rock-man]

Simple as Ice shard does 60-83~71.5 base damage per shard, and gets +52% in tree and +52% storm numbus and bonus projectiles making it do 2.04*71.5~146 base damage per shard. With 6 shards =6*146=875 per cast (to bosses) and a 60% pirce chance that = 1.6*875=1400 Max damage protental.

(Asmuning staff is cold base so both get the same +% bonus from INT and gear and SN)

Staff assume base damage of ~200 (think this is about the max you will find pre 40)will deal 200*(1.50-.20)=200*1.3=260 base per misslie ~3*260=780 max to bosses.
Now you see pointblank into a boss or mob IS deals 100+ more damage. Also usly about 2 ice shard hit the mob your fireing at from range (IME) again making it just that bit better. though if theres a large mob in a group (of ~2m) Ternion + AL will be better.

But in general casting is much faster than attack speed again makes IS better.