Pure Spirit char

[GnU]

hey i just started to play yesterday and find the spirit tree very interesting.. im gonna make a pure spirit char caster so i could use some advice on what skills to pick and what to aviod

hope someone out thier can help

thx for ya time

GnU

[Buy4now]

Spirit is one of my favorite masteries, but I must confess that I use it as a melee support mastery more than a main caster mastery. But I have some experience with Soothsayers and Conjurers, so here goes:

I suggest you get the unofficial patch before going too far, because Ravages of Time doesn't work without it. The whole Deathchill Aura line is great for damage control and vitality/life leech enhancements. Visions of Death is a fantastic panic button and ranged crowd control ability (I recommend that for your RMB since it has to be targeted). The Liche King is my favorite pet in the game, so he's a must along with his synergies. I use the Spirit Ward early in the game, but spec out of it later (too much of an energy drain). A point in Death Ward and Summon Outsider (good boss killer). Never used Enslave Spirit much, but some folks like it. Ternion Attack is great for later in the game when you can steal some skill points from other skills and max it out all at once. Dark Covenant is great for when you need some extra killing potential for you and the Liche King (just keep an eye on your health and pop potions when using it). Circle of Power is a waste of time, don't bother there.

Have you thought about another mastery to go with Spirit? The reason I ask is because Spirit plays a great support role, but it lacks damage dealing abilities (it has no passive enhancements to elemental or physical attacks outside of Dark Covenant). You will start to get very squishy by act 3/4 in normal without another mastery to supplement you with health, energy, and elemental damage (storm and earth) or pets (nature storm and earth).

Just some food for thought as you start your journey.

[GnU]

as far as i know the unoffical patchs is only for the expansion IT and i don't got that yet only the original game will get the other one later.

well as for the two masteries maybe warfare or defence, i like teh defence side

[Irma2]

Spellbinder would not make a very good caster. I'd suggest going melee if you want to use Spirit and Defense. Ditto for Spellbreaker (Spirit and Warfare).

[Buy4now]

I second that, Irma2 -- there are no "absolutely nevers" in this game, but using Warfare or Defense on a caster build is pretty close to one of them. Most of your defense skill tree falls away when you equip a staff because many skills are linked to a shield. Warfare is all about dealing physical damage which gets no help from intelligence or elemental damage dealing staffs. Even the worst mastery combinations can survive act 1 and 2, but act 3 will be the real test of your toon.

[Damnationed]

if you combine warfare of defense with storm, spirit or earth you can always play it like a caster - there are always some skills that help you; battle standard, onslaught, dodge attack, war horn, ancestral horn, adrenaline, rally battle awerenes, armor handling, colossus form and their syngeries

[F4rmerbob]

Originally Posted by Buy4now

I second that, Irma2 -- there are no "absolutely nevers" in this game, but using Warfare or Defense on a caster build is pretty close to one of them. Most of your defense skill tree falls away when you equip a staff because many skills are linked to a shield. Warfare is all about dealing physical damage which gets no help from intelligence or elemental damage dealing staffs. Even the worst mastery combinations can survive act 1 and 2, but act 3 will be the real test of your toon.

All lies. Defense provides everything a pure caster needs* in a support class. Defense has the best energy regen skill, more elemental resist than any other class, and a whole array of damage mitigation skills.





*as long as you don't use a staff and put half your stat points in strength

[Buy4now]

My apologies for confusing the "caster" designation with the "staff wielding" designation. My warnings are about not using a defense/warfare mastery with a staff wielding toon. Spellbreakers and spellbinders are great hybrid classes, but they don't generally use a staff to get the job done.