User:Tennessee Ernie Ford/Shortcuts/Guide to Caster Weapons

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Casters have a number of choices when it comes to choosing weapons. Ideally, a human caster should switch between 2–3 weapon sets during battle. This article highlights the various possibilities and offers suggestions for optimizing the use of each.

[edit] Caster Weapon Sets

Any of the 5 combinations of weapons can be useful to casters, depending on the situation. Generally, human casters should make use of 3 weapon sets, switching between them during the heat of battle. Hero casters will be limited to a single choice.

[edit] Item Combinations

Combination	Strengths	Limitations	Likely player usage	Likely hero usage
Wand and Focus	Max energy, allows 40/40	Attribute dependent	Single-attribute builds	Static build heroes
Staff	Generic HSR 20% +20% Enchantment possible	40/40 not possible	Multi-attribute builds	Heroes that switch builds frequently
Martial Weapon + Focus	Non-situational high energy, extra health +20% Enchantment with focus mods	40/40 not possible	Low-spell builds; heat of battle
Shield	Max health, condition reduction +20% Enchantment and health	Low HSR/HCT	Low-spell builds, 2+ superior runes, low health moments

[edit] Common Combinations

• 40/40: wand + focus each with HCT/HSR 20 for the same attribute.
• 2x 20/20: wand + focus with HCT/HSR 20 for different attributes
• High Energy Enchant: martial with E+5/+20% Enchant + focus
• High Health: martial + off-hand each with of fortitude bonuses or Hale Staff of Fortitude
• Super Max Energy: martial and focus, each with inscriptions adding +15e (at the loss of 2 pips of energy regeneration)
• Retreat! High health with +AR inscription on off-hand
• Hero Flexibility: Insightful staff of fortitude with 10% HCT.

[edit] Examples

Nuker (Skill bar has 4–6 fire spells):

• Begin battle with a 40/40 fire set.
• If low on energy, switch to high energy set.
• If low on health, switch to high health set.

Protector (Skill bar has 2–6 enchantments):

• Before battle, use a +20% enchantment set
• During battle, switch to 20/10 or 40/40 set (depending on build)
• Switch to high energy/health sets as needed.

Farmer (Multi-attribute skill bar with 1+ critical enchantments)

• Before battle: 20% enchantment + HSR + energy set, usually martial weapon + focus
• Switch to high health or higher energy sets as needed, being careful to switch back before casting enchantments.

Low Spell Builds (Multi-attribute skill bars)

• Begin battle with 20/10 set.
• Switch to high energy/health sets as needed.

Flag Bearer (Casters spending time carrying items, e.g. some ritualist builds)

• Use high health OR high energy set, allowing a return in health or energy when bundle is dropped.
• Avoid switching weapons (which forces you to drop bundle prematurely)

Situational (Known foes expected to apply particularly conditions)

• Bring 1 or more shields with health and mods that reduce length of condition durations.
• Be sure to have shield equipped before the condition is applied; the duration remains lowered even if you switch weapons.

PvP (Rapid weapon set changes are almost required to be successful)

• Situational set: Martial + Shield, to protect against known enemy (e.g. E+5 and 60 Health while Hexed), increase enchantment length, etc.
• Low health set: switch when Health is below 50%
• High energy martial: add back energy when low
• Super high energy wand/focus: wand with Seize the Day and focus with Live for Today

[edit] Basic Ideas

[edit] Standard Terminology

The article assumes basic familiarity with these terms: Wand, Staff, Focus, Shield, Inscription, Weapon Upgrade, Rune, Insignia, AR = Armor Rating

[edit] Caster-specific Terminology/Jargon

A number of other terms are used frequently when discussing caster choices. The table below highlights these terms and why they are important to casters.

Abbrev	Term	Usage and Key points
HCT	Halves Casting Time of Spells	Applies only to Spells; can apply to the item's Attribute (max: 20%) or all spells (max: 10%, usually)
HSR	Halves Skill Recharge of Spells Halves Spell Recharge	Applies only to Spells Can apply to the item's Attribute (max 20%) or all spells (max: 10% or 20% on staves)
Max damage	Maximum damage of a weapon	Wands/Staves: 11–22 non-Caster Weapons: much less, since casters are unlikely to meet minimum requirements.
Max energy	Maximum amount of energy available	Usually: max energy for the item (Staves: 10, Foci: 12) Often, a set with high energy inscriptions.
High energy set	Focus with +12 energy, one-hand weapon with E+15 inscription.	Sometimes used combinations including a martial weapon with I Have the Power
20/20	HCT & HSR 20%	Typically refers to single item that has max HCT/HSR for the same attribute.
20/10	HSR (any) 20% & HCT (any) 10%	Most often refers to a staff that has attribute-independent HSR 20% and HCT 10%.
40/40	A 20/20 Wand + 20/20 Focus	Technically: 36% HCT and 36% HSR, but no one uses 36/36.
Single-attribute build Multi-attribute build	Builds that emphasize one attribute Builds dependent on 2+ attributes	In this article, any build that has 4 or more spells using the same attribute. In this article, any build has less than 4 spell's from the same attribute.
Martial Weapon	Weapon designed for non-casters	Allows for non-situational Energy +5 inscripton, I Have the Power.
+20% Enchantment	The ...of Enchantment weapon mod	Increases duration of enchantments by 20%
Spike	Rapid damage

[edit] High Level Concepts

Veterans endlessly debate the best approaches to maximizing character abilities while minimizing risk and cost. Some of those ideas important to casters are summarized below.

Concept/Comparison	Key point	Rationale, points of debate
HSR vs HCT	Typically, recharge times are far longer than casting times.	HSR speeds up repeat castings of the same spells, e.g. Whirlwind HCT helps more in casting spell chains, e.g. Meteor Shower followed by any other spell. HCT is not very useful for Fast Casting Mesmers.
Health vs Armor	Casters start with AR = 60	Over short periods, Health +30 (+60) is better than AR +5 (+10) if total damage <= 361 (189). Over long periods, AR +5 (+10) will be better, reducing almost all damage by 8% (16%). Increased armor is especially helpful against serious damage spikes. Note that some damage ignores armor.
Spears are the best martial weapon for casters		Casters have no use for 2-handed martial weapons, except for pulling using a bow. Unlike Axes/Swords, Spears can be modified with a Silencing prefix Spears make it easier for the caster to remain at ranged distances (compared to Axes/Swords)
Spears vs. Wands	Spears offer 3 bonuses; wands only 2	Spears can add prefixes for Elemental damage and to extend the length of Daze Wands remain a better choice for high HCT/HSR combinations. Wands can easily be linked to an attribute for which the caster meets the requirement for full damage
Foci vs. Shields	Shields offer armor; foci energy	Shields offer slight armor improvements Foci offer much better energy and HCT/HSR. Shields are better for a select set of /Pa builds.

[edit] Appendix: Basic Caster Combinations

High Energy: [notes]
Staff	Wand + Focus	Wand + Shield	Spear + Focus	Spear + Shield
Insightful Staff of [Available] "Hale & Hearty"   of     Energy: 15 (conditional) Spells: HSR 20% Armor: Bonus: Staff Wrap   Req'ts: Caster Other: "Have Faith" for enchantment builds	Wand of [Available] "Hale & Hearty" Focus of [Available] [Available] Energy: 17 (conditional) Spells:   Armor:   Bonus: Wand Wrap Focus Core/Inscription Req'ts: 2x Caster Other: "Have Faith" for enchantment builds	not advised	[Available] Spear of [Available] "I Have the Power" Focus of [Available] [Available] Energy: 17 Spells:   Armor:   Bonus: Spear Head/Grip Focus Core/Inscription Req'ts: 1x Caster Other: Non-conditional energy	not advised
Max Energy: [notes]
Insightful Staff of Suffix Seize the Day   of     Energy: 30 Spells: Armor: Bonus: Staff Wrap   Req'ts: Caster Other: Energy regen -1^	Wand of Suffix Seize the Day Focus of Suffix Live for Today Energy: 42 Spells: Armor: Bonus: Wand Wrap Focus Core Req'ts: Caster x2 Other: Energy regen -2^	Wand of Suffix Seize the Day Shield of Suffix Live for Today Energy: 30 Spells: Armor: Bonus: Wand Wrap Shield Handle Req'ts: Caster x1 Other: Energy regen -2^	Prefix Spear of Suffix Seize the Day Focus of Suffix Live for Today Energy: 42 Spells: Armor: Bonus: Spear Head/Grip Focus Core Req'ts: Caster x1 Other: Energy regen -2^	Prefix Spear of Suffix Seize the Day Shield of Suffix Live for Today Energy: 30 Spells: Armor: Bonus: Spear Head/Grip Focus Core Req'ts: Other: Energy regen -2^

[edit] Appendix: Basic maximum properties

"Note: This section is currently a copy of wikicode for the existing article. While the table is mathematically exhaustive, I find it, well, exhausting to look at. I think this type of article calls for a usage-based presentation (e.g. based on garnering high energy, health, etc)."

The following lists the possible combination of stats that can be obtained by regular weapons. However, do note that there exist certain items whose bonuses don't fit in the table below.

Notes about the table:

• Bonuses available for shields is a strict subset of bonuses available for focus items. Shield have 16 armor instead of focus item's 12 energy.
• Bonuses available for axes, hammers, swords, bows, daggers, and scythes are a strict subset of bonuses available for spears. Their damage, range, attack rate, number of hands required, and vampiric/zealous numbers may differ.

Type	Staff ("right")	Wand & Focus item	Martial weapons
Damage	11~22	11~22 (wand)	Variable
Bonus 1 and Bonus 2	Inscription for staff:	Inscription for wand:	Inscription for spear:
	Energy +5 (while Health > 50%)	Energy +5 (while Health > 50%)	Energy +5
	Energy +5 (while enchanted) Energy +7 (while Health < 50%) Energy +7 (while hexed) Energy +15; Energy regeneration -1	Energy +5 (while enchanted) Energy +7 (while Health < 50%) Energy +7 (while hexed) Energy +15; Energy regeneration -1
	Damage +15 (while Health > 50%) Damage +15 (while enchanted) Damage +15 (while in a stance) Damage +15 (vs hexed foes) Damage +15; armor -10 (while attacking) Damage +15; Energy -5 (while attacking) Damage +20% (while Health < 50%) Damage +20% (while hexed)	Damage +15 (while Health > 50%) Damage +15 (while enchanted) Damage +15 (while in a stance) Damage +15 (vs hexed foes) Damage +15; armor -10 (while attacking) Damage +15; Energy -5 (while attacking) Damage +20% (while Health < 50%) Damage +20% (while hexed)	Damage +15 (while Health > 50%) Damage +15 (while enchanted) Damage +15 (while in a stance) Damage +15 (vs hexed foes) Damage +15; armor -10 (while attacking) Damage +15; Energy -5 (while attacking) Damage +20% (while Health < 50%) Damage +20% (while hexed)
	HCT <attribute> 20%	HCT <attribute> 20%
	HCT 10%	HCT 10%	HCT 10%
		Wand Wrapping:
	Inherent:	HSR 10%	HSR 10%
	HSR 20%	HSR <attribute> 20%
+ Energy	+10	+12 (focus item)	+0
Bonus 3 and Bonus 4	Staff Head: Energy +5 Health +30 Armor +5	Focus Core:
	HCT 10% HCT <attribute> 20%	HCT 10% HCT <attribute> 20%
	Staff Wrapping:
	Health +60 (while Hexed) Health +45 (while Enchanted) Health +45 (while in a Stance)	Health +60 (while Hexed) Health +45 (while Enchanted) Health +45 (while in a Stance)	Spear Grip:
	Health +30	Health +30	Health +30
	Armor +5 Armor +7 (vs. physical attacks) Armor +7 (vs. elemental attacks) Damage +20% (vs. <species>) Enchantments last 20% longer	Inscription (focus):	Armor +5 Armor +7 (vs. physical attacks) Armor +7 (vs. elemental attacks) Damage +20% (vs. <species>) Enchantments last 20% longer
	<attribute> +1 (20% chance)	<attribute> +1 (20% chance)	Spearmastery +1 (20% chance)
		HSR <attribute> 20%	Spearhead:
		HSR 10% Energy +15; Energy regeneration -1	Double adrenaline on hit (10% chance) Energy gain on hit: 1; Energy regeneration: -1
		Received physical damage -5 (20% chance) Received physical damage -2 (while in enchanted) Received physical damage -2 (while in stance) Received physical damage -3 (while hexed)	Life stealing: 3; Health regeneration: -1
		Reduces Bleeding 20%% Reduces Crippled 20% Reduces Dazed 20% Reduces Deep Would 20% Reduces Poison 20% Reduces Weakness 20%	Lengthen Bleeding 33% Lengthen Cripple 33% Lengthen Dazed 33% Lengthen Deep Wound 33% Lengthen Poison 33% Lengthen Weakness 33%
		Reduces Blindness 20% Reduces Disease 20%
		Armor +10 (vs cold) Armor +10 (vs fire) Armor +10 (vs earth) Armor +10 (vs lightning)	Cold damage Fire damage Earth damage Lightning damage
		Armor +10 (Health < 50%) Armor +10 (while hexed) Armor +10 (vs slashing) Armor +10 (vs blunt) Armor +10 (vs piercing) Armor +5 (while Health > 50%) Armor +5 (while enchanted) Armor +5 (while attacking) Armor +5 (while casting) Armor +5 (vs physical attacks) Armor +5 (vs elemental attacks) Armor +5; Energy -5 Armor +5; Health -20	Armor penetration +20% (20% chance)

The table shows that most of the trade-offs depends on bonus 3/4.