Phoenix: The Ultimate Killing Machine?

KillaBee_ - Sanctuary · February 2009

This thread is not for pissing and moaning about the ethics of PvP or the "over-powered, hax" bird.

I am simply wondering about how to make a particular pet the most efficient killing machine.

As you all know by now, the phoenix, by default, comes with 3 skills that are maximum level: Pounce (stun/increase attk rate), Claw (increase attack), and Blessing (increase max HP).

The fourth skill slot is usually filled with flesh ream, which obviously is invaluable and adored when you are not on the receiving end.

This thread is open to debate about whether a much better use of the four available skills would be to get rid of Blessing (which increases maximum HP by 30%) for another attack skill or curse skill.

Pet HP is really only useful when the pet is tanking. The phoenix primarily shines in PvP, where pet HP is ultimately insignificant. Perhaps dropping the HP buff skill and replacing it with the pet skill that lowers physical defense would be WAY better, or maybe replacing it with Bash to complement Flesh Ream.

I have used my phoenix at lvl 50 to kill mobs that are lvl 80+, and it does fine with me spam-healing it and not using the HP buff. I think that our "hax birds" could be improved by replacing the buff with a different skill.

Please give your opinions about what a good replacement skill would be, or explain why the HP buff should be kept.

PLEASE DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PHOENIX OR VENO BEING TOO POWERFUL. That is reserved for other threads. I only want to see people who have Phoenixes posting or at least only Venos.
EDIT: NEW CHANGE TO QUESTION:
If I chose to replace the Blessing HP buff skill, what skill should I replace it with?

Dazels - Lost City · February 2009

The health buff is very important pvp/pve alike

In pve much faster killing sins u dont have heal your pet often.

in Pvp 1 or 2 shotting your phoenix becomes harder saving u from losing ur pet to the first archer or mage that hops along

KillaBee_ - Sanctuary · February 2009

That is true, but in terms of pure killing, what other skill could provide a different approach to using the bird?

If I wanted to remove a bit of my birds HP and gain another attack or curse skill, what would be the best option?

Should I go with Bash for higher, instant damage? Should I go with whatever skill (I forget the name) that lowers Physical Defense? Should I use Slow or some other skill?

For those that want to sacrifice a little of the Bird's vitality, what skill would be the best potential replacement?

Also, unless the bird is off attacking, it;s by your side... Why wouldn't the archer or mage just kill you right away? Whoever gets first attack in usually wins those fights between archer / mage / veno

PS: I am on the PvE server so the only PvP I am in most of the time is in TW. So when out grinding and doing other things, I don't have to worry as much about it. Maybe things change when you factor that in.

^_^ keep voting everyone!

MidnightWar - Sanctuary · February 2009

I bought the Boost skill and it comes in handy on more than one time. if you are casting the heal pet skill you can also click the boost skill to gain extra hp gain.

KillaBee_ - Sanctuary · February 2009

The only problem with boost is that its on the same purpose of having the +max HP skill. Boost provides less benefit than raising the maximum hp by 30%. You would have to use boost at least a few times to match that.

NEW CHANGE TO QUESTION:
If I chose to replace the Blessing HP buff skill, what skill should I replace it with?

Dioica - Sanctuary · February 2009

Personally, I prefer threaten instead of boost, but I have no experiences with blessing.

Of course, threaten has some limitations, and you probably will not like it. But I think you can find example pets with each skill "built in", and try them for yourself, to see if your style fits? (And if you leave your example pet alone, in battle, you can safely experiment with low level opponents.)

If I were in your shoes, and I were not me, and I did not understand which skills I wanted... I would try and identify my "problem situations" and then pick some skill to help me there.

Heleina - Sanctuary · February 2009

You're pretty much guaranteeing a swift death on your end. In 1 vs 1 or group battle your nix is pretty much gonna die faster without HP buff and lessen your effectivity. Your job is to keep your nix alive til it can land that bleed, otherwise it's game over for you.

And unfortunately if you do remove that precious HP buff you won't be able to get it back without buying another nix.

KillaBee_ - Sanctuary · February 2009

Thank you for everyone who has voted and posted comments about the pet skills.
I have left the HP blessing on my phoenix for now. It does at 30% more survivability to the bird; I have yet to see somebody attack my phoenix in pvp though because most people ignore the pet and go for the veno, and since I don't just kite players, HP has never been an issue for my phoenix (which already has great HP stats un-buffed). For my particular style of pvp (no cheap, skill-less kiting) would I be better-off with another attack skill or curse skill?

PS: Heleina I do respect your advice and opinions and I believe I have talked to you in-game before. I appreciate your feedback, and I wonder why this thread has had over 200 views yet only 4 responses from only 4 other players.

PSS: I like your advice too, Dioica. I'll try that out when the servers are finally back up.

^_^

Just_cool - Lost City · February 2009

also when u're getting aoe hits, it's annoying to see pet's HP going down

Phoenix: The Ultimate Killing Machine?

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