Plume Shell: How Useful is it?

Savabane - Heavens Tear
Savabane - Heavens Tear Posts: 12 Arc User
edited March 2009 in Cleric
I got this skill because it is required for other things I want but How useful is this anyway? It only lasts for 20 seconds which means I will have to spam cast it all the time to keep it running and it sucks down my Mana when that is the thing I need to make my enemies dead. I do not have problems with HP and can set up a healing stack on myself if I need to but having my MP get drained to nothingness = certain death because I have no way of attacking back then.

So what I am wondering is: Besides a quick escape skill is this skill pretty much a waste of Spirit or is it really that worthwhile? (Note: I do not and will not use Charms so Mana is important to me) (Second Note: But despite that do not think I am not supporting this game, because trust me I buy plenty of other stuff b:cute)
Post edited by Savabane - Heavens Tear on

Comments

  • Deceptistar - Sanctuary
    Deceptistar - Sanctuary Posts: 10,454 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    As you said, yes, one is that its a good excape skill. Altho only if the mob is doing physical dmg on you. Second, its usefull when mobs link up and bum rush you (also physical)
    USUALLY clerics wont tank >_> but like in dungeons if and when you get aggro from a mob that the melee cant get to you, 20 sec is more than enough to kill them yourself and not get hit (if at all 1-2hits)
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  • Nayethe - Lost City
    Nayethe - Lost City Posts: 34 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    Sometimes in dungeons, the tank is in trouble, and he does not have full control of the mobs attacking him. If you don't want him dead (It's generally a good idea to keep the tank alive!), you have to heal him. Unfortunately, this will draw aggro to you. Sleep the enemy chasing you, then cast Plume Shell (or the other way around). Cast another heal or two on your tank, then let him get aggro from all the mobs.

    If you're into PvP, then this is also a very useful skill to have. It will take a BM's, Barb's, or Archer's damage and make it relatively small, preserving your (likely) somewhat low HP. With a MP charm, you should be able to win the fight against certain players, even if they're a few levels above you.

    Anyway, Plume Shell is "cheap" to level. Max it eventually, but you don't need it maxed as quick as you can.
    Nayethe - 7x Combat Cleric
    ~Reviction~
  • Savabane - Heavens Tear
    Savabane - Heavens Tear Posts: 12 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    Thank you for the information. So it is a good escape method to a large extent and emergancy skill.
  • Lokklyn - Sanctuary
    Lokklyn - Sanctuary Posts: 9 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    I rarely use Plume Shell. Takes up mana I can use for more useful stuff, and if there is an emergency I just fly. Cheap but useful. I've only had to use Plume Shell three times when flying was too slow (it takes a few milliseconds for your wings to come out, flap flap flap flap but by then the mob can eat u up).
  • Mr_Grip - Heavens Tear
    Mr_Grip - Heavens Tear Posts: 50 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    I really only ever use it when the barb dies and the angry boss decides I'm next in line. I never lvled it past 1, I don't see any reason to get it any higher.
  • Mothergoose - Sanctuary
    Mothergoose - Sanctuary Posts: 1,320 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    I really only ever use it when the barb dies and the angry boss decides I'm next in line. I never lvled it past 1, I don't see any reason to get it any higher.

    lvl one only absorb 50% dmg, and cost 2 mana per point absorbed. Later on, it won't be enough to save your life. Lvl it up to 5, where it'll absorb 70% for 1.5 mana per point damage absorbed. At that point the cost is still cheap. You won't miss that few thousand spirit.b:victory
  • Forp - Heavens Tear
    Forp - Heavens Tear Posts: 1,445 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    actually, the skill cost less when it's level 10. when you max it, it shows its true potential.
  • erethizon1
    erethizon1 Posts: 554 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    I would not be in a big rush to raise it. You have it at level one, which is good enough for now. If you find yourself in an emergency it is worth losing double mp to take half damage. You will not be using it very often.

    Once you get your level 60+ you will find you have some spirit to spare and that is when you will raise it. I took it straight from level one to level ten with nothing in between when I was in my 60's. At level 10 it absorbs 80% of incoming damage and each point absorbed drains 1.1 mp, which is not so bad. It is still just for emergencies (or when you know you are about to do something that is really going to hurt) but it is not a bad spell (the bad spells get raised in the 80's or 90's).
  • Enina - Heavens Tear
    Enina - Heavens Tear Posts: 263 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    Plume Shell level 10 is basically 20 seconds of near-invincibility against physical mobs and bosses. Attack a monster, flick on Plume Shell while it gets into position, and watch the mob that could otherwise drain your health in three hits do less than 100 damage to you. Laugh in its face, then kill it before your Shell runs out. Or see a monster run towards you in a FB, turn on Plume SHell, then laugh in its face while the tank grabs aggro.

    The biggest problem with Plume Shell is that you have to time it fairly accurately - if you trigger it too soon, it'll run out before your mob is dead or someone have grabbed aggro from you, and if you turn it on too late, you're half or fully dead. A cleric with Plume Shell running and two or three stacked Ironhearts is literally impossible to kill with anything but magic - not even barbs can survive for a fraction as long as you can with this combo.

    However... It eats mana. A lot. >.<
  • Mikel_oru - Sanctuary
    Mikel_oru - Sanctuary Posts: 610 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    Simply put: Plume Shell is the best defence against physical dmg in the entire game, at lvl 10 it shallows like 80% of incoming physical dmg and eats less mana for it. Also if you wanna do PvP then you'll love that skill.

    A must have if you ask me..
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Mothergoose - Sanctuary
    Mothergoose - Sanctuary Posts: 1,320 Arc User
    edited March 2009
    Simply put: Plume Shell is the best defence against physical dmg in the entire game, at lvl 10 it shallows like 80% of incoming physical dmg and eats less mana for it. Also if you wanna do PvP then you'll love that skill.

    A must have if you ask me..

    Even in pve it's a lifesaver. The exp that it saves for you over time makes it worthwhile.