Knightblayde's PvE Seeker Guide

This is a very important decision to make when you hit 89, so carefully consider what aspects of the seeker are appealing when you reach that point. The main difference is damage (sage) vs. utility (demon). Many will tell you that sage is the only way to go, but I personally think that both paths are viable options. I could do a thorough analysis of the skills between the two paths, but you could easily compare them with research on ecatomb and other sources, so I'll just cover the basic grounds of each path. I'm no expert on the demon path, but many have claimed that their APS endeavors have made their seekers useful for instance farming.

(I personally picked Sage for the reasons below)

Sage
⊲ Primarily focused on defense, stance precision, reach, affliction prevention, and damage per hit, which encourages skill spamming playstyle
⊲ Sage spark offers damage reduction; has synergy of dealing massive amounts of damage with sage skill spam
⊲ Sage chi skill helps build chi in and out of combat
⊲ Shatter debuffs focus on increasing damage received
⊲ Darkcloud bolt offers a chance to disrupt spells (useful for boss fights)
⊲ Most amount of ranged attack options

Demon
⊲ Primarily focused on affliction enhancements, combat chi build-up, critical hit effects, and damage per second, which encourages auto-attack playstyle
⊲ Demon spark has synergy with the chi-building quick attacks, making it easier to spark
⊲ Has a pseudo self purify
⊲ Most freeze effect options
⊲ Utilizes status afflictions as an add-on to primary skills

General

⊲ Vortex is not the ONLY thing a Seeker can do. Understand the importance of your three stances and how their debuff triggers enhance your own damage and your squad's damage/survivability.

⊲ Maintain Adrenal Numbness

⊲ Buff yourself with an appropriate stance at all times (see Stances section below)

⊲ Maintain an appropriate blessing. Bladed Fervor is usually the one you will be using if you're soloing or not using the squad blessings. If you're using Saber Rattle, overwrite it with Bladed Fervor for yourself, since it has the same bonus with some extra add-ons.

⊲ Against metal or magic resist targets, try to avoid using metal skills as it will be less effective. Instead, focus on spamming your physical skills. However, skills like heartseeker are an exception because they have secondary abilities.

⊲ Note that many of the seeker skills are AoE, so be cautious if you do not want to damage nearby targets (i.e. heads boss in FC).

⊲ Single sword/blade is best for attack speed to help procure your stance marks, while dual sword/blade is best for damage per hit. Use whatever is more comfortable for your play style or keep a set of each.

⊲ In combat, get used to switching stances when the situation calls for it (see Stances section below)

⊲ Make sure your mp is full before using Yataghan Vortex, so you there is less of a risk of canceling it due to insufficient mana

⊲ While in a boss fight, if you want to vortex, be certain that it won't move or disrupt your vortex strategy too often.

⊲ If you need to vortex at a specific location, lure a mob there and keep vortex up. I like to call this "creating a vortex point". Your squad members can then lure mobs into your vortex as if you were a deadly blender b:chuckle.


Stances

Stances are the main aspect of the seeker's combat style. Each stance allows the seeker to place "marks" on targets in a variety of ways: melee attacks, ranged attacks, and AoE attacks. For each stance mark, there is a trigger attack skill that unleashes the effect of the stance mark applied.

These are the three seeker stances and their applications:

Frequency Stance: Northern Sky Waltz --> triggered by Staggering Strike

⊲ This chain reduces the target's defense level by 20 (when northern sky waltz is maxed). The stance can mark often and staggering strike recharges quickly, so the combo can be done frequently.
⊲ This chain is best used for 1 on 1 combat, usually in boss fights or lone mobs. Use this to increase your team's damage or to spike mobs quickly.
⊲ When you get the chain going, it can be to your advantage to follow up with powerful attacks like Heartseeker or Gemini Slash

Control Stance: Parchedblade Dance --> triggered by Stalagstrike

⊲ This chain can stun all marked mobs, so AoE marking can be to your advantage. Although the stance has the lowest marking rate of the three, it has one of the longer lasting marks and is triggered by a quick recharging AoE attack skill.
⊲ This stance can be useful in both 1 on 1 mob combat and AoE combat. It's a matter of how you apply the mark. It's less useful against targets that can't be stunned.
⊲ Use spam attacks/skills to mark single targets. One of the great things about this stance is its potential to stun single targets constantly.
⊲ Use quick AoEs like Edged Blur or Darkcloud Bolt for the best chance to mark multiple targets.

Affliction Stance: Soulsever Minuet --> triggered by Gemini Slash

⊲ This chain reduces the target(s)' attack and defense levels for a long period of time. In fact, I believe it to be one of the longest lasting debuffs in the game. The mark is one of the longest lasting of the three stances and has the highest chance to mark (50%), but its trigger attack has the slowest cooldown and cast time, so it's meant to be used once in a while. Think of it like preparing and shooting a canon. The chain is actually the most powerful in terms of damage compared to the other two.
⊲ This stance is usually best used in an opening chain in 1 on 1 battles that will last a while, such as a boss fight. However, it does have mob AoE applications, too, via spike AoE chain.
⊲ The marking methods for this stance are the same as Parchedblade dance


Solo Play/Questing

⊲ For levels before 75, try to learn at least level 1 apothecary to make life powders for questing. Seekers tend to be "squishy" in the early parts of the game, and life powders help a lot. Under its effects, you can meditate when out of battle if you are low on health to recover full hp quickly.

⊲ After level 75 and above, I suggest have at least 50 crab meat and at least 100 or more herb yuanxiao before you go out killing stuff. Questing should be a LOT easier with these items. In fact, the herbs make your melee mob questing much faster, since you can upkeep vortex to kill large groups, while crab meats can keep you alive.

⊲ Northern Sky Stance is, in my opinion, the stance you should be using the most with regular quest mobs. Since the mark placement and the trigger attack are frequent, you can deal extra damage frequently to spike your target.

⊲ Use heartseeker or voidstep to help you immobilize runner mobs. They are quite annoying to chase normally. The Parchedblade Dance combo can help you control their movement from time to time, but if the fight lasts long, they will just keep running. For this reason, the Northern Sky Waltz combo would help you immobilize them frequently.


Squad Role

In a squad, you are usually either a main tank, a puller, or damage support.

⊲ If you are the main tank (usually in BHs) at a boss, vortex when you know the boss won't move or mobs won't interfere with your fight. (NOTE: you will need a mana charm or use the 75+ herb yuanxiao to keep vortex up) If not using vortex, coordinate with your squad to control their damage so that the boss focuses on attacking you and the cleric/mystic focuses on healing you. Also, if possible, make sure bloodpaint is maintained on you.

⊲ If you are a puller (usually at 75+), make sure you have plenty of crab meat and herb yuanxiao for the task at hand. Make sure you can determine your limits on how many mobs you can handle all at once. Make sure bloodpaint is maintained on you for your own safety as it enables you to heal yourself with vortex while you hit the mobs on you.

⊲ If you are damage support, use the shatter debuffs on bosses or tough mobs as needed. As an opener, buff with Soulsever Minuet, then trigger the mark with Gemini Slash. After that, switch to the Northern Sky Waltz combo to frequently overwrite the def level debuff with a stronger one. Do note that barbs may overwrite your attack level debuff with their devour skill. If necessary, just stick to the northern sky chain.

⊲ Use heartseeker or voidstep to immobilize melee mobs chasing down your squad's casters. Also use this strategy to immobilize runner mobs to help the tank link pull to it or so your melee squad members can dispose of the target quickly.

⊲ If in squad with other seekers, try to have each one use a different stance to suit the situation. For example, if you're doing mob pulls, have one seeker vortex with Parchedblade Dance on, while a second seeker has Northern Sky Waltz. The second seeker can stun multiple targets off of the vortexing seeker's marks, while spiking single targets with Northern Sky's marks. Having multiple Seekers can be advantageous in this manner.


Some Attack Chains

The bullets in this section cover some simple and complex attack chains. You can do them individually or combine them. There's other combos out there, too -- too many for me to list in here. Once you understand the capabilities of each individual attack skill, you'll be crafting your own attack chains . The names below are not official names or anything -- just labels that I have given them.

Basic Northern Sky Waltz Chain- basic spike-enabling chain with immobilizing effect; use for bosses and basic mobs

Basic Steps
⊲ Make sure you are buffed with NSW
⊲ Land a mark on target
⊲ Follow up with Staggering Strike

Extra Options
⊲ Once the debuff is in place, it can be to your advantage to add a high damage attack or chain to spike the target (examples: Heartseeker or Blade Affinity + Gemini Slash)

Basic Parchedblade Dance Chain - basic control chain with stun effect

Basic Steps
⊲ Make sure you are buffed with PD
⊲ Land a mark on target(s)
⊲ Follow up with Stalagstrike

Basic Soulsever Minuet Chain - basic debuff combo; best for bosses or tough mobs

Basic Steps
⊲ Make sure you are buffed with SM
⊲ Land a mark on target(s)
⊲ Pre-cast blade affinity (optional)
⊲ Follow up with Gemini Slash

Extra Options
⊲ On bosses or tough mobs, add any of the shatter debuffs as necessary for your squad
⊲ You can add a basic NSW chain to overwrite the weaker defense level debuff portion of SM's trigger, giving your squad the benefit of taking less damage and dealing as much damage as possible.

Blade Affinity Combo - basic speed-casting combo chain; lets you cheat long channeling skills

Basic Steps
⊲ Buff yourself with Blade Affinity (6 seconds to react)
⊲ Use a long casting skill like Gemini Slash, Heartseeker, Arme Nier, etc.

Flash Vortex - Simple positioning trick for vortexing.

Basic Steps
⊲ Have at least 3 sparks
⊲ Voidstep next to a mob that will give your vortex full group coverage
⊲ Activate vortex


Soulsever Spike - This is assuming you have a maxed Soulsever Minuet to deal maximum non-chi AoE damage in one chain. Stalagstrike/Darkcloud Bolt order does not matter.

Basic Steps
⊲ Make sure you are buffed with SM
⊲ Use Stalagstrike
⊲ Use Darkcloud Bolt
⊲ Precast Blade Affinity
⊲ Use Gemini Slash

Extra Options
⊲ Voidstep before you begin your AoE to position yourself (I like to voidstep to some shades in FC to do this AoE chain b:victory)

Sage/Demon Sparked Vortex - If you have cloud eruption on your genie, this is the most powerful vortex you can do.

Basic Steps
⊲ Gather full chi (3 sparks + 99 chi)
⊲ Spark -> cloud eruption -> vortex


Some FC Tips

⊲ Important Skills: You should try to have Unfetter and Blade Affinity maxed if you haven't already done so.

⊲ Normal Zhen Role: If you are not the puller, keep up with the squad's puller to help kill the mobs as soon as possible.

⊲ Chi Management: Manage your chi throughout each pull and boss fight. Evaluate your chi expenditure, so that you have enough for the next thing you have to use it for. Your runs will be more fluid this way.

⊲ Debuffing Is Your Job, Too: During boss fights, harpy fights, shade fights, or shocktrooper spawns, apply the shatter debuffs suitable to your squad's needs. At the very least, apply Heartshatter for your own damage. Use Northern Sky Waltz and trigger its procs with Staggering Strike frequently to keep the boss's/mob's defense level constantly debuffed. If you aren't doing any of this, you are not helping the squad deal damage, which is part of the Seeker's capabilities in squad play. Auto-attacking will only prove that you are trying to leech off everyone else's effort b:sad.

⊲ Barbless Squads: If you so happen to be in a barbless squad, try to pre-apply Soulsever Minuet's ATK/DEF level debuff during boss fights to help reduce some damage done to the squad. Then, switch back to Northern Sky Waltz chain to overwrite the DEF level debuff for damage.

⊲ Puller's Milestone: With average equips, you should be able to start doing pulls by the 90s if not earlier. Around 5k or higher HP should be sufficient enough to handle this task. Evaluate what kinds of pulls you can handle. You may need a BM to stun for you on some pulls if you're new to pulling.

⊲Movement: I recommend getting a genie that has at least 140 energy and near 2 energy regen/sec with a lvl 10 holy path so that you can holy path twice in succession if needed to catch up with a puller or lead a pull. The two holy paths and unfetter are your main three chances to manage how much damage you take as you do your pulls. It's usually best to use a burst of speed when you're turning quickly (like the small passageways in Dreadlindra's and Runewolf's halls), starting to get ganged up on, or if you're getting slowed down (like the early mag mob groups in FC).

I wish I could elaborate more on how to do these pulls with the running skills, but it is something that is easier to learn for yourself by trying it out and practicing it. It was only easy for me because I had prior experience pulling with a barb I had FC'd with before the expansion. If you notice a barb who is good at pulling, pay attention to his/her pulling patterns, especially if they can dodge the harpies in heads room.

⊲ Seeker Puller Setup: To set up vortex at the end of any big pull you do, precast Blade Affinity (hopefully level 10 at this point) and use vortex. Vortex should seemingly cast instantly, avoiding any possible channeling disruptions from all the mobs hitting you. BP is what keeps you alive during a vortex in almost the same sense that invoke keeps the barb alive. As long as you can hit mobs, you should be able to live (varies on damage received vs. BP heals).

Some Delta Tips

⊲ Seeker Blessings: Krav Maga/Saber Rattle can be nice to have in Delta if you have the mirages or someone offers to give you mirages. These will stack on top of the bonuses given to you by the auras. If you're using these, make sure to refresh them as resources will allow.

⊲ Normal Role: Usually, you Vortex the incoming waves after the BM stuns (primarily the ranged mobs). Try to position yourself in front of the cleric, so that he/she is less likely to get hit from the mobs. If you have Tangling Mire on your genie, use it to help you kill/slow down mobs (careful not to stack with BM's if he/she is using it, too). Keep Soulsever Minuet as your active stance during waves, so that when the wave is small enough, you can debuff with gemini slash to help finish them off without using up too many resources. When your group needs to kill a boss, apply shatter debuffs and do the typical boss stance chains to enhance squad's damage. Avoid vortexing bosses if you need to manage mp resources (herbs/charm).

⊲ Chi/Mana Management: Prior to an effective chi aura level, you may need to rely on cloud eruption (and sage chi skill if you have it) to get your chi up. It is not really a good idea to keep vortex active after you've killed a wave and need to wait a few seconds/minutes for the next one (unless you're rich enough to replace your mp food/charm easily). In between waves, drop vortex and make sure your chi is ready if you want to conserve your mp resources.

Chi

This section covers the amount of chi some of the Seeker skills produce. Use this to your advantage to build chi in combat and out of combat in preparation for using skills like Yataghan Vortex or sparks. Use attack skills to quickly build chi in combat, and use self-buffs to add a little chi in between battles.

NOTE: This is for skills up to lvl 59 and do not include demon/sage versions

Non-combat

⊲ Adrenal Numbness- generates 10 chi; your only spammable non-combat chi generator
⊲ Unfetter- generates 10 chi
⊲ Blade Affinity- generates 10 chi; can also be used in combat in conjunction with some of your attack skills

Combat

⊲ Rocksplitting Cleave- generates 10 chi; not really used for damage, but it's spammable for the purpose of chi generation
⊲ Staggering Strike- generates 10 chi; spammable attack skill
⊲ Battousai- generates 10 chi; spammable
⊲ Heartseeker- generates 10 chi; not spammable, but use it as a spike skill
⊲ Stalagstrike- generates 10 chi; spammable
⊲ Darkcloud Bolt- generates 10 chi; spammable
⊲ Heart Shatter- generates 10 chi; use only for debuffing when needed
⊲ Mind Shatter- generates 10 chi; use only for debuffing when needed
⊲ Soul Shatter- generates 10 chi; use only for debuffing when needed



⊲ BoogiePanda's level 70+ gear progression guide - more in-depth suggestions for seeker gear for level 70+.

Yuniryu - Raging Tide wrote: »

erm I have been wondering for some time. Other then using vortex, how does a seeker manage to get aggro from 1v1 monster and bosses and hold it. I know you can do it with alpha male but really is there a stance and skills that help.

I tend it not tank at the moment because of this, although sins don t help XD.

Honestly, since I started FC, I've been surrounded by barbs and sins, so I try not to play the tank role. However, in the 70s, I have played the tank role several times (in BHs) due to lack of barbs or willing AA tanks. Vortex is your best option (if you can keep it up via charm/herbs), but other than that, your squad will have to manage their damage if they want you to tank.

Stances are not exactly tanking tools, but rather, squad support through reducing damage received by target or damage dealt to target. Unfortunately, the amplified damage works for everyone b:chuckle.

If anything, I would try using heart shatter as one way to make you deal more damage than the rest of your squad (assuming you dont have physical skill spammers in your squad). Other than that, I honestly have to say that I don't know what else you can do without vortex or AM in this scenario. The seeker class was unfortunately not given aggro skills like flesh ream, so they have to rely on being the high damage dealer with the rest of the squad managing their damage output. Bosses will die slower, but the task will be complete eventually.

killerdrone1234 wrote: »

Awesome Guide.. I loved it. But only, one question.. Which build did you follow?
Balanced
or
High Hp
or
High Dexterity
or
High Attack

I personally went with balanced as an experiment in the early release days because of my previous experiences leveling a BM to 100. I used apothecary (life powder) for the "squishy" stages of the early levels to help maintain my hp in questing, and around the late 70s, I was able to use my BM's old legendary legs + chest and TT70 wrist + boots (all refined and sharded). My seeker is now 90+, using my BM's old TT90 (also refined and sharded), which brings his hp to 5.5k (this can get higher, but I'm on a small budget for now). I can do a lot of pulls pretty well now, so I don't regret not choosing the HP route. Currently, I'm using a TT90 gold zerk blade, and I have to say I love the crits, zerks, and the zerk crits (they're like mage class numbers and it's a normal part of playing this class b:shocked).

I was going to try the high hp one that people in the forums were discussing at first, but after I learned that seekers were not going to have aggro skills like flesh ream, I didn't see the point of adding VIT anymore (at least for PvE purposes), since well-geared BMs can do pulls just fine without a single extra point in VIT. I also have played a barb alt, and have quickly realized the reason why they need VIT points -- they're supposed to purposely get hit by mobs/bosses AND their true form and BKI focuses on achieving high HP. It's true that APS sins and bms can steal aggro and tank most bosses like barbs, but their own skills give them a bit of a tanking advantage -- BP and Bell. I'm just the kind of person that believes that classes should be investing in points that enhance the class's purpose. (EX: pure mag for cler = optimal healing; vit with minimal requirements for barb = optimal tanking hp; pure dex for sin = optimal damage and so on...) This is just my opinion from experience, but adding VIT isn't necessarily a bad choice either. Only the players can determine their own limits, so it should be their own choice if VIT should be added b:victory.

Xsi - Raging Tide wrote: »

This is a really good balanced guide, I like it a lot it's starting to look promising. I personally tend to use staggering strike and stalagstrike a lot so would put those skills with a blue font not red, but thats just an opinion and havn't got to the instances stage yet with my seeker. I liked the culti bit you summarized it and made it a bit fairer than the standard class demon/sage argument going on atm (without bringing up the aps stuff which is affecting the argument cos it really shouldn't be considered for seekers and is therefore ruining the skills comparision for anyone who remotely even thinks of whispering "maybe demon" cos people auto assume they want aps) though lets not start that here, just really good to see some balance. should be stickied b:victory

-If I made it look like staggering strike and stalagstrike aren't worth maxing, that was not my intent. I simply put it in red for the purposes of conserving some coin/spirit early game as that section was just about prioritizing. I do use those skills frequently, but the base damage it deals are enough at the higher levels, which is why I think you can put those aside for a while if you want. They are skills you definitely want to max much later when you get demon/sage as they add neat effects.

-I've squadded with several demon seekers and they have told me what benefits the demon skills are giving them, so I use this as evidence to support the demon side. I will admit when the first translations of the demon skills came through, I did not consider demon viable at all. Once the correct translations were implemented and I had more feel for the class, I can understand the demon application better (at least in terms of PvE).

Yuniryu - Raging Tide wrote: »

Thanks alot.b:cute After seeing that it has finally helped me to decide whether to have vit or add none. Although i have been thinking and feeling a bit scared but now i am not. Yeah seeker aren t tankers like barbs and so and so, plus i need a bit more str and dex, so i decided a nartual d defiantly not changing to the balanced build. . I am not a natural tanker i am dd in the heart and this build will allow me to do it/

-Don't forget that while you're not tanking bosses, you may be asked to do pulls (which are quite fun b:chuckle). If you're not used to timing your crab meat, it can get messy. To be honest, I think BP + vortex is what enables our pulls rather than how much HP we have. If you have any doubts, feel free to practice crab meat + herbs + vortex when you reach lvl 75+ (you can practice on seaweed thief groups east of sanctuary, pirate minions (in nightscream), or chief assassins (in nightscream)). You'll probably be as comfortable as I am when you can sage/demon spark + vortex for quick kills and super bp bloodsuck b:sin. Heck, the combo is the key to doing some fun pulls. Have fun experimenting b:bye

Yuniryu - Raging Tide wrote: »

Thanks i willb:victory. Ya pulls i will do, and i am used to xD aoe grinding i guess i will be fine soon. Oh yeah i will tank but i am not going to use my health for tanking, its for if there isn t any xD higher hp or me and there is no choice. nearly 75 i cant wait!

This is my seeker so far.
http://pwcalc.com/062fd220b00470c7

this is the supposed one with vit which i decided against
http://pwcalc.com/f23bb94a75ca1d88

Tough desicion xD since i have a mad passion about seeing high hp xD

Your VIT link seems to have less HP than your current build b:laugh

EDIT: Here's a recurring rank gear setup from seeker posts showing high HP with no VIT: http://pwcalc.com/953cb09525f56f27