Minimum Mana To Maintain Vortex with Charm

How to Keep Vortex going Continuously With Only an MP Charm

I have come across newer Seekers who don't understand why they can't keep Yataghan Vortex going even with an MP Charm and MP regen buffs. So here is a mini-guide for those interested.

Most players simply wait till Level 75 when they can use the Herb Yuanxiao MP pot, but there are many benefits to being able to use an MP Charm if you can afford it, pre and post level 75.

Thanks to Asterelle and Hazumi_Chan we have the amount of mana pool required to handle continuous 'AFK' Vortexing with an MP charm. Original thread where this was discussed.

The chart as calculated by Hazumi_Chan with Asterelle's formula is as follows:

1735MP - lvl 1 vortex

1823MP - lvl 2 vortex

1911MP - lvl 3 vortex

2000MP - lvl 4 vortex

2088MP - lvl 5 vortex

2176MP - lvl 6 vortex

2264MP - lvl 7 vortex

2352MP - lvl 8 vortex

2441MP - lvl 9 vortex

2529MP - lvl 10 vortex

2610MP - lvl 11 vortex(sage/demon)

(note: my experience is that these numbers are slightly too high, example: I have 2364 MP and can easily maintain a level 9 Vortex.)

These numbers are for continuous Vortexing without any MP regen buffs or Pots, on an MP charm only. If you have an MP regen buff and/or are using Mana Pots, the mana pool you can get away with will be lower.

Note: Once Vortex is started, player made Apothecary pots cannot be clicked - so activate them before Vortexing. Only the level 75 MP Herb Yuanxiao and the rare Level 25 Sesame Yuanxiao (no longer available), can be activated during Vortex. The NPC sold Blue MP Pots can be activated but have too little MP replenishment and too long a cooldown for them to be able to sustain even level 1 Vortex. Also, they share cooldown with the Herb.


How To Get More MP

It is NOT recommended that you get the extra mana pool by adding points into Mag. Doing this will gimp Str, Dex and Vit, which are more essential.

The easiest method to get a bigger mana pool is to get a multi-socket Arcane Hat. They have +mana as its primary stat; find one with extra +mana stats. They are relatively cheap in the AH because most Arcane classes don't need extra mana. Then shard with Turquoise mana shards which are also usually fairly cheap. You can easily get close to +1K extra mana with this method.

If you are still short of mana after this, add a +mana shard to your Cloak or look for equipment that has +mana or +mag stats. If you do this carefully you won't significantly gimp your Def or HP. You can also swap out the Mana+ gear for HP+ or Def+ gear when you are not Vortexing.

If you can find the +mana gear and can afford the MP Charm, it can be a very fun/convenient way to play a Seeker.

Pros:
- You can start Vortexing continuously from lvl 59. Amaze your fellow pre- lvl 75 Seekers who can't keep it up!
- You can keep it going without Herbs or if you forget to religiously watch your mana bar and click on the Herb.
- In complicated situations, such as when you are soloing PV and have 20+ mob swarming you while you pull and start Vortex, you don't have to worry about running out of mana.
- Easy duo or multi-client zhenning. Set up your Seeker in Vortex with BP activate Hyper, then switch to your Alt and pull into the Vortex. This is a far easier way to zhenn than the old Cleric+Wiz/Archer method
- Ability to go AFK for a bit (not recommended unless you just have to run to the bathroom). Some mobs can interrupt while you are AFK.

Cons:
- High Mana cost. Vortexing is between 2 to 4 times (depending on Vortex level) more mana costly than say the Cleric BB.
- You have to give up a little Def or HP in your equipment in order to get the extra mana stats.


How much does it really cost?

At level 9, Vortex uses 272 mana per second or in a long Boss fight of say 60 seconds it uses 16,320 MP. Compared with Cleric BB which is 100 mana per second.

Not really as bad as you may have thought, this actually surprised me when I calculated it out.
A Plat MP charm could last 110 minutes of continuous Vortexing at a lvl 9 Vortex. Longer if you supplement with MP Pots or a Cleric MP regen buff. Since most Vortex sessions are less than a minute that is quite a few boss fights on one MP charm.

In terms of actual coin. If we take a Plat MP Charm to cost 1.8 Mill for 1.8Mil MP, (approx cost on HT server), that makes 5K MP=5K coin. By comparison the Herb Yuanxiao goes for about 0.8K coin for 5K MP. However, it is not an exact comparison because the MP Charm uses only exactly the amount required. The MP pot on the other hand will be used up even if you are over filling the MP required; there is some wastage.
For approximate comparison, using the Herb is 1/5th the cost of the MP Charm. So whenever you can remember, click on the Herb while Vortexing.


Note: this is NOT a recommendation for Seekers to focus only on Vortex. Seekers should learn how to use other skills, a Seeker that relies mostly on Vortex will tend to be Fail as there are many situations where it isn't very useful.

Corrections, suggestions welcomed.