Cleric Training: A guide for clerics from a clerics perspective.

John_Smith - Harshlands wrote: »

Yeah, thats the usual response :P It is simply how you play that chooses how you build. I don't find my heals too lacking however, it's only my offense that really seems to be broken. (I can still do my OHT daily and cube etc so idc (Although both Open Sesames take ages) too much :P)

As for the Lunar Gold gear, I just double checked to be sure, the only "random" elements are the x-x vit//mag allover the gears and the sockets, same as TT. It's also G13 and can be worn at 95, so if you have a little real life coins to put in it could be a better option for a cleric aiming for Nirvana (Vit/Mag adds and Higher HP refine till Nirv).

Nice. Thank you for the info, and I will add that to it. Also, like you said, its up to the players style and preferenaces that determine their build. If you're not having much trouble healing, or staying alive, or doing what it is that you want to do, then your build is perfect for you. If the two of us were to swap builds, we'd probably both die. Lol., and that's because my build suits me, and my playing style, and your build suits you and your playing style. As long as you can do what needs to be done, and you and your squad can come out alive, your build is fine. b:victoryb:thanksb:laugh

Also, to help with the issue of damage, and I'm pretty sure that you've already thought of it, but high quality stones, and refines may help you out some there...and at least make your offense less broken, as you said.

Thanks for the infor on lunar again as well.

John_Smith - Harshlands wrote: »

Yeah, I know I can overcome my lack of power with a strong weapon, but she doesn't get used enough to qualify for the investment. If I played her more often I'd get Rank8 for her +6-7 or something. But for how little I use her nowadays (I mained my Wizard over her) it's not much of a concern. Old +5 Lunar Wand with a Saph Gem does well enough for now. (Although it is mildy scary to see my 93 Wizard with a TT80 Gold sword have more unbuffed MAtk than Cleric has buffed b:shocked).

NP about the lunar stuff, and thanks for writing a much more up to date and relevant guide for the newbies.

I shall now gtfo of the cleric forums before I start raging about fail tanks and the like. b:avoid

Omnicon - Dreamweaver wrote: »

Only thing I would add is to the squad play area. It always helps to gear check your squad, especially at higher levels. Sometimes you will get a godly geared wizard with full garn's that you won't have to worry about healing at all because he takes less damage in 5 shots then you do in one. Lol.

Personally my build on my cleric is partial vit. LG nirvana (only 1st stage atm) and fully sharded garnets minus my cape which are cits. Eventually I'll get hp from refine of gear. Why have loads of HP when you don't have the defense to back it up? [just adding to the point the guide made] I've found this build to be awesome minus when I'm trying to quest or solo random things. Decided that once my gear is done and I don't need to worry about losing 500 hp, I'll restat to pure magic.

Good guide, finally read it after 3 years of being a cleric b:chuckle Well said on most parts and very thorough.

That's not a bad idea to be honest. Checking others gear would help. I'll try to add a section on it. Thanks for the idea Omnicon.

@sammmstout: I do plan to add more detail on the descent section.

I'll add the skills as I get them. (I don't always get a chance to get on, and due to a wireless connection, I lag on things sometimes now, so I'm slow in getting them. Very slow. Lol. However, I will add them as they come to me. (I have the first three cleric skills, and am working on the 0% xp loss now, so I'll update the guide as well. I also have not run the new instance yet, but as I do, or someone gives info on the parts that I do not have, I'll add them also. In the meantime, I suppose no harm could come from doing a theory on how I would use certain skills that I am yet to obtain, as well as some of the new armor/weapons. Thanks for the input.

@All: Feel free to keep any information, and ideas coming. You may indeed have something to add that I never even thought of. I won't promise that it will be incorporated, but I will do my best to incorporate it, and to do so with some sort of speed. Lol. Thanks for the comments, and constructive criticism.

rudedogcd3 wrote: »

skimming through this guide, I did not read the whole thing but a few things about the skills section, coming from a very experienced cleric...


Quote:
"Thunderball (TB): Slow casting time, channeling time, and cooldown, plus lack of weapon damage make thiss skill subpar. Get it to level 1, and keep it there. Its only advantage is that due to being a DOT (Damage over time) attack, its damage is not nerfed by certain defenses.

NOT RECOMMENDED.


DEBUFFS: They can be saved for later. Venos are better debuffers anyways, so I wouldn't concentrate so hard on them. They are useful, do help the squad and do help to control the situation, but I personally would worry about them later. One important thing to note though is that the negative status effects that these debuffs place on us can be purified by us.
Heaven's Wrath. (RB): It grants an increase in overall squad damage. Its useful, but most people will no longer want to see it after reaching level 89. The reason is because it overwrites the demon spark of aps characters...causing less damage to be dealt by them.

RECOMMENDED/Save for later...namely fc runs.


Plume shell: This is the skill that will save you when you get aggro. It casts a shield that will absorb a certain amount of the damage inflicted, and inflict in on your mp instead.

PRIORITIZE/HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."


1) Thunderball is actually more useful than I think you give it credit for. I have both plume shot and thunderball level 11, and they both do the same initial damage, the only difference being that thunderball takes a second longer to cast. However, the added damage over time makes up for that second. I also have demon wield thunder which has an added metal debuff, and if thunderball is cast during a debuff, the damage over time is also increased, even after the debuff wears off. I find it to be more useful than plume shot when I am killing a boss. Even when killing mobs it is still more useful in my opinion. I honestly barely even notice the added second it takes to cast. I only use plume shot when something is increased magic resistant, and I only use this skill when im waiting on cooldown of my other skills (cyclone & wield thunder)


2) debuffs: I would recommend getting them when you can, although as you mentioned I would not prioritize them over something like heals or buffs. though venos make great debuffers, there is rarely a veno in squads anymore, and when there is, they only share one of your debuffs (dimensional seal is overridden by ironwood scarab) and I would still suggest getting elemental seal. Squads tend to rely on clerics to debuff all bosses whenever they are not in BB, considering there are rarely any barbs or venos in squads anymore at higher levels.

3) Heavens wrath: this skill is never used anymore, considering that high levels prefer the effect of their triple spark as you mentioned, and I rarely find squads that want it up anywhere in frost, whether it be at second boss, or at big room killing heads (a lot of squads do prefer cleric to help kill mobs). Some squads do enjoy heavens wrath at big room, but very rarely these days that I would probably not even consider wasting my coin on it if I had to remake a cleric. Its best uses were when a veno was tanking a boss with a pet, and needed channeling to keep the pet healed.

4) Plume shell: just a side note, this skill only works on physical damage, if your gettting hit with elemental attacks/aoes, it has no effect.

I only skimmed through the guide, as I already know how to play a cleric, but it seemed well written, I only had this little bit to add.