Me/N Depravity

Last-modified: 2007-04-20 (金) 04:14:39

This support build centers around Depravity to drain opposing casters clean out of energy. With its short cooldown and the mesmer's Inspiration Magic attribute for additional energy, you can spread this across multiple opponents. Depravity has a minimal AoE effect as well. Appropriate cover hexes are used to make sure Depravity is not stripped quickly.



 

Attributes and Skills

 
 
Mesmer / Necromancer Attribute Rank
Inspiration Magic12 + 1 + 2
Fast Casting8 + 1
Curses10
 
DepravityWeb of DisruptionEther PhantomSignet of HumilityReckless HasteSpirit of FailureEther FeastResurrection Signet
 

Equipment

Survivor's Insignia on head, hands, and feet
Radiant Insignia on chest and legs
1 Rune of Vitae
1 Rune of Recovery
Curses staff with the inscription of "Hale and Hearty", and equipped with both a Hale Staff Head and Staff Wrapping of Fortitude.

 

Usage

Find your target caster and use Depravity on them. If your target is a monk and/or you expect hex removal, be sure to cover it with one of your other hexes. Ether Phantom works well, but if you can interrupt the next spell, Web of Disruption also provides an ample cover hex. If you feel your target has an elite that will hinder you or your team, use Signet of Humility. Otherwise, find a more practical target to disable their elite. You can now feel free to move onto other enemy casters and use Depravity on them when you see fit. Don't forget to reapply it on opposing monks. Reckless Haste and Spirit of Failure provide relief against physical attackers, and Spirit of Failure will provide you with energy. Ether Feast of course is for healing.

 

Notes

As mentioned, Web of Disruption works great to interrupt key skills and to cover Depravity. Note that it does not need to interrupt to be applied as a hex.
Inspiration Magic is at a breakpoint for Ether Phantom and Spirit of Failure.
If you see Hex Breaker or Holy Veil on a monk, it helps to "bait" them first. Use a different hex, such as Ether Phantom, to either end Hex Breaker or make the monk remove it with Holy Veil, then immediately cast Depravity and cover with a another hex.

 

Counters

Anti-spam spells, i.e. Diversion
Extensive hex removal
Interrupts

 

Variants

Reckless Haste can be replaced with Malaise if you want to focus more on debilitating casters.
Signet of Humility can be replaced with Drain Delusions for more e-denial/energy return or a second interrupt in conjunction with Web of Disruption. You can also cycle through Ether Phantom and Drain Delusions for more e-denial, and it basically costs nothing because of your Inspiration Magic level at the breakpoint for those two skills.
Ether Feast can be replaced with Parasitic Bond for an additional cheap cover hex at the cost of indirect self-healing.