Rank 1 never go out of use?

[Greyfeld]

Because of the drastic increase of SP of the longer cooldown spells (IE. lightning bolt, ice bolt), I've taken to spamming rank 1 magic missile for my damage output, with the occasional max rank firebolt for burst damage.

My question is this:

Do rank 1 of icebolt and lightningbolt have the same proc rate on their respective debuffs as the max rank of them would? Or do I need to use max rank of them to make sure the debuff goes off?

[Soul.of.Trance]

Because of the drastic increase of SP of the longer cooldown spells (IE. lightning bolt, ice bolt), I've taken to spamming rank 1 magic missile for my damage output, with the occasional max rank firebolt for burst damage.

My question is this:

Do rank 1 of icebolt and lightningbolt have the same proc rate on their respective debuffs as the max rank of them would? Or do I need to use max rank of them to make sure the debuff goes off?

if you didn't get this question answered, I'm not exactly sure, but you should have been using level 1 magic missile and level 1 Fire bolt from the start for more spell spam.

[Greyfeld]

if you didn't get this question answered, I'm not exactly sure, but you should have been using level 1 magic missile and level 1 Fire bolt from the start for more spell spam.

Well I've been using rank 1 MM since the beginning, as the spam is more reliable than having to juggle cooldowns, because anything above rank 1 has a 4 second CD timer. But I've been using max rank firebolt (only rank 2 atm) because it's actually 1 SP LESS than rank 1, and rank 1 doesn't really do any more damage than my rank 1 MM. So basically, it's burst damage on a 15-second timer.

But this has nothing to do with my real question. Fact is, I'm not really sure as to the duration, or proc rate, of the debuffs on ice/lightning. The spells don't even mention a debuff on them, much less if there's a higher chance to proc on higher ranks of the spell. It would really be nice if there were a way to test it, or some word from the devs.

[Soul.of.Trance]

Well I've been using rank 1 MM since the beginning, as the spam is more reliable than having to juggle cooldowns, because anything above rank 1 has a 4 second CD timer. But I've been using max rank firebolt (only rank 2 atm) because it's actually 1 SP LESS than rank 1, and rank 1 doesn't really do any more damage than my rank 1 MM. So basically, it's burst damage on a 15-second timer.

But this has nothing to do with my real question. Fact is, I'm not really sure as to the duration, or proc rate, of the debuffs on ice/lightning. The spells don't even mention a debuff on them, much less if there's a higher chance to proc on higher ranks of the spell. It would really be nice if there were a way to test it, or some word from the devs.

Lightning bolt's effect isn't a debuff. I think it's a double hit. because I managed to catch it and it didn't show anything on the description. onle a "-"

As for Ice Bolt. I really think it depends on the level of the monster, and it probably adds to the chances that it successfully debuffs the monster.

[Deedolith]

It all depend on mobs resistances. Slow effect and the additional hit effect are exactly the same no mater the skill lvl you use (more dmg for lightning blot of course).

[Greyfeld]

It all depend on mobs resistances. Slow effect and the additional hit effect are exactly the same no mater the skill lvl you use (more dmg for lightning blot of course).

So basically i can use rank 1 ice for the slow, but use max rank lightning, because the bonus damage is only for the lightning spell itself?

[Corakus]

Really?I see no trouble with using rank 3 magic missile,its cooldown is short enough to use,and its sp isnt too much of trouble,though i use only rank 2 fireball,the 15 sec cooldown sucks.

[Greyfeld]

Really?I see no trouble with using rank 3 magic missile,its cooldown is short enough to use,and its sp isnt too much of trouble,though i use only rank 2 fireball,the 15 sec cooldown sucks.

rank 3 MM does like 30 more damage than rank 1, and the cooldown is over twice the length. I can throw 2 MM (rank 1) in the cooldown time of MM (rank 3), do more damage, and cost less SP.

Since I have 5 points in cooldown reduction on magic missile, there's essentially no waiting for downtime between finishing the cast on my first one, and starting the cast on the next. So I don't have to worry about juggling cooldowns. On top of that, my rank 1 only does about 20-40 damage less than my high cooldown spells, for about 1/7 the SP cost... so unless I really need the burst damage, rank 1 spam FTW.

[Corakus]

Then rank 1 mm must work better in grouping and over lvl 20,cuz for me,when im soloing and grinding,the thing i wanna do is kill them in as less shots as possible.

[Greyfeld]

Then rank 1 mm must work better in grouping and over lvl 20,cuz for me,when im soloing and grinding,the thing i wanna do is kill them in as less shots as possible.

My goal is to kill them before they can hit me. Whether that's in 1 shot or 4, as long as they're dead before they can hit me, I'm fine.

Like when I'm killing boogies in forest of mist, i do Firebolt rank 2, MM rank 1, MM rank 1, MM rank 1.. they die, I don't get hit. And I've only spent 16 SP.

[violence]

Really?I see no trouble with using rank 3 magic missile,its cooldown is short enough to use,and its sp isnt too much of trouble,though i use only rank 2 fireball,the 15 sec cooldown sucks.

im lvl 47 and use all rank 1 spells except magic burst that i use rank 3 i dont need it to have quick cool down as i can spam spell anymonster and not pull aggro as long as my tank is like 4-5 lvls higher then me
however i do pull aggro alot when using my magic burst

[Corakus]

Does it only work that way in 20+ because i use magic missile 3 all the time with no trouble and firebolt 2 and i only have to rest every 9 or so battles,i don't see the point in just spamming magic missile over and over again,thats boring and without strategy.And rank 3 mm is only +10 sp,so unless the 4 sec cooldown time becomes utterly useless in higher lvls,i dont see the point of mm 1.

[Deedolith]

So basically i can use rank 1 ice for the slow, but use max rank lightning, because the bonus damage is only for the lightning spell itself?
Let me clarify:
Ice bolt: damage + slow effect.
Higher lvl ice bolt deal more damage, but the slow effect is the same duration.

Lightning bolt: damage + little additional damage.
Higher lvl lightning bolt deal more damage and more additional damage.

[Soul.of.Trance]

Does it only work that way in 20+ because i use magic missile 3 all the time with no trouble and firebolt 2 and i only have to rest every 9 or so battles,i don't see the point in just spamming magic missile over and over again,thats boring and without strategy.And rank 3 mm is only +10 sp,so unless the 4 sec cooldown time becomes utterly useless in higher lvls,i dont see the point of mm 1.

Spamming you weakest spells while the other ones cool down is very strategic... When you solo in MT for yourself you'll understand what we're doing.

[Corakus]

Ok after experimenting with the rank 1 spells my first thought is......what the.It seems to me that there is hardly a difference in damage,i only had to use 1 extra magic missile to do the same damage i was doing before,and i save tons of sp and can go through alot more battles without having to rest,and the cooldowns allow for even more damage than even before,it seems to me that the spells rely more on intelligence and your wand or staff than the ranks themselves.

[Rooter75]

well I am lvl 44 full int mage and I solo harkans in CP with this: MM,I,F,MM,L,MM all max spells and throw in a MB if needed to finish them off. I only use level one spells in party or if I am fighting green mobs. MM is full empowered dmg and cooldown, Fire is full empowered dmg and that is it. The sp usage of the max spells isn't that bad compared to dmg you take from 2 or 3 hits so killing fast is much more important to me, and I can kill only taking one hit with my max spells vs getting hit 3-4 times using lvl 1 spells. I think the full int dmg bonus and my GGk wand help tho. I suggest every mage (best after fresh level so exp loss is minimal) test out using combo of level 1 spells vs combo of max spells and judge for them selfs which works best for their build and equip for soloing. It is a no brainer that in party you should just spam level 1's to conserve sp and do max dps. You see when soloing it is not max dps but initial/upfront dmg to kill the mob before it hits you. Using max spells gives more upfront dmg to kill quicker in a few seconds (but dps is greatly reduced due to longer cooldowns) if you have right combo but using level 1 spells over time will give more dmg when you are not taking hits due to faster cool downs (hope that makes sense XD)

[Leesa]

What you should do is put the highest rank you have in a hot_key bar, and the rank 1 in another one, so if you use rank 1 MM the higher rank will will cool down in 1.8 seconds, but if you use the highest rank the rank 1 will cool down he same as the higher one. Wow, that is alot of ranks. =P

[Janger]

I'm afraid that it doesnt work that way Leesa lol

[Greyfeld]

Ok after experimenting with the rank 1 spells my first thought is......what the.It seems to me that there is hardly a difference in damage,i only had to use 1 extra magic missile to do the same damage i was doing before,and i save tons of sp and can go through alot more battles without having to rest,and the cooldowns allow for even more damage than even before,it seems to me that the spells rely more on intelligence and your wand or staff than the ranks themselves.

Lol that's what we were trying to tell you to begin with. The damage difference is so slight (as far as MM goes) that the increased SP and cooldown isn't worth using the higher ranks. Especially since to make use of the higher ranks of MM, you have to interweave your other spells (ice/lightning/fire) while you wait for the cooldown to wear off... which ends up costing you even more mana in the long run.