A few questions

[takolin]

After a long time of playing different games, I'm back and ready to make a hybrid spear.

Planned masteries
90 fire
90 heuksal
60 light
60 ice

But I have a few questions.

General
Can I still nuke somewhat decently in PvE with a naked balance of 85-87?

Heuksal
Are chains useful for a hybrid spear?

Fire
What does the combustion series do and is it useful?

Lightning
Should I get the lightning nukes knowing I'll stop increasing lightning at 60?
Or will I do fine with just levelling all my fire nukes?
Or should I just get lvl 1 of the 1st nuke until I can get my hands on the 2nd fire nuke?

Ice
Is nova good in PvE or is the cast time too long to justify the use of it?
About the nukes: see question on the lightning section.
To what level should I increase my snow shield? Get it to lvl 60 or would a lower one be enough?

[Stress]

If you have an 87% balance, you should build
90 light
90 cold
90 heuksal
30 fire.

84% (and lower) hybrid spears should be build with maxed fire, IMO. Anything above that needs extra physical defense.

I'm planning the exact same build as you. With 84% naked, I nuke well in PvE. Not as good as a pure INT, but still very good.

I don't think chains are useful. You can do well enough with Windless, Soul, Ghost and flying dragon.

Fire combustion detects europeans in stealth or invisible, as far as I know. I'm not perfectly sure though. The range is rather small, but you can take the skill. It might prove useful in job wars.

You can use the light nukes for leveling until level 50 (or 60). From around level 64, you will stop using them. Having two light nukes really augments the leveling speed, because of the transfers they boast.

Same goes for ice nukes, like with lightning. Don't bother getting book 1, get level 1 of book 2, though. It proves useful in some situations.
Also, don't bother leveling frost nova. Just ghost walk away if you're mobbed and you think you're in danger of dieing.
Get the level 60 snow shield. It's going to be just right, IMO.

I'd stay in garms until 7d (or 8d), and then switch to protectors. Because cold stays at level 60, the physical boost is only really relevant in your 60's and 70's. When you go over to 9d, you will need to augment your physical defense, as magical defense goes up really well with fire protection.

[takolin]

Thanks for the help.
I'll guess I'll get a bit more strength and go for a 84'ish balance.