Wizard/Warlock - Underrated?
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:14 am
After experimenting and asking a few questions here and there, I have noticed that this combination is really quite spectacular.
Why isn't Wizard/Warlock recommended by anyone? First off, you can use the skills separately and cater to any situation. If you are playing solo, you can one-hit KO mobs with your level with Wizard spells. If a party monster comes up, you can switch your Warlock Rod on and kill it on your own. Also, berserker seems to charge faster when using Warlock spells (only the DoT ones? I'm not sure). At the very least, you can charge up berserker quickly with Warlock spells, then switch to Wizard and kill everything in sight.
The combination is even more frightening if you use a combination of all the skills. Wizards have nukes galore and a few utility spells, as well as Life Turnover and Life Control. Warlocks have damage over time spells, debuffs, damage reflection, and HP absorbing moves.
Examples:
Pure Damage ~ Debuffs -> DoT Spells -> Life Turnover -> Nukes
Close-Range AoE ~ Damage Reflection Buff -> AoE DoT Spells -> AoE Nukes, absorb HP if needed
Support ~ Damage Reflection, Debuffs, Traps, Knockback from Lightning Tree
Ghost ~ Debuff -> DoT Spells -> Invisibility
Notable Features:
1) DoT Spells do not stop dealing damage when you switch weapons.
2) Life Turnover/Control can amplify the damage of your DoT spells! Cast your DoT spells, switch to a staff, the use Life Turnover. Your DoT spells will start hitting MUCH harder.
3) After using Life Control/Turnover, you can simply absorb HP to heal back up.
4) Constant Damage Reflection via Advanced Reflect (Warlock).
Warlock DoT spells can easily pick off general monsters, while Wizard nukes put huge dents in the HP of giants and party monsters. Suppose you are in a party and two general monsters pop up behind you while your party is fighting a giant. You can cast one DoT spell on each of the general monsters, then keep nuking the giant. This will only take a second or two if you're fast. If the monsters damage you, you can always absorb HP from the giant before switching back to your staff.
Wizard/Warlock is able to curse enemies, then pound them with three powerful spells (2 DoT + 1 Nuke + Life Control/Turnover) at the same time. When damaged, you can simply sap HP from nearby enemies. Also, you'll have Advanced Reflect at higher levels.
Solo, this combination will probably level slower than Warlock/Cleric. In parties, however, you will become the primary damage dealer. It's hard enough to outdamage a Wizard with Life Turnover. Imagine how hard it would be to outdamage a debuffing Wizard/Warlock with damage reflection, 2 DoT spells, nukes, and Life Turnover all activated at the same time.
What do you guys think of the combination? I'm sure it has its downsides, but what combination doesn't? This is seems to be a pure offensive spellcasting build geared towards those who either want to become their own mobile artillery station, enjoy toying with their opponents, or both.
P.S. I guess this is more of a discussion thread than anything else. I'm surprised that so many Warlocks are going Warlock/Cleric and so many Wizards are going Wizard/Bard. Is Wizard/Warlock that unappealing?
Why isn't Wizard/Warlock recommended by anyone? First off, you can use the skills separately and cater to any situation. If you are playing solo, you can one-hit KO mobs with your level with Wizard spells. If a party monster comes up, you can switch your Warlock Rod on and kill it on your own. Also, berserker seems to charge faster when using Warlock spells (only the DoT ones? I'm not sure). At the very least, you can charge up berserker quickly with Warlock spells, then switch to Wizard and kill everything in sight.
The combination is even more frightening if you use a combination of all the skills. Wizards have nukes galore and a few utility spells, as well as Life Turnover and Life Control. Warlocks have damage over time spells, debuffs, damage reflection, and HP absorbing moves.
Examples:
Pure Damage ~ Debuffs -> DoT Spells -> Life Turnover -> Nukes
Close-Range AoE ~ Damage Reflection Buff -> AoE DoT Spells -> AoE Nukes, absorb HP if needed
Support ~ Damage Reflection, Debuffs, Traps, Knockback from Lightning Tree
Ghost ~ Debuff -> DoT Spells -> Invisibility
Notable Features:
1) DoT Spells do not stop dealing damage when you switch weapons.
2) Life Turnover/Control can amplify the damage of your DoT spells! Cast your DoT spells, switch to a staff, the use Life Turnover. Your DoT spells will start hitting MUCH harder.
3) After using Life Control/Turnover, you can simply absorb HP to heal back up.
4) Constant Damage Reflection via Advanced Reflect (Warlock).
Warlock DoT spells can easily pick off general monsters, while Wizard nukes put huge dents in the HP of giants and party monsters. Suppose you are in a party and two general monsters pop up behind you while your party is fighting a giant. You can cast one DoT spell on each of the general monsters, then keep nuking the giant. This will only take a second or two if you're fast. If the monsters damage you, you can always absorb HP from the giant before switching back to your staff.
Wizard/Warlock is able to curse enemies, then pound them with three powerful spells (2 DoT + 1 Nuke + Life Control/Turnover) at the same time. When damaged, you can simply sap HP from nearby enemies. Also, you'll have Advanced Reflect at higher levels.
Solo, this combination will probably level slower than Warlock/Cleric. In parties, however, you will become the primary damage dealer. It's hard enough to outdamage a Wizard with Life Turnover. Imagine how hard it would be to outdamage a debuffing Wizard/Warlock with damage reflection, 2 DoT spells, nukes, and Life Turnover all activated at the same time.
What do you guys think of the combination? I'm sure it has its downsides, but what combination doesn't? This is seems to be a pure offensive spellcasting build geared towards those who either want to become their own mobile artillery station, enjoy toying with their opponents, or both.
P.S. I guess this is more of a discussion thread than anything else. I'm surprised that so many Warlocks are going Warlock/Cleric and so many Wizards are going Wizard/Bard. Is Wizard/Warlock that unappealing?