In this guide you will see me refer to words such as Spec, Nuke, Stats, RvR, and PvE. For any readers who are new to the game, or a caster in general, Spec is just short for specialization. Nuke is a slang term used on practically every server, in any realm to mean a damage spell. Stats. is just short for Statistics. RvR means Realm Vs. Realm. PvE means Player Vs. Environment.
This guide, while I hope useful, is purely based on my experience from level 1-50 (about a year and a half or so played) as an Elven Void Eldritch, and based on my knowledge of casters in general, having played many classes. My name is Saturnn SoulSeeker, of the Galahad server.
NOTE: This guide is quite long in my opinion, so if you would like to look at the table of contents, located just below to find exactly what you're looking for, that's just what it's for.
Topics:
1. Starting Statistics
2. The Specializations
3. Starting out as a lowbie (level 1) character
4. Starting out as a /leveled character
5. What to hunt
6. Grouping
7. Soloing
8. RvR (Realm vs. Realm)
9. Realm Abilities (aka RAs)
10. Advice
1. Starting Statistics
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I started my Eldritch as an Elf. Some will say
Lurikeen are better, some will say Elves are better. In the end, there's only a small difference in stats.
The Elf starts out with higher intelligence (70). The Lurikeen starts out with
higher dexterity (80). Basically, it is up to you to decide which is better,
even though both races make fine Eldritches.
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My stat template when I started (as an Elf) was:
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Strength: 45 ------- (I added 5 to the original 40)
Constitution: 45 --- (Again, added 5 to the original 40)
Dexterity: 85 ------- (Added 10 to the original 75)
Quickness: 75------ (Didn't add anything)
Intelligence: 80 ---- (Added 10 to the original 70)
Piety: 60------------ (Didn't add anything)
Empathy: 60-------- (Didn't add anything)
Charisma: 60------- (Didn't add anything)
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That is my opinion on how to start an Elf magician, but there are other stats that I'm sure work well also. The extra strength and constitution will help a small bit in the long run, awarding extra encumbrance, and HP. The dexterity is obvious, as all casters want to cast as fast as they can, which is why I added 10. The reason I didn't add to quickness is because as a caster, you will be doing very little tanking with your staff (a little at lower levels), which is what uses qui. Intelligence is a big key to a casters life, determining nuking statistics, which is why I added 10 to it. Piety is useless as an Eldritch. Empathy is useless as an Eldritch. Finally, Charisma is useless as an Eldritch.
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I have not played a Lurikeen Eldritch, but if you wish to start as a Lurikeen, I can suggest a template.
Lurikeen Eldritch Template:
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Strength: 45--------- (Plus 5 to the original 40)
Constitution: 45----- (Plus 5 to the original 40)
Dexterity: 90--------- (Plus 10 to the original 80)
Quickness: 80------- (Don't add anything)
Intelligence: 70----- (Plus 10 to the original 60)
Piety: 60------------- (Don't add anything)
Empathy: 60--------- (Don't add anything)
Charisma: 60--------(Don't add anything)
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Again, this is only a suggestion that I would make, having played many caster classes. The Lurikeen and the Elf are the only two classes that can become an Eldritch.
(This section is pretty long, if you would like to read all of the specialization lines, which I suggest you do if you want to make an Eldritch, then do so. But, if you're interested in just one line, I would suggest going straight to that section. Just a friendly warning. J )
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Way of the Sun: This is the baseline version of
the Light spec. You will get your basic nuke, which you will use from level
1-5, if you're starting out at 1. You will also receive a stun from this
line. The stun lasts for a short amount of time at lower levels, and
progresses to be a 9 second stun by level 46. As an Eldritch, I use my stun
every single day, and it has saved my life quite a few times.
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Shadow Control (Light spec.): You receive spells
in this specialization line if you train in the Way of the Sun, which is
always referred to as Light. In this line, you will receive a near sight
spell, which reduces your targets abilities to get ranged attacks off. You
will also receive a spec. nuke. Even though I am void spec, I will say that
the Light spec. nuke is very powerful. Another thing about the Light spec.
is it's Mesmerize spell, which comes in handy in both RvR combat, and PvE.
Finally, Light gets a dexterity/quickness debuff.
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Way
Of the Moon:
This is the baseline version of the Mana spec. Under this line, you will get
your Absorption buff (which comes at a higher level of 30, and then an
upgraded version at 40). Also, a key spell to any caster, the Armor Shield.
Accompanied with the AF shield, all Hibernian casters also get a Damage
Shield. Finally, a bladeturn, which will absorb a melee hit for you (get the
one, and only bladeturn at level 19).
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Vacuumancy (Mana Spec.):
This is the Mana (Way of the Moon) specialization line. This line tends to be
popular among all Hibernian casters, especially the Eldritch and Enchanter
because of its PBAE (Point Blank Area Effect), which deals a lot of damage at
a fast rate to targets at point blank range. You will also receive an AE
disease under this line. And as if the PBAE wasn't enough for you, you also
get an AE Damage & Snare, as well as a targeted Damage & Snare. To finish them
up, you get an area effect debuff spell for strength, and constitution.
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Way Of the Eclipse: This is the baseline version
of the Void spec. Under this line, you will receive a dexterity debuff, and
a strength debuff. You will also get a cold type nuke.
Now, if you're going to specialize in Void, do not use the Light baseline nuke, use the Eclipse one. The Light one will cost you a ton more mana, as well as deal less damage. As a Void spec Eldritch, I always use the Eclipse one as my main target nuke (after using bolts, of course, but we will get to that in the next section.) Next, you get a baseline Bolt, which will deal a bit less damage than the specialized Bolt, but is good nonetheless.
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Void Mastery (Eclipse Spec.): This is the spec
that I am, and I must say that I have loved it ever since level 5, when I
started training in it. You will a specialized Bolt, which is one of your
most powerful spells. Combine that bolt with your baseline bolt, and you
will deal a ton of damage.
You also get a spec AE, which is not to be confused with the GTAE (ground-target area effect). They are two different spells, even though some think that the Eldritch only gets a GTAE. Well, I'll set you all straight out there, the Eldritch gets a GTAE, and an AE. The GTAE does not deal a ton of damage, even at its highest level, but is very useful when it comes to attacking people inside a keep, outside a keep, finding stealthers, or attacking enemies on the other side of a gate. If enemies were in sight though, I would definitely use my spec AE, which will deal a lot more damage.
To top it all off, the Void spec gets three debuffs, which start at level 22, and end at level 49. They are Energy, Body, and Spirit debuffs. The Energy one comes in handy particularly when grouped with an Enchanter, or Mana spec Eldritch, as it will boost their PBAE damage by a lot.
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My Spec Template:
How I set my template up is the following:
Void Mastery: 50-------- (+13 with items and realm bonuses)
Vacuumancy: 20--------- (+9 with items and realm bonuses)
Shadow Control: 4------ (+9 with items and realm bonuses)
You might ask why I went full 50 Void. Well, I want my void to be at its full potential, in both RvR and PvE combat. The 13 extra points I have put me at an even greater advantage, having 63 Void spec total. The reason I went for 20 Mana (Vacuumancy) is so I can get the level 20 PBAE spell, which I use a lot when trying to find stealthers in RvR. Also, when using my Energy debuff, I can use it as a small nuke if I am low on power. The 4 points I have in Light (Shadow Control) are just the points I had left over. Since they could not be used, I figured I might as well get some lowbie Light spells, just to play around with.
3. Starting Out As A Lowbie (Level 1) Character:
- Starting out at level 1 can be difficult, depending on if you have experience or not. If you are completely new (or just new to Hibernia), I suggest exploring a lot, make a lot of friends (joining a guild is a very good idea), and try new things.
- Exploring will give you a general idea of where to go and kill things, or where certain towns, or trainers are. Not only that, but it will also seem to get easier over time to get around, since you will know the general layout of Hibernia.
- Making a lot of friends will make it easier to not only get groups, but also have a good time in general. Plus, if you solo your entire career it will not only be harder, and more boring (for some), but you might not have the best experience that an MMORPG has to offer. After all, it is a multiplayer online game. Don't get me wrong here though; sometimes soloing is a good thing. Especially for Void Eldritches, soloing can be quite easy, and can be useful if your having a bad day, or cant find a group.
- Joining a guild is a very good idea, especially for new players. A guild will offer not only friendship, but also groups, help, in some cases items, and events. I strongly suggest getting into a guild early, and not moving from one guild to another every day.
- Trying new things will give you a sense of your boundaries. What you can and can't do just yet. It's a good idea to try and kill that monster, or try to explore a dangerous place. As you grow in experience, you will learn very quickly how things work, and what your boundaries are.
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Elves start out in Mag Mell, Lurikeen start in Connla, and if you have the
Shrouded Isles expansion pack, you can choose to start in Domnann.
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If you're an
Elf,
hunting right outside Mag Mell at level 1 is a good idea. There are a bunch of
creatures there that will give you good quality exp from level 1-4ish. You can
also go behind Mag Mell, where there are hills with a ton of monsters, because
usually new people don't go back there. You can also go to Ardee, which is
just down the road from Mag Mell. Just outside ardee has a range of monsters
also. Ardee also has a river close by, which has mobs for level 3+.
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If you're a Lurikeen,
hunting right on the beach outside Connla is your best bet. The mobs change
from day to night, which can also give you more variety if you start getting
bored going through levels 1-3 there. After that, exploring all around Connla
will lead you to find a whole range of monsters. If you can amass 5 silver
eventually, I suggest taking a horse ride out of Connla, and going to Ardee,
or Mag Mell. Just because Connla is pretty far from much civilization.
- Starting in Domnann will give you monsters from level 0-5 right outside. This is a good place to level a lowbie character, but beware, if you travel too far from the lowbie zones you will get killed by very high-level mobs.
4. Starting As A /Leveled Character:
If you're starting as a /leveled character you already have a level 50. This means you should pretty much know what you're doing, and know your way around. I would like to mention though, please take some time to get to know your class before you ask a high level a ton of questions. Not that I won't help any new Eldritches, but when I get asked hundreds of questions that you could easily find just by playing you character, I tend to get cranky. This goes for all classes, please, just get to know your /leveled class, and play it, before you ask a lot. Please do not take this as a discouragement from asking questions though, you will have to learn some things that way.
I've already gone over what to hunt for levels 1-5, which doesn't take that long. But, there are many places to hunt in Hibernia, what I am about to suggest is just that, a suggestion. These are the places that I personally hunted at to get from levels 1-50. I encourage Eldritches to explore, and find their own hunting places, as well as take the time to explore the ones I suggest.
| Level | Areas | |||||||
| Connacht | Lough Derg | Connla | Bri Leith | Frontier | Cursed Forest | Domnann | Bog of Cullen | |
| 5-10 | Water Beetles | Lough Wolves | Rowdies | Right Outside | ||||
| 10-20 | Darkness Falls | Muire's Tomb | Quests/Tasks | |||||
| 20-30 | Pookas | Pathanans | Coruscating Mine | Squabblers | Quests | |||
| 30-40 | Darkness Falls | Epic Quests | Epic Quest | Coruscating Mine | Gorge Rats | Empyreans | Quests | Mobs all over |
| 40-50 | Darkness Falls | Epic Quests | Epic Quest | Coruscating Mine | Albs/Mids | Finilaths | A lot of Quests | Farm Madawg |
These are the basic places I went to as I leveled personally. There were almost definitely more place, but these are the main ones I remember. The reason I put Epic Quests so high in levels, is because I started working on my epics at about level 31.
Darkness Falls was another place I went to very often. Coruscating Mines as well, a very nice place to group at, and farm (at higher levels). And for 40-50, at the Cursed Forest, Finliaths. There are groups there practically every day and night, because the exp is excellent, and groups usually have short downtime with them.
Madawg is a mob that as an Eldritch, you will have to kill eventually as part of you Epic Quest. He is an instant-spawn mob, so sometimes people just farm him, he drops very nice cloth, and staves, as well as some loot that sells good at the merchant. The exp is fair with him, though I never hunted him for exp because he is orange to a level 50, so by the time he was orange I only used him to farm gear and money.
I hope you do explore, and find your own camps of mobs eventually. The chart about is just a friendly suggestion of some places you can go to, if you're ever wondering.
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As an Eldritch in a group, you will be a main nuker. Usually, groups will look
to you to kill a mob fast. Depending on your spec, you could get this job done
a number of ways.
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Myself, being a Void Eldritch, would select the target we are attacking, wait
for the tanks to obtain the agro of the mob, and then nuke it with my baseline
Eclipse nuke. If the mob is heading to me, or a group member is in trouble
(healer for instance), is when your stun comes in handy in a group. For Light
spec, using the mesmerize spell will be a very useful crowd control spell that
groups will expect you to use. But back to Void, if there is more than one
mob, I would
not
use my GTAE to attack, I would use my spec AE. Many people think Void
Eldritches use the GTAE, when in fact they are using the AE. The only time I
would use GTAE is in either:
a. An RvR Situation
b. A high level mob Situation (where GTAE is the only spell that's not resisted).
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As a Mana Eldritch, you will want to use your PBAE in group situations, and
groups will expect it of you. PBAE is a very powerful spell; therefore
will make killing mobs go much faster. Your other nuking capabilities might
come in handy in certain situations, but mostly you will PBAE.
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As a Light Eldritch, your spec nukes will be
basically what you're going to cast. Also, the mesmerize spells will be
expected when a crowd of mobs are coming.
- Please note that the base spells such as Stun, and the target Damage Shield are going to be used in group situations no matter what spec you are.
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This is where the Void Eldritch can really shine. Since bolts cannot be used in groups (unless extreme situations where a bolt does not miss the mob, which is not often). Get at your farthest range from your target. At this time, you will want to get both of your bolts off, and then nuke whatever's left of the poor mobs life. If this does not finish the target off, stun, and keep nuking. After that, the mob should be dead, even if it's an orange con (I do not suggest hunting orange cons until at least level 25 or so, as they are difficult without help at low levels).
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As a Mana Eldritch, you will want to use your wide arsenal of nukes to hurt the enemy as much as possible. You can also use your baseline bolt to pull the enemy, which is common. If it is not completely dead by the time it gets to you, one PBAE should do it. You also have quickcast, just incase that PBAE, or one of your nukes is resisted.
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As a Light Eldritch, your powerful spec nukes should take out the enemy long before it gets to you. You can also mesmerize any adds that may come, which is a handy utility to have. If you're facing a target that has a ranged attack, nearsight is also a good tool.
- This is another area where the Void Eldritch really shines. Considering Voids ranged attacks, as a Void Eldritch, you will have an easier time soloing in RvR than many other classes. I highly recommend having a group for RvR though, because they will not only last longer, but will also be more successful in killing enemies. Against casters, if your first bolt has not already killed them, the second one should finish the job. Anything left after that, a nuke will take care of. I suggest stunning your targets before attacking though, because remember, an enemy caster has quickcast just like you do. Against tanks, its basically stun and nuke away, because usually bolts miss, or don't do much damage against them (Mythic is making steps to change this and make bolts better, or so I have heard). Against anything else, bolts, nukes, and stuns will be your best friends. Easy enough, right?
- For a Mana Eldritch, again, your wide arsenal of spec nukes will give you an advantage. Being able to use PBAE at close ranges, and spec AE from far away. Caution though: getting close up to the enemy to PBAE can not only be difficult, but also deadly most of the time. If you stun them though, you should be able to take them out within that 9-second period.
- This is a place for Light Eldritches to shine as well. The area effect mesmerize spell will give you the power to kill whole groups of enemies. If you're in a group, it's even better. You can mesmerize a group, and pick off your targets one by one, crippling, and eventually defeating the enemy. Not to mention the powerful spec nuke.
When you have accumulated enough Realm Points to get Realm Abilities, you will want to know which ones to get. Personally I have so far:
- Augmented Acuity 3
- Mystic Crystal Lore
- Serenity 2
- Mastery Of Magery 1
- Mastery Of the Art 2
- Wild Power 1
10. Advice:
By now you should have pretty much gotten an idea of how to play an Eldritch. I hope anyway, I have spent much time on this guide and hope it helps anyone who reads it.
Now, just for a bit of advice.
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Don't use bolts when in a group unless you're
the one pulling the mob.
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Do not
listen to people when they tell you what spec to choose.
Sure, it is nice to have a suggestion, but choose the spec that you
want. Personally, I would suggest Void, others would suggest Mana, and some
would suggest Light. They are all good specs; it depends on how you
want to play.
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Make a lot of friends; try to join a guild if
you can.
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Listen to your group members; develop good
communication skills if you haven't already.
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Learn all of your skills, even the ones you
don't use often, or much at all.
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When you get into RvR, practice, don't give up
easily. It can be frustrating, but with time you will get better and better.
- Have fun.
Thanks for reading my Eldritch Guide. I hope that it helped.
Please, if you are going to use my guide, at least give me credit, I wrote the whole thing, and it did take me a while.
Thanks,
Saturnn Soulseeker, level 50 Eldritch, Galahad.
