Elemental Lord in-depth PvP Skill Guide, Combos, and Tactics

Elemental Lord in-depth PvP Skill Guide, Combos, and Tactics

Foreword

Recently, I have been actively researching on Elemental Lord PvP all over the Chinese sites. I have also tested what I have learnt through my EL. I may not be one of the best PvP ELs around, but I’m sure I’m at least average or better =D *shy*

I have been writing this guide for the past few days, and wondering if I should post this. One of my reasons hesitating is that I do not have the knowledge to post PvP guides for ALL classes. I do not want fellow DN players to ask for PvP guides to all the classes available. The only class I have researched on so greatly, is on EL. Nevertheless, by reading the post now, it means I have decided to post my knowledge gained on this. As for PvP Guides on other classes, it would depend if I have the time and effort to go researching and making a character to test them out.

Note: For pro PvP ELs out there reading this guide, feel free to comment on your own opinions for EL PvP combos, tactics, or even skill build. Please go easy on me for my opinions =D

In this part of my guide, I will be talking about both Elestra’s and Saleana’s possible skill builds targeting mainly at PvP.

The first thing you have to know is, there are different ways to build a PvP Elemental Lord. Here are the three possible styles of adding your skills.

1. Damage Outburst – Targeting instant high damage spells to kill your opponent asap
2. Tormentor – Various DPS spells and restrictive skills to trap your opponent to death
3. Elemental Lock – Able to achieve a complete “lock” on your opponent for several seconds (even on PvE bosses!)

Note: I will elaborate more on them after I go through all the skills.

Let’s talk about each of the skills effect with respect to PvP first before moving on with various build examples. I will provide builds for Lv40 and Lv50. In each build, I will list down pros and cons of them as well.

Sorceress

• Flame Worm – It may be a low damage spell, but it has a fast cooldown. It has a chance of burning your target, and also able to hit enemies on the ground. Using this while your opponent jumps, or use aerial evasion, will strike them on the ground.
• Whirling Staff/Wheeling Staff – Almost a useless and will-not-be-used skill. I mean, sorceress with a physical attack!?
• Glacial Spike – Another fast cooldown skill. Mainly used to disturb your opponent. The good thing for this skill, is that it has a chance to freeze your target!
• Poison Missle – Depending on personal preferences, you can add this to Lv1, or to Lv12 for 3 pools of poison. Superb in interrupting your opponent. (Level changes, Lv12)
• Force Explosion/Void Blast – A simple spell to disrupt your opponent at range. In my opinion, this can be a great skill for PvP, but the SPs can be better spent elsewhere.
• Shock Wave – Mainly used to hit your opponents away from you. Even though most Elemental Lord’s spells are close-range, there are time you need to knock opponents away to use your range spells such as Freezing Field, Fireball, Inferno, Chilling Mist.
• Charge Missle – Learning this allows you to pose a threat to your opponents if they come near you. However, in my opinion, the SPs can be better spent elsewhere.
• Blink – Your bread and butter technique to escape or initiate attacks. Max it.
• Hammer Attack – Superb for PvP if used correctly. Able to hit your opponent in the air. A great skill to cancel your opponent’s Aerial Evasion. If you succeed in this attack and your opponent stays lying on the ground. Here’s your chance for massive combo-ing. Can be used as a initiative skill, or a combo spell after Icy Shards or Firewall.
• Counter Spell – Gives you a temporary invulnerability at the moment of position recovery. Roll towards your target and activate this skill, gives you a chance to knock your opponent away.
• Aerial Evasion / Escape – In PvPs, many skills can hit you to the air or to a paralyzed state. Must-max skill. Aerial Evasion gives you a chance for Hammer Attack, while Escape gives you a chance for a Flame Spark/Frost Wind.
• Mental Mastery – Useless for PvP.
• Mental Training – Almost useless for 1v1 PvP. In mass PvP, it may help a little ONLY if you manage to survive that long.
• Physical Mastery – Must-max skill to ensure higher HP during PvPs.

Elemental Lord

• Fireball – Even at Lv1, the damage is incredible, no matter if it’s for PvP or PvE. It can slightly hit your opponent in the air when hit. Add it high if you want a supreme outburst of damage. Use this if you are certain that you will be safe from casting, as well as scoring a possible hit. For example,  Glacial Wave + Fireball, Freezing Field + Fireball.
• Glacial Wave – Despite being a small AOE skill, it has superb defense breaking capabilities. At high levels, it can freeze enemies for a good duration for Elemental Lords to chain their skill combos. This skill should not be used as a combo starter, but a combo chainer. What do I mean by this? If you notice, it is kinda hard to pull off this skill when you are consistently being combo-chained by your opponent. To pull this off, try to slow your opponents down or paralyze or stun them before casting this spell. Furthermore, as long as your opponent is frozen, your spell will do 50% additional damage. Recommended to level as high as possible, plus a [Glacial Wave] duration increment Heraldry. If you wish to add your SPs to other spells, this must be at least at Lv4 in my humble opinion.
• Inferno – Another skill with good damage, but the downside is that you cannot move in the time of casting unless you Blink. Pre-requisite, or level it high if you have sufficient SPs. Lv7 gives additional range. I would definitely recommend it to be levelled to at least Lv7, unless you dislike using this skill or you are going for a deep-ice build. (Level changes, Lv7)
• Freezing Field – A decent range skill with decent AOE, but a slightly long casting time. Mainly used to slow enemies and reduce their Ice-Based defense. At high levels, it can slow your opponent to an unbelievable state. Depending on personal preferences, you can choose to level it to Lv9 for Elemental Lock 100%. (Level changes, Lv7, Lv9)
• Fire Wall – A decent-to-short range skill with decent AOE, but a slightly long casting time. However, it’s a good skill to defend you against surrounding enemies, and even lifting them into the air for air combos. Even though it has a slight super armour, do not rely on it too much. With a high level Fire Wall, your reverse paralyze will be reduced. I will leave it at pre-requisite as I think the only improvement in greater levels is its damage.

Note:Reverse paralyze refers to a state when you start casting your spell slower than normal. Try casting a Lv1 Firewall on normal mobs, and on the Mino boss. You should get what I mean. The boss’es super armor will drop your casting speed.

• Fire Bird / Phoenix Storm – An instant cast skill with decent damage. A good skill to implement the burning effect on enemies. What makes this skill superior to almost all other Elemental Lord’s spells is its instant-cast ability. Almost uninterruptable (or is it 100%?). This skill deals incredible damage when all 3 birds hit a target. Superb damage at high levels.

Note: To add this skill or not is a very tough question, especially for Elestras. If you add this, it should be levelled high. If you decide not to add this, you get to save tonnes of SPs (38 for Lv8, 50 for Lv11). These SPs can be invested in your various spells to improve its effects like Inferno, Frost Wind, Freezing Field, Fire/Ice Shield, etc.

• Freezing Sword / Icy Shards – A normal damage skill, primarily used for debuffing Ice-Based defense, and lifting enemies into the air. Put it at Lv1, or level it to Lv11 if you are going for Elestra. Lv12 if you have sufficient SPs.
• Ice Stab/Frozen Spikes – Creates an ice wall to block your opponent’s vision, slow him, or even cancel his Aerial Evasion. Able to deal decent damage, and excellent DPS at high levels.
• Flame Road / Hot Rod- A very good damage skill that allows you to use it for approaching or escaping enemies. At least Lv1 or max it for extreme DPS. However, if you use it without caution, the mobility will drive you to death. One of the example is that, you can be frozen/time-stopped while travelling with your broom. Superb for mass PvP.
• Ignition – Ignites enemies with burning effects for a superb damage dealt. However, the burning effect will be removed after this skill is successfully casted. Personally I would not add this because of the burning effect removal, even if I’m going for Saleana.
• Icy Fraction – Deals a great deal of damage to enemies being frozen, or being frostbitten. After the skill is being successfully casted, the slow effect remains. At least Lv1, not recommended to max unless you have enough SPs. This skill is usually easy for your opponent to dodge (if he knows how) unless he is frozen. Damage differs upon the state of the frozen/slowed target, which is the number of ice skills he had been hit.
• Chilling Mist – This skill may not have damage as high as Flame Road, but for skills that are being casted instantly, this is definitely one of the best of them. At high levels, it does unbelievable damage. Similar to Firewall, it has a Reverse Paralyze effect on certain bosses. Superb for mass PvP.
• Flame Spark – Some Elemental Lords suggest only Lv1 is sufficient, but others added it high for increased AOE and damage. The damage growth is one of the best in all of EL’s spells. In my opinion, Lv1 will do for Elestras-to-be. As for Saleanas-to-be, you have a choice. This is a superb skill for initiation and retaliation. Attacking your opponent directly after this spell hits the target will flinch him to the ground. You can use either left-click, right-click (probably with a Book), or simply by using other spells like Poison Missile. Once they are lying flat on the ground, it’s your chance for insane damage.

– About Reverse Flame Spark. It can be done by simply pressing G (default button for changing your view to your back instantly) AFTER blinking and then left-click.

• Frost Wind – Great skill for slowing enemies, especially when it is being levelled high. At least Lv1, recommended to level it high for better slowing effect (Level changes, Lv7, Lv9). Similar to Flame Spark, attacking your opponent directly after the spell hits your target to a paralyzed state will hit him to the ground. There is certain Reverse Paralyze effect too.

– About Reverse Frost Wind. It can be done by simply pressing G (default button for changing your view to your back instantly) AFTER blinking and then right-click.

• Fire Shield – The latest patch gave this skill a permanent duration, as well as increased super armor. MP consumption is however atrocious.
• Freezing Shield – The latest patch gave this skill a permanent duration, as well as increased super armor. MP consumption is however atrocious.
• Payback Mana – Don’t think it’s useful, in my opinion.
• Flame Vortex / Blizzard Storm – Just another huge AOE spell for mass PvP.

Elestra

• Freezing Sword EX / Icy Shards EX – From a close-range spell, to a superb long range spell. What can I say more to this? It has become a signature move for Elestra. Definitely a must-add.
• Ice Barrier – This skill may be almost worthless in PvP. It breaks easily upon 1 or 2 skills. With the new Shield patch, coupling Ice Barrier and Freezing Shield may prove a bit more durable.
• Ice Spear – Good for mass PvP disturbance.

Saleana

• Fireball EX – Able to shoot 3 fireballs when the charging state reaches stage 2 or 3. The damage is increased upon stage 3 as well. Some Saleanas may choose not to increase this skill, but level more on other skills.
• Burning Hands – Great for using fire-based spells, to inflict more damage.
• Rolling Lava – Good for mass PvP disturbance. Not to mention about its good damage.

Combos

Basically these combos mainly target on 1v1 situations. In mass PvPs, usually the only way is to use your huge AOE and blast your opponents away lol. Of course, the 1v1 situations in mass PvP will work too.

Some skills combination:

Damage Outburst

• As I have mentioned under Glacial Wave about the 50% damage increment under a frozen state, here are some possible skill pairings.

i.      Glacial Wave + Fire Bird / Phoenix Storm

ii.     Glacial Wave + Inferno

iii.    Glacial Wave + Firewall

iv.    Glacial Wave + Flame Road

v.     Glacial Wave + Fireball

Tormentor

• Tormentor refers to constantly making your opponents unable to retaliate

i.      Freezing Sword + Firewall OR Firewall + Freezing Sword (if your opponent activates Aerial Evasion straight after the 1^st skill, there he goes lying on the ground)

ii.      (When your opponent is lying o the floor) Poison Missile + Icy Stab / Frozen Spikes

iii.     Freezing Sword + Hammer Attack

iv.     Shockwave + Freezing Field

Elemental Lock

• Elemental Lock refers to an immovable state of your opponent. Depending on the degree of lock, he can neither move nor cast any spells for a certain duration. The degree of lock will depend on whether you levelled your various Ice-based spells high. Hence, a high degree of lock will only be achievable upon Lv40 and above.
• This lock involves the use of Icy Fraction, and that would mean that you can only perform this lock once every 45 seconds (or more). Simply by using an Ice spell to freeze or slow your target, and with that activate Icy Fraction. After Icy Fraction, if you are able to hit him again with another Ice spell, he will be slowed to an extreme handicapped state. One significant example would be levelling Freezing Field to Lv9 or more.

i.      Glacial Wave + Icy Fraction + Freezing Field Lv9 (100% lock)

ii.     Freezing Sword + Icy Fraction + Frost Wind Lv9 (80% – 100% lock)

The list gets endless, but you get the idea. Ice spell 1 + Icy Fraction + Ice spell 2. Of course, all 3 skills must hit, if not you won’t be able to lock your target. However, some ice spells like Freezing Sword and Chilling Mist may not achieve a good lock (maybe about 50% – 80%) upon using them as the 2^nd Ice spell.

Upon successfully locking your target, you know what to do.

After seeing so many short skill combos, combining each and every of them will lead you to the long skill chains. As for the combinations, here are some examples.

1. Flame Spark -> Normal Attack (Flinched) -> Poison Missile -> Frozen Spike -> Frost Wind -> (After the target gets up) Glacial Wave -> Phoenix Storm -> Inferno
2. Glacial Wave -> Firewall -> Icy Shards -> Inferno -> Flame Spark OR Frost Wind -> Poison Missile -> Frozen Spike
3. Freezing Sword -> Hammer Attack -> Poison Missile -> Frozen Spike -> Inferno
4. Poison Missile -> Frozen Spike -> Inferno OR Fireball -> Frost Wind OR Flame Spark -> Glacial Wave -> Icy Shards -> Firewall

Note: The above stated combos are not conclusive of the list. There can be many other combos as well. In addition, when some of your skills are on cooldown, you would have to think of another combo on the spot.

I just want to emphasize that, these 3 different styles are just there to indicate certain preferences on the levels to place for each different skill. For example, if you focus more on the Damage Outburst style, you can level Fireball or Fire Bird / Phoenix Storm high for that outburst. For Tormentor, you can increase Icy Stab / Frozen Spikes or Inferno high. As for Elemental Lock, Freezing Field minimum at Lv9 for a 100% lock. So let us take a look at some skill builds.

Elemental Lord Lv40 (Remaining SPs can be placed depending on your needs.)

1) EL build 1

• Pros
  • Suitable for both Elestra/Saleana-to-be
  • Lv7 Inferno for long range torment
  • 2 strong Lv32 skills at hand for mass PvP
  • Maxed Glacial Wave for 50% damage increase and frozen duration
  • Lv7 Frost Wind for enhanced slowing capabilities
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
• Cons
  • Shields at low levels
  • Low on DPS spells (Icy Shards and Frozen Spikes)
  • Only with Flame Road, Chilling Mist, and Inferno for high damage.
  • No Phoenix Storm for instant damage outburst

2) EL build 2

• Pros
  • Lv7 Inferno for long range torment
  • Maxed Glacial Wave for 50% damage increase and frozen duration
  • Lv7 Frost Wind for enhanced slowing effects
  • Lv7 Freezing Field for superb slowing effects (Elemental Lock 90%)
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
  • Frozen Spike high for great DPS
• Cons
  • Lacks Flame Road’s mobility and DPS
  • Low shield
  • No Phoenix Storm for instant damage outburst

3)  EL build 3

• Pros
  • Phoenix Storm for instant outburst
  • Lv7 Freezing Field for enhanced slowing effects (Elemental Lock 90%)
  • Lv7 Inferno for long range torment
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
• Cons
  • Low shield
  • Low on DPS spells (Icy Shards and Frozen Spikes)
  • Frost Wind only at Lv1
  • Lacks Flame Road’s mobility and DPS

4) EL build 4

• Pros
  • High damage Flame Spark (spammable)
  • Phoenix Storm for instant outburst
  • Maxed Glacial Wave for 50% damage increase and frozen duration
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
• Cons
  • Low shield
  • Ice spells are only meant for breaking Aerial and combo chaining
  • No Elemental Lock (due to low ice numbers)

5) EL build 5

• Pros
  • Phoenix Storm for instant outburst
  • Lv7 Freezing Field for enhanced slowing effects (Elemental Lock 90%)
  • Lv7 Inferno for long range torment
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
• Cons
  • Low shield
  • Ice spells are only meant for breaking Aerial and combo chaining
  • Frost Wind only at Lv1

Note: Don’t mind the url link stating to be Elestra or Saleana. The builds are only meant for ELs, and if you see the majority of the Fire tree added, that build is for Saleanas-to-be. And vice versa. You can choose not to get your Lv40 skills, and that will free up 10 SPs for you to maximise your other skill effects.

Elestra Lv50

1) Elestra Build 1

• Pros
  • Maxed Phoenix Storm for instant outburst
  • Maxed Frost Wind for superb slowing effects (Elemental Lock 90-99%)
  • Lv7 Inferno for long range torment
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
• Cons
  • Low shield
  • Low Chilling Mist, unable to score a massive hit in mass PvP
  • Lacks Flame Road’s mobility and DPS
  • Lacks the power of a true slowing debuffer

2) Elestra Build 2

• Pros
  • Massive damage for Chilling Mist
  • Maxed Frost Wind for superb slowing effects (Elemental Lock 90-99%)
  • Lv7 Inferno for long range torment
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
  • Lv9 Freezing Field (Elemental Lock 100%)
• Cons
  • Low shield
  • Gives up Phoenix Storm
  • Lacks Flame Road’s mobility and DPS

3) Elestra Build 3

• Pros
  • Massive damage for Chilling Mist
  • Maxed Frost Wind for superb slowing effects (Elemental Lock 90-99%)
  • High Shield
  • Lv12 Freezing Field (Elemental Lock 100% with longer duration)
  • Superb Ice DPS rotatable spells
• Cons
  • No Aerial interruption for Firewall
  • No Lv7 Inferno
  • Gives up Phoenix Storm
  • Lacks Flame Road’s mobility and DPS
  • Only Flame Spark, Flame Worm, and Fireball to burn opponents (Disadvantaged when the new passive skill is added in. The new passive skill is the one that gives additional critical chance when your target is burnt.)

Saleana Lv50

1) Saleana Build 1

• Pros
  • Massive damage for Flame Road
  • Maxed Flame Spark for good damage
  • Maxed Phoenix Storm for damage outburst
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
• Cons
  • Ice spells are only for combo chaining and aerial
  • No Elemental Lock
  • Low Shield

2) Saleana Build 2

• Pros
  • Firewall for breaking Aerial
  • Lv9 Freezing Field (Elemental Lock 100%)
  • Massive damage for Flame Road
  • Maxed Frost Wind for superb slowing effects (Elemental Lock 90-99%)
  • Maxed Phoenix Storm for damage outburst
• Cons
  • Sacrifices Fireball EX
  • Ice spells are only for combo chaining and aerial
  • Low Shield

– You have to face this fact. There are just insufficient SPs to suit your build. If possible, everybody would want to max their skills. So with some pros, there must be some cons. Here are some possible choices.

1) Get Phoenix Storm + Ignition, and forget about Flame Road.

2) Get Flame Road and forget about Phoenix Storm + Ignition.

– Getting both Phoenix Storm + Ignition and Flame Road will severely impair you on SPs.

– Please do not pick one of the builds by counting the number of pros against the number of cons.

– And again, I shall say that these builds are not conclusive. Do not blindly add your skills based on the builds here. It also depends on your playing style, like how often you use a particular skill. There can be other builds players have in mind too.

Heraldrys

For Heraldrys, please refer to the Heraldry Section for Elemental Lords. Pick the skills that you chose to level high in your skill build.

Tactics

Elemental Lords can be deadly when their skills are carefully used. There are mainly 2 stages in the PvP.

The first stage is when most of your deadly spells are on cooldown. Do not open full firepower on them because you will realise you don’t have sufficient spells to attack. Simply disturb them with Flame Spark, Frost Wind, Glacial Spike and probably Flame Worm. If your better spells are ready, such as Poison Missile and Frozen Spike, use them too. After disturbing, stay clear of them. (I do not recommend running away from sight to wait on all your cooldowns. Just stay within sight and disturb + dodging. You probably won’t be able to outrun Warriors and FUs either.)

The second stage is when you got your stronger spells ready. However, be cautious of your initiative attack. One of the most common approach would be a Flame Spark + an attack to flinch your target. Do not use Glacial Wave unless you are sure you can get a hit. It is easily cancelled by various fast spells like Twin Shot and Eclipse. Once your target stays lying on the ground, you know what to do. Refer to the above stated combos.

Remember that getting your opponents to use their escaping skills such as Aerial Evasion and Urgency Trick is one of the ways to prepare yourself for a full force attack that they can’t retaliate. Likewise for yourself, do not use Aerial Evasion when a SM is in the midst of his Aerial Combo.

Do not go head on with your opponents’ spells, because it is likely that your spell gets interrupted instead of theirs. Always try to find the best opportunity to initiate your attack, because most of the Elemental Lord’s skills have an initial casting animation like Firewall and Freezing Field.

Final Words

After reading this entire wall of text, I believe you have learnt pretty much about ELs. To be a good PvP EL, there must be practice, and more practice. You may face extreme difficulties in winning classes like SMs, Acros, Paladins, and even BMs. However, PvP-ing with an EL is definitely very challenging and fun. Afterall, a SM requires less effort than his EL opponent requires to win her.

Feel free to drop any comments or questions.