I think I have come across a decent build while messing around with ideas in my head. I should say upfront, though, that I am not an experienced player, so I am more wondering whether this is a decent idea than arguing that it is actually super good.
The idea of the build is to use Stone Heart to its fullest to create a really tanky character who can hold points and be essentially impossible to kill 1v1. In order to maximize Stone Heart, though, one needs to stay in Earth Attunement, which does not yield very good damage. However, one can use a Lightning Hammer while in Earth Attunement, keeping Stone Heart, but still being able to do good damage. Basically, you can create a really tanky character that still does solid damage. I think the build does a good job of balancing both. It includes Stone Heart, 4k armor, 3 condition cleanses, 50% crit chance, 200% crit damage, and 2000 power.
TANKINESS
Due to Stone Heart, you cannot be critically hit. Moreover, when attuned to Earth and with Rock Barrier on, you will have exactly 4k armor. So all those non-critical hits will do very little damage to you. Of course, condition damage bypasses armor and, as an elementalist, your HP is not that high. So condition damage could be a problem. However, you have condition cleanses on 15, 25, and 40 second cooldowns, each of which cleanses at least 3 conditions. As such, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem with conditions. So there really isn’t anything that does much damage to you. Moreover, you have a 4 second invulnerability spell, a projectile reflecting spell with a cripple, a multi-foe blind on 15 second cooldown, a long immobilize every 30 seconds. And when in lightning hammer, the third attack of your AA blinds, and you have a multi-foe 2-second stun, as well as a knock back. You do not have a stun break or stability (though you could slot either and just lose a little toughness; Signet of Air is probably the best). However, Tempest Defense means you’ll stun people who attack you while stunned/knocked down. One With Air, will allow you a quick getaway if you do ever get overwhelmed. And lastly, you’ve got the small regen from rune of the dolyak.
DAMAGE
Lightning Hammer is a super effective weapon. And you have 25 charges of it every 60 seconds. You also have Fiery Greatsword for some times when LH is on cooldown or when you need big AOE damage. You have 2002 base power, 51% crit chance, and 201% crit damage while in LH. Obviously that is not the highest DPS you could get, but it is pretty good. It is especially good, since there are a number of damage multipliers you get from your traits. 10% damage increase when within 600 units, which will be always with the LH. 20% higher damage to enemies below 33% health. 5% increase from Sigil of Force. 10% damage increase when endurance is full. 20% damage increase to stunned or knocked down enemies (and you have a stun with LH). You also have vulnerability on critical hits, which will stack a few extra percent damage. And your condition damage is actually pretty solid, so your earth AA can sustain not completely terrible damage from tons of stacked bleeds for the occasional times you are not in LH/FGS.
What do you all think? I made this build not completely optimal, since I wanted to get to the 2k power, 4k armor, 50% crit, and 200% crit damage benchmarks regardless of complete optimality. A truly optimized build would be a bit different. For instance, it would replace some toughness with vitality. I know that. It would probably also replace Signet of Earth with something else with a stun break, like Signet of Air. The question is just whether it is a decent build in general.
(edited by lessthanjake.6049)
