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Demonic Staff Group PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Cursed Staff
Focus: Range DPS

Strengths

  • High DoT Damage
  • Great CC
  • Versatile

Weaknesses

  • Low Mobility
  • High Skill Ceiling
This build is up to date for the November 6, 2024 Horizons Patch #1.

Overview

The Elder's Demonic StaffElder's Demonic Staff offers great CC for any small group PVP while also dealing good AOE damage with Anguished SoulAnguished Soul coupled with constant DoT damage from Cursed SickleCursed Sickle. The build does well in Open World Roaming, Avalonian Road PvP or Crystal Arena and remains relatively easy to play, making it a great choice even for newer players while also offering plenty of options to improve.


Equipment

Elder's Demonic Staff
Main Hand Weapon
Elder's Demonic Staff
Cursed Sickle
Desecrate
Anguished Soul
Furious
Elder's Cleric Cowl
Head
Elder's Cleric Cowl
Ice Block
Aggression
Alternatives ⇅
Elder's Scholar Cowl
Elder's Lymhurst Cape
Cape
Elder's Lymhurst Cape
Energy Reserve
Elder's Feyscale Robe
Armor
Elder's Feyscale Robe
Wild Magic
Aggression
Elder's Scholar Sandals
Shoes
Elder's Scholar Sandals
Focused Run
Aggression
Alternatives ⇅
Elder's Druid Sandals
Elder's Graveguard Boots
Major Resistance Potion
Potion
Major Resistance Potion
Alternatives ⇅
Major Gigantify Potion
Beef Stew
Food
Beef Stew
Alternatives ⇅
Deadwater Eel Stew
Keep in mind: Gear shown in this build is meant as a reference. Choosing the correct tier of gear is very tricky as there are many variables. Some of them being your budget, your spec and minimum Item Power requirements of your guild if used for ZvZ.


You should always check prices based on IP of the items. For example, a masterpiece quality 4.3 Elder's CryptcandleElder's Cryptcandle could be cheaper while providing roughly the same IP as an 8.0.


Usage

Elder's Demonic StaffElder's Demonic Staff

Cursed SickleCursed Sickle — It applies a Vile Curse stack that deals damage over time. You should use this ability to poke enemies and maintain a high amount of Vile Curses on your enemies. Try to always account for the fact that the sickle returns to you and can also apply another stack of Vile Curse. Another reason why you should maximize the amount of Vile Curses on your targets is because Anguished SoulAnguished Soul fear lasts longer when your target has more Vile Curses on them.

DesecrateDesecrate — This is your main CC ability and the way you can lock down a target and keep kiting. It creates an AOE explosion and roots targets while also applying a charge of Vile CurseVile Curse. Use Cursed SickleCursed Sickle right after catching your enemies and force them to get hit by Cursed SickleCursed Sickle twice!

You can also use the Armor PiercerArmor Piercer for the extra defense pierce but the utility of DesecrateDesecrate is usually better to have.

Anguished SoulAnguished Soul — This skill lets loose a ghost that will do damage to anyone it hits. Depending on the amount of Vile Curses the target has when this hit, the target will also be feared for a few seconds. Use this skill whenever you spot enemies being stacked close together in order to CC them and also force them off. Due to its low cooldown and depending on how a fight goes, you should also consider using this skill defensively to peel for your party.

FuriousFurious — This passive will increase your extra damage every time you cast 5 spells.


Elder's Feyscale RobeElder's Feyscale Robe

Wild MagicWild Magic — You can use the Frozen Fragments part of this skill with your auto-attacks as it improves your damage and allows you to deal some good extra damage between casts of Cursed SickleCursed Sickle. Useful if you team is particularly offensive and you have the time to do this while kiting without being pressured.

The second use of Wild MagicWild Magic is Ring of Fire as a defensive ability to keep enemies off you while you move away. It works a lot like Wall of FlamesWall of Flames but the fire wall it creates is made into a circle around you. This is the skill you will use most and works as a great defensive skill for both you and your party.

The third option is the Storm Shield which can be used whenever you are being focused as it boosts your damage resistance and also stuns attackers. It is a great choice if you are being hard focused by melee enemies that are right on top of you where the Ring of Fire would be useless.

AggressionAggression — This is your only relevant choice as it increases your flat damage and is great to have for the build.


Elder's Cleric CowlElder's Cleric Cowl

Ice BlockIce Block — Use this as your main defensive skill whenever enemies engage and you are being hard focused or they are trying to combo you into a quick early kill. Make sure not to move after you use this skill as it will cancel the ice block, you can still move to cancel the effect early if needed though.

AggressionAggression — A bit of extra damage which can go a long way.


Elder's Scholar SandalsElder's Scholar Sandals

Focused RunFocused Run — This run will let you move through CCs without issues while channeling the ability. You can cancel this skill early by pressing it again but you will lose the remaining time and return to your normal movement speed.

Another good choice is Elder's Graveguard BootsElder's Graveguard Boots for a similar result. If you want to add extra utility for your team, then use Elder's Druid SandalsElder's Druid Sandals as it doesn't only boost your speed, it leaves behind a trail of frost that heavily slows enemies that walk into it.

AggressionAggression — Straight up damage increase, perfect for improving your DPS.


Elder's Lymhurst CapeElder's Lymhurst Cape

Energy ReserveEnergy Reserve — This is a great choice as it helps a lot with mana sustain. It will activate on its own when your mana goes below 40% and it restores 80% of the max mana. It becomes very useful in long fights like in Crystal Arena or Hellgates in particular so its a must have for the build.


Rotations

Damage Pressure ↴
Cursed Sickle
Arrow right.webp
Desecrate
Arrow right.webp
Cursed Sickle
Arrow right.webp
Anguished Soul
Arrow right.webp
Cursed Sickle
  • You should always use Cursed SickleCursed Sickle to poke enemies while maintaining range and reading the fight. Try to use DesecrateDesecrate whenever you have the opportunity and allow for an easy hit of your Cursed SickleCursed Sickle. Follow up with Anguished SoulAnguished Soul whenever you see an opportunity or caught multiple enemies in your DesecrateDesecrate so you can maximize the overall damage you deal.

Consumables

Major Resistance PotionMajor Resistance Potion — This comes in use whenever you want to soak up burst damage or you need to give your healer time to heal you and its a great defensive cooldown. If your group isn't rolling with a healer, you can also use Major Gigantify PotionMajor Gigantify Potion, especially if the enemy team is trying to combo you into a quick kill.

Beef StewBeef Stew — This is the best food to use as it improves your overall damage. Always try to use an 8.2 or 8.1 version because of the great value for minimum price. You can also use a Deadwater Eel StewDeadwater Eel Stew for a mix of damage boost and cooldown rate.


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