How is damage calculate for say 'Blizzard or Lightning bolt spells?

from Elemental Forums

So I am proceeding down the mage path. I got Blizzard from the water line and I am thinking about getting the 'aeoromancy' thing in Mage to get Lightning bolt.

 

Now, Blizzard is +6 dmg per water shard and lightning bolt I guess is only +10 dmg in a strait line. Um both of these seem like they suck. How does one get higher numbers?

 

I am at the second or third tier of the spell prodigy line like +20 or 30 to spell mastery. I was heading to that -1 cast time so I can get blizzard off fast but the damage seems 'meh'

 

Now, I have 3 water shards in my kingdom that are built upon. I also have built the Tower of Erog (whatever that does).

 

I was saving the evoker line until I can fast cast blizzard. 

 

Can anyone offer advice on either lightning bolt or blizzard?

 

I am avoiding fire as most dragons are immune to it and I wanted to pull out some dragon doom. 

 

 

Thanks much!

10,466 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

You need the traits that increase spell damage, not spell mastery. Spell mastery will only increase your chance to hit with spells. (like accuracy does with normal attacks)

 

Lightning bolt is useful as it can hit up to 5 enemies and has no casting delay. Its damage grows when you level iirc.

Don't get fooled by the damage on the blizzard tooltip: the damage it does is per unit, not per enemy squad. So hitting a 6-unit group of spearman with a 30 damage blizzard will deal 180 damage. It's pretty useless against dragons though, since they are single units.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

 

I haven't tried Lightning Bolt much, but for Blizzard, the confusing part is that the damage specified in the spell description is per member.  So, say you're facing a unit with 6 individual members - multiply the damage by 6 and you'll get the actual value.

Consider, for instance, a mage with 4 water shards, and evoker I + evoker II, fighting a unit with 6 members.

Base Damage = 16

4 shards --> 4 * 2 = 8, now we're up to 24

Multiply by 1.4 (each evoker adds +20%) = 33.6

Multiply by 6 = 201.6 (!), prior to any resistances.

 

Note that there are 2 more levels of evoker, and sovereigns can take Warlock for an extra 25%.  Of course the shard factor is kind of luck dependent.

 

 

 

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Great, and thanks for the information.

 

Do either of you have a preference on Lightning bolt over blizzard?

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I use Lightning Bolt mainly in the earlier stages of the game. It can do some good damage without delay and make a large difference in a fight. It gets overpowerd by Blizzard later on (escpecially after getting -1 cast time)

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Lighting BolT is a very powerful spell once you obtain enough Spell Damage.

Blizzard works best when you get the blizzard sword and can cast it with no wait time.  But as previously stated it is not helpful against dragon where Lightning Bolt is the spell to use.  Sunder is the spell to use on Elementals.

 

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Hey,

 

in my opinion, Lightning bolt is the best single or straight line damage spell for any mage. Hell, you don't even need any spellbooks to be a successful mage if you spec right. If you are empire side, even better.

 

I tested this out with a henchman. I chose mage as it's profession, no spellbooks present.

 

- spec mastery -line all the way eventually, although take Aeromancy pretty early as a sidestep. -30% casting cost is huge.

- spec to greater necromancy for Horrific Wail, if you are Empire side.  By this time you should be around level 11.

- equip an adept/magerobe, cast Mantle of the Oceans from another champion if you have it, and all tactical spells are free.

- now, even when you have not yet specced any +% spelldamage, you are doing 60 damage with Lightning Bolt. Horrific Wails conquer you cities in 1 or 2 casts most of the time.

- also get Sunder to mow down Elemental Lords. 

 

Who needs Spellbooks? Freakin' fun to play as a mage without them!  :thumbsup: