Does anyone know if the AA Arrow Embue effect of Elemental Arrows (Ice) is considered as a spell effect or is it something else? The reason I ask is I am debating on a Druid AA build that is going to use the Mantle of the Icy Soul as a Debuff with the Arrow Embues.

At any rate the theory is based around the Druid spell Mantle of the Icy Soul which from the last Druid pass reads: 

     When your cold spell's damage is reduced by a creature that is immune/resistant/healed by cold, that target is debuffed to take full damage from cold effects that follow. This does not stack with effects that amplify damage beyond 100%. Target also is debuffed with 10% Attack Speed Slow, 25% Movement Speed Slow, -4 to Fortitude and Reflex Saving Throws. No note on duration but I suspect it's around 1 minute or so.

So the question becomes when using Elemental Arrow Imbues from the AA Tree specifically the Ice Arrow version, will that trigger the Mantle effect? Even if not I will the effect from say a Creeping Cold SLA on the target cause the Ice Arrow dmg to take said full ice dmg from the arrows?

There are two ways I see building this as an Elf for the Racial AA Tree and either 17 Druid / 3 Ranger or 17 Druid / 3 Monk. Going Ranger gives you access to low hanging fruit in the DWS Tree while the Monk version will let you use Perfect Pinnacle in water stance for that really nice Trip Effect plus the Wind Stance for some extra DPS if needed. I figure go Wisdom based with Falconry for Wis/hit Dmg to help with the stat distribution. Enhancements are likely going to be impossibly tight with possibilities of going very heavily in the Falconry Tree or going for DC Abilities in the AA Tree like Terror/Slayer etc in the Racial AA Tree.

Feat list is tight for both versions obviously:

17 Druid / 3 Ranger
1        : Point Blank Shot
3        : Precise Shot
6        : Precision
9        : Manyshot
12        : Improved Critical: Ranged
15        : Improved Precise Shot
18        : Quicken Spell
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Combat Archery
26 Destiny: Holy Strike
27 Epic   : Blinding Speed   
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Mass Frog
30 Epic   : PL: Rogue   
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane

17 Druid / 3 Monk
1        : Point Blank Shot
2 Monk   : Deflect Arrows
3        : Precise Shot
3 Monk   : Precision
4 Monk   : Path of Harmonious Balance
6        : Rapid Shot
9        : Manyshot
12        : Improved Critical: Ranged
15        : Improved Precise Shot
18        : Quicken Spell
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Combat Archery
26 Destiny: Holy Strike
27 Epic   : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Mass Frog
30 Epic   : Past Life: Rogue
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane

I realize that if I decide to do the DC Arrow stuff Terror/Para etc, Embolden and/or Arcane Insight is a better choice than PL: Rogue and the Scion Feat can change to Feywild obviously too.

I realize AA's are way behind the curve DPS wise these days but I just have a hankering to play one again and the Mantle text has been making me wonder if it would work.

Any Suggestions other than I am sure many want me to DIAF are quite welcome.

Friendship wrote on Feb 14^th, 2019 at 12:44pm:

You beat me to it! 

EK spell dmg dice are spell like, not the AA arrows. EK elemental dice dmg is affected by spell power and crits are affected by spell crit % and multi.

I've been trying to do something with EK similar but unfortunately the big sexiness of EK needs the capstone dice increase so cross classing with druid I don't think will work at least for high reaper to counter the extreme magic dmg reduction.

Cripey wrote on Feb 15^th, 2019 at 8:53am:


Capstone is nice, but I did an EK sorc and used the elemental capstone so I could always deal my elemental damage. That worked out well. Whether or not it beats out the capstone is in the air though.

Kind of veered away from the druid post, its intriguing using the elemental capstone on EK.

The druid idea is intriguing as well, interesting to see how it works out.

Cripey wrote on Feb 16^th, 2019 at 8:32am:


You need 3 levels of wiz/sorc to get the actual spellsword toggle.

No spell.

Maybe Stay Frosty proccing on spells?

GL

Druid has easier synergy with stat to dmg, less stat spread for effective spell use, and insane aa dcs.

Ek has higher spell dice and full bab from the knights stance

I havent been able to get either one to debuff itself with just arrows and not stopping to cast a spell.