Elementalist Build? & fire vs. ice

[Tiiria]

So I pretty much only ever play with my archer, but I want to take my sorceress the elementalist route.
And I really have no clue what I'm doing.

Is there any downside to ranking things like void blast and shock wave?
I'm just kinda assuming I shouldn't rank the melee skills.. But I don't know what to do with everything else. :x

Also, what's the difference between being a fire specialist and an ice specialist?
Besides the obvious, one's fire and one's ice. >_>

[Joker]

well do you want pyromancer or ice witch later?

Either way rank void for lvling up to 15
but after you get the next class and the respec item.... DO NOT rank it,
never rank wheeling staff mmm, unless your going pyro like me don't rank flame blast (1st fire attack) past lvl 1

[BobYoMeowMeow]

elementalists NEED to hybrid because their skills arent cooldown friendly
and it would be too much burst damage
Specializing just means putting extra sp into a branch

Ice based elementalist are more on survival as their skills slow down and sometimes freeze mobs. (Most strong bosses dont freeze though). More PvP oriented as fire provides better firepower (pun intended)

Fire based elementalists are based on doing damage over time. Their spells have lower base damage than ice skills but the burn damage absolutely outdoes ice

A good ice build
http://dnarmory.com/skill-calc?c=3&sc=17&ll=40#fAry44frcnMPCQPyIZ

A good fire build
http://dnarmory.com/skill-calc?c=3&sc=17&ll=40#djpEaPNc.x--7vUy4d

[Arendel]

Is there any downside to ranking things like void blast and shock wave?
I'm just kinda assuming I shouldn't rank the melee skills.. But I don't know what to do with everything else. :x
No need to rank Void Blast. I didn't even learn it at all before I took my specialization. Shock Wave and Air Strike are optional skills. If you plan to PvP, you may want to learn them, but only leave them at level 1 for utility.

Some guidelines for ranking skills:
- Learn and leave at level 1 if all you need is the skill's utility
- Rank only if the skill is necessary for something else you want later on, and leave at minimum required level
- Add points past prerequisite level if you want additional effects from the skill (e.g., extra shot when casting Toxic Spray)
- Max if you want to maximize damage for the skill


Fire based elementalists are based on doing damage over time. Their spells have lower base damage than ice skills but the burn damage absolutely outdoes ice
Fire doesn't outdamage ice solely because of burn damage. If the multipliers seem low for certain fire skills, it's because they hit many more times and/or have different damage coefficients. In that sense, looking only at the damage listed in the skill description can be somewhat misleading.