So sort of following on from my thread on the enraged spirit, I wanted to start a discussion as per the title, for people like myself who only PUG keys (for me its due to time, I cant raid or anything because I cant commit to sitting down for 3 hour guaranteed any more).
So I know if you look at Raider.io and check all the top shamans, they are virtually all Kyrian and all running the earthquake lego (with unity of course), and I have been doing that myself. There's no doubt the damage can be very good, and I'm typically contributing 6-10m damage in a 15-18 key at the moment. I've been in plenty of situations where that has actually mattered and we wouldnt have timed the same key on my priest for example.
But equally, (even though pre-key I try to prep teammates to use tricks, misdirection etc), I've gone in to keys many times where you pop your Elemental, it immediately takes threat and dies (even though I have a focus macro for it so I can heal it if its possible). So thats a 5 minute CD down the drain. Also, because its a 5 minute CD you find yourself holding it, and the way some keys run, (just the flow of it, the pack size, having to deal with stragglers etc) you dont get it out there as much as you should.
Equally with vesper, yes, damage great, and situationally it can also be great for healing depending on your group. Certain mechanics I hold it for, make sure I have a cloudburst down and pop the healing charges and it can be excellent. But sometimes, you have a mage or hunter standing in narnia, who cant benefit from the range and on balance with the soulbind its more an offensive tool.
So I just switched to Venthyr, and have been experimenting with Chain harvest and I really like it. The damage is nearly up there with Kyrian (its harder to tell because big packs a lot of the damage is in flame shock rather than the ability itself) but its a great "oh shit" heal button too. I'm wondering on balance is it a better option for PUG's than Kyrian?
Equally, just wondering if anyone out there has experimented with legendaries other than the Earthquake? I have no tier but will have 4 pieces next week and it looks like the 4 piece bonus might work well with chains of devastation. And has anyone tried Venthyr with the Elemental Skybreakers Legendary? I would have thought that the 50% crit bonus for flame shock would have Chain Harvest back on CD really quick?
Any ideas for people pushing 20-'s would be greatly appreciated.