In this video, I discuss the class mechanics and combat tactics for the Esper class in a 15-29 Walatiki Temple PVP battleground in WildStar.
I’m playing Esper as my main for the following reasons:
- I’m intrigued by the soloing capabilities of the class’s lifesteal mechanics
- The class can be spec’d as an RDPS, MDPS, or hybrid
- There is a lot of SpellSlinger envy on the Esper forum, and I wanted to see first-hand to what extent that is justified. I think Esper is very capable when played to its mechanics correctly
Additional Tips
- I didn’t discuss Bolster, but it’s pretty much a mandatory ability because it provides instant-cast building of PP (Psi Points) and a mild HoT. You can see me topping off my PP throughout the video with it
Errata
- The buff from Tier 8 Mind Blast lasts 7.5 seconds, not 5.5
Taugrim's MMO Blog 
Hey there, glad to see you’re having fun in Wildstar. I saw an interesting video about an Esper build that was quite hard to kill. Thought you might like it.
[ link removed ]
Yes, that YouTuber has been linking his video on the forums the past 2 days so it’s hard not to have run across it ;)
The lifesteal and CC mechanics are what got me interested in rolling this class, from reading Lewis B’s excellent guide:
http://www.tentonhammer.com/guides/wildstar/esper-dps-build-guide
Melee Mage FTW!
Yeah, I was not at all interested in an Esper, but now I’m considering leveling one primarily in PVP because of those mechanics.
What Realm did you end up on?
Pago
Hey Ed
To be honest I think that medic class is what you are looking for, I say this base on what kind of classes you been playing in other mmo games. Yes I know it is easy to over look this class it seems very … simple class so to speak. You most of the time pick a class that are some kind of hybrid or you spec in to some kind of hybrid(utility). In that in mind I highly recomend you to take a closer look at medic. I my self play spellslinger and medic both. assualt.
I did play epser in beta to level 29. The thing was that when I master how to move in this game the epser class in it self didn’t benefit much more of it as the other classes did.
Welcome back to the mmorpg genre!
Curious to know how you deal with the increased number of movement keys required. Sprint, dodge and possibly backpedal (although I didn’t see and back peddling in the vid). Do you think it’s required to backpedal while using mobile skill shots on multiple targets since strafing will change the angle of the abilily’s telegraph?
Really the only add is Sprint. I already was using modified versions of left strafe / forward / right strafe / backwards.
Overall this game requires very few keybinds, compared to other MMORPGs
Yes.
This is the only game where backpedaling is a viable tactic, since you need to keep mobs in front of you for aiming.
In other games with tab-targeting, you can strafe sideways and still hit your target. Not so in WildStar!
Hey Ed, glad to see you digging Wildstar. It amuses me that you rolled your main just to stick it to forum crybabies.
It’s super interesting that you decided to use both Psi-builders. That’s something I’ve never thought of when considering the Esper.
The game has so much potential imo. Despite the long beta, I think it will be a few months before people really figure out how to play their classes.
How are you enjoying to combat as a whole?
What do you think of the two warzones, I love the tactical game play of Walatikikikiki Temple but the Halls of the Bloodsworn rubs me the wrong way for some reason.
You REALLY missed out on the Warrior, I rolled one and I’m absolutely in love with it. Warriors have so many tools to stay all up over opponents or move around the map quickly. They also have very strong burst, though it’s tied to a one minute cooldown.
It’s a shame you rolled Dominion, though I do kinda look forward to wrecking you in a warzone/arena some day.
Well, that was part of it.
A build link in Lewis B’s DPS Guide also got me intrigued, because I really enjoy DPS-based healing. It makes for good sustain.
I wasn’t expecting to do this either, or at least most Espers tend to favor heavily ranged combat, or melee combat. If there were a mobile PP ranged builder, that would change things.
But at least for now I see high flexibility in having both TKS and PF slotted.
A lot, actually.
Back in Beta I didn’t play much due to paltry framerates, and the one BG I entered as a Medic my game crashed. So I didn’t have much of an impression going into Live.
The only issue right now is the z-axis for telegraphs. They need to be tweaked so they work on inclines.
HotBS takes too long IMO. I only played it once, but it felt like a long Void Star.
I heard the rewards scale based on length of the BG, but for now I prefer shorter matches. WoT has spoiled me that way.
Warrior was my first character on live.
It seems much more…cookie-cutter and the burst is very tied to cooldowns.
I usually enjoy heavy melee but for some reason WildStar Warrior just didn’t resonate with me up to 11. I’m enjoying Esper much more.
Likewise :)
I preferred to roll Exile but my guild voted the other way, so…
I was concerned that Dom might be overpopulated but from what I heard from higher-level guildees, at least in open world there are more Exile, which will suit me fine.
They have already talked about adding more maps we just got the two for launch.
As for melee. I am with Taugrim on it. I almost always play melee but just something about the warrior was not grabbing me when I first started. Will go back after I get a few 50s and see.
Happy to hear that. I’m hoping for a Huttball like warzone or maybe even a moba style map, though that might take too long.
Awww man, you guys don’t know what you’re missing. I wasn’t really feeling the Warrior until I hit level 12 and got the Festering Blade AMP which is essentially a 24% snare with 100% up time on as many enemy’s as I can hit.
My Warrior has a sinful amount of utility and control in warzones. A +20% group damage buff. Most importantly are the AMP’s that give immunity to daze and +10% movement speed on dodge rolls (stackable.) They mean that I’m never bogged down in fights and I can reposition across the map with ease.
Warriors are late bloomers and scale very well with AMP’s. I’m having an absolute riot.
So far I’ve done nothing but solo pug and I only really loose to premades. Warriors can freaking carry.
That being said how does your RDPS feel? I can’t help but think that they’re really hard to play. It seems like you guys have a really difficult time keeping melee off you.
A MOBA is not out of the question, War in the Wilds is a MOBA vs a computer team.
I played a warrior into the 20s, maybe 30s, in beta, so glade it was after the NDA dropped so I can talk about it. The reason for me it felt off was the lack of a snare, might be why they added one now. I should give the warrior another look and see how it works as a pvp tank.
Right now I play a engineer, more of a mid range dps. So I really cannot say how a rDPS feels just how a range tank feels. Because of the heavy armor and I like to pvp as a tank I have no problems staying alive and I don’t mind melee being on me. Tho when I got the mask I find a fast change of direction or just a quick stop of movement keeps them off me well. Really funny watching two warriors build up rage, me stop, and watch them blow it all into no where because they did not see me stop.
Yeah, the Warrior has access to a perma snare on all his direct dmg attacks now. It’s very potent.
Interesting. I’ve been wondering how well pvp tanks perform in this game.
What are your experiences with them so far?
Do you find your damage meaningful or is it laughable?
Does your survivability win you a lot of games?
Does your success come from solo pubing or from premades?
Can you see tanks being competitive at all in the arena scene?
I’ve really been meaning to experiment with a tanky build but I’ve had trouble justifying it with the way the warzones/mechanics are set up. It’s just doesn’t seem like SWTOR in terms of pvp tank awesomeness.
My tankiness has won games. I have held points on my own for along time or carrying the mask.
The dmg is something I never look at. I debuff them and find ways to make them mad to they attack me and let my DPS kill them.
I only PuG. I have never found a hard core pvp guild I enjoy.
Also cannot talk about arenas. Had a bad experience in one back in WoW BC, 4 warriors and me on a paladin, and never went back into one again.
Passive procs are soooo powerful.
Which is why for my Esper at 25 I’m going to try this:
http://www.ws-base.com/builds/generator/esper#vC1CqKvKvrvyvq/971.972.973.465.324.343.345.346.347
There are two snare talents:
– 3rd tier A/U: Slow It Down: on hit, 25% to cause a 5s snare for 30%
– 2nd tier A/U: No Remorse: +18% magic damage to snared opponents
On top of this, I’ll be taking 6% Lifesteal, as well as tier 4 Psychic Frenzy, for the sustain.
That sounds awesome. Immunity to daze is a big deal.
I think it will feel different for me once I get tier 4 Psychic Frenzy, on top of my Phantasmal Armor bubble, and my 2 CCs: Crush (knockdown) + Incapacitate (disarm).
Hrrrrrrrrrng! That passive execute AMP (The Humanity) for your builder makes me feel dirty.
It’s interesting that you have two or three damaging abilities and stack the rest of your LAS with utility and CC.
I’ve done the same with my warrior and it seems like most of the competent PvPers will gravitate towards that kind of LAS.
I meant spender!
T____T
Great to see you doing an Esper build, I LOVED where you went with the Swtor trooper.
Also glad I rolled an esper now :P
Nice video, Ed! Enjoyed the gameplay and commentary as usual.
Thanks for toning down the telegraphs. I thought it was bad enough playing with them on default, but now that I’ve watched a few streams/youtube videos, it’s even worse from a spectating point of view. It’s much easier to see what the players are doing on the screen when the ground isn’t lit up like Saturday Night Fever.
I can’t remember doing that. Maybe back in Beta?
But at any rate I wouldn’t want them any more visible than they already are. I’d go into a seizure.
Maybe the default outlines/fills were lowered for release (I haven’t played since beta), but I’ve definitely seen some obnoxious videos from folks post-launch.
As much as I love the addon community, I’ve also witnessed a handful of offensive UIs. I know you of all people appreciate a clean interface where pertinent information is displayed in a way that isn’t distracting. Carbine came a long way from their original UI in this regard.
I’d be curious to know if you’ve looked into any useful addons, or thought about ways to make the default interface better.
I intentionally play for a while without addons to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t.
Last night I installed 2 great addons:
1. Bijiplates: pretty much mandatory given the disappearing nameplate bug
2. AMP Finder: really helpful for getting in-game info about where you can get specific AMPs
The Epser was quite OP in closed beta, mainly because Bird did insane damage with only 1 or 2 points and it felt like it crit more often too.
I might be wrong but I think the class ability also made you invincible for the duration it was up but you were still rooted in place much like you are now.
It is interesting to see how the classes have changed since the closed beta (which is the last time I played the game, Dec-Mar).
I’ll be glad to see what balance changes and fixes are pushed out within the next month.
I have been pleasantly surprised with the game and I am enjoying it; I think a lot of people are over-blowing some things and stating that class balance in this game is the worst they have seen in any mmo sounds like total BS to me. I would gladly play this game over that crazy Archeage game that got super hyped up there for a while on Twitch.
I look forward to seeing how you like the Esper as you continue to level.
I am curious if you have played around with any of the ability settings such as “hold to continue casting”; I’ve heard that has helped with some people who experiencing delays in abilities going off.
Anyway glad you like the game, and keep up the vids!
Well I think the class balance at launch is actually pretty solid.
Maybe it’s because player skill is the biggest factor in determining outcomes.
FWIW, there is a lot of negative feedback from Espers about DPS performance in PVE, because it’s the only class that can’t DPS-and-move sustainably.
No, I haven’t tried using it, and I think I probably won’t.
Nice video! I see how the stationary aspect runs counter-intuitive to the general concept of Wildstar. Perhaps, this feeling of being out of place is fueling the forum chat. I agree that the bird is so powerful that the root/melee builders are a great way to balance.
I’m happy to hear you considered running a warrior! I had the same struggle between warrior & esper. However, mine was based on the unique cc abilities combined with the decreased mobility & intense damage of the esper. It is undoubtedly a unique and special class.
Would you mind a quick theory-crafting video for a warrior? If leveling to 50 is too much of a time commitment, I’d be very happy with a ws-base.com AMP/abilities walk-through. If not, I look forward to more esper content!
Thanks for posting!
Yes, it is.
I’m reluctant to talk about classes that I haven’t played or at least seen a lot of, given how I came into the game at launch with almost no experience with the game.
Any plans to start streaming again??
Not at the moment.
When I’m playing I want to relax, and I know if I turn on the stream I’ll be flooded with questions.
Taugrim, great to see you back playing something without tanks (not hating on the tanks, it just didn’t do much for me). Quick question, your key binding setups for GW2 and SWTOR ended up being really helpful for me. Have you done the same with Wildstar and if so what is it?
Taug! it’s so great to see you back in the MMORPG scene. I too rolled an Esper for it’s lifestealing capabilities and I can’t wait to compare the build I’ve come up with, with your own.
I know that you love PvP more than PvE but I highly recommend that you hit up a level 20 dungeon as soon as you hit 20. The dungeons in Wildstar are not faceroll easy like in other MMO’s and I have a feeling you’re really enjoy the difficulty of dungeons. Personally this is the first MMO where I’ve been more excited about PvE than PvP.
While I love Wildstar’s combat, I am seeing faction imbalance in practice BGs. Even when the bots are excluded, I am seeing Dominion players using better skill and better team strategy than Exile. I hope when I hit level 50 this will be less of a problem.