Breakfast Topic: Most useless ability
by Eliah Hecht 
Dec 30th 2006 at 8:22AM
I was chatting with a Shaman friend recently who informed me that although it used to be the case that Sentry Totem arrested your fall and allowed you to cast spells in mid-air, they fixed that a few patches ago, and now the spell is utterly useless. Off the top of my head, other spells that leap to join the ranks of the relatively worthless are Mind Soothe, Detect Demons, and Rupture, but I must admit that none of them seems as bad as Sentry Totem.
I don't have a real problem with Blizz keeping spells like this in the game, even though nobody uses them, because after all, you can just not buy them (I haven't bought any ranks of Feedback), and if you do, they're mostly good for a laugh now and again anyway. But still, one wonders if they think Mind Soothe would be overpowered if it couldn't be resisted, or what.
So: what's the most useless spell and/or ability you can think of? Feel free to play defense too -- are there many good uses for spells like Sentry Totem or Rupture that I'm just not clever enough to have thought of?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Features
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
oshin Dec 30th 2006 8:36AM
Well mind sooth has its uses, you can get into mind control range of mobs for instance. Rupture also has its uses, its very useful vs another rogue in a dual, or you can rupture kite people. Sentry totem great for taking pictures of kill shots with you and your guildys.
The most useless things that come to mind for me are windwall totem, which takes 60 dmg off a ranged attack and disengage on my hunter, which sounds like a good skill, but never works.
I think one of the worst however is slam on a warrior, it costs you 1.5 seconds of swing time and rage :
crsh Dec 30th 2006 9:28AM
On my rogue, I find that Expose Armor is pretty useless; it *could* be worth using in PvE if it stacked with Sunder Armor, but it doesn't. Instructor Razuvious fight in Naxx is the only time I've used it since tanks can't SA this boss; I even specced Imp EA for it, the armor reduction is pretty sad (5-pt Imp EA is 2550 for 30 sec).
On my priest, Mind Soothe does have its uses, albeit very limited (getting range on a mob to mind control it or shackle it, for instance). Speaking of which, Shackle Undead is also of very limited use (if only it worked on Undead players!).
On my 'lock, Detect Demon is pretty useless, it's pretty rare that you're looking for *one* demon, they hang out in packs so having 20-30 dots on my mini-map is of no use. Firestones are kinda weird, there's a fire spell damage bonus that's very nice, but the temporary firey enchant for your melee weapon still boggles me. Oh, and curse of recklessness.. I still don't know what this is meant for, why would I want to give a mob an attack power bonus AND fear immunity.. Else than using it on hunters before their epic quest fights (via a duel), I have no idea what this is for.
oshin Dec 30th 2006 9:42AM
Curse of recklessness prevents mobs from running in instances, its brilliant in tight instances like scarlet side. It also stacks with sunder armor so its useful for raid bosses that dont have a strong melee.
I would agree with you on expose armor, but mutilate adds so many combo points these days I actualy find myself using it
Gurei Dec 30th 2006 9:46AM
if mind soothe is useles,imagine Druid spell Soothe Animal,it takes a 1.5 casting,it can be resisted and only works on beasts,stealthing the mobs is faster than going around using it.
Rupture isnt useles,vs targets with high AC its good,and with a druid keeping mangle its buffed.
Krianna Dec 30th 2006 9:52AM
Mebbie I hang out with folks that are too creative, but the 'locks I know use detect demons when we know there are likely to be alliance in the area. See one with a name, it's either good loot, a quest or an alliance 'lock sneeking up to wipe you out.
Curse of recklessnesss is useless? Never run SM with a group of clothies, eh?
Kindof agree on the shackle undead, since it generally doesn't work on bosses.
I'd say mage's Mana Shield at low levels is useless. You live for about an extra second, then die anyways 'cus you can't blink and have no hit points to start with. *grin*
Brol Dec 30th 2006 9:56AM
From a rogue perspective, expose armor really only comes into play when solo-ing bosses or when tanking in somewhere like Dire Maul. Most of the time will be spent behind the mobs attempting *not* to steal aggro from a proper tank and EA does not help in that regard. Rupture is fairly useful as a way to ensure a certain amount of damage on high-armor mobs but is otherwise of fairly limited use.
Mind sooth is very useful when skillfully used and several priests I've teamed with have demonstrated exceptional ability to pull single mobs from crowds using this skill.
Curse of recklessness is incredibly useful as a means of preventing mobs from running away as they approach death. Take a good lock to Scarlet Monastery or (later) to Stratholme and they'll drop this curse on the mob just before it runs to keep your pulls clean and safe. Detect demons is of very limited use however, as is detect invisibility. However, DI should become more valuable when mages gain some invisibility skills in the expansion.
I can't comment on the utility of the various shaman totems since I'm a steadfast Alliance monkey but in general, most abilities do have some use. Levelling (questing/grinding) generally lets us be most creative and make the most of our various "boutique" skills whilst end-game raiding tends to reduce us to using only a smaller subset of our full range as we are pidgeon-holed to a greater or lesser extent to fulfil a team role.
DrBonez Dec 30th 2006 10:35AM
I'd have to say Touch of Weakness (not to mention the other crappy priest racials).
But ToW give a bit of extra damage on a melee hit (wohoo, because I'm meleeing sooo much)
And then reduces melee damage done by that person by 20 (wohoo). 'Cause it makes so much differance to take 20 damge off the horrendous damge that the rogues are doing to me.
Junzim Dec 30th 2006 10:57AM
Well Mind Soothe used to be better in beta when it couldn't be resisted as was instant cast (although it was changed back to instant cast in an older patch) but Blizzard nerfed it because apparently priests were "skipping in game content" with it.
Rogues of course can stealth past every mob in the Scarlet Monastery and just keel bosses but that's apparently different :)
It's still very useful as a Herbalist when you're on Herb-Safari and even has uses in instances (for instance in LBRS you can MindSoothe the first group after the drop down and sneak past them).
Chleo Dec 30th 2006 11:15AM
Most useless abilities in my opinion: Aspect of the Beast, Flametongue Totem, Pain Suppression, Elune's Grace, Inner Fire, Lightwell, Touch of Weakness.
Arbuz Chokaro Dec 30th 2006 11:18AM
I'd say Flare. What good is casting that spell when the rogue can either A. Walk around cause he sees a big flaming dot. or B. Is already too close for you to really do anything about him.
paul Dec 30th 2006 2:56PM
Detect invis, has anyone ever had a use for this?
Phyer Dec 30th 2006 11:42AM
Summon Doomguard.....you tell me the last time a warlock or any other player had an actual use for this spell and I'll send you 10 copper. Requires an expensive reagent, a ritual of 3 people (one of which dies immediately), and a n extra soul shard to enslave said demon - which then breaks and attacks the warlock every 30 seconds or so.
The infernal is at least semi-useful because of the stun effect and the sheer "ZOMG" when you see him......and for pwning lowbies in major cities.
Galipan Dec 30th 2006 11:46AM
I would have to say Distracting Shot. Why would any hunter:
1) need to pull agro? thats what pets are for..
2) want to bring the mob for melee.
its just stupid, we dont need to pull agro, not even from healers, thats what pets are supposed to do, then you DPS from afar and pwn the mob.
Gogon Dec 30th 2006 11:56AM
I have to agree with Mind Soothe, Elune's Grace, and the Summon Doomguard for the same reasons listed above.
I may get some flack for this, but on my mage I have this spell called detect magic, and honest to god I have never used it. It seems useful enough, to detect magic on an enemy, but it just seems like time wasted. I could be blasting them instead of figuring out if the priest in front of me has his stamina buff up. I always assume he does.
Pallies have the seals and judgements which can be half useless. I don't understand who would use Seal of Crusader, but Judgement of Crusader is great.
Blacksabre Dec 30th 2006 12:34PM
Amplify Magic and Dampen Magic.
I'm sure it's a great feeling of security for your MT to know he knows he's being protected from 90 points of damage, and cheated out of a few hundred healing points. A great trade.
These spells are useless, even in "special situations", because Blizz goes out of its way to make sure mobs can defeat any spell in the game.
:shrug:
Tad Dec 30th 2006 12:24PM
#12
I would disagree and say that I've used distracting shot in instances quite a bit with my hunter.
Like you said, part of a hunter's job is usually to protect the clothies when a mob breaks for them. Distracting shot will hit the mob before your pet can get there.
So a distracting shot gets them coming towards you (mail-wearer) rather than the cloth wearing healer. And your pet can still grab aggro off you and tank it.
thenonmage Dec 30th 2006 12:26PM
I think some ppl commenting here have not really experienced alot of what the game has to offer.
Almost every spell has use *somewhere*. Some mobs in aq20 reflect certain schools of magic, detect magic can be used to see which type they reflect.
Detect demons is useful when your enemy team in BG has warlocks.
Flare is useful in ZG at pantherboss.
Don't say something is useless just because you cannot find a use for it. In my opinion knowing all your class' abilities and realizing when you should use them is what makes you a good player.
Scone Dec 30th 2006 12:28PM
There aren't any useless spells. It all depends on the situation.
(with the exception of sentry totem)
Tommysback Dec 30th 2006 12:28PM
Hunter:
Aspect of the Beast - I use this all the time in the BG's especially AB defense. This is just as good as Shadowmeld when other hunters are coming to a node as they rely on tracking (and so do I) so much. This is especially useful for me as a horde since I can't SM. I can even stealth my pet for those tricky hunter who know how to use track beast for my pets.
If you want most useless hunter ability, it definately goes to either Eagle Eye or Disengage. Eagle Eye is fun to play with, but really only has some use in AB defense to call out how many visible you see somewhere far away. It also is the same animation as the flag cap so you can scare some defenders with it =). Disengage is 150 Mana for -250 aggro, requires melee range, has a 5 second cooldown, and can miss. Alternatively, you can have a complete aggro drop for 80 mana that has a much smaller resist rate. It has uses in raiding, pretty much just for pulling when the tank's taunt resists and your FD resists...but thats about it.
Scare beast also deserves a mention as I always forget its on my bars. Has marginal use if you remember you own it, and can be used on feral druids. I prefer Flash Bombs.
Druid:
Soothe Animal vs. Feline Grace
I can't count how many times Feline Grace saved me from falling damage deaths. Really, I can't =)
Soothe Animal has the same use as Mind Soothe with Beast only effects. Still has to give the stinker award to SA because Feline Grace is passive and somewhat used (even if you don't realize it)
Mage:
My guild leader swore off Arcane Missiles awhile ago, but with the new changes to clearcasting this spell can really do some serious damage.
Detect Magic would probably be the Mage weak link, but its pretty useful in some PvE encounters especially raiding.
Paladin:
As horde, this is hard for me to determine. I would go with Turn Undead with its special undead requirements.
Priests:
Decisions decisions. Lots of subpar racials here, but I don't think you can complain. Its another "extra" spell that other classes don't have. Just my take.
Elunes Grace, Feedback, Mind Soothe, Mind Vision, Shackle Undead. I take off Elunes Grace since its a racial, and Shackle Undead is a great CC for undead since they can't be sheeped. Mind soothe is covered above in its limited usefulness. Mind Vision = where is the flag in WSG.
I'm going with Mind Vision since the flag now appears after holding it for long enough.
Rogue:
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Pick Pocket yet. Fun for a few levels, then never used again. I've never made a rogue too far, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong here.
Expose Armor / Rupture still have uses, I feel as rupture is the worse of the two.
Shaman:
Sentry totem, no reason to list others here.
Warlock:
Eye of Kilrogg? This caused a wipe on Garr a long long time ago =). Sense Demons has a bunch of uses, why not just have it on. I feel naked as a hunter when I can't track stuff.
Warrior:
Slam, enough said.
Tally (making sure to include one from each class):
Slam, Eye of Kilrogg, Sentry Totem, Pick Pocket, Detect Magic, Mind Vision, Turn Undead, Soothe Animal, Disengage
1. Sentry Totem
2. Slam
3. Soothe Animal
4. Disengage
5. Eye of Kilrogg
6. Mind Vision
7. Detect Magic
8. Pick Pocket
9. Turn Undead
Arbuz Chokaro Dec 30th 2006 12:37PM
#15
Oh, I can use Flare in ONE instance, against ONE boss. That's terrific. I'm sure you can use every skill at one point for one thing, but skills should have numeral applications, so I can consider them "useful."
Admittedly, Flare isn't the MOST useless, but it's close.