Maelstrom

Description
Create a maelstrom at target foe's location. For 10 seconds, foes in that area are struck for 10...22 cold damage each second. Maelstrom interrupts spell-casting when it hits. This spell causes exhaustion.

Acquisition
Skill Quests: Skill Trainers: Signet of Capture:
 * None
 * Avena (Maguuma Stade)
 * Tengsao (The Amnoon Oasis)
 * Dakk (Ember Light Camp)
 * Scale Fleshrend (Twin Serpent Lakes / Talmark Wilderness)
 * Wydd Kindlerun (The Wilds (Mission))
 * Fryn Rageflame (The Falls)
 * Maak Frostfiend (Witman's Folly)
 * Skitt Skizzle (Ice Floe)
 * ... more to be added ...

Usage Notes

 * Because of the high cost and long activation time, this spell is not for interrupting a specific spell, but rather for shutting down spell casting in an area.
 * Glyph of Energy complements this spell well, because Maelstrom costs so much energy and causes exhaustion too.
 * Maelstrom is easily avoided by leaving the area of effect. That makes this skill more useful in PvE than in PvP. In PvE it used to completely shutdown a group of enemy casters singlehandedly (computer controlled enemies used to not move out of the area although the November 11, 2005 update altered AI so they run out of AOE). In PvP, this spell can cause havoc among a group of spell-casters standing next to each other as well as spell-casters who like to tank the opposing team's warriors (like a protection/smiting monk). Maelstrom will disrupt a few of their spells and as they panic and try to run, the warriors will inflict a lot more damage.
 * One of the most useful spells without investing in their linked attribute. The damage of the spell is not that high, the appeal is the effect of 10 seconds of interrupts every second. This effect is achieved even with 0 Water Magic.
 * Beware of Maelstrom against your henchmen. They too will not flee from under its effects. You must run and force them to move.
 * Can be very powerful in combination with slowing skills and/or knock-down skills, making it hard for people to get out of the AOE (Ice spikes, Frozen Burst, Water Trident)