Spiteful Spirit

Description
For 8...18 seconds, whenever target foe attacks or uses a skill, Spiteful spirit deals 5...29 shadow damage to that foe and all adjacent foes.

Progression
1 Duration is measured in seconds

Usage
The damage from this skill adds up very quickly when applied to several targets in a small group, especially if cast multiple times quickly with Arcane Echo or by multiple Necromancers.

Note that unlike most other AoE damage spells the monster AI does not recognize Spiteful Spirit as AoE damage, so they will not flee or scatter to avoid the damage, even after the November 10, 2005 update. This makes this spell even more effective against large groups of foes.

If both Spiteful Spirit and Empathy are cast on an enemy Warrior or Ranger, that target will take up to 67 damage for each attack and will often take heavy damage before realizing it and ceasing their attack. If the target is also cursed with Insidious Parasite, it will take up to a full 90 damage for each attack. This will slaughter any computer-controlled melee attacker (as they generally will not stop attacking) and could easily do upwards of 200 to 300 damage to a human opponent if they do not realize what is going on. In the same way, you can combine it with Backfire against spell casters.

However, against computer controlled opponents, it is usually better to keep the target alive as long as possible, to maximize damage output to surrounding units. As such, after casting Spiteful Spirit on a target (perhaps followed by Enfeeble to make it less dangerous) you should concentrate your damage on another target, waiting for the skill to recharge and then casting it on the enemy with the highest health (again, to maximize damage output).

Best if used in combination with a Coverup Hex to ensure that an enemy Monk will have a hard time removing it.


 * NOTE: Spiteful Spirit is often refered to as SS. SS necromancers are often asked by 55hp monks to do a duel run for Underworld because the two party members's builds let the monk stand there and take a lot of damage while the necromancer casts spiteful spirit on all monsters. In this way, the monsters kill themselves.

Acquisition
Signet of Capture:
 * Ceru Gloomrunner (Iron Mines of Moladune)
 * Nighh SpineChill (Talus Chute)
 * Sapph Blacktracker (Snake Dance)

Related Skills

 * Backfire (Mesmer)
 * Clumsiness (Mesmer)
 * Empathy (Mesmer)
 * Ineptitude (Mesmer)
 * Mark of Subversion
 * Soul Leech