Talk:Symbiotic Bond

I know it's an odd question, but would anyone be able to figure out the damage TYPE of the Symbiotic Bond damage sent to the pets master?
 * Test 1: R/Mo with Essence Bond, can tell if it's Phy/Ele or untyped. If it is Phy/Ele, then it is should be Physical unless there is a bug.
 * Test 2: If Essence bond triggers, then furthur confirm with Scrimmage fights. One side has warror with Wild Blow, the other side has R/Me loaded with a pet, Greater Conflagration, and several mesmer Mantras. -PanSola, LAFTable (sing) 22:55, 18 May 2006 (CDT)
 * It's not physical or elemental so it must be typeless. I tested with Essence Bond, Physical Resistance, and Elemental Resistance just to be sure. [[Image:Chuiu Me Icon.png]] (T/C)  23:14, 18 May 2006 (CDT)
 * While Untyped matches my expectation, can you do one more check? Greater Conflag + Mantra of Flame.  Just in case essence bond missed it and it deals armoring ignoring physical. -PanSola, LAFTable (sing) 23:25, 18 May 2006 (CDT)
 * Mantra of Flame didn't trigger. Strange note, however, when the person attacking was in range of greater conflag the damage he delt was still considered physical by Symbiotic Bond (since it was still getting directed to me). [[Image:Chuiu Me Icon.png]] (T/C)  23:34, 18 May 2006 (CDT)
 * Oops, I forgot about that part... Hmm, try someone using an elemental weapon, see if it still redirects. -PanSola, LAFTable (sing) 23:39, 18 May 2006 (CDT)
 * That I can't do without some actual help. I've been testing in the Isle of the Nameless with the axe war and my guild was rather unresponsive when I asked if anyone could test with me. IGN's are in my user page if you want to help out with it real quick. I think you can scrimmage with me if I invite you as a guest. If not we'll find out if you can or not. [[Image:Chuiu Me Icon.png]] (T/C)  23:43, 18 May 2006 (CDT)

Death From Smoochie
I love pets and pet builds but never have I been able to make Symbiotic Bond work for me. Humor me for a moment and read the below and see if you can help me in my dilemma.

Lets say I have a pet named Smoochie and Smoochie runs to attack my target while under the influence of Symbiotic Bond and Call of Protection. Suddenly Smoochie is under attack by several enemies and possibly even a few PBAoE's or just random AoE spells like Fire Storm or Lava Font for example, etc. Now Smoochie is doing alright as Smoochie has +3 health regen, 1/2 of all damage is redirected to me, and has damage reduction. Therein lies my problem though. I may use Troll Unguent to try and offset the damage coming in from Smoochie's shout effects but I often find them too much and end up dead (which then Smoochie is quick to follow without halving the damage anymore). Now without constantly casting Troll Unguent 24/7 or overflowing my skillbar with healing skills for myself how do I avoid Death from Smoochie? Sure Predatory Bond helps, sure Troll Unguent helps but I find I still have to constantly spam healing skills for myself in order to attempt to survive which then means Smoochie and I am no help offensively whatsoever and could've done the same bringing nothing but defensive skills for just myself. Any advice?--  Vallen Frostweaver  15:21, 30 November 2006 (CST)


 * Er... party with someone to heal you? Using Symbiotic Bond means you and your pet as a whole need less healing, which is a very good thing. And how is your pet no use offensively if you're the one healing? Your pet can still attack and you can still use pet attack skills for them while activating healing skills. I don't see the problem here. Capcom 22:15, 10 December 2006 (CST)
 * Relying on a healer isn't any kind of answer as that's taking a poor approach IMO. Besides, I've seen many people use SB in solo builds and RA so that would negate that suggestion.  And my point about using SB with little offense is that you then need more healing/defensive skills to offset the damage you receive from SB (which in effect doesn't reduce damage at all and only adds a +3 health regen since it splits damage between 2 sources which is still the same amount of damage total) which doesn't make sense to me.  So how do you survive when you use SB with your pet (without relying on a party healer)?--[[Image:VallenIconwhitesmall.JPG]]  Vallen Frostweaver  13:36, 11 December 2006 (CST)


 * Oh, you're asking how to SOLO with a pet using SB. Didn't quite realise that's what you were getting at. Troll Unguent and Predatory Bond are usually enough when you're in a party... As for going solo, I don't know what to tell you. I would think taking only half of the damage your pet (who has base 80 defence and reduction from Call of Protection) is taking would be less than if you were by yourself being the target, so I don't see how this is worse... Capcom 17:10, 11 December 2006 (CST)
 * What he's saying is that even in a party full of people, it doesnt make sense to use this skill. What Vallen is asking is if there is any way of combining this skill with others so that it doesnt put a strain on your monk.  Although the damage reduction for your pet is great, the damage  you take is fairly devastating.  It's similar to a monk with low points in protection using lifebond.  I was just clerifying what Vallen said.  I myself do not know how to make this skill work. 68.226.178.120 23:35, 22 December 2006 (CST)
 * Big waste of a skill. You care if your pet dies?  You have the best heal and res in the game backing it up.  And do you really want to be taking damage because of your pet?  This is a bad skill.  PvE, PvP, it doesn't matter; don't use this.  If you want to solo with your pet, use Life Bond instead.  I said it before I'll say it again.  Anet's beastmastery and pet AI designers need to lay off the drugs and alcohol.--Windjammer 22:26, 23 December 2006 (CST)


 * For evolving a Dire Pet, simply put. --Silk Weaker 06:29, 22 January 2007 (CST)
 * Never said I liked the skill and the fact that it lacks a LOT for me is why I was asking. 68.226.178.120 said it very accurately.  It was just that I see so many builds on here that all seem to include SB and it gets nothing but praise when all I see is a headache for my Monk and increased possibility of DP for me.  I go into the TotPK a lot and hate to use a pet for fodder if it can be avoided (blackout ruins my day and a live pet is doing the same job as a minion) but SB in there would kill me almost instantly with all the Lava Fonts, Meteor Showers, and damaging Grasps flying around that I can't get my pet to avoid once he's locked on a target.  I never have found this skill to be very useful and just wanted to know why others do.  Sure it's one way to kinda imitate Life Bond without a Monk secondary but jeez... it hurts.  I'm with Windjammer on this.--[[Image:VallenIconwhitesmall.JPG]]  Vallen Frostweaver  08:01, 22 January 2007 (CST)

Perhaps use Healing Hands or Mark of Protection on yourself? That will save you for a little while... Master Stalfos 20:52, 12 July 2007 (CDT)

Bug
I removed a bug note from an anonymous editor that said the effect would never expire and implied that it showed up on your own status monitor and said it could be ended if doubleclicked. First, I tried it in the isle of the nameless and it expired as expected. I had my pet take damage to make sure even though the effect icon was gone. Second, there's no effect icon on you and nothing implies you can remove it. --Fyren 03:02, 7 May 2007 (CDT)


 * It happens it you lose and restore connection with the server. I am perfectly positive about the icon appearing and the fact that the shout never expires until you leave the area (I am not sure if it ends if you die). Somehow the game loses track of the skill or whatever.
 * http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/1774/gw057dd4.jpg
 * Obviously the pic can't show the unendable effect, but I often play in pure beastmaster and since my connection more or less sucks, it is something I rather often run into. 90.33.177.197 17:55, 8 May 2007 (CDT)

Life Bond
Anyone know what will happen if you cast this, then life bond on your pet? Will it be reduced by 100%, or 75%? If 75% then will 50 be from life bond, and it'll be mostly reduced? Or, will Life bond only reduce 25% of the damage, 50% of what's left after Symbiotic, and probably get reduced to 0, while you still take tons of damage from Symbiotic bond? Or does it depend on which you cast first? In any case, your pet will be well protected. Thoughtful 13:37, 2 June 2007 (CDT)
 * 75%, the older of the two takes effect first. --Fyren 20:40, 2 June 2007 (CDT)

Icon change?
I've been using this recently, and got used to seeing the icon just beneath my pet control bar. However, some time this afternoon (or coincidentally while changing machines on which to play GW) it moved from below the pet to in my "maintenance" area. No news of an update from ANet. :-s 82.152.221.71 14:26, 13 June 2007 (CDT)
 * See above. --Fyren 05:18, 14 June 2007 (CDT)