[Witch Elf] Priority & Rotation Advice (Pushing through the mid-game)

[Ziorah]

Hey everyone,

I am currently maining a Witch Elf (currently RR51) and I am improving my gameplay. Right now, I am struggling a bit against most other classes in 1v1 or small-scale scenarios. I am fully aware that the WE hits a notorious "slump" or "hole" around this Renown Rank before scaling hard later on, but I want to make sure I am doing everything right on my end to prepare for the endgame.

My Current Setup:

My Spec: https://builder.returnofreckoning.com/c ... 4,523,9450

My Gear: https://rorplanner.pages.dev/#/?a.c=l&a ... b.r=58&s=5

Note: I already bought 5 pieces of Vanquisher, but I obviously cannot wear them all until RR58, so I am currently mixing Conqueror and Sentinel with Subjugator daggers).

Note 2: I do not have Witchbrew unlocked yet, as I am still missing a few ranks for it.

I know that in RoR, everything is highly situational. However, I lack a deeper understanding of the priorities—specifically why and when to use certain abilities. This is my current standard rotation out of Stealth (Shadow Prowler):

Shadow Prowler => Feinted Positioning => Vehement Blades or Enfeebling Strike (to start building points) => Apply Heart Rendering Toxin (HRT) => Throat Slitter (if I urgently need the Silence against casters/healers) => Wracking Pains or BLB or Agonizing Wounds => Using Heart Finder and Sacrificial Stab.

While I know what each individual button does, I am very insecure about the actual priority. For example: What about Puncture (Armor debuff)? Should it be a staple in my rotation? I almost never use Slice - am I missing out on something here? When exactly should I use Treacherous Assault?

My second question is about Non-Stealth engagement or after using Shadow Leap or even without. Whenever I am forced to fight without Stealth or right after using Shadow Leap to close a gap, my rotation feels clunky. I usually just try to re-apply HRT and build points like described above, but it doesn't feel optimal. What should a solid non-stealth priority look like?

I would really appreciate some high-level input, tips, or priority lists to help me pilot my WE correctly.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Krima]

Hey everyone,

I am currently maining a Witch Elf (currently RR51) and I am improving my gameplay. Right now, I am struggling a bit against most other classes in 1v1 or small-scale scenarios. I am fully aware that the WE hits a notorious "slump" or "hole" around this Renown Rank before scaling hard later on, but I want to make sure I am doing everything right on my end to prepare for the endgame.

My Current Setup:

My Spec: https://builder.returnofreckoning.com/c ... 4,523,9450

My Gear: https://rorplanner.pages.dev/#/?a.c=l&a ... b.r=58&s=5

Note: I already bought 5 pieces of Vanquisher, but I obviously cannot wear them all until RR58, so I am currently mixing Conqueror and Sentinel with Subjugator daggers).

Note 2: I do not have Witchbrew unlocked yet, as I am still missing a few ranks for it.

I know that in RoR, everything is highly situational. However, I lack a deeper understanding of the priorities—specifically why and when to use certain abilities. This is my current standard rotation out of Stealth (Shadow Prowler):

Shadow Prowler => Feinted Positioning => Vehement Blades or Enfeebling Strike (to start building points) => Apply Heart Rendering Toxin (HRT) => Throat Slitter (if I urgently need the Silence against casters/healers) => Wracking Pains or BLB or Agonizing Wounds => Using Heart Finder and Sacrificial Stab. It seems correct.

While I know what each individual button does, I am very insecure about the actual priority. For example: What about Puncture (Armor debuff)? Should it be a staple in my rotation? I almost never use Slice - am I missing out on something here? When exactly should I use Treacherous Assault?
Remove puncture from your bar, bad finisher now. Never use treacherous assault! vehement and enfebling way better

My second question is about Non-Stealth engagement or after using Shadow Leap or even without. Whenever I am forced to fight without Stealth or right after using Shadow Leap to close a gap, my rotation feels clunky. I usually just try to re-apply HRT and build points like described above, but it doesn't feel optimal. What should a solid non-stealth priority look like? Be agressive with m1 and elixir of cauldrons + detaunt.

I would really appreciate some high-level input, tips, or priority lists to help me pilot my WE correctly.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Narfii]

Hey everyone,

I am currently maining a Witch Elf (currently RR51) and I am improving my gameplay. Right now, I am struggling a bit against most other classes in 1v1 or small-scale scenarios. I am fully aware that the WE hits a notorious "slump" or "hole" around this Renown Rank before scaling hard later on, but I want to make sure I am doing everything right on my end to prepare for the endgame.

My Current Setup:

My Spec: https://builder.returnofreckoning.com/c ... 4,523,9450

My Gear: https://rorplanner.pages.dev/#/?a.c=l&a ... b.r=58&s=5

Note: I already bought 5 pieces of Vanquisher, but I obviously cannot wear them all until RR58, so I am currently mixing Conqueror and Sentinel with Subjugator daggers).

Note 2: I do not have Witchbrew unlocked yet, as I am still missing a few ranks for it.

I know that in RoR, everything is highly situational. However, I lack a deeper understanding of the priorities—specifically why and when to use certain abilities. This is my current standard rotation out of Stealth (Shadow Prowler):

Shadow Prowler => Feinted Positioning => Vehement Blades or Enfeebling Strike (to start building points) => Apply Heart Rendering Toxin (HRT) => Throat Slitter (if I urgently need the Silence against casters/healers) => Wracking Pains or BLB or Agonizing Wounds => Using Heart Finder and Sacrificial Stab.

While I know what each individual button does, I am very insecure about the actual priority. For example: What about Puncture (Armor debuff)? Should it be a staple in my rotation? I almost never use Slice - am I missing out on something here? When exactly should I use Treacherous Assault?

My second question is about Non-Stealth engagement or after using Shadow Leap or even without. Whenever I am forced to fight without Stealth or right after using Shadow Leap to close a gap, my rotation feels clunky. I usually just try to re-apply HRT and build points like described above, but it doesn't feel optimal. What should a solid non-stealth priority look like?

I would really appreciate some high-level input, tips, or priority lists to help me pilot my WE correctly.

Thanks in advance for your help!

This seems like you're building for wb/SS. Imo, this is not the way. You can probably produce with it but it will make you clunky. On welf, cool downs are your life. You must use them deliberately. There's no room for ineffeciency.

Tactics are fine. Once you're at the point where you can global people consider dropping tob for mt.

The rotation is fine but I wouldn't use throat slitter early. I usually use it as the 2nd cc in a group. In general, try to save your knocks for kills. 30 seconds is a really punishing timeframe. In an idea build your sequence would go open>hrt>hs>pa>SS>kill but without the top end damage you will likely have to utilize wracking pains and go for the kill on 2nd rotation.

Only use slice to leech in blobs.

Puncture has edge case uses but maybe like 1/100? I can count on one hand how often I've used it post patch.

This is a bit nitpicky, but I don't usually blow fp right away either. Try to save it for when you need it. It's off the gcd so you don't need to worry about awkward timing. And be wary of using it vs melee classes as they usually have high parry% and you'll end up trapping yourself.

I'm pretty sure treacherous assault is just straight up bad. If it was an aoe silence or did cast pushback maybe it would be better. Vehement Blades at least gives your group crit% and people will put 1000s of damages on themselves with enfeebling strike.

Engaging out of stealth is basically a lesson in timing and reading. If you have the shadows up you can use that then it's just like opening from stealth. Otherwise look for opportunities and try to capitalize on them. The rotation doesn't change too much if you're going for the burst tbh you just don't use an opener. On that note HRT is only worth it if the target is at full health. Don't reapply it, and don't use it on sub-100% targets. You'll get better returns off your other abilities.

Instead of rotation, think priority. So for glass it would probably look like:
Sever blessing
HRT (at full)
BLB (if using)
Finishers (5*, the only ones worth using at less combo are witchbrew and oyk)
HS
PA
Conditional cc (throat slitter/sever limb)
WP
EB

Be aware of immunities. Obviously heartseeking someone with immunity is a waste. Also do not be an immunity merchant. It doesn't do any good knocking that 90% health target if you don't have the numbers/damage to secure the kill or if they're going to get healed through it. In fact, this is probably the biggest misplay I see in the lakes on a daily basis.

You'll find the class doesn't actually have a lot of control options (the lack of a kick really hurts) so you have to control fights through pressure and timing, rather than hard cc. This is why not wasting your CDs is so huge.

Every time you die, you should be reviewing your plays. 90% of the time, you misplayed somewhere be it ability, timing, or positioning. Obviously you'll die to zergs out of nowhere often. Usually you can recognize when you took a risky engagement though. The more you practice this, the better your play will become.

[Avanos]

RoR.builders - Witch Elf

Kill a squishy burst rotation:
Feinted Positioning, Enfeebling Strike, Pierce Armor, Heart seeker, Agonizing Wound, Sacrificial Stab

Then Continue with AW

You seem to have multiple threads about this.

Mastering WE is not about rotations, or gear.
Its about situational awareness.
You need to learn how your class interacts with other classes, specific players and their builds/rotations.

[nat3s]

As per previous post but switch out Frenzied Mayhem for Flanking imo. That +30% damage will have AW critting for 1.7k on squishies, Heart Seeker for 1.5k, melee attacks up to 1k. I find its better to have 15% bonus to all attacks over 25% to just SS.

[Ziorah]

Hello everyone, and thank you in advance for all the great and helpful answers!

You seem to have multiple threads about this.

Yeah, you're right, I did ask something similar in another thread a while ago. But back then, my Witch Elf wasn't nearly as far along as she is now. Now that I've hit RR52, things are getting serious and I really want to step up my game and learn how to play her properly. I was looking for some high-level pro tips, and I definitely received them here from you guys. I appreciate it!

This seems like you're building for wb/SS. Imo, this is not the way. You can probably produce with it but it will make you clunky.

Actually, I didn't intend to make a Warband build. It's true that I currently run with WBs, but I mostly try to pick off targets on the fringes. By the way, what does SS stand for? Scenarios? If so, yes, I play them as often as I can. My main goal right now is to play solo, small-scale, and unorganized warbands—basically wherever I can earn RR the fastest at the moment. On my way to RR 80+.

On that note HRT is only worth it if the target is at full health. Don't reapply it, and don't use it on sub-100% targets. You'll get better returns off your other abilities.

Can you explain that to me again? Why only against enemies with 100% health? It has a 15-second cooldown. Doesn't it matter whether my enemy has 60% health or 100% health?

@Avanos: "You seem to have multiple threads about this."
That’s exactly what I was getting at. These tips are absolutely invaluable to me, which is why I asked for more here

Finishers (5*, the only ones worth using at less combo are witchbrew and oyk)

Understand!

Be aware of immunities. Obviously heartseeking someone with immunity is a waste. Also do not be an immunity merchant. It doesn't do any good knocking that 90% health target if you don't have the numbers/damage to secure the kill or if they're going to get healed through it. In fact, this is probably the biggest misplay I see in the lakes on a daily basis.

Understood. If it's not a guaranteed kill, then no Heartseeker and no bad CC timing. It makes total sense now—controlling a target too early just gives them that invisible shield, which makes them immune to everyone else in my group too. By wasting my CC early, I basically take away my group's chance to lock down or finish the target later. I will definitely keep that in mind to stop being an "immunity merchant"

RoR.builders - Witch Elf

Would that be more of a solo or small-scale build?
I haven't actually played with the Carnage build yet, because I was under the impression that the tree got heavily nerfed a while ago. It's interesting to see that it's still somewhat viable, though losing the incoming heal debuff definitely sounds tricky if no one else in my party can provide it.

Mastering WE is not about rotations, or gear.
Its about situational awareness.
You need to learn how your class interacts with other classes, specific players and their builds/rotations.

That’s the most important tip of all. But it also worries me a little. I hope I can pull it off. I haven’t played enough classes yet to really know them—to know exactly what they’re capable of—so I can adapt accordingly. But I think I’ll gain that experience over time.

I have another question regarding Pierce Armor and Witchbrew. I actually thought Witchbrew was absolutely essential as a finisher right now because it's supposed to be so strong? Is that not the case anymore?

[Narfii]

This seems like you're building for wb/SS. Imo, this is not the way. You can probably produce with it but it will make you clunky.

Actually, I didn't intend to make a Warband build. It's true that I currently run with WBs, but I mostly try to pick off targets on the fringes. By the way, what does SS stand for? Scenarios? If so, yes, I play them as often as I can. My main goal right now is to play solo, small-scale, and unorganized warbands—basically wherever I can earn RR the fastest at the moment. On my way to RR 80+.

Witchbrew/sac stab. There's a build out there that utilizes sov+2 to run both of these. That's what I thought you were talking about.

On that note HRT is only worth it if the target is at full health. Don't reapply it, and don't use it on sub-100% targets. You'll get better returns off your other abilities.

Can you explain that to me again? Why only against enemies with 100% health? It has a 15-second cooldown. Doesn't it matter whether my enemy has 60% health or 100% health?

It takes health off the top. You get more return off the life reduction than the actual damage on it. If you've opened with it and done some damage, taking away max health doesn't usually make a difference. There's an argument for keeping it up on healers I guess but if they're getting back to 100% post open you should probably disengage anyways.

Would that be more of a solo or small-scale build?
I haven't actually played with the Carnage build yet, because I was under the impression that the tree got heavily nerfed a while ago. It's interesting to see that it's still somewhat viable, though losing the incoming heal debuff definitely sounds tricky if no one else in my party can provide it.

With bis gear you'll global in the kd. If they don't get a chance to heal you don't need a hdb. This is why it's worth it to drop blb for pa at the top end.

Mastering WE is not about rotations, or gear.
Its about situational awareness.
You need to learn how your class interacts with other classes, specific players and their builds/rotations.

That’s the most important tip of all. But it also worries me a little. I hope I can pull it off. I haven’t played enough classes yet to really know them—to know exactly what they’re capable of—so I can adapt accordingly. But I think I’ll gain that experience over time.

I have another question regarding Pierce Armor and Witchbrew. I actually thought Witchbrew was absolutely essential as a finisher right now because it's supposed to be so strong? Is that not the case anymore?

It's basically just trial by fire. You'll figure out the matchups as long as you pay attention to what you're doing and reflect on your decisions.

Witchbrew is good but it's a build around and is not good for burst. In the glass build SS is much better.