MM Genstone Vs Gemstaff question

[Caster]

Does anyone know the difference between the Mega mage’s gemstone staff ( Req: Level 55, 173 Int 164-202 Damage, 1.1 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/s, 18 Armor Levels: 51, 53, 55 - From The Cockroach) and the Mega mage’s gem blast staff ( Req: Level 55, 173 Int 161-184 Damage, 1.1 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/s, 10 Armor Levels: 51, 53, 55 -From The Cockroach & The Goblin King) aside from the listed stats? Do either of these cause AOE damage?
I am in need a new AOE'er since hitting 55. I am currenrly using the Keeper's staff of Cosmos. If anyone has a suggestion about a better staff that is not mentioned, please fill me in.

[Echelong]

Gem Blast does AOE fire damage gemstone has no proc (that I know off) but it has the highest damage of all the staffs and has 8 more armor.

One note even though it appears that the keeper is stronger than the gem blast staff it isn't equip it and check out your skill damage and compare. Gem Blast gives more skill damage than keeper.

[Ellyidol]

Gem Blast = AoE Fire Damage.

Gemstone = Weakness proc.

Edit:

Only gemstone wand has the proc?

[Echelong]

Gem Blast = AoE Fire Damage.

Gemstone = Weakness proc.

I never noticed it gave weakness hehe

Since it has no lightning bolt or anything fancy.

[Riccits]

So, for clearing better Gem Blast and for Bosses Gemstone?

[Ellyidol]

I never noticed it gave weakness hehe

Since it has no lightning bolt or anything fancy.

Ah.

Just assuming gemstone would have it too, since gemstone wand does.

Let me check Mystical's gear list.

Edit:

It should have a proc. Taken from Mystical's thread :

Mega Mage's Gem Shard Wand: 114-139 Damage, 1.0 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/S, 10 Armor [Fire Proc]
Mega Mage's Gemstone Wand: 112-158 Damage, 1.0 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/S, 10 Armor [Nightmare Proc]
Mega Mage's Gem Blast Staff: 161-184 Damage, 1.1 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/S, 10 Armor [AoE, Fire Proc]

[Echelong]

So, for clearing better Gem Blast and for Bosses Gemstone?

Kind off, I only use the gem blast for plasma pyramid farming its good on hideout and stronghold but bad on the others because of all the armor you lose.

[Echelong]

Ah.

Just assuming gemstone would have it too, since gemstone wand does.

Let me check Mystical's gear list.

Edit:

It should have a proc. Taken from Mystical's thread :

Mega Mage's Gem Shard Wand: 114-139 Damage, 1.0 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/S, 10 Armor [Fire Proc]
Mega Mage's Gemstone Wand: 112-158 Damage, 1.0 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/S, 10 Armor [Nightmare Proc]
Mega Mage's Gem Blast Staff: 161-184 Damage, 1.1 Speed, 12 Int, 8 M/S, 10 Armor [AoE, Fire Proc]

The gemstone wand is a dark wand gemstone staff is not

[Ellyidol]

The gemstone wand is a dark wand gemstone staff is not

Oh wow, fail reading.

Thanks ech

[Echelong]

Oh wow, fail reading.

Thanks ech

lol np I have learned more from you than you will ever do from me... I know that only because of the bolts that shoot of them and I have been playing a mage since I started so if I didn't noticed that i would have been an even bigger noob.

[noneo]

So, for clearing better Gem Blast and for Bosses Gemstone?

Well, depends on how you play honestly. If you tend to stay toward the front of the group and take aggro, then you will want the Gemstone to offer you the 8 more armor which is huge. However, if you tend to stay in back and "Finish off" the mobs, then the Blast may be a better wand due to the proc (but keep in mind, it does not proc all of the time)

And for bosses definitely go with the Gemstone. The extra damage will be needed, and the armor not so much.

Mega Mage's Gem Blast Staff 161-184 Damage 1.1 Speed 12 Int 8 M/S 10 Armor [AoE Fire Proc]
Mega Mage's Gemstone Staff 164-202 Damage 1.1 Speed 12 Int 8 M/S 18 Armor

[Caster]

I appreciate the quick replies! I think I will go for the Gem blast staff for AOE'ing. I have read many posts and seen your names appear many times so I value your information. I am just curious.... Do you guys go with the Gemstone staff or the bracer/wand combo for bosses in Balefort? I have L55 MM head, robe and bracer. I am using the L53 Gemstone wand. Also, would I get a set bones even though I am using the L53 wand with all the other L55 items?

[Echelong]

I use gemstone staff on most BS areas depending on the group. I tend not to use it on Roach and catacombs due to the high damage mobs. For better survival a wand and bracer is recommended although not necessarily needed.

A 51-53 pinks do NOT give set bonus only 55 pinks do.

[WhoIsThis]

I never noticed it gave weakness hehe

Since it has no lightning bolt or anything fancy.

You won't notice it. It just decreases the enemy damage and hit %. Hard to notice damage from a single target when dealing with a mob.

Still, it has a secondary proc. Cast weakness and it's very similar to the bear execute proc. Sometimes you'll see "combo" flash despite not casting hot flash or nature strike - the effect is a second roll of damage.

Recommendations:
- For charging: gemstone wand + bracer
- Bosses: gemstone staff
- With bear: gem blast staff

[noneo]

You won't notice it. It just decreases the enemy damage and hit %. Hard to notice damage from a single target when dealing with a mob.

Still, it has a secondary proc. Cast weakness and it's very similar to the bear execute proc. Sometimes you'll see "combo" flash despite not casting hot flash or nature strike - the effect is a second roll of damage.

Recommendations:
- For charging: gemstone wand + bracer
- Bosses: gemstone staff
- With bear: gem blast staff

^agreed^

I personally use the gemstone wand set all of the time due to the fact that I almost always have aggro, and I need that extra armor. Bosses would be the only situation I would switch to a staff, but only if I had a team that I could trust to keep me alive.

[WhoIsThis]

^agreed^

I personally use the gemstone wand set all of the time due to the fact that I almost always have aggro, and I need that extra armor. Bosses would be the only situation I would switch to a staff, but only if I had a team that I could trust to keep me alive.

Well, you will get aggro a lot with gemstone staff if you are pure int, leading me to suspect that effective damage may actually exceed raid roach birds to a single target (many birds will dispute this). By design, the less armor, the more likely you are to get aggro. Challenging - although the only boss you really have to worry about is the Coakroach, as he hits very hard.

Oh, and unless you love to burn pots, don't mind dying a lot, or always hang back, don't use the gem blast staff in the catacombs.

[Hullukko]

Kind off, I only use the gem blast for plasma pyramid farming its good on hideout and stronghold but bad on the others because of all the armor you lose.

This is highly dependent on preference and play style, but just for the record I timed some of my runs, a few dozen only though, and I cleared plasma better with the gemstone staff (lightning, no proc, but more damage) than
with the mega gem blast staff (some aoe damage). My feeling was that the gem blast was lacking in damage and the aoe radius was too small to be beneficial. Your mileage may vary. Just my 2 cents.

[Echelong]

This is highly dependent on preference and play style, but just for the record I timed some of my runs, a few dozen only though, and I cleared plasma better with the gemstone staff (lightning, no proc, but more damage) than
with the mega gem blast staff (some aoe damage). My feeling was that the gem blast was lacking in damage and the aoe radius was too small to be beneficial. Your mileage may vary. Just my 2 cents.

With all the BS farming I've been doing I haven't had a decent time to farm and time my PP runs. I was trying to test this and I know what you are saying, I like the gemstone staff more than the wand of blast staff. I only have the blast staff for collection purpose, unless I can time PP runs and it proves better, but imo it should be about the same as the gemstone, but relatively the same.