imported>GS4-XERAPHINA at 18:13, 15 January 2023

2023-01-15T18:13:09Z

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{{spell
| mnemonic = DARKCAT
| duration = Instantaneous
| type = Attack
| ctype = [[Electrical critical table|Lightning]], [[Impact critical table|Impact]], [[Fire critical table|Fire]], [[Cold critical table|Cold]]
| subtype = [[Warding]]
| target = Single
| interval = None
| status = None
| dtype = [[Health]] & [[Mana]]
| navigation = {{Sorcerer base navigation}}
}}
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<section begin=description /><noinclude>'''Dark Catalyst''' converts</noinclude><includeonly>Converts</includeonly> the [[mana]] of the target into elemental energy, causing mana loss and massive critical damage.<section end=description /> A successful cast can yield mana return between 1 and 14 to the caster (heavily weighted towards lower amounts). The spell's offensive impact is determined by the target's current amount of magical power, the amount by which their spiritual warding fails, as well as one's training in the [[Elemental Lore]]s.

On a successful cast, five individual strikes are unleashed upon the target. In order: essence ([[health]] only, no [[critical]]), [[Fire critical table|fire]], [[Cold critical table|ice]], [[Lightning critical table|lightning]], and [[Impact critical table|impact]]. Magical and semi-magical creatures have a high chance of being killed with a single cast. If the target dies before receiving all of the strikes, the spell will end immediately. This may also cut off any mana return.

Because Dark Catalyst turns mana into elemental energy, it is most effective against spell-casting creatures that have a lot of mana, and creatures that are most vulnerable to the applicable elements. There are two individual considerations to take into account considering the efficiency of this spell.

*Magical ability of the target - Magical ([[pure]]) targets that are primarily spell casters have plenty of mana and will suffer the most damage from the spell, including subsequent casts. [[Semi]]-magical creatures with some mana which are not primarily spell casters. Casts beyond the first are less effective and generally not worthwhile. [[Square]] targets with little or no mana will take very little damage from this spell, making poor targets.
*Elemental makeup of the target - Regardless of the target type in terms of its magical categorization, the fact that a successful cast of Dark Catalyst subjects the target to a variety of elemental criticals is important in its own right. For example, [[Stone family creatures|creatures made of stone]] will receive up to 2 additional critical strikes shortly after the spell has resolved. This is due to stone's weakness against the combination of heat and cold attacks. Also, most [[troll]]s take double damage from fire and are unable to regenerate for a period of time. Conversely, Dark Catalyst might not be the best choice for creatures highly resistant to any of the four elements.

Dark Catalyst can be made effective versus non-corporeal creatures, which are not susceptible to critical damage, by casting [[Phase (704)]] on them to make them corporeal, and thus increasing their susceptibility.

Sorcerers should be very careful when using Dark Catalyst in [[The Bowels]] and [[Nelemar]] due to the fire and lightning cycles, which might ignite the gas or electrify the water, respectively.

When Dark Catalyst is used in conjunction with the [[Elemental_Targeting_(425)#Lore_Benefit|Elemental Targeting (425) lore benefit]], sorcerers [[attunement|attuned]] to air will receive a critical weighting boost to the lightning critical cycle.

== Mana Control Benefit ==
The amount of mana returned is modified by training in [[Elemental Mana Control]] and [[Spiritual Mana Control]].

== Lore Benefits ==

Training the applicable [[Elemental Lore]]s will increase the damage and severity of the critical strike for the corresponding element.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-
|[[Elemental Lore, Air]]
|[[Electrical critical table|Electricity]]
|-
|[[Elemental Lore, Earth]]
|[[Impact critical table|Impact]]
|-
|[[Elemental Lore, Fire]]
|[[Fire critical table|Heat]]
|-
|[[Elemental Lore, Water]]
|[[Cold critical table|Cold]]
|-
|}
At twelve ranks of a given lore, the critical rank of the relevant damage cycle is increased by one level; at fifty lore ranks, it is increased by 2 levels; and at one hundred lore ranks, it is increased by 3 levels. This flat modifier is unaffected by the warding margin.

{| {{prettytable|1=text-align:center;}}
!align="right"|Applicable Elemental Lore ranks||12||50||100
|-
|align="right"|Relevant damage cycle critical rank increase||1||2||3
|}

== Messaging ==
{{addmetext}}

== Resources ==
*[[/saved posts|Saved posts]]

Dark Catalyst (719) - Revision history

imported>GS4-XERAPHINA at 18:13, 15 January 2023