My 7th Level Swordmage's head is about to explode.

[Herschel]

Yep, my Assault Swordmage just hit 7th level and trying to decide on the new encounter power is going to be tough with Arcane Power out now. This is my RPGA character, so I know most of teh characters I might play with, but the group is fluid, especially with another Swordmage fairly common and lots of wizards. There's also usually at least one leader, many times a bard and a cleric.

Rejuvinating Strike: Basic 2[W] + Int damge, but lets me spend a healing surge.

Watchful Strike: Same damage to target, but free round mark and damage to enemy within 5 is sweet.

Spikes of Agony: Same basic damage but takes damage if it moves before the end of its next turn and can use it on assault trigger.

I may just roll a 6-sider to choose.

 

[Obryn]

Yeah, it can be tough for swordmages... If you knew whether or not you'd always have a Leader in the party, it'd be easier. If your group has 2 leaders, Rejuvenating Strike isn't too hot. If your group has 0, it's a lot more attractive.

I kinda dig Spikes of Agony... It has good damage, and anything you can trigger after an Aegis of Assault hop is pretty solid. Movement denial is just an extra bit of awesome.

I don't care much for powers which just let you mark until the end of your next turn. You're still limited to 1 immediate action, and I don't know that this is a good benefit compared to the other options. YMMV.

-O

 

[Mirtek]

Electrified Lash: 2[W] + Int damage against every enemy in clos burst 1

 

[Dr.Cornelius]

Thunderclap Strike
Close Burst 1, 2d8 + Int and knock prone

Unlike Electrified Lash it also hits allies, but knock prone can be very helpful.

What are your plans for 8th level? Consider retraining a feat to Multiclass Wizard, then burning a feat to swap for Fire Shield in your Utility 6 feat.

Fire Shield
Encounter, Minor Action
Whenever a creature makes a melee attack roll against you, it takes 2d6 + your Intelligence modifier fire damage.

You get Resist Fire and Cold too, but the auto-damage combined with Aegis puts the target between a rock and a hard place.

 

[mlangsdorf]

I don't care much for powers which just let you mark until the end of your next turn. You're still limited to 1 immediate action, and I don't know that this is a good benefit compared to the other options. YMMV.

If you're a Shielding Swordmage, marking multiple targets has 2 benefits:
1) more foes have a -2 to attack
2) not all foes will hit their targets, and you can only use Aegis of Shielding against a successful attack.

The Swordmange I've seen played has great success with marking multiple foes. If they miss their attack, no harm done. If they hit, she invokes the Aegis and cancels it anyway.

If multiple foes hit in the same turn, well, you usually haven't lost much by marking more than 1 of them.

 

[Herschel]

The multi-marking may be a bit limited, but it can be nice. I build for defense and accuracy generally in lieu of raw damage outside of strength. I have a mighty nice groups of defensive stats and work with a rogue quite often so if they ignore my mark, chances are they will get hit for D8+5 and provide a flank for that rogue they just hit.

I love Spikes of Agony, but when you don't know if you'll have a leader (or are in the enemy backfield as a second defender/ artillery/ controller harrasser) Rejuvinating Strike looks pretty handy.

 

[Kinneus]

Fire Shield
Encounter, Minor Action
Whenever a creature makes a melee attack roll against you, it takes 2d6 + your Intelligence modifier fire damage.

You get Resist Fire and Cold too, but the auto-damage combined with Aegis puts the target between a rock and a hard place.

Great idea... but I'd hate to give up Armanthor's Step for this.
Hmm... are you allowed to swap out a Swordmage 10th level Utility for a Wizard's 6th level Utility?

 

[Obryn]

Great idea... but I'd hate to give up Armanthor's Step for this.
Hmm... are you allowed to swap out a Swordmage 10th level Utility for a Wizard's 6th level Utility?

Yup, but then you're giving up another pretty good ability. Take your pick - avoid a Ranged attack that would have hit you and teleport right next to the guy who shot you; or add your swordmage warding to your F/R/W for the rest of a combat.

(At least, those are the ones I think are best. Spider Leap looks good for Ensnaring swordmages, too... Charging a total of 16 squares, including a 10-square jump, is kind of insane! )

-O

 

[Herschel]

Thunderclap Strike
What are your plans for 8th level? Consider retraining a feat to Multiclass Wizard, then burning a feat to swap for Fire Shield in your Utility 6 feat.

Fire Shield
Encounter, Minor Action
Whenever a creature makes a melee attack roll against you, it takes 2d6 + your Intelligence modifier fire damage.

You get Resist Fire and Cold too, but the auto-damage combined with Aegis puts the target between a rock and a hard place.

That is majorly sweet. There are so many nice feats available it can be hard to choose.

I went away from Thunderclap because it also hits allies and I'm manifesting Earthsoul with this character, have Earthshock Master feat already for knocking prone and a bit of damage and reliable.

 

[jeffhartsell]

Is it correct that if a Shielding Swordmage gains a mark from a different source other than the minor action to use Aegis Shield that any marked creature can have the Aegis feature invoked?

We play that only the creature marked via the class feature can be affected by the Aegis mark. Any other marks are simply the standard -2 attack penalty; unless the power specifically states it is another aegis mark.