Volcanic Orb vs Thunderblast as Elementalist

[Entropy]

I want to focus on this aspect below in that discussion;

Since Concusive Blast's fragment bounce gap from center is low, the main center target gets thunderball + concusive blast damage both. So this spell becomes better for small groups and bosses. Volcanic orb on the other hand, is slow but better aoe but main target rarely is hit by 1-2 fragments. Better aoe is really worth it? Maybe it is worth it because it also hits psyhical which makes it all around better spell. What do you think?

[Entropy]

Any idea?

[Jet Uppercut]

Well Thunderball had it's damage doubled in the AE patch and Volcanic Orb had it's AoE slightly increased, so it's really just a matter of whether you want more damage output or more AoE.
Though IMO Ice Shards is still better than both, since it does single target and AoE damage and there's no issues with using it until you hit late game and start spamming Eruptions and Squalls on top of each other.

[Entropy]

VO's fragmentation aoe is not-reliable/not guareenteed and they are slow to explode. Initial aoe increase and its base damage is really good though. For leveling still they are both viable i guess?

[Blizz]

I like both of them, hard choice.

[hedgewitch]

VO is very powerful in normal anyway, but on LMB, it is sometimes hard to aim and cast before mobs have moved in--fragmentation is very effective, but because of the spacing of the exploding bits, can miss individual monsters in a mob--still, combined with Squall on RMB, it has completely owned for my VO fire build elementalist, now in Epic. I am intending to experiment with Thunderball on another toon, but as of now, not much experience with it. I will say Lightning Bolt imo is nowhere near as good as VO in either stun or AOE in case you wondered.

[Entropy]

Lightning bolt + chain lightining skill has fastest "hit" duration meaning it can't miss the location mob can't run away from it ( it can dodge though). Plus easiest spell to cast in game. Also highest damage output. It has faster clear speed also. I will definitely max Storm just because of that.