In addition to the wide range of skills which may be combined and linked for endless exciting possibilities, there are 6 special mechanisms which can be further utilized. These include [hardened], [thrill], [surge], [marked], [barrier], and [blur].
At their most basic level, each of these 6 mechanisms manifest themselves as simple statuses. When linked with certain affixes and skills however, they can result in surprisingly powerful effects.
[Surge]
[Surge] is most often matched with spell skills but can outgrow its initial limited use through improvements on its talent tree.
[Surge] basic effect: Increase mana restoration speed and extra spell damage based on active [surge] stacks. When [surge] is at maximum level, +35% extra spell damage and +200% mana restoration.
In reality, [surge] is a buff that can be upgraded. The easiest way to gain access to it is through its passive skill, also named "Surge". It can be upgraded in multiple ways, including "Activating Potential", an active skill, which directly levels up [surge].
Passive skill - Surge: After using the supported skill 4 times, gain [surge]; supported skills have a 25% chance to upgrade [surge] on cast.
Active skill - Activating Potential: Upgrades [surge] level on cast; when gaining a buff, +4% cast speed per [surge] level.
[Surge] is a buff which can be upgraded, and so its growth path is relatively simple. Follow its path vertically to increase the level of [surge], and then horizontally to improve its effects.
Improving the initial level of [surge]:
Talents - Arcanist - Core Talents - Compressed Path:
[surge] minimum level +9; [surge] maximum level -10; [surge] is always calculated at Lv. 10 effectiveness.
Talents - Magister - Micro & Medium Talents:
Increase [surge] minimum level, increase [surge] maximum level;
Upgrading [surge]:
Talents - Magister - Core Talents - Torrents:
When [surge] is removed, instead -1 level of [surge] and refresh its duration; upon acquiring [surge], increase [surge] effect level; after selecting Torrents, matching more skills which grant [surge] helps increase its level and keep it max level at all times.
Talents - Druid - Medium Talents:
When using elemental skills, 20% chance to upgrade [surge].
Talents - Arcanist - Medium Talents:
When freezing a target, 20% chance to upgrade [surge].
Talents - Spiritcaller - Medium Talents:
When using elemental skills, 10% chance to upgrade [surge].
Improving or changing the effects of [surge]:
Talents - Spiritcaller - Core Talents - Reflux:
Surge no longer provides extra spell damage. Instead, grants extra elemental damage; increases cooldown recovery speed (35% at Lv. 20) instead of mana restoration speed.
Talents - Druid - Medium Talents: +3% energy shield charge speed per level of [surge].
Talents - Arcanist - Micro & Medium Talents:
+9% freeze duration per level of [surge]; +40% cold damage when [surge] is at least level 10.
Talents - Goddess of Knowledge - Medium Talents:
+5% mana cost per level of [surge]; +3% spell damage per level of [surge].
Legendary gear - Jumble Ice:
7-15 added spell cold damage per level of [surge].
Legendary gear - Undercurrent:
+1% attack block chance per level of [surge]; +1% spell block chance per level of [surge].
Legendary gear - Frost Touch: At maximum level of [surge], +1 linear projectile jumps.
......
After reading through the examples above, it's clear that [surge] is still most effective when paired with spell skills. If [Reflux] is chosen as a core skill however, [surge] becomes effective when paired with triggered skills. Improving cooldown recovery speed increases the rate at which [surge] can be triggered, thereby improving elemental skill damage. [Surge] also matches well with cold damage and freeze effects, as this element does not include ailments. Builds focused around cold damage can use [surge] to increase their overall damage output.