Why is energy alchemy locked?

[ekeron]

Currently, the frost, fire and acid alchemy skill categories for the alchemist begin unlocked.
Energy alchemy, on the other hand, starts off locked and requires you to be at level 10 to gain access to it.

This seems strange to me because energy alchemy seems to be about as strong as the three other categories.
Am I missing something about energy alchemy that makes it surpass acid, fire and frost?

Currently, it doesn't seem to be worth a category point when I have three good alternatives of equal power right from the get-go.

It looks like it would be better to save my category point for an escort reward.

[Tasidar]

Could be because there is global speed in lightning's talent tree, which seems strong.

[ekeron]

Is global speed really that strong for a spellcaster with a meatshield?

I mean you'll still be slowed down by your cooldowns.
I guess it could help you escape from your enemies. :/

You know what, I think I might make a second alchemist with energy alchemy just to compare. Heck, it might give me an idea about how useful global speed really is.

[Suslik]

Energy tree is definitely very strong. And making it unlockable definitely adds some strategic planning to your build - you either spare points in other trees but get an easier start or you juggle 4 points from them to get full benefit of an advanced tree. Core ability there is the one that reduces golem cooldowns since it reduces rune cooldowns as well and golem can literally spam runes every turn.

[ekeron]

Energy tree is definitely very strong. And making it unlockable definitely adds some strategic planning to your build - you either spare points in other trees but get an easier start or you juggle 4 points from them to get full benefit of an advanced tree. Core ability there is the one that reduces golem cooldowns since it reduces rune cooldowns as well and golem can literally spam runes every turn.

Oh, I didn't know the cooldown reduction also applied to runes.
That does change the power of the category.
I'll be having mine spamming shields and attack runes.

Thanks for the explanation!