Guild Wars 2

My team and I have fought GL a number of times, and we would like to improve our performance.
This is why I would like to concentrate in this thread everything that is known about GL. This can help everybody. Please feel free to contribute!

Last updated: 10/06/13

Note: I will only list techniques that are not considered exploits or that are intended ways to deal with this boss.

Phase 1:
Alternates between 3 spells:
-melee kick (big damage, kb) front cone, very short animation (pre-emptively avoidable, blockable)
-worm/grub cast (gives you the worm debuff that spawns the worms) long animation, targeted but without LoS (avoidable, unblockable) [“He dips the chip, then he eats it. You dodge when he eats the chip.”] (Necros can avoid the grub spawning on them if they use plague when they get the debuff)
-swarm summoning [seems to spawn a random number of swarms]
There seem to be a rotation for these spells: if not moving GL will cast every 4 seconds, alternating kicks with one of the two other spells. He seems to focus the player with the highest toughness for kicks.

70%hp triggers Transition P1-2:
Invulnerable (3sec?), instant debuffs a player with worm debuff (unavoidable?, unblockable?). He will target the player closest to his position (to be confirmed). Unlike the other worms, this can target summons/pets.

Phase 2:
Regularly targets a player and does either a shadow walk (avoid mode, rootable during cast but buggy, avoidable, blockable, kb) towards him if he is at range or a claw strike if in melee (decent animation, avoidable, blockable, hits very hard!)
Throws targeted projectiles at random players at range (bounce a little) (points his hand toward targeted player in a short animation)
Casts a huge rain of similar projectiles: short animation but easily spottable.
The aoe rain is made of projectiles that hit a targeted area (red circle) first and then bounce a little, they can overlap. This is the most tricky ability of GL since this mechanic is quite complex. If all players are in melee the projectiles will be very concentrated, which is very dangerous but allows for some efficient reflection. GL seem to send projectiles continuously for about 2 seconds, which makes a double-dodge (2*0.75s=1.5s) not completely effective (might work at melee range if you dodge backward first, then forward, to be confirmed). AoE projectile protections seems to work, but the first bunch of projectiles is thrown out almost instantly, which is hard to counter.

50% hp triggers P3 (invicible for 3s).

Phase 3:
-drains life of a ranged target (avoidable, blockable) over ~2s
-casts a melee bubble that deals heavy damage, impossible to walk out of it without stability. Cast is unavoidable (to be confirmed), but damage is. He uses this skill on downed or moving player only. If you don’t move, he won’t use it at all (to be confirmed).
-missile barrage: melee aoe (front) (reflectable, avoidable)
-large channelled aoe (levitating animation)

Thanks to all contributors!

instant debuffs a player with worm debuff (unavoidable?, unblockable?)
He will target the player closest to his position. Unlike the other worms, this can target summons/pets.

casts a melee bubble that deals heavy damage, impossible to walk out of it without stability. Cast is unavoidable, but damage is.
He uses this skill on downed or moving player only. If you don’t move, he won’t use it at all.

He uses this skill on downed or moving player only. If you don’t move, he won’t use it at all.

Wow! That’s one hell of a tip! thanks a lot, I will update OP promptly.

Necros can avoid the grub spawning on them if they use plague when they get the debuff.

He will not do anything if perma los’ed.

Can’t block grub spawns but dodge or counter them with invulnerability.

His projectiles can be reflected, the amount of reflected projectiles scales with how many people are in his aim when he starts the attack.

He has a minimum distance for bubblr and rapidfire cast, standing in his circlr will cause him to not use rhose attacks.

If standing in his circle sometimes the single projectile he throws may hit.

Molch.2078:

instant debuffs a player with worm debuff (unavoidable?, unblockable?)
He will target the player closest to his position. Unlike the other worms, this can target summons/pets.

That closest to his position is wrong. It’s pretty random. He will usually focus his grubs on 2-3 people tops. Or that might be because he’s usually at phase 2 by the time he cast 3 grubs…

@OP: we have a saying in the guild for new people that want to learn how to dodge grubs. “He dips the chip, then he eats it. You dodge when he eats the chip.”

As for his Phase 2 AoE, it’s easily dodgeable. The thing is that the red rings closest to him will get hit first and the far ones last, because the far projectiles have longer travel time. Just dodge backwards once and dodge forward right after that. Because you dodged the closer projectiles first, and you go forward again, you won’t get hit.

EDIT: fun fact. You can actually dodge the dome if he casts it, but your window is so small that it’s almost entirely luck based if you manage to pull it off. He will turn to the person he’ll dome, and once he stops moving, that’s when you dodge. In that time, you should have enough time to cover the distance from the center of the dome to the edge, and you will be outside of the edge right as the dome pops up. I’ve only been able to do it like 3 times though.

He will not do anything if perma los’ed.

Could you elaborate?

No

When he’s about to move in phase 3 and you permanently keep him immbobilized he will not attack anymore too. More stuff following

Bright.9160:

EDIT: fun fact. You can actually dodge the dome if he casts it, but your window is so small that it’s almost entirely luck based if you manage to pull it off. He will turn to the person he’ll dome, and once he stops moving, that’s when you dodge. In that time, you should have enough time to cover the distance from the center of the dome to the edge, and you will be outside of the edge right as the dome pops up. I’ve only been able to do it like 3 times though.

I used to manage this as well, but it is quite tricky indeed. Standing still seems like a better option though.

Can’t block grub spawns but dodge or counter them with invulnerability.

You mean countering the cast or the spawn itself?

Bright.9160:

That closest to his position is wrong. It’s pretty random. He will usually focus his grubs on 2-3 people tops. Or that might be because he’s usually at phase 2 by the time he cast 3 grubs…

He meant last grub which is theoretically unavoidable but there are few ways anyway.

As for his Phase 2 AoE, it’s easily dodgeable. The thing is that the red rings closest to him will get hit first and the far ones last, because the far projectiles have longer travel time. Just dodge backwards once and dodge forward right after that. Because you dodged the closer projectiles first, and you go forward again, you won’t get hit.

Projectiles landing near his position can hit you even after 2s after initial ones. It’s not 100% guaranteed you won’t get hit unless you have less players in party.

EDIT: fun fact. You can actually dodge the dome if he casts it, but your window is so small that it’s almost entirely luck based if you manage to pull it off. He will turn to the person he’ll dome, and once he stops moving, that’s when you dodge. In that time, you should have enough time to cover the distance from the center of the dome to the edge, and you will be outside of the edge right as the dome pops up. I’ve only been able to do it like 3 times though.

You can’t dodge necrid trap if you are its target. You can use skills like whirling attack to get some distance from him and it will work if you are fast enough. Also, if he casts it on someone else (and you’d get in its range) and you dodge towards closer edge it won’t entrap you.

Zelyhn.8069:

He will not do anything if perma los’ed.

Could you elaborate?

It’s really easy to understand

You won’t get the debuff if you are invuln/dodge when his hand reaches the top of his head.

The grub spawn from phase 1→2 transition is always targeted on the closest person, even on npc’s.

Dodging the dome without stability is only possible if you are either not his target, are exactly in his circle when the dome appears or are out of ~600 range when the dome spawns. Otherwise the center of the dome will be placed on your current position, even while in dodgeroll.

The dome is also sometimes used on players who are standing still but are in ~300 range to him.

haviz.1340:

Zelyhn.8069:

He will not do anything if perma los’ed.

Could you elaborate?

It’s really easy to understand

Sorry I don’t get it!
It seems to me that he spawns swarms, casts worm, phase 2 aoe and projectiles, life drain, regardless of LoS.
Unless you mean using the fact that he does not reset if he goes through the entrance of the room and so you could use the walls to hard-LoS him…

@Dub

Seems like you have a lot of experience with necro vs lupi. I really struggle with my necro but I can melee on my guardian with all the blocks and vigor. Necro without vigor, block, stability, reflect, I really don’t know how to. Tried to absorb hit with DS but LF is gone after 2 hits. Is it possible without energy sigil?

Afya.5842:

@Dub

Seems like you have a lot of experience with necro vs lupi. I really struggle with my necro but I can melee on my guardian with all the blocks and vigor. Necro without vigor, block, stability, reflect, I really don’t know how to. Tried to absorb hit with DS but LF is gone after 2 hits. Is it possible without energy sigil?

Dark path dodge the aoe. Use a power build to generate lifeforce instantly. Take atleast one energy sigil.

spoj.9672:

Afya.5842:

@Dub

Seems like you have a lot of experience with necro vs lupi. I really struggle with my necro but I can melee on my guardian with all the blocks and vigor. Necro without vigor, block, stability, reflect, I really don’t know how to. Tried to absorb hit with DS but LF is gone after 2 hits. Is it possible without energy sigil?

Dark path dodge the aoe. Use a power build to generate lifeforce instantly. Take atleast one energy sigil.

That will have to wait till my power build finish XD
I can’t take energy sigil with condition build because of sigil of earth.

For my lupicus solo necro attempts (got to 20% hp but then failed… too lazy to redo this) i used some vitality spec (my necro is not a serious character, just wanted to see how high my HP can go) with condition damage as secondary attribute. Two energy sigils of course and some random traits around 0/10/20/20/20. Berserker equipment and proper traits will work out much better i guess. What will make your lifeforce go away quickly is using deathshrod while dodging. From my experience, the DS doesnt cancel the dodge animation but the evade frames.
I really suck at playing necro, ask me about mesmer, warrior, guardian or ele and i’ll be able to give way better information.
About the phase 2 aoe: it is easily avoided by dodging back and foreward – if solo’ing. The more people are running around the higher is the chance that some late projectiles bash you about 2 seconds after your dodges.

As a ranger, it’s handy to put a bird or cat on Lupi and use Ricochet to get locust aggro and keep pet safe. Just make sure your swap is off CD at the transition to phase 2. When the cat gets the final grub spawn and you see the green cloud appear, swap pets. (remember, like OP said, this is always the closest target as opposed to the rest which are based on what player has Lupi’s highest threat rating).

More on ranger: on phase 2 aoe you can do one of the following: 2 dodges, counterattack then dodge, or simply whirling defense traited with offhand training. In fact, the whole party can stand in it and be safe.

When Lupi shadow steps to you, please, dodge roll through him. Bring a stun break since his swipes and kicks knockback.

As a ranger, the only way to get out of bubble is to use shared anguish—and that’s on a terribly penalizing 90s CD. That’s because you’re severely punished for bad positioning in this fight. QZ will not work. SoR will not work. Good luck getting off RaO or a traited SotW. In fact, your best bet is to just block it with Counterattack, you’ll still eat a tick or two, though. It might be possible to dodge from one side of the bubble to another (while still inside I mean, to avoid damage) but I haven’t been able to do that personally.

Do not group rez on Lupi. Also, lupi attacks every few seconds. Always be more aware of what lupi’s doing than anything else. If you are resurrecting, note that Lupi will rarely let you complete the whole resurrect without you dodging or blocking. It’s often better to stand on a downed player and use Whirling Defense with offhand training, which will immunize the downed player during the aoe bomb.

*Important! Do not allow Lupicus to lifedrain a high health pet like a bear in phase 3. That basically will negate your party’s damage and you will go backwards. If you can move fast enough with pet to avoid giving life back, use a low health pet and let it die for phase 3. I’ve found that with signet of the hunt and agility training and speed training I have few issues keeping pets out of lupi lifedrain. A lot of playing ranger is learning when to swap pets and saving swaps for key moments. Devourers are great pets for this fight, I think, but I like using drake (gets lupi aggro attention) and cat (phase 1).

The best at lupicus you can do is ranger is hoping your pet dies very, very qucikly.

I’ve noticed that if you get the grub debuff in phase 1 it takes approximately 7 seconds for the grub to spawn.

Dub.1273:

The best at lupicus you can do is ranger is hoping your pet dies very, very qucikly.

Solo’ing lupi with ranger is very different from playing within a party. I’d have to say my pet helps a ton in phase 1 and my ability to save myself or heal others quickly or get aggro from lupi using drake helps. You are right that a ranger that takes bears into phase 3 and keeps swapping and eating lifedrain is either trolling or just really new at playing gw2.

Yeah i’ve been talking about soloing. Either way when duo’in without much dps the pet is still bad because locusts will start chain attacking into the air.

Bright.9160:

Molch.2078:

instant debuffs a player with worm debuff (unavoidable?, unblockable?)
He will target the player closest to his position. Unlike the other worms, this can target summons/pets.

That closest to his position is wrong. It’s pretty random. He will usually focus his grubs on 2-3 people tops. Or that might be because he’s usually at phase 2 by the time he cast 3 grubs…

Works for me every time. Maybe you got me wrong, I was talking about the last worm, when he enters phase 2.

Nikaido.3457:

Chopps.5047:

I’d have to say my pet helps a ton in phase 1 and my ability to save myself or heal others quickly

Your group needs third party heals during phase 1 ? x_x

That’s a run on sentence, I meant to say in pugs I normally resurrect a lot during phase 2 and 3.

SF is a wvw guild so whenever I run Arah, it’s usually a pug with one or two people from my contacts list. Mind sending me an invite to your guild?

Btw we should pm this stuff because it’s going to derail this thread.

Molch.2078:

Bright.9160:

Molch.2078:

instant debuffs a player with worm debuff (unavoidable?, unblockable?)
He will target the player closest to his position. Unlike the other worms, this can target summons/pets.

That closest to his position is wrong. It’s pretty random. He will usually focus his grubs on 2-3 people tops. Or that might be because he’s usually at phase 2 by the time he cast 3 grubs…

Works for me every time. Maybe you got me wrong, I was talking about the last worm, when he enters phase 2.

The closest position grub is always the very last one he casts before he goes invulnerable at the transition to phase 2 (70% life or w/e). This happens every time at the transition. Every other grub before that is based on what player (or minion) has lupicus aggro. Indeed, if your ranger pet attacks and lands the very first hit on lupicus when starting phase 1, the pet will get the first grub!

So as a conditionmancer with sigil of earth on my scepter, am I screwed?

You will need two energy sigils for sure.

Dub.1273:

You will need two energy sigils for sure.

Not soloing, just in group. I just want to play with my guildies on my necro without having to buy new weapon ~_~

Afya.5842:

Dub.1273:

You will need two energy sigils for sure.

Not soloing, just in group. I just want to play with my guildies on my necro without having to buy new weapon ~_~

You should be fine in a group with just energy on your staff or w/e. Aslong as your not doing the melee tactic in all 3 phases.

Been having kitteny luck with PUGs this past week. I’ll start with my main class, warrior. This is probably the most safest you can get with Lupi.

Trait: Fast Arm
Utility: Endure pain, Balanced stance, Stamina signet and Warbanner
Weapon: Mace/Shield with energy sigil and Rifle

After Lupi transitions to phase 2 and starts his AOE, pop Endure Pain while you finish up the last grub. Then prepare his next soon AOE again with Shield #5. Now you have four dodges at your disposal from energy sigil and stamina signet which is more than enough. For the AOE again, alternate between 1 dodge and Mace #2 – Shield #5 – Endure Pain – 2 dodge. You won’t ever get downed =).

3rd phase, you use Lupi against himself. When you melee right under him, he’ll ignore you but sometimes you can get caught in his melee dome. Once you used up either two of Shield #5, Endure Pain, Balanced Stance you go range and recharge…

Goodluck!

Vradiqa.2765:

Been having kitteny luck with PUGs this past week. I’ll start with my main class, warrior. This is probably the most safest you can get with Lupi.

Trait: Fast Arm
Utility: Endure pain, Balanced stance, Stamina signet and Warbanner
Weapon: Mace/Shield with energy sigil and Rifle

After Lupi transitions to phase 2 and starts his AOE, pop Endure Pain while you finish up the last grub. Then prepare his next soon AOE again with Shield #5. Now you have four dodges at your disposal from energy sigil and stamina signet which is more than enough. For the AOE again, alternate between 1 dodge and Mace #2 – Shield #5 – Endure Pain – 2 dodge. You won’t ever get downed =).

3rd phase, you use Lupi against himself. When you melee right under him, he’ll ignore you but sometimes you can get caught in his melee dome. Once you used up either two of Shield #5, Endure Pain, Balanced Stance you go range and recharge…

Goodluck!

Or you use GS + axe/shield and deal 3x the damage, while having the same survivability.