Guild Wars 2

Hello, I am just getting back into GW2.

I always like fractals so those are my focus right now, but I am interested in raids possibly in the future.

In the next few days I will be able to get a full set of ascended armor.

If I intend to only really play light armor class (mes, ele, nec) should I go for zerkers first or vipers for condis?

Looking through stuff, I noticed that most of those classes could be used as condi or zerker. Which one would be better to get first?

I am currently only at fractal level 70, but I do the dailies and recs every day so I have been going up steadily over the last week or two since I’ve been back.

Any suggestions are welcome, thank you.

If your sole goal is raids then you need to understand where each of those fit in.

Condi ele can work, usually not for pugs though.
Condi necro can work, but is less in demand due to fight structures and pretty much everyone has one that raids.
Condi mesmer is so situational that it’s highly unlikely to be taken seriously.

Power Ele, works and is less situational than its condi counterpart, but has a higher skill floor.
Power Necro is seldom taken, can work, but you likely wont pug with it.
Power Mesmer is generally seen as not viable due to its boonshare counterparts being better for the group with minimal loss to dps.

So if you have to build one and only one set right now… The simplest answer i can give you is this.

Pick a role you want to fill..Tank or DPS.

If you selected tank, then you’ll want to stat to commander’s or minstrel’s depending on if your A) Pugging or B) In a Static.

If you selected DPS you need to think of if you’re again A) Pugging or B) In a static, additionally you need to know what fights if any (or all) your choices are suitable for.
Power Ele can be used in most fights, but generally has more to gear for as well as more to learn than Condi Necro would.

The thing to consider is this, expecting to only every play one character in raids is extremely restrictive. So if you want to raid smoothly and reliably, you should look at the first set of ascended armor as an investment, and that investment will hopefully pay off by allowing you to gain more sets of ascended armor. The first set is the most costly, after that it is much cheaper.

So how does your first set allow you to gain more sets? Predominantly through the two game modes you mentioned, fractals and raids. Fractals are an easier, but less guaranteed source of ascended, while raids (or at least some of them) are a more difficult but more guaranteed source of ascended (which you can purchase with the raid currency magnetite shards).

So, what is going to allow you to easily join groups for raiding and fractals? I think power ele is the best choice of the available choices. I’ve never seen an ele rejected from a pug fractal based on class, and it is certainly common in raids. You will want to have a few different weapons for your power ele. In particular a scepter (which you can easily get through the caladbolg collection), a warhorn (which you can get via the tempest collection), a dagger and a staff (which you could get through the dare devil collection). Eventually you might want to get a focus as well.

Also, op you mentioned that you don’t raid yet. Let me just recommend you begin doing weekly escort first. Escort is an incredibly easy raid, that will get you started, and you will begin accumulating magnetite shards which allow you to purchase ascended armor later on.

Hi, you are in the same situation I once found myself in with a preference for light armor classes and one set of ascended. I picked viper and never regretted it and still run t4s mostly on viper necro. Once in awhile, my ele or mesmer will even borrow the set for something. I’ve found the condi classes easier to play in general and for your first set of ascended, you’ll probably want something you’ll be comfortable running t4s in. You can get away with exotics in easy raid encounters like escort. T4 requires ascended to fill out AR with the limited number of infusions you probably have. Also, exotic zerker is really easy to get. This will probably be your first opportunity to run full viper. Try it and welcome back!

DPS solutions: (mostly usable by all)

• Viper will work on all light classes…
  in PvE, maybe less for mesmer in high tier fractals, meta on Elementalist and Necro, niche on Mesmer
• Zerk will work on all classes as well
  in PvE, maybe less for necro in high tier fractals (Meta on Elementalist)

Support & Healing: (dedicated armors for dedicated roles)

• Commander will work on Mesmer and is meta in much of the content
• Zealot will work on Ele for healing and DPS hybrid for fractals
• Magi will work on Ele for dedicated healing only

Bunker options: (niche use with litlle usability options)

• Minstrel will work on Elementalist and Mesmer only in high tier fractals and raids
• Trailblazer can work on condition roaming necro in WVW it has little use in PvE, but will work in high level fractals.