I know there isn’t really a “best build” for all situations. This is more for what builds best utilize each profession’s strengths and unique abilities. A better title for this would be “Most natural builds for each profession” but it didn’t sound as catchy.
Anyway, here’s my dilemma. I currently have 8 level 80 characters, one of each profession. I did this so that I would have the flexibility to use whatever profession I deemed was necessary for a particular situation. The problem now, though, is that it’s getting very expensive to kit out every character. I’ll be lucky to afford one exotic set per character.
So, since I’m only planning on getting one full set per profession, I want to know what the best stat type is that I should be going for with each class. Which stats/trait/build fits most naturally with each profession, so that I don’t have to worry about making potentially expensive changes later on down the road?
This is solely for PvE and mostly for group content (dungeons, fractals, etc.), though I would be curious to know which profession is seen as the best for solo content, since I might just keep one profession around for pure soloing.
I’d love detailed builds with links to build sites and such, but even simple answers like “daphoenix’s Elementalist build” or “Berserker Warrior” would be helpful in letting me choose which build I’m going to toss each profession into.
TL;DR – If you could have only one build (stats/traits/gear/etc.) for each profession that you had to use forever in PvE, which build would it be?
Guardian: AH Hammer/Staff
Warrior: Greatsword damage oriented
Mesmer: Shatter with might stacking boon/time warp
Thief: Damage oriented with blind support (Usually S/P-SB)
Engi: Throw grenades and hope your fingers last
Ele: D/D Support/Damage (30 water 30 arcane 10 air)
Necro: Conditions… I guess!
Ranger: Pfffhahahahaha
Full direct damage builds are best because of how the game is designed. e.g. condition damage is hard-capped and defense like dodging and effectiveness of debilitating conditions do not depend on armor.
Full direct damage builds are best because of how the game is designed. e.g. condition damage is hard-capped and defense like dodging and effectiveness of debilitating conditions do not depend on armor.
I’ve noticed this too, unfortunately. I usually tend to start with condition heavy builds, since I like combo fields, but they only work well for me in solo play. Anything with a group tends to stunt my damage dealing ability tremendously. It kind of makes me wonder where that leaves professions like Necro, where conditions seem to be their thing.
Guardian: AH Hammer/Staff
Warrior: Greatsword damage oriented
Mesmer: Shatter with might stacking boon/time warp
Thief: Damage oriented with blind support (Usually S/P-SB)
Engi: Throw grenades and hope your fingers last
Ele: D/D Support/Damage (30 water 30 arcane 10 air)
Necro: Conditions… I guess!
Ranger: Pfffhahahahaha
My Thief, Engineer, Elementalist, and Necro are using those types of builds, so I guess that’s a plus (though I sometimes just stick to Rifle or Bomb Kit auto attack when the grenade spamming starts to kill me). For Warrior I’m running a Sword+Axe/Longbow bleed/burning condition build, but I figured I’d probably have to switch to Greatsword eventually.
I thougt Greatsword was the big thing with Guardians? Then again, I haven’t played my Guardian in a few months, so it’s likely that changed. I’m a little iffy on Mesmer as well. I leveled as a dual sword/greatsword Mesmer, so that probably skewed everything for me since I never shattered my clones ever. I might have to relearn that class completely.
For Ranger… I’m not sure what I’m going to do with her. I’ve got some weird pseudo trap/BM build with power/precision but it’s definitely not panning out.
Ranger never really flourishes in PvE. There’s never a reason to take it over a different class. (Obviously some will take offense to this, but hey!)
GS does work on guardians, however I find the hammer with blast finishers and perma AoE protection to be more useful in dungeons.
Condi damage on warrior isn’t very good. Stick with a direct damage zerker oriented build. (You don’t have to use GS, Axe/Mace is okay too, but GS does the most dps)
Mesmer I generally run Sword/Focus – Greatsword and I find myself doing melee most of the time. Signet of Inspiration and time warp are key abilities.
i play necro on daggers with lifesteal traits :P
For ranger I would go with shortbow and greatsword
While Thieves are great for damage, so many people ignore their support capabilities.
I thougt Greatsword was the big thing with Guardians? Then again, I haven’t played my Guardian in a few months, so it’s likely that changed. I’m a little iffy on Mesmer as well. I leveled as a dual sword/greatsword Mesmer, so that probably skewed everything for me since I never shattered my clones ever. I might have to relearn that class completely.
Magical math was done and it was discovered that the Hammer actually has more damage over an extended period of time due to the Symbol of Protection combo and the frequency of Mighty Blow. That’s not counting how great 5 second blast finishers and 50% Protection up-times are. The Greatsword is still better at spiking and Binding Blade is still one of the best CCs in the game, but as far as extended boss fights go it’s a choice between the Hammer and Sword rather than the Greatsword.
While Thieves are great for damage, so many people ignore their support capabilities.
Very true.
The problem is most thieves think they are WoW rogues and go full damage. Pity.
Magical math was done and it was discovered that the Hammer actually has more damage over an extended period of time due to the Symbol of Protection combo and the frequency of Mighty Blow. That’s not counting how great 5 second blast finishers and 50% Protection up-times are. The Greatsword is still better at spiking and Binding Blade is still one of the best CCs in the game, but as far as extended boss fights go it’s a choice between the Hammer and Sword rather than the Greatsword.
Refreshing to hear someone knows his stuff.
There are way too many GS Guardians around PvE with GS…. yet Hammer and Sword/Shield are infinitely better.
Guardian: AH Hammer/Staff or AH+RHS Sword+Shield/Staff
Warrior: GS/Banner (please stop using lolshouthealing)
Mesmer: Shatter with might stacking boon/time warp
Thief: Blindspam, Smoke Screen, S.Refuge and damage
Engi: Nades/Elixir gun
Ele: Staff Support/AoE
Necro: Powermancer/vuln
Ranger: Pfffhahahahaha
Fix’d.
(edited by Red Falcon.8257)
Magical math was done and it was discovered that the Hammer actually has more damage over an extended period of time due to the Symbol of Protection combo and the frequency of Mighty Blow. That’s not counting how great 5 second blast finishers and 50% Protection up-times are. The Greatsword is still better at spiking and Binding Blade is still one of the best CCs in the game, but as far as extended boss fights go it’s a choice between the Hammer and Sword rather than the Greatsword.
Refreshing to hear someone knows his stuff.
There are way too many GS Guardians around PvE with GS…. yet Hammer and Sword/Shield are infinitely better.
That’s actually good to hear. I was using Hammer quite regularly as my Guardian ‘cause I liked the feel of it, so it shouldn’t be that hard to get back into.
What kind of stats am I looking for on these? It looks like everything would be Power/Precision heavy.
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