Guild Wars 2

So yep, I’ve gone with a sylvari elementalist, it’s awesome but very squishy, is it a bad idea to just go for items proving power/precision/ferocity? It does decent damage but I tend to die fast if i try a dungeon and get shot at. If it is a bad idea, what mix should I aim for of other attributes?

I’m using arcane brilliance as healing, but the cooldown is a little long, are any others better and more widely used?
I’ve also had arcane wave equipped since a low level, it seems ok but I’m not sure if it’s useful for later levels (with it only being 1 skill point and all), so should I keep it or switch to mist form or something? The other three are glyph of storms, frost bow (or signet of air if I’m running somewhere) and fire sword, they seem useful for dealing a lot of damage on bosses.

I’ve noticed the season 2 has ‘buy now’ for all the old episodes. I actually got my dad into GW when I was a lot younger so he’d buy the game for us, and he still plays now. He’s got them unlocked, so can I kinda piggyback off his account if he hosts, or won’t it work?

One last thing too, do items you’ve listed/buy orders ever disappear from the trading post if you’ve listed too much? There seems to be a limit on your history, so I’m just checking trying to sell too many things won’t result in losing out on money :p

hello, i cant help you but was wounding how class you play and how you like the game, i’m new to the game just got it

What do you mean how class I play? ;p If you mean what class, I put sylvari elementalist at the top haha, my main gw1 character years and years ago was a fire ele so I’ve gone for the same thing this time around :P

One more question I forgot – I’ve gone through the armor and found what skins I want for my character once I have the money, one huge problem is 2 are in the gem store. With the current exchange rate, it’d cost 180g to get the gems, is that a bad idea or not? The staff is like 1300g by itself so the gems doesn’t seem as much in comparison.

Elementalist is the absolute squishiest profession. I can’t help with build specifics as once I got mine to 80 I shelved her — you may wish to check the profession subforums for help on that.

For skins don’t worry yet about them. Using them while leveling up is a good way to burn transmutation charges. Maybe get an outfit to cover your gear in the meanwhile if you really can’t stand the look you’re in, and once you’re 80 take stock of your resources and see what your wished-for look is. Your taste could change, new skins could come out, you could learn you really love Guardian instead of Ele and you need heavy rather than light skins, etc.

Peter.9236:

So yep, I’ve gone with a sylvari elementalist, it’s awesome but very squishy, is it a bad idea to just go for items proving power/precision/ferocity? It does decent damage but I tend to die fast if i try a dungeon and get shot at. If it is a bad idea, what mix should I aim for of other attributes?

Power, precision, ferocity (called Berzerker) is the best option for DPS for ele, but yes if someone sneezes at you you’re dead. If you find yourself laying on the floor a lot try Knight/Valkerie (thoughness, power, precision or power, ferocity, vitality respectively) or even Soldier (power, thoughness, vitality) so you’re less squishy.

Peter.9236:

I’m using arcane brilliance as healing, but the cooldown is a little long, are any others better and more widely used?

I use that skill myself too ever since it became available. Imo it’s the best healing skill ever., because it is not only a heal but also a blast finisher. If you cast staff water 3 or 5 (a water field) and then cast Arcana Brilliance inside it, you get an AoE heal from the blast (Area Healing). If you find yourself needing more heals cast staff water 3 or 5 (whichever you have left, or use the same field if you’re fast enough) and cast Arcane Field inside it (also a blast finisher). Bam, another AoE heal. Still need more? Get the trait Evasive arcana. It gives a blast finisher when you dodge in earth. So cast staff water 3 or 5 (or again, to be efficient make sure to use everything in 1 field), swap to earth and dodge in the field. Another AoE heal.

Those blast finishers are used for offensive things too (building might), by doing the exact same thing but with a fire field (staff fire 2|).

Peter.9236:

I’ve also had arcane wave equipped since a low level, it seems ok but I’m not sure if it’s useful for later levels (with it only being 1 skill point and all), so should I keep it or switch to mist form or something? The other three are glyph of storms, frost bow (or signet of air if I’m running somewhere) and fire sword, they seem useful for dealing a lot of damage on bosses.

Arcane Wave is amazing to use as blast finisher. Glyph of storms is good DPS when used in air, Mist Form may save your kitten when things get though and Frost Bow is downright OP to DPS down big objects (like burrows or bosses). Firy Greatsword and Signet of Air are good for the mobility. But once you learn to use blast finishers and fields, you will probably have enough swiftness to drop the signet (hint: Air 5 is a field that gives swiftness when blasted). So yes, good choices.

[quote=4767963;Peter.9236:I’ve noticed the season 2 has ‘buy now’ for all the old episodes. I actually got my dad into GW when I was a lot younger so he’d buy the game for us, and he still plays now. He’s got them unlocked, so can I kinda piggyback off his account if he hosts, or won’t it work?[/quote]

You can piggyback yes but you won’t get any rewards from it. But if you’re only interested in the story you’re fine.

Peter.9236:

One last thing too, do items you’ve listed/buy orders ever disappear from the trading post if you’ve listed too much? There seems to be a limit on your history, so I’m just checking trying to sell too many things won’t result in losing out on money :p

Nothing you have listed but has not sold/ yet/is not bought yet will be deleted. Only listings that you bought/sold in the past are deleted.

Ele is squishy, I stayed in earth using sceptre/dagger and found I survived much better. Once rotation and blast finishers was learned it is even less squishy.
Blasting a water field with the arcane heal with several mobs around is amazing.

Elementalist was my 1st character and my favorite. I felt the same about ele survival too back when I first started but back then berserker gear wasn’t all the rage back then like it is now. I used valkyrie gear which is power, Ferocity and vitality. When if comes to gear, I say just go with what you like. If you like seeing big attack numbers, go for berserker; if you want your bleeds and burns to sting your foes, look for condition damage; you enjoy healing some, mix in some healing power. You don’t have to pick a gear set that all matches, mix it to your liking.

As for the utilities, looks like you use some variety which is good. Most players swap utilities often as well as weapons as the situation calls for so be flexible although it’s only natural to gravitate to a few that you enjoy using most.

No idea on the episodes question. As far as the black Lion trading question, I once posted something for sale then took a year long break from the game, came back and it still wasn’t sold. I forgot it was even there, Needless to say I withdrew it and sold it to vendor.

Peter.9236:

So yep, I’ve gone with a sylvari elementalist, it’s awesome but very squishy, is it a bad idea to just go for items proving power/precision/ferocity? It does decent damage but I tend to die fast if i try a dungeon and get shot at. If it is a bad idea, what mix should I aim for of other attributes?

I’m using arcane brilliance as healing, but the cooldown is a little long, are any others better and more widely used?
I’ve also had arcane wave equipped since a low level, it seems ok but I’m not sure if it’s useful for later levels (with it only being 1 skill point and all), so should I keep it or switch to mist form or something? The other three are glyph of storms, frost bow (or signet of air if I’m running somewhere) and fire sword, they seem useful for dealing a lot of damage on bosses.

Elementalists are still very good for dungeon running groups. Yes, they are very squishy and the problem with that and the full zerker meta is that your survival is some what tied to your party’s ability to kill fast.

Your utilities are good choices, and as other people have mentioned you should be prepared to swap them out depending on the situation. What will help you more than anything else is really learning the dungeon you want to run and the encounters.

Tips. 1) Glyph of Storms in Earth attunement blinds the area and with the exception of dredge is pretty good at helping reduce attack damage when your group is stacked.
2) if you’re having trouble yourself surviving feel free to swap in something to keep yourself up until you learn the encounters well and know when to dodge/reflect. Especially if you’re skipping/running.
3) As an ele, you should start learning about combo fields. (http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Combo) Specifically how to blast might for increased dps, and how to blast your water fields for healing. The burst heal might be enough to keep you alive. Don’t waste arcane wave as just a single heal.
4) You can consider a different trait setup until you get used to the dungeons.

For new players, i suggest going for Toughness or Vitality for the 1st top stat on items, then any damage stats afterwards such as Power, Precision, Condition Damage.

Thanks a lot for the replies guys, does precision and ferocity make such a huge difference for a fire ele, or would valkyrie/soldier be a lot better? I also mean for like level 80 stuff, not just training

I was not aware of blast finishers, they sound quite cool :P As an example of a combo, if you use lava font, then cast arcane wave over it, would it give everyone standing over the lava extra might? Aside from the earth healing one melanie mentioned, are there any other super useful ones to know about?

Melanie.1240:

But once you learn to use blast finishers and fields, you will probably have enough swiftness to drop the signet (hint: Air 5 is a field that gives swiftness when blasted).

This bit I could do with a bit more info aha, are you just suggesting use air 4, then when that runs out, use air 5 and hit it with a blast finisher? Or are there more skills which would give speed too?

And about the old episodes, I was after one of the rewards haha, but I found you can get it in the silverwastes so it’s all good ;p

Zerker elementalist (which is what you have), is arguably the hardest to play properly (i.e. have max damage output while also not dying regularly). It is hands down the best DPS in the game, but to play it properly will require paying constant attention to enemy attack telegraphs, avoiding AoE, proper dodging and range control.

Once you can figure out how to stay alive, you will have a nice character there.

I recommend switching stats to something more sturdy and just practice taking no damage at all ever. If you do slip up at least you won’t practically get one-shotted. Once you can get through most dungeons/fractals without taking damage in general (or little damage) then you will be ready to put on the high damage/high squishiness gear.

Practice your combos and skill rotations! Your job in dungeons will be maintaining might and fury for your party, as well as using that frost bow to freeze certain enemies. Berserker is going to be your end game gear, with Knight’s being your “learning” set (if you feel too squish). The following link helped me immensely when learning ele, and has multiple builds for each weapon set (you’re going to want to learn all of the ele weapon sets) https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/elementalist/Guide-DPS-Elementalist-for-PvE/first

And for that ice bow freezing stuff, read up on Defiance if you don’t know what It is already http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Defiance

As for your heal, choose between Ether Renewal and Arcane Brilliance, situationally. Ether Renewal removes conditions, while Arcane Brilliance is a blast and heals for higher amounts the more enemies it hits.