Q:
Returning Player Needs Profession Advice
A:
If you liked Affliction Warlock and Shadow Priest, try Blood Magic Necromancer. If you decide to run a direct damage (power) build, use dagger/focus opposite ax/focus and wells. If you want to do an attrition (condition damage) build, use scepter/dagger opposite staff and make sure to slot Epidemic as a utility skill. Of course, gear for whichever damage type you choose (power or condition damage).
Whether you choose condition or power, once you gain the blood magic line, your attacks will siphon health. You’d have the largest health pool in the game and a second health bar in Death Shroud. The rotations are not hard. You can avoid minions if you aren’t into pets (I don’t run minions on any of my necros except for the short-lived ones which are created with the Rise Shout in the Reaper Elite Spec (which you won’t have and won’t need to worry about while leveling). You can get a speed boost via the skill Signet of the Locust or the trait Quickening Thirst in Blood Magic’s Adept Tier (you should have a dagger in either main hand (power build) or off hand (condition build).
I have zero downtime in GW2 with any profession. It may have been long enough since you played, but health returns quickly, weapon and utility skills are mostly on short cooldowns and the few that take a bit of time are generally “Oh, crap!” skills that you will not need in most fights.
Welcome back and enjoy.
Alright, so you don’t want an Elementalist, Thief, Warrior, or Guardian. You also don’t want a pet focus, so the Ranger is out too. I’d argue that Mesmer is a bit of a pain for solo pve play, so that’s also out. I’ll assume you don’t own Heart of Thorns, so no Revenant.
That leaves Engineer and Necromancer. Well, of those two, I guess I’d recommend Necromancer. It has quite a bit of sustain and can play vaguely similarly to a warlock or shadow priest from WoW. Engineer is cool too, but it is not easy to learn (really complicated rotations due to kit swapping).
I’d Say necro too.
Though he has the possibility to use up to 5 pets at once if i am right. But it is not a must as ranger.
Edit: to me the Most fun professionale is the thief, due to mobility/teleports, stealth and initiative. But does not Fit your standards cause is Glass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKBKak4gU0g
(edited by Shirlias.8104)
Definitely necro. Go for a petless sustain build as set out above.
I also say Necro. That’s my main character and one of the most fun for me to play because of her various effects and spells. Plus in solo PvE you can summon minions and have an easier time in combat.