Guild Wars 2

Revenants have access to one weapon set. This makes sense, I mean one non-switcher per armor tier. They do get two sets of utilities to compensate, right? The problem with having one weapon is that each weapon is associated with one legend. This means that if I’m wielding a staff while channeling Ventari and Mallyx, with Mallyx active, I won’t really have access to damaging conditions through my weapon skills. So I guess I just don’t swap to Mallyx at all then. At any moment my chosen weapon will only really synergize with one of my legends. Legends have a somewhat forced pairing with a weapon, if you don’t pick mace/axe or staff while channeling Mallyx and Ventari you aren’t getting as much of an oomph as you would if you did.

Trait lines are also kind of forced upon you based on your choice of weapon/legends. If I’m rolling a staff I’ll likely be rolling Ventari which means I’ll feel obligated to go into Salvation as well. The ties between weapon, legend and trait line are so strong that when you pick one you’ll almost always be taking the other two that match it. This can severely limit diversity in Revenant builds. Sure, you don’t have to pick Salvation while wielding a staff but there isn’t any other trait line that compliments the play style so perfectly. Diversity does come in with your choices in traits, though .There are still plenty of ways to fill up the same line, and who can tell what you’ve picked for your other two core specs and how you filled them up?

Another issue with diversity is that legends dictate your healing, utility and elite skills. Every two Revenants that are channeling Jalis will have the exact same 5 skills. If they’re also wielding the hammer, which they likely will be, they also have those in common. The only differentiating factor is your second legend, traits, and gear. You essentially get to choose three predetermined sets of skills with the only exception being that you’re able to choose between main hand/off hand combos if you go that way. All other professions a get access to one or two weapon sets that can be main hand/off hand combos and 5 optional skills. Other professions, however, can’t choose their class mechanics.

I’m not saying the revenant isn’t as strong as other classes. In fact I’d say that if the Revenant combos their weapon with its legend and trait line they’d probably be near the best at that role out of any other class in the game. I find the profession pretty awesome, actually, and I’ll definitely be rolling one , but in my opinion, your first choice when you begin playing the profession will dictate how you pick for every other choice you face. I feel that something should be done to add a bit more diversity to the Revenant or else it may continue to be ridiculed.

This is a less of a Revenant issue than it is a power vs. condition damage issue. The two tend to be so mutually exclusive, and weapons that attempt to be viable at both are rarely viable at either.

I believe, however, that you are mistaken in your analysis. Of the three legends, it is true that Mallyx and Jalis have little synergy, but Ventari makes a solid secondary legend to either. Mallyx tends to be self-harming, so swapping to a heal-centric support can be a nice form of recovery or tactical adaptation. Jalis complements Ventari with durability, further support, and an offensive option.

I would say that Jalis would actually work splendidly with either Staff or Hammer (or any other power weapons that come out). Mallyx is clearly exclusive to the Mace/Axe, given that they are the only condition damage options currently available to the Revenant. Ventari, however, rounds out any weapon set with added support and defense. Mace/Axe could easily be a strong support supplement because of its crowd control, and Hammer, coupled with Ventari, gives an excellent projectile defense uptime – which is critically important in much high end PvE content.

As with any profession certain trait lines matches up with certain weaps. Right now we have seen a Defensive stance, a Support stance and Condi stance with at least 2 more to go if not a 3rd elite stance. The other 2 may very well be another another condi, dps, offensive support and so on.

Cant wait to find out more!

Duke Blackrose.4981:

This is a less of a Revenant issue than it is a power vs. condition damage issue. The two tend to be so mutually exclusive, and weapons that attempt to be viable at both are rarely viable at either.

I believe, however, that you are mistaken in your analysis. Of the three legends, it is true that Mallyx and Jalis have little synergy, but Ventari makes a solid secondary legend to either. Mallyx tends to be self-harming, so swapping to a heal-centric support can be a nice form of recovery or tactical adaptation. Jalis complements Ventari with durability, further support, and an offensive option.

I would say that Jalis would actually work splendidly with either Staff or Hammer (or any other power weapons that come out). Mallyx is clearly exclusive to the Mace/Axe, given that they are the only condition damage options currently available to the Revenant. Ventari, however, rounds out any weapon set with added support and defense. Mace/Axe could easily be a strong support supplement because of its crowd control, and Hammer, coupled with Ventari, gives an excellent projectile defense uptime – which is critically important in much high end PvE content.

Oh yeah, you’re totally right about that. Legends’ skills can combo together well and the roles of legends can compliment the way a certain weapon plays even if it isn’t specifically designed for that legend. The problem I was trying to address is that with only one weapon you’ll have limited options if you want to strengthen the role of your weapon instead of simply complimenting it. The way Anet designed the Revenant, there’s a weapon/legend/core spec combo for every role. The problem with the focus on role is that you probably would be taking the three matching elements as they all receive the greatest benefit from each other. I realize that that’s not definite though. I mean you could use mace/axe, take Ventari and Jalis and go down Invocation, Retribution and whatever trait line influences direct damage and you’d probably still do well. But you have to admit that you’re losing out on a lot of potential strength for your weapon set if you don’t pick what goes with it. The lack of diversity through utility skills still stands, though, and that was my main concern. You still don’t have too much choice over what you see at the bottom of the screen and those other elements of what-matches-what just kind of add to having less choice.

Achrisos.1360:

As with any profession certain trait lines matches up with certain weaps. Right now we have seen a Defensive stance, a Support stance and Condi stance with at least 2 more to go if not a 3rd elite stance. The other 2 may very well be another another condi, dps, offensive support and so on.

Cant wait to find out more!

You’re also correct about how weapon/trait interaction currently works. It’s just that with the Revenant it’s a lot more tunnel-visioned so to speak. Most of the salvation line deals strictly with the tablet and healing to such an extent that if you didn’t have either the staff or Ventari equipped about half of the traits wouldn’t effect you.

Achrisos.1360:

As with any profession certain trait lines matches up with certain weaps. Right now we have seen a Defensive stance, a Support stance and Condi stance with at least 2 more to go if not a 3rd elite stance. The other 2 may very well be another another condi, dps, offensive support and so on.

Cant wait to find out more!

Which strikes me as all the more reason why Revenant should have weapon swap so they can use the weapons associated with both of their legends of choice.

Genesis.8572:

Achrisos.1360:

As with any profession certain trait lines matches up with certain weaps. Right now we have seen a Defensive stance, a Support stance and Condi stance with at least 2 more to go if not a 3rd elite stance. The other 2 may very well be another another condi, dps, offensive support and so on.

Cant wait to find out more!

Which strikes me as all the more reason why Revenant should have weapon swap so they can use the weapons associated with both of their legends of choice.

Being forced to work within limitations breeds skill and creativity. The Revenant’s weapon choice becomes all the more important because they must consider its synergies with both of their legend choices.

The Revenant’s lack of seeming diversity is one of its weaknesses, though the strength is having two super-specialized utility bars and low-CD Energy mechanic. It’s give and take, really.