Guild Wars 2

I have a medical issue that makes ground target abilities very difficult for me. I am hoping that an experienced player can think through this request and consider suggesting a -list- of classes/weapon combinations that do not use any ground target skills at all. A reference to a build is not necessary, but it would be appreciated.

For example, I have an old build for a Warrior (Rifle, Axe/Warhorn) with no ground targets on weapons or skills. It is a year old, so it is probably less effective or changed now. Here is a link to the build.

I would like to try other classes. I Thank you for any assistance.

You can play pretty much any class, although Ele and Necro probably have the highest amount of ground targets. Ranger only has a few, Engineer has little unless you trait for it, if you avoid shortbow on Thief you can play that, and Guardian only has aoes on staff and scepter (maybe focus too).

You can change settings so it automatically casts the ground target skills wherever you mouse is

Thank you, Clint: I am familiar with that setting, but it will not help me

And Mystic, I am hoping for some specific class/weapon/skill combinations. I will definitely look at Thief and Ranger as you mentioned, but my experience level is such that I am hoping for more specific suggestions, if possible. Thank you.

As I put in my post, one example is Warrior with Rifle & Axe/Warhorn (using (6) Mending, (7) For Great Justice, (8) Shake It Off, (9) Fear Me, & (0) Signet of Rage). I do not know if this is still a good approach for that class/weapon/skill combo, because it is rather dated. There used to be some nice synergy and no ground targets.

For warrior, Axe is superb, and with greatsword as long as you can position the mouse either on the top middle of the screen or over a skill, UI element, you’ll be able to use its only targeted skill by doubletapping it, sending you in a predetermined direction.

Other options to consider would be Axe/Warhorn for Ranger, when enemies are close together and the axes can bounce, it can be quite effective, and the blast finisher+ fury from warhorn is great for groups.

A thief build with dagger/dagger+sword/x is amazing for PvE, and none of the typically used skills are ground targeted. Steal and Heartseeker are even enemy targeted movement skills which may also assist you. Thieves who run this or similar builds are some of the, if not the absolute, best single target damage in the game, and with sword, are not incredibly lacking in the cleaving department. Do be warned, builds like this and thief in general is a twitch based gameplay, you’ll do a lot of damage, but you’re also in danger of being killed if you make a mistake or two. This guide is pretty in depth http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/84546-the-perfect-dps-thief-build/ .

No prob but GS and hammer guards dont have any ground targeted AOEs and if you just use shouts then for ultlities then you should be cool?

Ranger shortbow/GS/sword/dagger/axe dont have an ground target aoes

Thieve d/d p/p s/d p/d d/p dont have any ground target aoes but a good number of our ults do.

Thank you, Da Sonic and Clint. Good information there. I am playing around with those classes.

Question: can anyone devise a useful Necromancer build without ground targets?

If you have a character slot free (or already have a necro) you can go to the Heart of the Mists and instantly be level 80 with all your skills and traits unlocked.

That way you can look through and/or try out skills and make a build yourself. It might be quicker than waiting for someone to post one.

I’ve just had a quick look and other than the staff necros only have a few ground-targeted skills. There might even be a trait that changes some of them to trigger automatically, but I don’t know.

the next patch (Oct 15th?) may have some options you can use:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/October-15th-balance-skills-updates-preview/first

JonathanSharp.7094:

Better fast cast ground targeting:
We split this into 3 different options; so that players can more easily cater how ground targeting works for them.

1. Double tap to cast
2. Press the button to cast
3. Release the button to cast
   SO GET YO CAST ON!

I have a ranger that uses axe and torch and that is a combination that has no ground targeting and can prove very affective. add in traps and shouts in the utility slots and a ranged pet, preferably with poison and then spec for condition damage. Greatsword also works as an alternative weapon as you end up in melee range fairly quickly as you are not using your pet to tank for you. Specing for toughness and health also helps as you will be in combat a lot.

For necromance I would recomend axe or dagger and focus, again no ground targeting (don’t use dagger off hand the 5 key uses ground targeting). Dagger 2 key syphons health and focus 4 key gives regeneration so while damage isn’t high you are hard to put down and minions can make up for the lack of damage abilities.

hope this helps and gives you something to have a try at. I’m not sure how welcome either build would be in a dungeon, I tend to solo open world alot.

Toadpipe.9530:

Question: can anyone devise a useful Necromancer build without ground targets?

Mainhand Axe and Dagger for necromancer leave a lot to be desired, Scepter has a ground targeted skill that is vital to its style, Staff has 4/5 skills ground targeted, one of offhand dagger’s two skills is ground targeted. Focus and Warhorn are your single target and close range AoE offhands respectively.

Axe is 600 range, which is barely better than melee. It has very little AoE, and the single target damage is not superb, although it does give vulnerability which can be useful for the team.

Dagger is decent in the single target department, but is heavily overshadowed by what the Thief can do, with no supplement for backstab or heartseeker.

The most effective build I can imagine with no ground targeted skills would be a Dagger/Warhorn + Axe/Focus build focusing on power. Consume Condition Signet of Spite + Blood is Power + Well of Suffering and either Flesh Golem or Plague.

Necromancer’s real issue in team compositions is besides vulnerability, they lack many viable options to synergize with the team, but aren’t selfish enough to benefit like a Thief or other heavy DPS class would be able to.