Guild Wars 2

Hi guys,

This may have already come up but how fast things move on these forums, I am unlikely to find it easily.

I have restarted as a new character. I am playing a human Elementalist. I had previous played for about 30levels as an Asura Ranger. I am finding the Elementalist class quite difficult as I am not used to being consistently gronked by every Firefly and Wild Boar around.

Can someone give me some tips for playing an effective Elementalist, so I don’t spent much of my time face-down in the dirt?

Cheers,
Jace (Pranachan)

Hi there,

Been playing elementist for abit now , hit level 50 this morning

What weapons are you using ? I find that melee range for an Ele is bad news , so try keep as far as you can !

and always keep in mind that your stats priority is …
Precision > Condition Damage > Power > Critical Damage > Condition Duration

Manson.6980:

Hi there,

Been playing elementist for abit now , hit level 50 this morning

What weapons are you using ? I find that melee range for an Ele is bad news , so try keep as far as you can !

and always keep in mind that your stats priority is …
Precision > Condition Damage > Power > Critical Damage > Condition Duration

Why would you suggest this stat priority? Precision and Condition Damage have no intersect whatsoever, except through condition procs from crits which are weak compared to standard applications.

I personally suggest maxing Condition Damage, and then focusing on Vitality/Toughness for survivability. Unlike many other professions, Elementalists have to rely heavily on their utility skills to hit a baseline of damage and the ability to stay alive. If you’re having trouble keeping up even after gearing for a more tanky set, I’d suggest at least using a focus offhand, as it provides the best defensive ability set in the game with Swirling Winds, Obsidian Flesh, Gust, Magnetic Wave, and Comet.

As an elementalist you don’t stand and attack. You have to move in order to avoid attacks from melees and dodge attacks from ranged. Level with a staff, learn how to position yourself and your AoEs and you will do fine.

The stat priority above in not general and I doubt the correctness of it as well. Condition damage will do squat if you’re mainly levelling as air/water (believe it or not some people are). Condition damage and duration is best for Earth with its bleeds, and maybe a little for Fire but Fire dots don’t stack and levelling wise there will be little damage from DoTs in fire whilst levelling (different for dungeons provided you don’t overaggro).

I simply don’t understand the mindset that even if your traits are mostly in one attunement, you are supposed to be unwilling to use the others. As an Earth/Water specced Elementalist, I spend most of my time in Earth, but second most in Fire, keeping my burns on while maximizing my bleed stacks.

I am of the opinion, however, that Signet of Fire is the single best Utility skill we have, especially for PvE, providing a source of burning no matter which attunement is right for the job.

I’m now at level 47 as an ele and found the earth attunement with the scepter and totem (that square thing, can’t remember the name for the life of me, I think I need more coffee) … I’ve also sacrificed a bit of crit for toughness and vitality in most of my gear and subsequently because of those two choices have been able to solo all of my storyline and other mobs so far.

The scepter lets you do ranged damage and has a wind blast stun, and the totem gives you two very useful shields — one is stoneskin that makes you invulnerable for a couple of seconds (useful for not dying lol), the other is a barrier that reflects any projections aimed at you and sends them right back to the mob.

Couple those with earthen elemental that you get from skill points and the 10 point earthen elemental in elite, along with Signet of Earth (passively gives you protection, actively roots your target in place), and the 10 point storm that creates an aoe whirlwind, it makes it very easy.