Guild Wars 2

After the patch, everyone seems to be loaded up on burst damage. And yet, I cannot bring myself to play that kind of game. My playstyle is more of a slow wearing down of the opponent – while staying within the circle for conquest and keeping the point ticking. For this reason, I dislike stealth even though as a mesmer, the PU build would give me lots of advantages.

I used to play the attrition game with my mesmer and celestial amulets/toughness, but I’m finding it somewhat hard to keep that up with the latest patch. I would need to stealth more (losing cap points), and shatter more, thereby losing pressure. Basically play a more high stakes game than suits my taste.

So I was wondering what the forum’s opinion was as to the best build/class for this gameplay in this post-patch world. I’m leaning heavily towards the necro which I’ve played before, but haven’t recently. My biggest problem with the necro is the lack of active defenses – no block, evades, damage mitigations etc.

Any informed opinions on the matter?

Have you not been reading this forum at all? You want us to recommend a cheese play style? Seriously…?

My vote is for elementalist. They have a lot going for them in the attrition field. :P

SlayerSixx.5763:

Have you not been reading this forum at all? You want us to recommend a cheese play style? Seriously…?

Attrition = cheese? Since when?

You mean the cheesiest build there is? Then go with D/F Cele Ele that only need fire skill 2 to kill people with 5k burn dmg per tick, while the rest of your skill slot are only used as defensive mechanism.

This game has goes down hill its even deeper than the deep web.

bhagwad.4281:

SlayerSixx.5763:

Have you not been reading this forum at all? You want us to recommend a cheese play style? Seriously…?

Attrition = cheese? Since when?

Since 1 shotting everyone was all the rave.

Guys…attrition is the opposite of one shotting people. Attrition means a fight in which you slowly maneuver your way to victory while holding a point. I don’t want to one shot people. Because one shotting them means you have to go glass cannon and I don’t like playing glass cannon.

In fact, one shotting people = cheese. What I’m asking for is the opposite of cheese!

Here’s the issue, the thing you’re asking for doesn’t really exist right now since the patch pretty much kittened everything up.

Easy.

What to do:

If you’re able to press more than one skill at a time:

Step one: Create a mesmer.
Step two: Make sure to equip zerker/marauder amulet, pick random traits, utilities, runes and sigils.
Step three: Faceroll everything.

If two skills are too much for you:
Step one: Create an engi.
Step two: Equip random everything, but make sure you have Grenadier.
Step three: Use Grenade Barrage.
Step four: Faceroll everything.

If you have suicidal tendencies:
Step one: Create an elementalist.
Step two: Equip a zerker amulet, this is very important. Equip the best traits, utilities, runes and sigils.
Step three: Die.
Step four: Repeat.

Ok, let me say this once again. I do NOT want a zerker build. I want an attrition build.

bhagwad.4281:

Ok, let me say this once again. I do NOT want a zerker build. I want an attrition build.

But honey, then you would have to stop playing phantasm builds and say how you lose damage with that.

Laraley.7695:

bhagwad.4281:

Ok, let me say this once again. I do NOT want a zerker build. I want an attrition build.

But honey, then you would have to stop playing phantasm builds and say how you lose damage with that.

Since when do necros have phantasms?

P.S. Wonder if I can delete troll responses.

That’s why I said elementalist. Or ranger. Both can be INCREDIBLY hard to kill while still managing to remain offensive. (Nothing bursty like zerkers but it’s not non-existent like cleric).

Celestial elementalist with a staff, or d/d, or d/f would all work well. Trait into water, arcana, and whatever other trait line you like. I use earth for the added stability and Diamond Skin trait, but you could also go with fire for more burning or air for more direct damage.

Bunker condi ranger (settler or celestial amulet) is also pretty strong. Especially with beastmatery and your pet F2 skill inflicting taunt. Even with stability or diamond skin or condi removal or evades/immunities taunt will make your character attack the pet instead of the ranger and so it’s incredibly strong atm. Every time you press F2 your enemy will be interrupted for 2 seconds and then have to re-target you.

Those would be my top 2 choices, but minion master necromancers are pretty decent atm too.

Like Kako said, either Ele or Ranger. However, Necro is also a great choice. There are a couple of bunker builds like Minon Master or Spectral Bunker that work great in this one shot game. I’ve been playing Spectral Bunker myself, had an Engi try that one-shot Grenade Barrage crap, and just laughed it off. Condi users kill themselves when you transfer condis back. And if you manage everything well you can get some decent uptime on Death Shroud and survive quite a bit. I can solo up to 3 enemies for quite some time on a point.

Kako.1930:

That’s why I said elementalist. Or ranger. Both can be INCREDIBLY hard to kill while still managing to remain offensive. (Nothing bursty like zerkers but it’s not non-existent like cleric).

Celestial elementalist with a staff, or d/d, or d/f would all work well. Trait into water, arcana, and whatever other trait line you like. I use earth for the added stability and Diamond Skin trait, but you could also go with fire for more burning or air for more direct damage.

Bunker condi ranger (settler or celestial amulet) is also pretty strong. Especially with beastmatery and your pet F2 skill inflicting taunt. Even with stability or diamond skin or condi removal or evades/immunities taunt will make your character attack the pet instead of the ranger and so it’s incredibly strong atm. Every time you press F2 your enemy will be interrupted for 2 seconds and then have to re-target you.

Those would be my top 2 choices, but minion master necromancers are pretty decent atm too.

Hmm…what a pity. The only two classes I’ve never played are ranger and ele! Guess I might have to give them a whirl…