Burst vs. Condi
That’s really the best way to handle it in my opinion. Balanced team comps, with bunks, condi and burst make it too complicated and create too much competition between classes for the same spots.
Here are the general class archetypes for a Burst and Condi team comps
Burst
- Guardian
- Warrior
- Mesmer
- Elementalist
- Thief
Guardian for mid support, Ele for home and backup support, with Warrior, Mesmer, and Thief wreaking absolute havoc through CC, mobility, and burst. You could switch Warrior and Ele too, since they became a lot tankier and better in 1v1 situations, which you want in a home point guy. Thief can push far better than anybody, and Mesmer can rapidly transport their teammates between points with Portal, strip boons, and also do incredible CC.
Conditions
- Guardian
- Necromancer
- Engineer
- Ranger
- Thief/Mesmer
Guardian has similar purpose, with Ranger as the backup/support, although Engineer could do that too. Necro, Ranger and Engi have incredible pressure and synergy, with plenty of bleeds, burns, and poison between them. Thief / Mesmer can provide more bleeds, torment, confusion, mobility from Portal/Shadow Trap, and Thief can push far very well. They aren’t as mobile as the burst team, but make up for it with insane teamfight ability.
The problem right now is that the condi team has much, much more control over downed state than the burst team. They res and cleave better categorically. You effectively have a situation where burst is like how warriors have been for months, where you either take them down fast or you die fast.
I think Nature Renewal spirits are one of the culprits preventing burst teams from working, with the other being group condi counter play for those classes. If Shattered Conditions removed more condis per shattered illusion, then Mesmers could really help their team out and inspiration would be great as a trait line against those teams. Eles could use more condi removal from Water, or even the same condi removal they had before it was nerfed. You wouldn’t have to take Dhuumfire out that way Eles would be able to counter them with 3 cantrips.
The two team comps fight well against each other as is. A burst vs. burst match is pretty incredible to watch and participate in actually. If condi vs. burst is competitive, then I think this game will finally be balanced enough to be inclusive to all 8 classes, and teams will be more capable to do what they like.
Do balanced teams have a place w/ a mix of condis and burst? I think that’s a good way to start but at the competitive level you want to concentrate firepower. If you’re mixing condis and burst you don’t have as much synergy.
That’s my take what do you guys think?