Guild Wars 2

Hi everyone.
In this thread I’d like to point out a list of major traits, at least for the two professions I’ve been playing a lot of time (Necromancer and Thief), that are general utility and must-pick for every build who invests points in that traitline overshadowing any other major trait available or trait that are never picked and needs to be looked at.

The purpose of this thread is to giving devs an input on where to look to improve build variety, at least trait-wise and with a focus on the PvP side of the game.

The fix obviously is up to devs, so I’m not suggesting any fix to those trait, but only pointing them out.

If anyone wish to help with that list, I will be happy to change the OP adding your foundings, at least if they are objectively reasonable. Be sure to have deep knowledge of your profession before posting.

I will use the [U] tag to identify underused traits and the [G] tag to identify general-utility traits.

Necromancer
Spite

• [U] Death’s Embrace

Curses

• [U] Reaper’s Precision

Death Magic

• [U] Spiteful Vigor
• [U] Shrouded Removal

Soul Reaping

• [U] Fear of Death
• [U] Speed of Shadows

Thief
Deathly Arts

• [U] Back Fighting
• [U] Corrosive Traps
• [U] Potent Poison

Critical Strikes

• [U] Ankle Shots
• [U] Critical Haste

Shadow Arts

• [G] Infusion of Shadow
• [U] Patience

Acrobatics

• [U] Assassin’s Retreat
• [U] Hard to Catch

Trickery

• [G] Thrill of the Crime
• [G] Bountiful Theft
• [U] Initial Strike

Elementalist
Water Magic

• [G] Cleansing Wave

Arcana

• [G] Elemental Attunement

Mesmer
Dueling

• [G] Deceptive Evasion

Reserved for future modifications.

Elementalist:

Elemental Attunement
Blasting Staff (if staff)
Evasive Arcana
Cleansing Wave
Bolt to the Heart
Fresh Air
Air Training
Persisting Flames
Soothing Distruption
Cleansing Waters

And this is (one of the reasons) why there isn’t any variety in Ele builds.

Ryld.1340:

Elementalist:

Elemental Attunement
Blasting Staff (if staff)
Evasive Arcana
Cleansing Wave
Bolt to the Heart
Fresh Air
Air Training
Persisting Flames
Soothing Distruption
Cleansing Waters

And this is (one of the reasons) why there isn’t any variety in Ele builds.

Please, specify which trait is general utility and which one is underused.
If you format also the list as I’ve done, I will be extremely grateful.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/warrior/Warrior-Traits-that-need-Revamped/first#post2886378

sorrow.2364:

Ryld.1340:

Elementalist:

Elemental Attunement
Blasting Staff (if staff)
Evasive Arcana
Cleansing Wave
Bolt to the Heart
Fresh Air
Air Training
Persisting Flames
Soothing Distruption
Cleansing Waters

And this is (one of the reasons) why there isn’t any variety in Ele builds.

Please, specify which trait is general utility and which one is underused.
If you format also the list as I’ve done, I will be extremely grateful.

All of those are G

Air training, blasting staff (never take it actually hurts more then helps), and Persisting flames are all kitten traits. They need to be changed or flat out removed.

Aleth.9630:

All of those are G

Some of the traits you have listed aren’t G, because there are other traits in that tier which are widely used. Elemental Attunement is a great example of a G trait, which every elementalist pick up if they invest into Arcana.

In that case, it is better to point out U traits, because there aren’t valid alternative to those traits.

For the Mesmer, it’s probably:
Deceptive Evasiion (Duelling X)
This isn’t even a “must pick” if you invest in the Traitline, it’s more like a generell must have, independent of which build you use. Of course, there are some Builds without this Trait, but the majority of Mesmers is using it.

And maybe although it’s a minor Trait:
Illusionists Celerity (Illusions 25)
This Trait was really good when it was on Illusions 5, now it’s on 25 which damaged probably a lot of Builds

Deceptive evasion for the mesmer and also the Vigor on crit trait…
Pretty much required for any good build…

I’ll go ahead and do the engineer one

Explosives : used in most engi builds.

Firearms: used mostly for lower cd’s

Inventions: have yet to see any use out of this trait line at all. Worthless. Needs compltely re-done as turret traits/turrets are broken beyond belief.

Alchemy: every engi used 20 points minimum in this line.

Tools: engi uses 10 points for speedy kits the rest of the traits are useless.

kitten s.7421:

Air training, blasting staff (never take it actually hurts more then helps), and Persisting flames are all kitten traits. They need to be changed or flat out removed.

How is Blasting Staff bad?
Also, Persisting Flames gives perma-fury to your party.

Exactly, there are a lot of traits that are completely required to be viable for each class.

Also, the passive stats attached to the traitlines sometimes make the traitline mandatory or rubbish.

[O] Thief: Executioner – Deal 20% extra damage when target is below 50% health.

[O] Necromancer: Dhuumfire – 100% chance to inflict burning for 2 seconds on critical hits. This effect can only trigger once every 10 seconds.

TBH bountiful theft isn’t stifling build variety. Have used trickery for a long time. The real reason why Bountiful theft is taking is a lack of utility skills to offer it. You’re aren’t taking it specifically because its “So strong” you take it because “If I don’t have this I have nothing there is nowhere else to go but S/D” and going S/D itself doesn’t make much sense if you’re rolling say S/P and the boon removal is greatly desired to cover the sets weaknesses. If their was a boon removal utility skill or boon removal added to a utility skill like Scorpion wire, bountiful would be dropped a lot more often for Trickster and minor traits like Flanking strikes. Lets be real, Sigil of Nullification isn’t an alternative.

to another…
Executioner isn’t making the CS line mandatory. Hidden Killer is a fine alternative If you use Daggers main-hand. If you use Sword it’s near useless, Shortbow, near useless, Pistol? If it crits all the way to the last hit on Sneak attack maybe not useless but If I recall it doesn’t. So HK is a 1 weapon spec based trait. If you’re trying to share Venoms, then Residual works fine as a choice though I dont feel Venoms are strong enough yet. That being said Executioner isn’t why that isn’t seen more. For Panic strike, it’s actually a really strong trait*when it procs* after that it’s a waste of a trait. Nothing sadder then seeing Panic strike proc on some downed guy, and now you’re traitless for 45 seconds. Outside of that though? At 50% opponent is immobilized and cannot dodge until cleansed is strong? You can actually get more real damage in due to Panic strike then Executioner because of this. There is a fairly significant difference in damage output between They hit 50% and dodged your next two 20% boosted attacks vs they hit 50% and ate your next two attacks. Executioner isn’t holding back DA use though, DA is hurting itself.

Ryld.1340:

kitten s.7421:

Air training, blasting staff (never take it actually hurts more then helps), and Persisting flames are all kitten traits. They need to be changed or flat out removed.

How is Blasting Staff bad?
Also, Persisting Flames gives perma-fury to your party.

At first it seems good taht increases the size of your aoes. But it increases the size of meteor storm and taht means since the range is longer the targets have less chance to be hit by the meteors. Its the same for static field. It makes it bigger and it gives your targets room t breath if they get trapped. In the long run its really not worth it.

JinDaVikk.7291:

I’ll go ahead and do the engineer one

Explosives : used in most engi builds.

Firearms: used mostly for lower cd’s

Inventions: have yet to see any use out of this trait line at all. Worthless. Needs compltely re-done as turret traits/turrets are broken beyond belief.

Alchemy: every engi used 20 points minimum in this line.

Tools: engi uses 10 points for speedy kits the rest of the traits are useless.

I use 30 in inventions and only 10 in explosives! But yeah.

Tools also has SD. Can’t deny the alchemy line is amazing.

I’ve added Deceptive Evasion to the list. It is a good example of a [G] trait.

@ Stof: Executioner isn’t exactly a [G] trait, since Hidden Killer is a valid alternative in some weapon sets. Dhuumfire, on the other hand, isn’t a [G] trait at all, since Necromancers can easily live without it and it is useful only in a specific kind of build (conditions).

About Engi suggestions, I’d like to point out only specific traits that make the traitline mandatory and/or overshadow all of the other choices in the same traitline, like Elemental Attunement do for Elementalists.

Also, I’d like to keep out minor trait out of the topic since they aren’t tied to choices of the player and they don’t define variety trait-wise on a specific traitline.

ensoriki.5789:

TBH bountiful theft isn’t stifling build variety. Have used trickery for a long time. The real reason why Bountiful theft is taking is a lack of utility skills to offer it. You’re aren’t taking it specifically because its “So strong” you take it because “If I don’t have this I have nothing there is nowhere else to go but S/D” and going S/D itself doesn’t make much sense if you’re rolling say S/P and the boon removal is greatly desired to cover the sets weaknesses. If their was a boon removal utility skill or boon removal added to a utility skill like Scorpion wire, bountiful would be dropped a lot more often for Trickster and minor traits like Flanking strikes. Lets be real, Sigil of Nullification isn’t an alternative.

Boutiful Theft is, in fact, a must pick trait for everyone willing to spend traitpoints into trickery, no matter for which reason are you spending them for.
It is useful in every thief build, even on S/D, when extra boon removal+vigor is always well accepted, so it fits perfectly the [G] trait description.