Guild Wars 2

Necro GS has been a major disappointment among all new elite weapons and it is safe to say it will not be very useful weapon in PvP w/o some serious overhaul.

I think the main reason that the weapon is underwhelming is that most of its skills focus on damage rather than utility. Skill 1-3 are pure damage skills, 4 has a bit of utility still mostly just an AOE attack, 5 is the only strong utility skill.

Looking at other melee 2-handers. They usually provide way more diversity in its skills in terms of the utility it provides. For example, with a guardian hammer, you do damage through 1-2, 3-5 are all strong utility skills. Or look at ranger greatsword, again, you do damge through 1-2,3-5 are utilities. This seems to be the pattern for a successful melee weapon.

It is fine to have multiple damage-focused skills on ranged weapons like mesmer GS or dragonhunter longbow but not so for a melee weapon.

I think for necro GS to be viable. They need to completely redesign skill 3 into some strong utility skills that provide either movement or range CC.

Exciton.8942:

I think for necro GS to be viable. They need to completely redesign skill 3 into some strong utility skills that provide either movement or range CC.

I am inclined to agree. However i dont think Anet wants to give gs any extra movment since thier theme of reaper was more of a slow methotical one. Hence a ranged cc or a defensive skill (block) would be more in line with that theme.

Yes a block skill similiar revenants Duelist’s Preparation would be nice. Also a block and if you block an attack switch to the current iteration of death spiral (or a weaker version of it, e.g less damage and less lf). The cd would need to be increased though.

And given how the skill isnt even used in the optimal dps rotation i doubt pve power reaper would even protest. They probably prefer the ranged cc though (for breakbars).

ive made numerous posts on this subject i basiclly think gs autos need to be brought in line with EVERY other gs skill attack speed in game …. i think gravedigger is fine and 3 is ok although i wish they would increase the range of it by only a small amount… 4 is weak the blind needs to pulse more times to be effective and 5 is fine just needs to work the bugs out so it shoots claws at enemy more times then not at all….

GS has no place in WvW PvP or PvE unless u force it to

You have to enter into the mind of a-net when it comes to necro balancing:

1. AA: life force + chill = utilities
2. whirl finisher
3. life force + vulnerability = utilities
4. blind = utility
5. CC = utility

To see how strong a-net thinks this weapon is, let us translate those utilities in “other classes language”:

• chill = gap closer
• life force = evades
• blind = block
• vulnerability = might

So if this translation was accurate, GS is as good in terms of utilities as the engineer hammer

1. might + vulnerability
2. whirl finisher + missile reflect
3. gap closer + evade
4. block + vuln
5. CC

Understand how a-net thinks to understand their surprising balance choices.

Silverkey.2078:

You have to enter into the mind of a-net when it comes to necro balancing:

1. AA: life force + chill = utilities
2. whirl finisher
3. life force + vulnerability = utilities
4. blind = utility
5. CC = utility

To see how strong a-net thinks this weapon is, let us translate those utilities in “other classes language”:

• chill = gap closer
• life force = evades
• blind = block
• vulnerability = might

So if this translation was accurate, GS is as good in terms of utilities as the engineer hammer

1. might + vulnerability
2. whirl finisher + missile reflect
3. gap closer + evade
4. block + vuln
5. CC

Understand how a-net thinks to understand their surprising balance choices.

Well i play this game since release at this point i doubt there will ever a balance change that really surprises me.

Ahh well atleast they realise that power necro is in a bad spot, it is just too bad that they dont realise why this is the case.