Guild Wars 2

Anyone else feel as though there is an imbalance between the overall effectiveness of power builds vs condition builds. May not be true for all professions, but having played necro and engi so far, I feel almost forced into condition builds if I want to kill something and have any sort of survivability. It’s as though the second I try to switch to a power build, I can pull off some great attacks but die the second someone sneezes at me.

Yes the meta is condition spec for any class really. A inexperienced player will do well with condi because of aoe spam and be able to make mistakes and still do well. While a power or crit build with the exception of a few builds is single target and is much less forgiving when you make a mistake.

You can do a lot more damage with conditions and still be tanky with lots of healing and or toughness/vitality. Overall power builds will hit for more single target with the exception being maybe a hammer warrior.

From what I’ve seen, and this may be my lack of experience, if I want a power/crit build I have to go Warrior/Guardian/Mesmer/Thief. Mainly due to they can access power/crit abilities while still maintaining plenty of Control/Defense/Stealth/Immunities. I feel like to do the same thing on say my Necro or Engi, I have to give up all my survival abilities (most of which I could still pick up had I made a bunker or condition build) just to be able to put out enough direct damage to actually kill someone before being obliterated.

At first I was ok with this, thinking I’d just stay with a group and let them fight while I pick off targets, but then it never fails I get focused and burned down, often under a ocean of conditions. What’s sad is I really enjoy the style of the Necro and Engi, but hate that I am forced into a certain way of playing where as other prof get legitimate options.