Guild Wars 2

I have some ideas about which traits are too weak or may be too strong for place they are at in the trait lines.

Mostly I’m playing engineer, guardian, warrior, and elementalist, but I have some ideas about other classes too.
First of all I think that every major trait which grants passive % bonus to one stat depending on other should be reworked, or should also give something else. I don’t mean that this traits are SO weak, but they are not useful at most builds and, well… this is not an example of good design ;p.

I also think that traits that proc when you take falling damage should be minor traits, not major. It will make them much more usable.

So, lets start with

Engineer

Explosives
IV (Empowering Adrenaline) – Get a 5% damage bonus when endurance is not full.

Comparing to another traits like burning proc (V – Incendiary Powder) on crit its just nothing. Well, I must say that the only trait that can compare to burning proc is III (Bombs and mines have a larger explosion radius), which is usable in bunker builds. Yes, sometimes people take Incendiary Powder and another trait from adept line, putting it into major master slot. But in adept traits the strongest is Incendiary Powder. I think that it should be master or even grandmaster trait (inb4 whining).

X (Enhance Performance) – Gain 3 stacks of might for 15 seconds when you use a heal skill. This effect cannot trigger more than once every 10 seconds.

And again, comparing to another traits and even possibility to take 2 adept traits it’s not so useful. May be in some might stacking builds, but ppl won’t take it just because there are better options (Shrapnel, Explosive Powder, Short Fuse). Even moving it to adept trait will not make it effective, because as I said above there are still MUCH better options. Guess this trait should be removed/reworked/buffed a lot.

Something like 5 stacks of might for 20 seconds with 30 seconds cd would be enough if Incendiary Powder will be master/grandmaster trait.

XII (Autodefense Bomb Dispenser) – Drop a smoke bomb whenever you are disabled (stun, daze, knockdown, knockback, launch, float, sink, fear). This effect can only trigger once every 30 seconds.

I won’t dare to say that this trait is useless, but spending 30 points in trait line which gives you only offensive bonuses for defensive grandmaster trait is weird.

Suggestion: increase cd to 40 seconds, and move to master traits. OR move it to grandmaster traits in inventions, alchemy, or tools. I think that the best option will be to move this trait to tools, because both grandmaster traits in tools are just useless, I will explain why below.

Firearms

III (Infused Precision) – 50% chance to gain swiftness for 5 seconds on critical hits. This effect cannot trigger more than once every 5 seconds.

And again, comparing to other traits and the fact that engi have permaswiftness this trait is completely useless. So, the only suggestion I can make is to remove this trait and make something new.

V (Precise Sights ) – 50% chance to cause vulnerability on critical hits.

Actually, its 1 stack of vunlerability for 3 seconds. I hope I don’t need to comment this.

Suggestion: 25% chance to apply 5 stacks of vulnerability for 10 seconds and remove protection or regeneration on critical hit (15 seconds cd).

VII (Coated Bullets) – Pistol shots pierce.

Well, in terms of aoe damage grenades for ranged and bombs for meele atack are the best options. I can’t imagine buff to this trait which will make this trait viable.

/insanity on
Suggestion: Pistol shots pierce. Pistol damage increased by 50%.
/insanity off
Hmm. Seems to be enough though.

VIII (Juggernaut) – You gain 200 toughness while wielding a flamethrower. In addition, gain might for 15 seconds every 3 seconds, as long as you remain in this weapon kit.

The main problem of this trait is that nobody keeps flamethrower for more than 3-4 seconds in pvp. So, if you want people keep it longer – give them good reason.

Suggestion:
After 5 seconds of wielding a flamethrower you gain protection and retaliation for 1 second every 1 seconds.
Something like this. Still not overpowered, because you need to keep FT to gain this buffs. Not sure if somebody will do it even with this changes :p.

Inventions

II (Explosive Descent) – Release a barrage of grenades when you take falling damage. Take 50% less damage from falling.

Grenade barrage definitely isn’t skill that should proc on falling. It may be strong if you will fall directly into other player, but in all other cases its just useless, especially comparing to other adept traits.

Suggestion: Falling should proc EG’s 4 or/and 5, OR throw napalm (toolbelt skill from flame turret), OR, the best choice, will be to spray oil from slick shoes in something like 180 aoe.

V (Energized Armor) – 5% of your toughness is converted to power.

And again, not useful comparing to other adept traits.

Suggestion: 5% of your toughness is converted to power. When you are disabled, you hit your enemy with bolt of lightning (5 seconds cd)(or mb even without cd).

VIII (Power Shoes) – 25% faster movement speed in combat.

Since engi have permaswiftness, traits like this should be an alternative, and not the worse option, especially as master trait.

Suggestion: 25% faster movement speed (not only in combat)

Alchemy

V (Blood Injection) – 5% of vitality is converted into condition damage.

Comparing to other traits this one is less useful.
Suggestion: merge with Acidic Coating.

VII (Deadly Mixture) – Deal 15% extra damage with a flamethrower or elixir gun.

Since FT is used for toolbelt skill (burning), knockback, fire field and aoe blind, and the only good EG’s skill which scales well with power is 4, this trait should be buffed or reworked.

Tools

I (Always Prepared) – Drop bandages when downed. This effect can only trigger once every 10 seconds. Downed damage is increased by 25%.

Well, I think that traits like this should be minor, not major. Compare to other adept traits (PERMASWIFTNESS) this is just useless.

XI (Armor Mods) – Gain 5 seconds of Aegis when critically hit. 25 second recharge.

Controlable aegis is a good thing, but this one is absolutely random. So, spending 30 traits in tools will allow you to block next attack after critical one. Every 25 seconds. So, at best, every 25 seconds you will block random atack.

Suggestion: You block next critical attack. 5 seconds recharge.

It might look like overpowered, but if you will think about how much attacks with low single strike dmg and high rate there are in game, i think that you will agree with me. Or not.

OR:
Gain 5 seconds of aegis, protection, and retaliation when critically hit. 15 seconds recharge.

XII (Adrenal Implant) – 50% faster endurance regeneration.

In all cases the best option to get 100% faster endurance regeneration is to combine Speedy Kits (Tools) with Invigorating Speed (Alchemy), even if it requires to spend 10 more points in alchemy while you already have 10-20. I think that this trait should be removed.

Warrior

Strength

III (Great Fortitude) – 5% of power is given as a bonus to vitality.

Suggestion: rework or just add some effect to this trait. Example:
5% of power is given as a bonus to vitality. When you receive 5 or more stacks of vulnerability, you gain protection for 5 seconds. 20 seconds cd.

VI (Powerful Banners) – Banners do damage when summoned.

I tested it a bit and, you know, damage is a bit too low considering cooldowns of banners and that there is no point of keeping more than 2 banners (including elite battle standard of course) in spvp. About 600-800 without crit. Or it cannot even crit :c? Conception of banners dealing damage when summoned is bad I think.

Suggestion: rework this trait or at least add some over effect besides damage. Something like 5 seconds of protection and removing 3 conditions in aoe, for example. With 120/96 seconds cd it’s just not overpowered.

Grandmaster minor trait (Stick and Move) – Get a damage bonus when endurance is not full.

Gives +3% damage when endurance is not full. Yes, it’s minor trait, I know, but… Don’t you think that the bonus is just too low for grandmaster trait with condition? :/

Suggestion: +10% damage bonus when you have less than 50% endurance.

Arms

I (Deep Strike) – Gain +40 precision for each unused signet you have equipped.

Because of this trait, some warriors have 5 signets which they never use. Please, rework this trait :<. Even if bonus is not bad, I don’t think that there should be traits which grant something for having your abilities not on cooldown. :/

Defense

VI (Cull the Weak) – Increases damage to weakened foes by 5%.

Comparing to other traits this one is less useful, I guess.

Suggestion: Increases damage to weakened foes by 5%. When you apply weakness, you also apply 3 seconds of cripple. 10 seconds cooldown.

Tactics

IV (Stronger Bowstrings) – Increases longbow range.

When warriors use longbow, it’s definitely not glass cannon warriors which want to stay at max range from combat, seriously. At most (:/) cases its warriors in condition builds wilding something like longbow + sword/sword or sword/shield.

Suggestion: remove this trait or rework it.
Example: Increases longbow range. Increases longbow damage by 20% when target is further than 600 range away.

VII (Shrug It Off) – Use Shake It Off automatically when you have more than 1 condition. This can only trigger once every 30 seconds.

Well, it’s kinda contradictory trait. It’s not an auto stun breaker, and removing just 1 condition is not what may help when you have 9000 conditions on you. In other hand, I think that shout warriors will prefer to take trait which decreases shouts cd, or Quick Breathing for example. Yes, in combination with soldier runes and vigorous shouts this trait might be useful, but without at least one of what I listed it’s just bad. :/

Suggestion: move to adept traits.

VI (Empowered) – Increases damage for every boon on you.

At first it may look like that this trait is useful, but… It’s just +1% damage for each boon type on you. In most cases it’s like +0…4% dmg. :/

Suggestion: Buff this trait or rework it. At least +2% dmg per boon. OR, something like this:
Increases damage by 1% for every boon on you. Whenever you are struck by retaliation, you gain fury for 10 seconds. 30 seconds cooldown.

Discipline

X (Mobile Strikes) Movement skills break immobilize.

Breaking immobilize is fine, but usually you are not only under immobilize but also cripple or/and chill.

Suggestion: Movement skills break immobilize and unaffected by chill and cripple.

I will add other suggestions later :v

Elementalist will be here.

Guardian will be here.

CutePicsHunter.7430:

VIII (Juggernaut) – You gain 200 toughness while wielding a flamethrower. In addition, gain might for 15 seconds every 3 seconds, as long as you remain in this weapon kit.

The main problem of this trait is that nobody keeps flamethrower for more than 3-4 seconds in pvp. So, if you want people keep it longer – give them good reason.

Suggestion:
After 5 seconds of wielding a flamethrower you gain protection and retaliation for 1 second every 1 seconds.
Something like this. Still not overpowered, because you need to keep FT to gain this buffs. Not sure if somebody will do it even with this changes :p.

You really ought to adjust your definition of nobody.

FT is primarily equipped by bunker builds which do not go in to the power line. might stacks buff both the direct and burning damage of the ft. the 200 toughness is applied because the FT is a weapon best suited for melee range, and as a medium armor user, we are naturally a little less sturdy.

Juggernaut is perfectly designed for the primary uses of the FT. I am still flabbergasted and eternally thankful that they dropped it to the Master Tier.

Bunkers mostly use FT + Bombs. And after they use (2)-3-4-5 its a bad idea to keep using FT instead of bombs.

Which bunkers? The ft/bomb bunkers dont use jugg. Jugg users do, and your ideas aren’t very useful.

DO NOT complain about the warrior longbow talent it is way better then you could ever imagine.

nakoda.4213:

Which bunkers? The ft/bomb bunkers dont use jugg. Jugg users do, and your ideas aren’t very useful.

I didn’t see many juggernaut users on tournaments and i think that it’s not a good idea for bunker engis to spend 20 points into firearms for 200 toughness while using flamethrower. This trait is actually about 200 toughness, not about might every 3 seconds. Because? Because you should rotate between your main weapons and kits to be effective. So might stacking via this trait isn’t possible. At least this component of this trait should be changed or whole trait should be reworked.

s.7421:

DO NOT complain about the warrior longbow talent it is way better then you could ever imagine.

Well, this is just what i think and i have some arguments. Your arguments?

kit swapping is dependent upon the cooldowns of the skills, kilts, and utilities you have at your disposal, and every engineers kit rotation differs because they all have a unique configuration.

Juggernaut exists for people who do stay in the flamethrower kit for longer than 2-4 seconds.

i will say it again, just because ft/bomb bunkers do not use it does not mean that other engineers do not use it. your inductive reasoning is fallacious.

nakoda.4213:

kit swapping is dependent upon the cooldowns of the skills, kilts, and utilities you have at your disposal, and every engineers kit rotation differs because they all have a unique configuration.

Juggernaut exists for people who do stay in the flamethrower kit for longer than 2-4 seconds.

i will say it again, just because ft/bomb bunkers do not use it does not mean that other engineers do not use it. your inductive reasoning is fallacious.

If you have more than 1 kit (at most cases bunker engis have 2, hope i don’t need to notice that) then you will receive maximum 1 stack of might. Even 2 stacks of might is just nothing.

Of course, if you play hotjoins every build will have its place, but situation is not that good on tournaments.

I will say it if you still don’t understand – i’m not asking anet to NERF this trait. I’m not asking anet to remove 200 toughness from this trait. I THINK, that 1 stack of might every 3 seconds is what should be changed. How? You can make YOUR suggestion. It might be something like:

You gain 200 toughness while wielding a flamethrower. In addition, after 3 seconds of keeping flamethrower, every second you gain 5 stacks of might for 1 second, as long as you remain in this weapon kit

But if you think that 1 stack of might every 3 seconds while keeping FT is GOOD and WORTY in tpvp, then you are obviously wrong.

CutePicsHunter.7430:

But if you think that 1 stack of might every 3 seconds while keeping FT is GOOD and WORTY in tpvp, then you are obviously wrong.

clearly and obviously the guy who has been using the flamethrower exclusively for 8 months knows less about the effectiveness of the trait specifically designed for that kit than you do just because you see your e-heroes using it in a different way.

you must be right.

200 toughness, 210 power, AND 210 condition damage just for equipping the kit for a few seconds sounds like a kittenty deal to me, you have me convinced. Especially when that kit has absolutely no utility or purpose in pvp. The notion of something getting stronger the longer you use it seems stupid.

Combining it with might stacks from blast finishers, which engineers clearly have little to no access to also seems like a stupid idea. Furthermore, i cannot imagine WHY anyone would use the FT for anything BUT a bunker, I mean, having 3500 attack power combined with traits that increase damage by up to 25% just because your foe is burning seems pretty stupid to me too.

thank you for enlightening me.

nakoda.4213:

clearly and obviously the guy who has been using the flamethrower exclusively for 8 months knows less about the effectiveness of the trait

Sad but true.

nakoda.4213:

200 toughness, 210 power, AND 210 condition damage just for equipping the kit for a few seconds
for a few seconds
few seconds

Lol’d.

tl;dr

THIS TRAIT IS GOOD BECAUSE I USE IT
DONT TOUCH IT
I DONT WANT TO SEE ANYONE WITH MY HIPSTER TRAIT
I DONT WANT BUILD DIVERSITY

Okay, just take it easy, bro. I’m sorry that I made you excited.