Guild Wars 2

Hello Fellow elementalist, i’ve played elementalist since the game released, only did pvp, then stopped for about 2 years, recently picked up again. I’m tired of the typical D/D build, been experimenting with few different build. i would like to share the following build that i found interesting.

Arcane Build:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fFAQFAWnMISJD2yA2MAfEGgAQINN8hALKn+7YA-TJRGwAAuAAJeAAo2fYZZAA

Advantage: quick stacking might, high up time of burning and vulnerability, high burst with crit.

Might Stacking

The fire tree stacks on each fire skill, the sigil of strength has 60% chance to gain might on crit. By using arcane skills, each next attack is a crit. With arcane power, the might stacks really fast, that will increase the crit damage and burning damage. Each crit is between 2500-3000, can burst people fairly fast.

Vulnerability:

each arcane skill stacks 3 vulnerability, the each attack from arcane power also stacks, that’s 3*5=15 stacks, so you can stack up to 20+ vulnerability in few second, it is very considerable.

Burning:
the stacked might improves the burning per tick. In addition, by stay in fire attunement, each arcane skill will also burn foes for around 7 sec. By using arcane power, the burning duration can be stacked more then 30sec from 5 attacks, each tick is around 560 dmg.

Escapebility:

this is the weakness of the build, the only stun break is the arcane shield from the trait. But it blocks 3 attacks, gives you time to react.
You also cast the fiery greatsword, it has 2 great skills with low cooldowns that can help you get away.

Healing:

arcane brilliance seems lackluster….not if you work with combo field.
Arcane brilliance is a combo finisher, with water field, you get another area heal.

So the trick is you go to water attunement and cast healing rain, and cast arcane brilliance, you get two heals at once. Similarly, arcane wave and arcane blast is also a combo/projectile finisher that can give you a instant heal/regeneration.
So, imaging this situation: you are quite low, and arcane shield now pops (from trait). Go to water attunement immediately and cast healing rain. Then cast arcane brilliance, it will give you two instant heals and chill your foes(trait: elemental surge). The arcane shield will probably pop, it will chill nearby foes again. Then you can stay in water attunement or switch to earth or fire attunement and cast arcane wave and/or arcane blast. It gives another heal and/or regeneration, and immobilize/burn the foes. The healing rain duration is 6 sec, so it should be long enough to let you finish all that combo. so if played effectively, you can get 3 heals in few second, and chill/burn/immobilize your foe at the same time. Remember, all your arcane skills will crit, you are bursting your enemy while healing yourself. Playing it correctly, those combos can greatly improve your survival chance.

Final thoughts,

this build offers high burst and lots of conditions, and it is not too glass canon, but in general, you should be familiar with you rotations and combo fields. You should also couple your arcane skills with your attunement. For example, in air attunement with arcane power. You next five attacks will crit and blind. You are blinding your foe for 5 attacks in a row, it’s a game changer. Lastly, keep your distance. This build is not that tanky.

Some variations:

change elemental attunement to arcane retribution to get another more arcane power and more burst
use rune that adds more burn duration or more vitality/heal power.
change celestial amulet to solider to add more hp and power.
change arcane blast to mist or earth armor for more survivability.

That’s it, i hope guys can give it try, maybe you’ll find it fun.
I also did some scepter bleed build, i’ll share it next time.

It looks like a good start, but I’d probably run Arcane Shield instead of Arcane Power. Reason being: everyone needs a stunbreaker.

You also really should include condi-cleanse, but I’ve known a lot of people who just forego it entirely, so I won’t say it’s a requirement.

Basically, in it’s current state, although your damage output will be high, the moment your opponents realize you can’t break a stun, you’ll be insta-gibbed repeatedly throughout a match.

Awesome thoughts, though! And good luck.

KrazyFlyinChicken.5936:

It looks like a good start, but I’d probably run Arcane Shield instead of Arcane Power. Reason being: everyone needs a stunbreaker.

You also really should include condi-cleanse, but I’ve known a lot of people who just forego it entirely, so I won’t say it’s a requirement.

Basically, in it’s current state, although your damage output will be high, the moment your opponents realize you can’t break a stun, you’ll be insta-gibbed repeatedly throughout a match.

Awesome thoughts, though!

yes, arcane shield is good to have. With the trait, you have two arcane shield that blocks 6 attacks. I would replaced the arcane blast. Arcane power is too good to miss, it’s 5 crit attacks with conditions depending on your attunement. The cleansing is bit lacking, but the rune gives you -20% condition duration.

Arcane Power in an arcane build is kind of a must-have due to the arcane grandmaster trait. If anything is getting replaced by Arcane Shield it should be Arcane Wave. Either way, glass staff eles should usually stay as far away as possible. Once someone really reaches a glass staff ele, they don’t last long unless they can suddenly gain distance with Fiery Greatsword and the multitude of defensive abilities on the staff, but if someone is already right up to them, it’s probably too late.

Edit: Although OP’s build doesn’t seem too glassy.

after many ranked pvp matches, i’ve refined my arcane staff build to be 2/0/0/6/6.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fFAQFAWnMISPD2yA2MAfEGgAwInFKCHxQBgyvhvwYA-TJxHAB1+AAsZ/BAuAAFVGAA

I had lots of sucess with this one because it is very durable, lots of instant heal. I can hold a point for very long and yet offer enough CC and burst. Typical heal rotation is healing rain->arcane wave->arcane brilliance. That’s 3 instant heal you give to you and your ally, plus geyser, will often heal more than 60-70% of your hp pool. Sigil of energy and sigil of renewal will give health and endurance on every weapon swap, that’s more heal and dodge.
Arcane skills give crit, the crit is usually around 1200. Not too shabby.
I had quite a few encounter with D/D elementalists, i generally find myself out lasting them due to my 4 instant heal skills and i offer a lot more control either from weapon skills or arcane skills.