Guild Wars 2

Just wondering if anybody has come up with any decent trait setups besides the cookie cutter 0/10/0/30/30 or 0/0/10/30/30. My biggest gripe with ele is just how ridiculously little flexibility there is with builds, since arcane is basically mandatory and all the other elemental traitlines besides water are hideously underpowered (not to mention with our low hp we actually really NEED the vitality and healing power from water). I feel like eventually people will learn how to completely counter this build (or it will be nerfed into the ground), but since we have no other options there will be nothing we can do.

Personally I’d like to see the arcane tree completely altered so that it no longer provides the attunement switch bonus, since this makes going for arcane a non-choice. We should have the minimum attunenement switch already pre-baked in the class in my opinion so that we don’t HAVE to go for 30 in arcane.

Heh, I guess this turned more into a rant… but nonetheless I’m curious if anybody has ANYTHING that is actually viable besides cookie cutter.

I run 10/0/30/30/0, usually S/D. Probably not as effective or competitive, but meh, it’s what I run.

there’s a bild i found on you tube times ago

it’s always a d/d but with some difference:

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fEAQJAoYhMmIblxzgjEA0DtEKQg8wDlHxMjNA;ToAg0CnowxgjAHbNOck4MoYaB

it’s a offensive build, not have the same survavibility offer by the cookie cutter build, but i find it more fun and you will do a ton of damage ^^

i was also looking for a build staff, but it’s hard xD

The dev’s recent roundtable mentioned that Eles pretty much got one build (0/10/0/30/30 or small variations there of) and other builds are only rarely used and they would like to address that in the way of traits.

The problem that they don’t seem to quite get is it’s a total picture scenario. The most inherent problem that prevents build diversity is our absurdly squishy nature. Most thieves build around stealth because they are squishy. It’s the same reason why we build around boon bunker d/d mobility style. I can get away with being totally offensive on my Mesmer because I have so many tricks up my sleeves to survive but for the ele I have to pretty much spec into it.

I’m sure you’ll get people who come out of the woodwork to tell you about their 30/0/30/0/10 build or 30/30/0/0/10 build or 10/0/30/0/30 build or 30/0/0/30/10 build and the list goes on but the fact of the matter is that on a large scale you won’t ever really see these builds adopted (outside of the zerker one). It’s just not going to work with the way the elementalist is currently setup outside of some niche play (but rest assured they’ll tell you they have no issues).

There’s the Fire Aura/Signet build, that, combined with Scepter/Focus, can deal quite a bit of damage and still has the neccesary tools for survival. At the very least, it’s different. Maybe you can perfect that to a playable thing?

i tried a build similar, with a signet, but it’s a little hard..anyway, i change build in pvp more often, the problem of the signet it’s they don’t break stun, neither offer you shield or invulnerabilty (like arcane shield – vapor form) but atleast it’s different

That’s where the focus comes in…it has an invulnerability skill that can take up that role, as well as 2 spammable blinds (one of which is even instant cast).

There are plenty of good builds, if you can get over your addiction to evasive arcana and ultra-fast attunement dancing (I know you’re hooked, we all are or have beekittenome point, it’s ok, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem….).

I posted this in another thread, it probably sucks, but whatever.

S/F burst/hybrid.

Using this build in WvW I’ve gotten over a hundred kills in a row without going down, and not just standing at the back of a zerg, front lining it most of the time with some small group roaming. It doesn’t work as well in 1v1s with thieves as ye’ olde’ bunker build (unless they are pistol spec, then nonomnomnom), but it’s passable against most others and exceptional against anyone running a ranged glass cannon spec (I’m lookin at you, mister “kill shot” rifle warrior <.<)….

I tend to assume most build discussions are about WvW, my own bias I guess. For PvE, I don’t get the issue at all, most of it is easy enough to be played with any old build. For sPvP I don’t know much, limited experience since it messes with my claustrophobia or something, such tiny battles…..

I don’t see how Arenanet is going to convince me to run around with 11k health and 1900 armor and 15 second cooldown on attunment swapping.

As far as I can tell I will be stuck with Water and Arcana until the next MMO comes out.

Calae.1738:

I don’t see how Arenanet is going to convince me to run around with 11k health and 1900 armor and 15 second cooldown on attunment swapping.

As far as I can tell I will be stuck with Water and Arcana until the next MMO comes out.

Just reducing the attunement cooldown from 15 to 12 base would do wonders for our build variety (still at 9 with 30 in arcane). Been suggesting it for months.

As I thought… as much fun as ele was to play when everything was new, I’ve found that it just wasn’t designed as well as the other classes. First off the lack of weapon swapping completely kills the potential number of skillsets and thus potential build variation. Second despite having the lowest armor and hp in the game (and it is truly absurd just HOW big of a gap there is between low and high hp classes), it is impossible for us to achieve anywhere near the same dps/burst as the HIGHEST hp/armor class (war), even when ignoring survivability traits/utilities, which is completely inane. Cantrips and water traits just HAPPEN to patch our glaring defensive holes, but as a consequence we are for all intents and purposes forced to take them. Whenever your class lives or dies by 3 utilities, you know you are not well designed.

I’m left to assume this is about PvP?

I don’t run competitive play and my traits are all over the place, but I’ve done fine even with what would be considered “bad” gear for many 80s. I don’t use cantrips, either, and rarely use arcane skills (and only 10 in the trait line). I can see replies with “PvE /faceroll”, but spare it, and here’s why:

I only make a clarification because I wish people would stop ranting over classes because [insert PvP viability issue]. This is a general profession forum, with no indication in the title and a vague reference in the OP about counters to suggest that this issue concerns competitive play. I’m not saying take it to PvP forum, but at least be specific because the ele is not nearly as bad-off as this thread would have people believe, overall.

I stick to my guts that Staff is very, very underpowered. With my DD Ele I deal ~5k Churnning earth, while my MS barely deals 1.5k~, with ~2,5k on crits. Sup? I have 3k epower and 90% Crit damage.

I run 10/20/10/10/20 with PVT armor, works great with ’zerker trinkets for small scale roaming in wvw and pve dungeons.
I often switch to PVT Valkrie trinkets and dive around inside enemy zergs causing trouble

OrianZeta.1537:

I’m left to assume this is about PvP?

I don’t run competitive play and my traits are all over the place, but I’ve done fine even with what would be considered “bad” gear for many 80s. I don’t use cantrips, either, and rarely use arcane skills (and only 10 in the trait line). I can see replies with “PvE /faceroll”, but spare it, and here’s why:

I only make a clarification because I wish people would stop ranting over classes because [insert PvP viability issue]. This is a general profession forum, with no indication in the title and a vague reference in the OP about counters to suggest that this issue concerns competitive play. I’m not saying take it to PvP forum, but at least be specific because the ele is not nearly as bad-off as this thread would have people believe, overall.

really sorry, i’m mortified..i realize just by your post that i have not specification..i mean for competitive pvp…really sorry guys…really…

for pve/farm event i go full zerker 30/30/x/x/x, for dungeon, depend but often i go 30/30/0/0/10..

for wvwvw 0/0/10/30/30 with pvt armor, and cleric trinket+weapon (staff).

in spvp i’m stick to 0/10/0/30/30 staff-d/d-s/d don’t care, this build work with every weapon..

so i just wondering if there’s any other viable build out there…

really sorry guys again…:(

OrianZeta.1537:

I’m left to assume this is about PvP?

I don’t run competitive play and my traits are all over the place, but I’ve done fine even with what would be considered “bad” gear for many 80s. I don’t use cantrips, either, and rarely use arcane skills (and only 10 in the trait line). I can see replies with “PvE /faceroll”, but spare it, and here’s why:

I only make a clarification because I wish people would stop ranting over classes because [insert PvP viability issue]. This is a general profession forum, with no indication in the title and a vague reference in the OP about counters to suggest that this issue concerns competitive play. I’m not saying take it to PvP forum, but at least be specific because the ele is not nearly as bad-off as this thread would have people believe, overall.

Ele is even worse in pve outside of cursed shore farming. War, mes and to a limited degree thief/guard are gods of dungeon farming and the same classes are the best for fractals as well (especially guard and mes with reflects up the wazoo). Ele is arguably better than necro, ranger, and engi, but that’s not saying much.

titaniumm.2983:

so i just wondering if there’s any other viable build out there…

really sorry guys again…:(

I linked my build already, but here it is again. It’s viable, with any weapon set or utilities, just swap stuff around as you like. If you already are familiar with playing a 10 point arcane build, it’s easy enough to learn.

Here’s the standard D/D bunker build on the same site for reference.

Compare the “Damage & Survivability” sections on the lower right. You basically trade 4k (effective) HP and 5.5% damage mitigation to gain 1.8k (effective) power. I find this trade acceptable for the increase in damage output, nearly doubling damage at the cost of about 5% survivability.

Using a focus as offhand more than makes up for the loss of defense. The upcoming patch should even make S/F viable against thieves, which is currently the only real danger to this build.

That site also doesn’t show condition removal, which is far superior with this build than a signet-heal 0-10-0-30-30 D/D. I don’t like signet-heal because it loses effectiveness when you get CC’d often, I find myself running away spamming random skills to heal at least as much as the few seconds ether renewal takes, plus you remove 4 conditions every 15 seconds instead of relying entirely on cantrips and water rolls .

Of course, if by “viable”, you mean even better than 0-10-0-30-30 at everything it does best (mobility and survivability against lots of people), then I don’t know what to say other than good luck, my friend.

(edited because caffeine kicked in)

Jabberwock.9014:

Ele is even worse in pve outside of cursed shore farming. War, mes and to a limited degree thief/guard are gods of dungeon farming and the same classes are the best for fractals as well (especially guard and mes with reflects up the wazoo). Ele is arguably better than necro, ranger, and engi, but that’s not saying much.

My main is a ranger and ele my second, which is better by far. There’s a lot of viability in it. Plenty of damage, AoE, healing, support— but while I haven’t played other professions to a strong degree, it’s not about which class is better.

Just giving my impression and I’m far from pushing the limits of what it can do, and it’s been impressive. Note I’m not against buffing weaker classes, it would improve my toons (leveling a necro now)

Mystic.4805:

I stick to my guts that Staff is very, very underpowered. With my DD Ele I deal ~5k Churnning earth, while my MS barely deals 1.5k~, with ~2,5k on crits. Sup? I have 3k epower and 90% Crit damage.

1200 range, use it.

Jabberwock.9014:

Whenever your class lives or dies by 3 utilities, you know you are not well designed.

This is true.
I keep switching my Utilities on my Guardian, and I find all of them… decent, not overpowered, and none game-breaking.
Some are better for zergs, others for 1v1s, etc.

On my Elementalist though, Mist Form and Lightning Flash are essential for anything – PvE, PvP, WvW, 1v1s… save some rare times in PvE where I drop Lightning Flash for something more offensive.

It would be good to get to pick some utilities as “utilities” and not as “requirements” skills.

As for viable builds, well, I play a 20/20/0/20/10 build and I have fun with it… it’s worse than 0/10/0/30/30 for 1v1s, PvP and small fights, but I find it better for WvW zergs and PvE (better damage afterall).

0/20/0/20/30. Arcane still has 30, because I like my attunement at min.

Gear: Knight/Valkyrie/Zerker with Divinity Runes or the boon duration runes, Cavalier accessories

Heal: Ether Renewal
Utilies/Elite: Arcane Wave/Icebow(cantrip)/Mistform(cantrip)
PvE I take ice bow, PvP I take cantrips. I don’t take cleansing fire, Ether renewal does condi removal for me.

Danicco.3568:

Jabberwock.9014:

Whenever your class lives or dies by 3 utilities, you know you are not well designed.

This is true.

The thing is, on a profession where standing still equals defeat, nothing beats a cantrip. Add to that the amazing traits that cantrips get, and it’s no contest.

To be honest, I get the feeling that you’d easier get away with a no-cantrip build in PvP than in PvE. At least in PvP, if you get stunned, it’s for 1-2 seconds. In PvE, it seems that stuns keep getting longer in duration, with more frequency and less time to react if you see them coming at all.

PvE, I cannot play without at least Armor of Earth. Sad but true. And even then, I sometimes wished I had 3 of them.

25/25/0/0/20 WvW Staff – Berserker/Valkrie – 33% crit, 85% crit damage 15K health. Mist Form, Cleansing Fire, Earth Armor.

Frankly, for pve and wvw any build works.