Guild Wars 2

Alright my ele is currently level 74 and lately I’ve been WvWvWing a lot (that’s has been her main source of exp). While eles are a common sight in WvWvW right up there next to thieves, it seems like its D/D or nothing, not counting the staff being used for stationary fights like defending or attacking structures. I don’t recall ever seeing a scepter ele. Much of the combat is designed around being on the move and this is why I find skills like Shatterstone and Dragon’s tooth appalling.

My question is, are there any eles out there being competative with S/x set? Can you handle yourselves without group support? I know people complain about D/D eles but is there really anything else?

The arcana d/d bunker is the strongest build available to eles currently. To most, that essentially means everything else is useless. I dont think many are willing to try anything else, honestly.

My WvW S/F build is here:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/elementalist/S-F-WvW-PvE-Build/first#post1495588

I feel extremely effective in both group and solo scenarios (I mainly WvW, fwiw). Dragons tooth is one of my favorite skills in the game for siege busting. I got ~4k kills with d/d on my ele, but find this combination to be more fun for me.

So, yes, some are competitive but I would still call the arcana d/d the most effective build the ele currently has. I got tired of playing it though, so that was my motivation. Though, I only ran the arcana build (X/X/X/30/30) for a couple hours. I decided to focus on crit damage instead, which largely carried over to the s/f build.

D/D for small skirmishes and superior melee dps / mobility.

Staff for sieges and long range / aoe.

Scepter is a mix of both, and I don’t find a use for it in wvw.

I’ve started using S/D in WvW more and more lately after being exclusively a D/D person (throwing on the staff for the usual stuff).

It’s solid. If scepter had an aura I’d probably be running it as a default. You definitely don’t need group support to play S/D. Survivability is definitely available. Water trident on scepter is pretty hot. Course if you’ve got friends around you can hand out more might stacks than D/D too.

You’ll miss having shocking aura but it’s not the end of the world.

The focus is worthy of mention too. If you’re able to stand giving up RTL it’s worth another look (not just for blocking treb shots).

At any rate, you definitely don’t have to be D/D.

there’s nothing wrong with S/D

i mean some tweaks would be nice but generally it’s totally viable

Let’s see what tomorrow has instore for us before saying D-D or go home. Maybe tomorrow they completely cripple the D/D who knows.

I guess we’ll have to see indeed. I enjoyed crafting and testing builds in GW1. The staff feels cumbersome, and in open space fights I don’t recall seeing a deadly ele with it. It’ll be interesting what happens to D/Ds because there are one of the two setups that can engage/disengage at will and generally wear down the opponent if they choose which is probably one of the biggest gripes in WvWvW.

silvermember.8941:

Let’s see what tomorrow has instore for us before saying D-D or go home. Maybe tomorrow they completely cripple the D/D who knows.

The ele has already received alot of nerfs. Not sure why you think they need more

Fuzzion.2504:

The ele has already received alot of nerfs. They will surely receive a lot more nerfs on tomorrow’s patch since devs hate eles and love BS thieves and 100b warriors.

Fixed that for you. I will kitten my own kitten if I’m not right on this one. Can’t wait for the patch!

i already have my mesmer ……

but i have to use D/D OPness to do what its good for….
www map completion….

LordByron.8369:

but i have to use D/D OPness to do what its good for….
www map completion….

amen to that

Similar to some above, just grew tired of d/d. Been running an S/F build that works fairly well. It’s no d/d in many respects, but it does have some advantages. It is a signet based build which most scoff at, but it works well with this setup.

This is the build if you’re interested: http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fEMQJArdlMG6Nmbw2AG+Aw4BIeQiQhFNUUMDPA;T4Ag0yvEOJ9S9lyJqnMPJey+k7J5TjSmEA

S/F has a fair number of fast recharge, fast casting skills which goes well with the heal signet (in addition that you can spam it and keep the passive with this). I’m on the fence about the utility of the water signet that may be better replaced. Although the additional condition removal is nice and another chill plus that it restores 25% endurance in this build gives it slightly more value. However, the magnetic which removes 3 conditions and is fairly fast recharge (due to trait) and phoenix might be enough cond removal on their own. The number of times that 10sec removal has been helpful have been fairly numerous though.

Anyway, this works well for me in many pvp situations. Takes a bit to l2p it, and ymmv. It’s not d/d, but I find it reasonably “viable”.

EDIT: Note the snow leopard is only for WvW. It’s a free get away card and free by-pass the zerg into keep when needed.

Polybiased.9604:

Similar to some above, just grew tired of d/d. Been running an S/F build that works fairly well. It’s no d/d in many respects, but it does have some advantages. It is a signet based build which most scoff at, but it works well with this setup.

This is the build if you’re interested: http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fEMQJArdlMG6Nmbw2AG+Aw4BIeQiQhFNUUMDPA;T4Ag0yvEOJ9S9lyJqnMPJey+k7J5TjSmEA

S/F has a fair number of fast recharge, fast casting skills which goes well with the heal signet (in addition that you can spam it and keep the passive with this). I’m on the fence about the utility of the water signet that may be better replaced. Although the additional condition removal is nice and another chill plus that it restores 25% endurance in this build gives it slightly more value. However, the magnetic which removes 3 conditions and is fairly fast recharge (due to trait) and phoenix might be enough cond removal on their own. The number of times that 10sec removal has been helpful have been fairly numerous though.

Anyway, this works well for me in many pvp situations. Takes a bit to l2p it, and ymmv. It’s not d/d, but I find it reasonably “viable”.

I think that s/f is just something that hasnt been explored yet. I also find that s/f takes more planning and a bit more patience with skills than other ele weapon sets. Its probably why I like it so much. It can be extremely unpredictable, but that also makes it harder to learn situationally.

Thanks for posting your build! As I have been running s/f very effectively (or at least I feel so), I love to see other ideas on how people are implementing it!

edit: My favorite burst is first Dragons Tooth then immediately followed by phoenix into the same area. While that is queueing up in the air for everyone to see, I hit the area with arcane blast and arcane wave, increasing my foes vuln. On the same target as I hit with arcane wave, Ill switch to air, hit Air 5, Air 2, then Air 3. By about this time, dragons tooth has generally fallen and lots of nice little numbers have started to pop up on the screen!

Depending on how the fight is going at that point, I will switch to water to drop water 5 (aoe stun) and more vuln (shatterstone) or earth to cast magnetic surge (for more AoE damage) and then Ill throw on rock barrier while using earth 5.

Tuluum.9638:

I think that s/f is just something that hasnt been explored yet. I also find that s/f takes more planning and a bit more patience with skills than other ele weapon sets. Its probably why I like it so much. It can be extremely unpredictable, but that also makes it harder to learn situationally.

Thanks for posting your build! As I have been running s/f very effectively (or at least I feel so), I love to see other ideas on how people are implementing it!

edit: My favorite burst is first Dragons Tooth then immediately followed by phoenix into the same area. While that is queueing up in the air for everyone to see, I hit the area with arcane blast and arcane wave, increasing my foes vuln. On the same target as I hit with arcane wave, Ill switch to air, hit Air 5, Air 2, then Air 3. By about this time, dragons tooth has generally fallen and lots of nice little numbers have started to pop up on the screen!

Depending on how the fight is going at that point, I will switch to water to drop water 5 (aoe stun) and more vuln (shatterstone) or earth to cast magnetic surge (for more AoE damage) and then Ill throw on rock barrier while using earth 5.

I typically rest in earth and keep rock barrier up. As always, depends, but typically when the fight begins, I immediately cast water signet and at the same time insta-cast signet of air. People often don’t notice the blind and will blow their opener and the chill will sometimes cause a blow on condition removal. If not, then they’re chilled which lets me position and keep range. I then follow with dust devil when I see their blind used up to renew (1/4 sec cast) and insta-cast simulataneous with magnetic to prep and soften. Flip to air and cast gale while simultaneous insta-casting strike and blinding flash. At this point they likely haven’t got anything on me due to blinds and reflect and are now knocked down with mounting damage. All of that occurs in about 2 seconds. As soon as the knock down is off, I go into fire, drop the tooth, and queue up immediately with earth signet for immobilize followed immediately by phoenix. target offset in the direction I think they’ll run. At which point choices branch a lot more based on what happens.

And of course you have fury on each attunement for that sequence. The signet openers have 1200 range, so you start those up as you race into 900 range.

Anyway, something like that. Things can change rapidly of course (if they have a triggered stability or something, etc… the script can quickly change

Looks like a sound strategy

I havent messed with signets too much. I only have something like 1300 kills on my scepter, so not much experience yet and my gear is almost all weighed towards crit damage. I have been considering switching my runes for more precision/crit damage though, instead of fury. It worked very well for auras (especially an aura share build), but it doesnt seem to have a great return on just the fury from attunement switch.

Anywho, one of the reasons I like arcane wave so much is its 1500 range. Just love it! I am also traited to gain +3% crit damage and 3 stacks of vulnerability (on any arcane activation, OR signet). With 20% decreased cooldown, I really, really enjoy it. Especially because I didnt have to entirely re-gear!

I have wanted to try out working some signets into it though, especially with the trait that allows the passive ability to stay active. It seems it would work in well with my build, but now I just have to think about the best way to implement it.

Thanks for the inspiration.

I swore there was something there about dropping the tooth effectively…

I actually tend to use it in some unique ways. If there are a large amount of people, I will target the person that is in the “most likely area of retreat.” I also use it extensively for zone control. Its easy to dodge, but if I hit a downed/stunned opponent who has less than 33% (?) life, it hits very hard.

My trick though, is that I use it EXTENSIVELY with no target whatsoever. It took a bit to get used to exactly where it will land, but it works much like a ground-targeted skill this way. A bit buggy sometimes, but quite effective.

As for the rotation above, I essentially hope to get some movement out of them just from seeing the dragons tooth. Ideally, I have them stunned before they can get out of its effective radius.

Tuluum.9638:

Looks like a sound strategy

I havent messed with signets too much. I only have something like 1300 kills on my scepter, so not much experience yet and my gear is almost all weighed towards crit damage. I have been considering switching my runes for more precision/crit damage though, instead of fury. It worked very well for auras (especially an aura share build), but it doesnt seem to have a great return on just the fury from attunement switch.

Anywho, one of the reasons I like arcane wave so much is its 1500 range. Just love it! I am also traited to gain +3% crit damage and 3 stacks of vulnerability (on any arcane activation, OR signet). With 20% decreased cooldown, I really, really enjoy it. Especially because I didnt have to entirely re-gear!

I have wanted to try out working some signets into it though, especially with the trait that allows the passive ability to stay active. It seems it would work in well with my build, but now I just have to think about the best way to implement it.

Thanks for the inspiration.

(I think you mean arcane blast, but I know what you mean )…. hmm, good point. I may have to play around with arcane a little in that sort of set up.

The other thing with S/F is it has pretty decent defensive abilities, so you can glass cannon a bit more in other areas. Arcane is a good place to do that. I might work on something like you have when I get bored of the signet based build

And thank you too!

Polybiased.9604:

(I think you mean arcane blast, but I know what you mean )…. hmm, good point. I may have to play around with arcane a little in that sort of set up.

The other thing with S/F is it has pretty decent defensive abilities, so you can glass cannon a bit more in other areas. Arcane is a good place to do that. I might work on something like you have when I get bored of the signet based build

And thank you too!

For the life of me, I cant keep the two straight, haha. And.. you did ask at one point about how I use Dragons Tooth effectively, no? I swore it was there, but when I went to quote, it was gone.

I also noticed that you can go a bit more offensive because of the defensive capabilities of the weapon set. I actually went for more crit damage as an update to my s/f build because of this. I lost ~150 toughness, but gained almost 10% critical damage and a bit of power.

One of the other reasons I love the arcane skills is because using both blast and wave, I have access to reliable projectile and blast finishers separate from any attunement.

I look forward to seeing what you do from your end! Make sure to post it. :P Always fun to see how two different minds work on the same solution!

edit: Soo, yeah OP, there are definitely some of us who feel other weapon sets are quite effective. I think we still have a lot to explore with the class, and that is exciting. As Ive said before, there was a time when everyone unanimously claimed the ele to be underpowered in every single way.

I use staff ele for leading my team. The amount of combo fields and CC’s are insane. I also call out my fields where I put em down and ask for blast finishers. A good staff ele in lead can change a fight (call for restack to heal up party, stack might, stack swiftness, AoE Chill, AoE Cripple, AoE Stun)

I only switch back to D/D when I’m solo roaming

Staff > D/D for open-field large skirmishes

Cant complain really, I was expecting huge nerfs tbh. I only do WvW (staff) and pve (D/D)