Guild Wars 2

I’ve decided to write down the complete Diamond Skin / Conjure Earth Shield Condition Staff Elementalist. http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Elementalist_-_DS/CES_Condition_Staff

First things first, when played correctly, this build will vanquish any other versions of Elementalists Condition Builds. Looking at the Quad Signets builds and their variation. It brings an important load of AoE support and Crowd Control as well as applying a worrying amount of conditions, unlike the Quad Signets. DS/CES is also very strong in duels.

To make it work, it is necessary to;
1. Know how to use the Staff.
2. A proper use of the Condition combos with Eruption.
3. Master the Diamond Skin Trait
4. Master the Earth Shield
5. Learn how to use Glyph of Elemental Power.

Pros:
-Immune to full condition build.
-Hard to kill.
-1200 range cleaving conditions.
-Good damage
-Good team support (Ton of CC, Healing and Zone Denial)
-Counters Thieves.

Cons:
-Mediocre condition clear (mitigated by Diamond Skin)
-Vulnerable to Crowd Controls

So, if you’re interested to play with a hard-to-use but rewarding build that brings a total of eight hard CC to the table whose 7 of them are AoE, try it out. Try it out slowly, and on practice mobs first!

Sorry for talking against S/F Condition Builds, but they will simply feel lacking.

Alekt.5803:

I’ve decided to write down the complete Diamond Skin / Conjure Earth Shield Condition Staff Elementalist. http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Elementalist_-_DS/CES_Condition_Staff

First things first, when played correctly, this build will vanquish any other versions of Elementalists Condition Builds. Looking at the Quad Signets builds and their variation. It brings an important load of AoE support and Crowd Control as well as applying a worrying amount of conditions, unlike the Quad Signets. DS/CES is also very strong in duels.

To make it work, it is necessary to;
1. Know how to use the Staff.
2. A proper use of the Condition combos with Eruption.
3. Master the Diamond Skin Trait
4. Master the Earth Shield
5. Learn how to use Glyph of Elemental Power.

Pros:
-Immune to full condition build.
-Hard to kill.
-1200 range cleaving conditions.
-Good damage
-Good team support (Ton of CC, Healing and Zone Denial)
-Counters Thieves.

Cons:
-Mediocre condition clear (mitigated by Diamond Skin)
-Vulnerable to Crowd Controls

So, if you’re interested to play with a hard-to-use but rewarding build that brings a total of eight hard CC to the table whose 7 of them are AoE, try it out. Try it out slowly, and on practice mobs first!

Sorry for talking against S/F Condition Builds, but they will simply feel lacking.

There are lots of great s/f condi eles with strong s/f condi specs. Much stronger than your spec which can easily be outcleansed by many meta builds. The problem is you have low condition damage, unpredictable ranged application and weak melee condition application, therefore anyone who can kite and cleanse puts you at a ridiculous disadvantage and any hybrid build like the above mention meta build ( cele rifle) do this very well. You might be able to bunker far but outside of pvp this build has no place and even there it has glaring weaknesses.

Sadrien.3470:

There are lots of great s/d condi eles with strong s/d condi specs. Much stronger than your spec which can easily be outcleansed by many meta builds.

Bring those s/d Condi Eles. A shame I don’t have any videos.

If you’re talking about about Shoutbows or Cele D/D, they don’t kill the build either. Shoutbows trying to decap can also die to DS/CES.

Alekt.5803:

Sadrien.3470:

There are lots of great s/d condi eles with strong s/d condi specs. Much stronger than your spec which can easily be outcleansed by many meta builds.

Bring those s/d Condi Eles.
A shame I don’t have any videos.

Edit I said S/F auto correct is evil.

Alekt.5803:

Sadrien.3470:

There are lots of great s/d condi eles with strong s/d condi specs. Much stronger than your spec which can easily be outcleansed by many meta builds.

Bring those s/d Condi Eles.
A shame I don’t have any videos.

Btw you spec as listed on metabattle is the direct counter to pure condition builds. It is countered by cele meta specs. This makes it a bad choice in the current meta. Most S/F eles would be full condition but those running cele might have a chance against you. I would love for you to demonstrate this builds viability because it is a cool concept but I just don’t see it working. There are other builds running s/d that are condi oriented like 60602 diamond skin builds. Not everything condi is limited to signets.

Alekt.5803:

Sadrien.3470:

There are lots of great s/d condi eles with strong s/d condi specs. Much stronger than your spec which can easily be outcleansed by many meta builds.

Bring those s/d Condi Eles. A shame I don’t have any videos.

If you’re talking about about Shoutbows or Cele D/D, they don’t kill the build either. Shoutbows trying to decap can also die to DS/CES.

Would you like to prove this? And I don’t mean vs pure macro essentially bot cele eles…
The way I see this is, one hit of dragons breath and your diamond skin is broken so you go back to hiding while 0 ticks of condi damage hit the cele ele. Then they updraft you instantly off point. After this the proceed to spam damaging AoEs wasting your dodges. Then they pop stability and beat you below the diamond skin threshold with lightning whip then apply high burning stacks, poison, chill and some bleeding. This continues while you desperately try and cleanse and heal to get diamond skin up.
Sorry you just don’t have enough damage to beat a good cele ele.

The point is not to counter Pure Condition builds. Though, it does that very well at the same time. Actually, Diamond Skin acts as an insurance against high condition builds, and works around the low condi clear of the build. Otherwise, high condition builds would counter Settler.

Demonstration might be the hard part. I don’t have the material for a video. But, my MMR is high, and I am ready for a friendly duel anytime.

Alekt.5803:

The point is not to counter Pure Condition builds. Though, it does that very well at the same time. Actually, Diamond Skin acts as an insurance against high condition builds, and works around the low condi clear of the build. Otherwise, high condition builds would counter Settler.

Demonstration might be the hard part. I don’t have the material for a video. But, my MMR is high, and I am ready for a friendly duel anytime.

Define high? You have a win ratio of 70% or something? If so it’s one of the many problems with the current matching systems.

Sadrien.3470:

Alekt.5803:

The point is not to counter Pure Condition builds. Though, it does that very well at the same time. Actually, Diamond Skin acts as an insurance against high condition builds, and works around the low condi clear of the build. Otherwise, high condition builds would counter Settler.

Demonstration might be the hard part. I don’t have the material for a video. But, my MMR is high, and I am ready for a friendly duel anytime.

Define high? You have a win ratio of 70% or something? If so it’s one of the many problems with the current matching systems.

High enough to play with and against big names. You keep Editing your post. It becomes hard; also, I understand that I will not be able to argue with anything since the build itself is so alien to mainly anyone. You’re discussing against unknown concepts, thinking DS gets broken in one tick of fire.

Tell me, have you even checked the Earth Shield Auto-Attacks?

Alekt.5803:

Sadrien.3470:

Alekt.5803:

The point is not to counter Pure Condition builds. Though, it does that very well at the same time. Actually, Diamond Skin acts as an insurance against high condition builds, and works around the low condi clear of the build. Otherwise, high condition builds would counter Settler.

Demonstration might be the hard part. I don’t have the material for a video. But, my MMR is high, and I am ready for a friendly duel anytime.

Define high? You have a win ratio of 70% or something? If so it’s one of the many problems with the current matching systems.

High enough to play with and against big names. You keep Editing your post. It becomes hard; also, I understand that I will not be able to argue with anything since the build itself is so alien to mainly anyone. You’re discussing against unknown concepts, thinking DS gets broken in one tick of fire.

Assuming your hp is roughly 12k and armor 3k the damage from a dragons breath tick is going to be roughly 400 damage if you are lacking protection. So a full dragons breath which will contain at least one crit does break the diamond skin threshold. Sorry constantly editing but auto correct makes it madness to right anything and my kindle won’t let me disable it. Also sorry for the horrific wording. I meant cast of dragons breath.

Alekt.5803:

Tell me, have you even checked the Earth Shield Auto-Attacks?

Yes. That is very weak condi application compared scepter earth auto and is limited to melee.

Alekt.5803:

Sadrien.3470:

Alekt.5803:

The point is not to counter Pure Condition builds. Though, it does that very well at the same time. Actually, Diamond Skin acts as an insurance against high condition builds, and works around the low condi clear of the build. Otherwise, high condition builds would counter Settler.

Demonstration might be the hard part. I don’t have the material for a video. But, my MMR is high, and I am ready for a friendly duel anytime.

Define high? You have a win ratio of 70% or something? If so it’s one of the many problems with the current matching systems.

High enough to play with and against big names. You keep Editing your post. It becomes hard; also, I understand that I will not be able to argue with anything since the build itself is so alien to mainly anyone. You’re discussing against unknown concepts, thinking DS gets broken in one tick of fire.

As you can see from my Signature I also play with and against big names.

Hp is exactly 11905. Base armor is 3226; 3526 buff.

Without crits, and with exactly 1540 power (Cele Hoelbrak), Drake’s breath deals a total of 649,22 for the full cast. (This is without protection or the 3346 armor from Earth Minor. It does not consider the might of either parties.)

Without crits against full buffed, it deals exactly 395,99 damage for the full cast. Which is far from the 1190 damage it needs to deal.

Again, this is without considering might stacks, or my healing per seconds. Each casts grant me 277 health.

Sigil of Doom will be immediately mitigated because it will land on the first hit of the breath. It will show a “Immune”.

Even with 25 stack of might, the damage remains 614,32 (3346 armor + Protection) without crits.

Alekt.5803:

Hp is exactly 11905. Base armor is 3226; 3526 buff.

Without crits, and with exactly 1540 power (Cele Hoelbrak), Drake’s breath deals a total of 649,22 for the full cast. (This is without protection or the 3346 armor from Earth Minor. It does not consider the might of either parties.)

Without crits against full buffed, it deals exactly 395,99 damage for the full cast. Which is far from the 1190 damage it needs to deal.

Again, this is without considering might stacks, or my healing per seconds. Each casts grant me 277 health.

Sigil of Doom will be immediately mitigated because it will land on the first hit of the breath. It will show a “Immune”.

Even with 25 stack of might, the damage remains 614,32 (3346 armor + Protection) without crits.

Exactly what formula are you using for your calculations, the mitigation w/o protection looks extremely high.

Edit : Tomorrow, would you like to have some test in game, practical application and mathematical theorem can differ for many reasons.

Power X Base damage X Multiplier / Armor X (0,6666 protection)

1540 X 680 X 2 / 3226

Alekt.5803:

Power X Base damage X Multiplier / Armor X (0,6666 protection)

1540 X 680 X 2 / 3226

Ok looks sound, I must just be too tired but this is only hit from a rather low damage skill w/o crits, not completely decisive by any means.

Hi!

I really like your guide, it looks like fun, and something different than my usual d/d cele build. There are a few thing missing on the metabattle page, but you did a great work.
I would like to ask you to make a video tutorial, showing how you use this spec, in tpvp or wvw. You don’t have to own everybody, or show exceptional skill, just show us the basic mechanics and how you use them under pressure. I will definitely sub for you on youtube if you do so

TymX.8017:

Hi!

I really like your guide, it looks like fun, and something different than my usual d/d cele build. There are a few thing missing on the metabattle page, but you did a great work.
I would like to ask you to make a video tutorial, showing how you use this spec, in tpvp or wvw. You don’t have to own everybody, or show exceptional skill, just show us the basic mechanics and how you use them under pressure. I will definitely sub for you on youtube if you do so

Yeah I too would like a video demonstration of what this build is capable of and the best examples of fights he can find.

Alekt.5803:

Hp is exactly 11905. Base armor is 3226; 3526 buff.

How do you get these stats in game? With the settler amulet and 6 in earth i still only have 2607 armor, 2727 when attuned to earth. With the shield in my hand, it will go up to 2907 in earth, but this is the maximum.
(all of this with the signet of earth passive toughness)

I tried the build for like 10 match and these are my experiences:
-in solo Q you have zero chance to earth 2 water 3/5 heal your party
-almost no one will stay in my earth 2 water 4 neither the enemy, nor my party for the aura
-at the beginning of the match as an aoe denial build, i will be most useful in group fights in the middle. However one hit from a ranger or a thief and there goes my diamond skin, and i should switch to water and abandon my dps just to get it back
-earth shield is cool, almost no one know that, they don’t know what to do against it
-you can’t beat a good cele engi, cele warri, or cele d/d
-you can type /dance against a condi necro/ranger and still cap the point
-a shoutbow alone will cleanse all your conditions
- a shoutbow alone will never kill you
- no stability is hurting, I was constantly interrupted, shortly after any good team realized what i was playing. No stomps, no meteor, not even earth shield cast is not fun at all (against bad teams, it was better, i was randomly interrupted with no reason )
-earth 2,5 -> shield 3,1,1,1 -> singnet of earth ->shield 4 ,1,1 combo will melt almost anyone in 1vs1

My conclusion:
The build would work well in an organized group, who will peel for you, and stay in your blasted water fields for heal, but the worst your team, the worst your build become.
Against the current tPvP meta with cele engi, and cele D/D and medi guard, this build is handicapped. However in wvw where in 10 enemy 8 is either pu mesmer or pistol dagger thief, it will shine. This is from someone who is not great, and not even very experienced. I have to abandon the build until I see you or someone else play it in solo Q, and show me how to play it competitevily.

TymX, I can safely confirm that I have 3526 maximum armor. With Settler amulet (Toughness ; condition damage ; healing power.).

About the Earth Attunement combo. 2 —> 5 is not a combo. 5 --->2 then signet of Earth is more of start for a combo.

Earth Shield. The combo is not 3, 1, 1 ,1; It is 3, 1 ,1, 2.

Earth Shield. Instead of 3, 111 —> Signet. Try if you have time to 4, Signet of E, 1,1,1 (at the back) and 2 (or add another full 111 rotation).

Also, I understand that a video will be necessary to give an idea on how to play the build.

I think I might try this once I have a bit of time to play. I’ll probably substitute Settler amulet with Carrion, though.

Alekt.5803:

TymX, I can safely confirm that I have 3526 maximum armor. With Settler amulet (Toughness ; condition damage ; healing power.).

About the Earth Attunement combo. 2 —> 5 is not a combo. 5 --->2 then signet of Earth is more of start for a combo.

Earth Shield. The combo is not 3, 1, 1 ,1; It is 3, 1 ,1, 2.

Earth Shield. Instead of 3, 111 —> Signet. Try if you have time to 4, Signet of E, 1,1,1 (at the back) and 2 (or add another full 111 rotation).

Also, I understand that a video will be necessary to give an idea on how to play the build.

Thank you for your reply. I checked my stats today, and now they matches yours. It must have been some minor bug, my stats not updating after the amulet change or something. Now I will try practicing some more, while waiting for that video
Thank you for working on this.