Guild Wars 2

For a while I just gave up and moved on to a guardian but I really miss the gameplay of the elementalist. I’m trying to run a D/D build as I hadn’t really put much effort into trying it before but I’m coming up with the same problems I had before. If I run with enough survivability to play in Orr, I do 500 damage crits in fire. If I run with damage I just die in one hit. I can’t seem to find that great mix either. This just keeps confirming that the ele is NOT in a good place right now. It also didn’t help that every other skill I used would bug out. AND THEN it was also lagging so it felt even worse. I’d post my build but I don’t feel very confident in D/D builds as they are new so I won’t subject myself to the scrutiny of others. What tips do you have?

The D/D build I run

Stats (using all masterwork gear)…
Power – 916 + 550
Precision – 916 + 498
Toughness – 916 + 493
Vitality – 916 + 356
Condition Damage – 308
Critical Hit Damage – 14%
Healing Power – 255

Traits…
Fire – 10 | VI
Air – 10 | I
Earth – 10 | V
Water – 10 | V
Arcana – 30 | V | VI | XI

There’s just something about trait 5s and 1s I guess, and a random 10 in there too.
It’s an aura based build. You get protection in 3/4 attunements on swap assuming the aura is recharged in Water or Air. You can also Magnetic grasp through a fire field to get Fire Aura. With Fury up I have a 48% chance to crit. With the 30% increase to boon duration fury from attunement swapping and tripping an aura fury stays up for 10 seconds at a time. I run Sigils of Battle and Earth, triggering bleeds and might. The high crit rate with Arcana VI will keep vigor on you most of the time allowing for more dodge rolling. I like to stick with Arcane Blast, and Lightning Flash. I leave the other utility up in the air depending on situation. The elite I run is Glyph of Elementals.

Tips for running D/D…

• Make sure to get vigor somehow. Water III or Arcana VI are good options. The reason you want vigor is because you want to dodge a lot up close.
• Have some condition removal. Water V + Water 5 is nice, but Cleansing Flame is better in a pinch.
• Charge Churning Earth in Combination with Lightning Flash. Start channeling away from mobs then port in or Start channeling near mobs then port away while keeping them in range or allowing them to get in range.
• Might stack. There’s lots of opportunity for might stacking as a D/D elementalist, use it to add to both condition and raw damage. I’ve had up to 20 stacks on myself solo, but normally I have at least 6 stacks at a time.
• Swiftness is you’re friend. You can perma swiftness easily by adding Glyph of Elemental Harmony. Kite in circles around enemies when necessary, and kite so that you’re using your forward movement key, because that causes you to move the fastest. You may not always deal damage while kiting, but you can’t deal damage at all while dead.

Added:
I’m so amused by the major traits that I’ve decided to name this Build “Viivvv Vixi” in honor of the roman numerals that it is comprised of.