Guild Wars 2

Hey guys, I’ve decided to go into PVP with more effort and so I’m looking to create a build which is dps but also has a relatively average survivability. This is my current build, if you could offer suggestions on how to improve it or provide another build, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-k33;0J0B2VV0y4-N-Z0n-7NVU0v47O;59-TT;15;325927AUN;1N;0G3G3G3G34BG

This is solely my opinion. DD in PvP can’t have DPS comparable to other DPS classes and have Survivability at the same time. The best thing you can do is go Zerker Amulet and use Defensive Cantrips/Arcanes if you want to go DD DPS with a tidbit of “survivability”. Eles are in the lowest HP and Armor tier, you don’t have the luxury of going full zerker and still get decent HP and/or Armor like other classes can do. You’re like a melee thief that has weaker DPS and no access to stealth.

1. I believe that Valkyrie Amulet is not good on Elementalists who wants a DPS role especially on a DD 0/10/0/30/30 build. Sure you will get decent 2.4k+ Armor but your Crit Chance is laughable even with perma Fury.

2. I wouldn’t suggest using Scholar Runes on a DD build. You’re a squishy melee class, if you get hit by a random AoE your HP will be easily below the 90% HP threshold. You can use Runes of Ogre instead. Same goes with your trait, Vital Striking is not advisable for the same reason.

3. Not enough condi cleanse. Replace Vital Striking with either Cleansing Wave, Soothing Disruption, or Soothing Wave.

4. You can try playing Fresh Air s/x ele. It’s the standard skirmish DPS build in PvP. Your “survivability” comes from proper uses of Blinds, Dodges, and defensive cantrips/arcanes.

Thanks very much for your help, if i want dps, should i switch to a sd. And can you recommend a trait line or should i stick to 0/10/0/30/30.

S/x : 30 in air ,remember to trait Fresh Air (XII) .Another up to you . I like 0/30/10/0/30 or 0/30/0/20/20 .bring Arcane shield ( mainly) and some others break stun like Amor of Earth and Mist form if u want more survive and a little balance .Berzerk , Rune of stregth or orge for dps , sigil of 5% dmg or battle ,1 less is your choice ,Sigil of air good for some extra hit/dps.

If you want DPS, switch to S/D. If you want DPS with survivability, go for S/F. However, you might lack burst damage to kill tanky builds.

The most common Fresh Air builds are 0/30/10/0/30 and 0/30/10/20/10, the first one allows you to stack might while the second one is more of a “shotgun” build which relies on bursting and killing someone in a blink of an eye but both builds are squishy. Of course there are a lot of other variations too, you can wait for other players who are willing to give out their builds. I mainly use these 2 builds both in PvP and WvW.

Scepter + Dagger/Focus
x/30/x/x/x build.
Zerker Amulet.
Scholar (for shotgun build) or Ogre Runes. Some use Divinity Runes.
Sigil of Force/Air/Fire/Energy are the usual ones used.

Utilities are up to you. Usually defensive cantrips and arcane skills. Never go without Lightning Flash though.

Dagger/Focus build I toyed with some months ago. It let me win some duels against people in a guild I’m in that are pretty high ranked in team q leaderboards atm if that means anything.

0/0/15/25/30
Runes of the pack
Sigil of doom
Force sigil
Zerker amulet w/ valk jewel

This is kind of a hybrid build that makes tactical use of supportive conditions like weakness, cripple, poison, chill. Come next patch when Pin Down gets a longer casting time you will really be able to setup some counterplay with Magnetic Wave.