Hi. I don’t really play ele but I like messing with traits. I’m usually not far off when a new meta is around the corner.
I’ve found some awesome synergy between Arcana, Water and Tempest which, is an unlikely combination even after several glances. Basically this build is based on the current role of D/D ele, but allows the ele to counter conditions for itself and allies extremely hard with AoE 600 radius cleanses separate from water attunement, provides protection with increased effectiveness, and provides near permanent vigor to allies (permanent to self), which is frequently applied and each application grants 10 endurance. This build essentially gives back some of the endurance regen lost with the vigor nerf to allies, and to itself it’s as if vigor was never nerfed. It has dodges (not evades) to match an S/D thief.
How does it work?
- Rune: Shouts remove a condition.
- Trait(water): Regeneration application removes a condition
- Trait(tempest): Auras grant regeneration and vigor.
- Trait(tempest): Grant vigor to allies when attuning to water. When granting vigor to allies (or yourself [undocumented], also grant yourself (and them [undocumented]) 10 endurance
- Utility skills: Shout granting an aura x2.
I’m at a bit of a snag though. First is stability for safe stomps. Armour of Earth works of course, but it’s a 75s cd unless taking cantrip mastery – one trait for one skill isn’t very appealing. The other is boon duration.
On the one hand I suspect the meta is going to get tankier so D/D ele’s damage, while good, won’t be as much of a bonus as it was vs having say, a bunker guard. However, on the other hand the might isn’t just for the ele, but allies too. It still does good damage for support, and it looks like the support is stronger than the current D/D ele. I have four variants, and I think the first is as good as I can get it, but as I said I don’t really play ele, so I don’t have the experience. All I have are what it looks like on paper =P.
Note: The calc is out dated. Tempest Master #2 and Minor #3 have changed.
Master #2: (reworked) Invigorating Torrents. Auras you apply grant regeneration and vigor.
Minor #3: (added) Protection has increased effectiveness. -40% incoming damage.
1) http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vFAQJAo4mcMA9XCWYiFWAz9q2VLrEJgDQAo4Im/qAA-TJRHwAFeAA82fAwJA4YZAA
This one loses all its might duration, trading it for being able to provide extremely strong condition cleansing and more powerful healing to allies. It keeps its own might the same however, by using sigil of battle again, giving up sigil of energy. It gives up energy sigil because of the permanent vigor and 10 endurance gain on each frequent application. The condition cleansing is separate from water, and covers 600 range.
2) Same as 1, but keeping sigil of energy because perhaps in practice, the endurance return isn’t fast enough.
3) This variant keeps might duration by keeping rune of hoelbrak and not using rune of the solider. This means while cleansing to self is still very strong through weapon skill auras and soothing ice, the cleansing to allies outside of water is weakened significantly. Still, it’s stronger than the current D/D ele, but it’s outshined by shoutbow and bunker guard for cleansing due to the range limitation.
3) This variant gives up offhand dagger for warhorn. It essentially keeps the might duration since it loses it from the rune set, but gains boon duration from Tempest by switching Elemental Bastion for Improved Melodies, which also extends active boons by 2 seconds via weapon skill and passively with a trait. However, the offhand dagger skills updraft for downed, one aura for self given the build, fire grab, AoE knockdown, and ride the lighting (mobility) are significant losses, and Heat Sync which sounds good doesn’t seem to work properly at the moment.
One utility slot and the elite skill are variables. Options could be Armour of Earth or Eye of the Storm, and Firery Greatsword or Rebound.
http://www.twitch.tv/impact2780