Guild Wars 2

So I been messing with some of the lesser used conjures like flame axe, earth shield, lightning hammer (although I know more eles are using it in pve recently and a few gimmicky wvw builds) and Ive noticed a few things that might help make them a little more polished and effective.

• First and foremost, it seems after some testing, that most traits don’t function properly, or at all, with conjure weapons.

Since the conjured weapons are technically bundle items, traits should still work. One good example would be fire inside or piercing shards. Doesn’t matter if I have the traits running or not, they don’t seem to ever have any effect. I haven’t noticed any change with bolt to the heart either, which should have been the most notable change of all.

• I’ve noticed flame axe, as most people know, isn’t quite as horrible if you take the conjurer trait for more charges. When you can use it more, you can set up for better combos with it’s fire field and leap. I do really wish the #2 skill, explosive lava axe, was a blast finisher though. For being a flame axe, it’s strangely shallow of actual burning. having #1 do burning every 3rd or 4th his for a second or two similar to guardian’s virtue would be ideal. Would make it a much more versatile weapon.

• Lightning hammer actually isn’t too bad if you build around it, or if someone other than an ele picks it up. It hits hard, has a shocking field, leap finisher, knockback, and near-spammable blind. So I really can’t offer much ideas about it.

• earth shield….oh how I love and yet hate thee earth shield….. if you can train your thickheaded warriors how to use this baby, it’s an amazingly powerful weapon, but sadly most of them can’t/won’t learn how to use it and you can forget using it yourself. Having an invulnerable on it doesn’t make up for the fact you’re forced into melee range while you use it and can’t access water spells to cleanse/heal. It also does horrible damage and the #1 and #4 skills are just a wtf move. #2 isn’t too bad, but I think it could use some love to make it better, maybe projectile finisher. I think #3 should put an aura buff on you to reflect projectiles for a few seconds after use. Other than that it’s a pretty powerful one too. The invulnerability is ok except you can neither move while casting it, nor while it is active, making you now the favorite target of every baddie around and once it wears off you’re done for…hardly a skill you’d choose to use in a situation dictating invulnerability and a need to get out of trouble….

• Fiery Greatsword: This needs to be left alone, like forever. This weapon does amazing damage, has finishers, #3 can be used not only as a whirl but also an escape if done right. I repeat…leave this skill alone lol. With it’s elite status and semi-long recharge it’s perfect where it is.

• Frost Bow- While not an epic weapon, it’s not horrible either (as we all know #4 hits really hard). It can actually do decent damage overall and will regen allies around target area if traited to do so. Sadly though, if piercing shards worked while using this, it could be one kitten weapon. While #4 is a strong skill with the freeze, the actual chilled duration on it could be raised quite a bit for a 2 second stationary casting skill. With such short range I would like to see the #1 skill fire a little faster but not really needed I suppose.

So yeah, that’s my few ideas about conjures. I’m a huge fan of them and run variations of conjure builds everywhere (not a full bar of them, I don’t think we were ever intended to run such a build). Leave some thoughts and ideas. Try to stay constructive please. Seen far too much of “zomg conjures are worthless except #4 bow blah blah blah”

conjured weapons are getting a buff. fire axe is getting a blast finisher im pretty sure, and also i think the Burning Fire trait will then affect the attack skills on fire axe and fiery gs.
Frost Bow is getting a healing buff and a little dmg buff.
If Lightning hammer were to be buffed/changed, then the chain attack would have to be considered 1 use, because that hammer depletes charges rather quickly.

Actually LH-AA is on of the most powerfull attack in this game. Under best conditions it’ll hit for 19k, 19k, 28k or something like that. And if you use FGS 4 without a target against a wall it hurts like hell. But I think the other CW need the upcoming patch.

Derond.7930,
Do you mean 1.9k, 1.9k, 2.8k? If not, then please share your 10x damage hack with the rest of us. That would definitely help overcome the 60% damage nerf that has been ripping this class apart.

If I remember correctly and the leaks are correct. Off top of my head that I can remember.

Flame Axe:

Grant might everytime you strike someone
Getting a blast finisher

Frost Bow:

1. The #5 skill cast time reduced to 1.5 seconds.
2. Auto attack velocity increased
   There is more but can’t remember

Lightning Hammer:

1. Can move when you cast #5
2. #3 banish range increased to 600m

Earth Shield:

1. #2 and #3 skill will move to the auto attack chain. All skills on the auto attack apply bleeds.
   New skills on #2 and #3
2. #4 skill will grant protection for each enemy pulled in and can be casted while moving.
3. #5 CD reduced to 30 secs.

Oh snap. I already like my earth shield now, but this sounds awesome. I know a lot of people hate conjures and say they don’t want to play war, etc., but I’m looking ahead to and planning for the upgrade to conjurers with an optimized conjure build.

Earth Shield needs a Cone wave on its autoattack, much like the Staff Autoattack on Guardians. Could be something like a magnetic wave that cripples enemies but deals more damage closer to them. Would make it so much more user-friendly.

I have an awesome idea. REMOVE CONJURE WEAPONS ALL TOGETHER! I’d rater be able to have the class actually equip said weapon rather then making it.

In order to use them effectively you have to build your character around the stupid skill. Plus the melee ranged stuff is dangerous for us. Softy remember?

Wait a sec I just had an Idea!!

How about a select-able mode/item (uses the weapon slot) called something simple like weapon mode or conjure something or the other. Where rather then wasting a skill slot you have an equipment that you hold and the F1-F4 are the conjured weapons of that element? By that I mean by pressing the F1-F4 you are using that weapon not creating it.

Maybe? Could be interesting…

I’m glad you guys posted that, for once I was out of the loop on leaked notes. If those changes are in fact coming down it would be prime. Time will tell I guess.

CMstorm.8679:

conjured weapons are getting a buff. fire axe is getting a blast finisher im pretty sure, and also i think the Burning Fire trait will then affect the attack skills on fire axe and fiery gs.
Frost Bow is getting a healing buff and a little dmg buff.
If Lightning hammer were to be buffed/changed, then the chain attack would have to be considered 1 use, because that hammer depletes charges rather quickly.

Yeah something I noticed about hammer and axe both, they both pretty much require you to take the increased # of charges trait to be useful. They can just burn through charges way too fast. As for bow, I usually run out of time or am forced to drop it before I run out if I use the trait- almost the same for fiery GS but that one is a little easier to use up.

Should they add / change trait to lower CD on weapons?

CD as in the skills on them, or the summon CD? Because the summon CD is usually covered by weapon duration considering you summon 2 at a time.

CD is fine by me, I am currently giving frost bow a try and I often end up with my second bow in hands and CD reset. Maybe decrease skill #5 CD & cast time (2s you’re pretty much a sitting interruptible duck and the opponent has plenty of time to get out of range) or make it so you can cast it while moving, and enhance the projectile’s velocity and/or make it follow the target. I know it’s a powerful skill so it may be tough to balance, but you actually have to make it hit to make it powerful. And maybe increase the overall range of the bow (1200 would be nice enough), giving x/F eles like me the ability to compensate the lack of mobility when catching up a fleeing stunwarrior.