Guild Wars 2

I main mesmer, I play my mesmer by far more than anything else. But when I get bored, Necro and Engineer are tied for second.

Prior to the rewrite of the traits system we just had, I had three builds: a bomb build, using elixir infused bombs and healing power, a flamethrower build, and a crit based build.

The bomb build was by far my favorite. And of course, it’s now dead.

in its place, though, are some fun things I want to try out to replace what I lost, but I had a few questions:

1. Lock On, the trait that Analyzes characters hit in stealth, thus revealing them. I’m assuming it functions exactly like the tool belt skill, including the 25 second cool down? And if so, does that trait that reduce cooldown of tool belt skills help? How about kinetic battery? etc etc.

2. I have found a set of traits I’d like to use in combination: Siege Rounds, aim assisted rocket, static discharge, takendown round, and kinetic battery, possibly with bunker down thrown in. What stats and skills would you suggest to take with that? Obvbiously I’d have to take Mortar, and i’d probably want utility goggles. I was considering a power/precision/toughness stat set, and not entirely sure of the skills, but….

3. Healing Kit w/ healing blaster. Is it my imagination, or does this suck? IF not, how is it best used tactically, because it hasn’t worked all that well for me so far.

Thanks in advance!

1) Yes and no. They apply the same thing and have the same cooldown. But they are different in the way they apply it. The skill Analize need a target so you can only use it on visible target so they don’t go in stealth. Lock on only work on enemies in stealth.

2) PvP or PvE? Take a look at Soldier Rifle Elixir Variant for PvP on meta battle. Your choice look like this if it’s for PvP.

3) Healing Kit isn’t great. Healing Turret is by far the best healing skill of the engi. AED Work well, but it can go wrong quickly. Elixir H is the easiest to use and is good, but less adaptable than Healing Turret, and there is a bit of randomness in it.

Thaddeus did most of the job already, but anyways:
1) Toolbelt CD reduction does work with Lock-On’s Analyze. I can’t say about Kinetic Battery since I don’t use Lock-On normally. I’d guess it would also trigger a Static Discharge proc if it does consume Kinetic Battery, since it’s treated as a Toolbelt skill for CD purposes.

2)For PvP Soldier seems to be pretty much the Meta. Keep in mind though, skills that don’t require a target (Throw Elixir, Healing Mist, Orbital Rounds among others) will fire the Static Discharge bolt in whichever direction you’re facing, generally downwards in front of you. Targetted skills like Analyze and Throw Wrench will fire the bolt towards your current target, so if your plan is using Static Discharge, chances are you want at least two low-ish CD skills to make use of it.

Small note: Best candidates for Static Discharge are probably Analyze, Throw Wrench, Surprise Shot (Rifle Turret toolbelt), Launch Personal Battering Ram, Rocket Kick. Also I believe there are two ‘variants’ of Static Discharge with different damage values depending on if the Toolbelt skill used was instant cast or not.

None of those 3 builds you just mentioned as our only builds were REMOTELY common, let alone viable…

1. Yes it counts as a toolbelt skill and no its not affected by Kinetic battery.

2. PvP or PvE? I would STRONGLY suggest Zerker/Knights (for WvW) or Maruader stats(PvP) for SD based builds. Why utility goggles?

3. Yes healing kit sucks complete kitten.

GrandHaven.1052:

None of those 3 builds you just mentioned as our only builds were REMOTELY common, let alone viable…

1. Yes it counts as a toolbelt skill and no its not affected by Kinetic battery.

2. PvP or PvE? I would STRONGLY suggest Zerker/Knights (for WvW) or Maruader stats(PvP) for SD based builds. Why utility goggles?

3. Yes healing kit sucks complete kitten.

Uhm, did I say they were common or viable? scrolls up nope, sure didnt. Maybe you shouldnt put words in my mouth, eh? Go back and reread my post. Seriously, can you quote any part of my post where I said these are OUR only builds? Anywhere?!?! I said they were MY builds.

kitten , some people.

Those are the builds I LIKED. Sorry if they offend someone’s sensibilities as not being meta, but I liked them, I played them, I enjoyed them. And btw, I know I wasnt the only one or people would not have been complaining about EIB going away btw. I’m allowed to have my own badwrongfun however I want, regardless of whether you or anyone thinks otherwise.

And after taking a deep breath and calming down a little here… utility goggles to counter play cloaking characters, along with the lock down trait. plus thought some fury, vulerability, stun breaking would be nice. But primarily for the cloak counterplay.

Thaddeus, Ignis, thanks for the suggestions, I looked them up and it does look like the direction I want to go. Thanks!

You used the word “just” implying only…
Anyway. The lockdown trait is more reliable and is more than enough to counter invis heavy builds if you can time it right, however for a damage heavy sd build, utiliy goggles is still pretty good.

Sooo pvp or wvw? Ill cook up a build once i have that.

GrandHaven.1052:

You used the word “just” implying only…
Anyway. The lockdown trait is more reliable and is more than enough to counter invis heavy builds if you can time it right, however for a damage heavy sd build, utiliy goggles is still pretty good.

Sooo pvp or wvw? Ill cook up a build once i have that.

Both actually. PVE as well. And sorry I blew my top.

GrandHaven.1052:

You used the word “just” implying only…
Anyway.

Lol. Read pls.

Morfedel.4165:

Prior to the rewrite of the traits system we just had, I had three builds: a bomb build, using elixir infused bombs and healing power, a flamethrower build, and a crit based build.

Morfedel.4165:

Prior to the rewrite of the traits system we just had, …

Morfedel.4165:

,

See

Morfedel.4165:

Both actually. PVE as well. And sorry I blew my top.

You gonna need 3 builds then.

Thaddeus.4891:

You gonna need 3 builds then.

Depends on how effective he wants to be in each mode.

If you want speedrun dungeon clears then you will need a build for PvE and possibly a different one for WvW depending on your playstyle of choice.

(Or you could run the same build everywhere like I do for good (not optimal) results, though I rarely WvW)

@GrandHaven:
Good catch on Kinetic Battery/Lock-On interaction. Knowledge makes us stronger !

IgnisVulpesXI.3015:

Thaddeus.4891:

You gonna need 3 builds then.

Depends on how effective he wants to be in each mode.

If you want speedrun dungeon clears then you will need a build for PvE and possibly a different one for WvW depending on your playstyle of choice.

(Or you could run the same build everywhere like I do for good (not optimal) results, though I rarely WvW)

@GrandHaven:
Good catch on Kinetic Battery/Lock-On interaction. Knowledge makes us stronger !

I don’t need speedrun dungeons, just successful runs

It’s not about speed run or anything. These game mode are just so different.

Thaddeus.4891:

It’s not about speed run or anything. These game mode are just so different.

This…

Lemme make a PvP build.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQFAUlUUh2uYNVwkLw6FLvFV4IGRp23DGhBw4aUjZBA-TJhFABAcBAAvMgAPAgZ2fAA

Your main source of defence on this kind of build is CC and counter pressure, you need to get your positioning right to make it work.

Main source of damage is SD, all 3 your toolbelt skills have low CDs and proc SD reliably.

Combos can be : Magnet > Prybar > OS > Netshot > Analyze and Suprise shot > Throw Wrench > Jump shot > Blunderbus.

OS > Net shot > Analyze and Suprise shot > Throw Wrench > Jump shot > Blunderbus.