Guild Wars 2

Hi All -

I have been gone for about a year and really want to get back into the game. I’ve tried to do some research on the above topic and wanted to get a little dialogue going on which is a little for basic and BEST for PvE and dungeons.

Currently I have level 78 Exotic Beserker gear with a lvl 78 Rifle. I enjoy using grenades and saw some cool builds with rilfes, but then I see that others think those are inferior and pistols are best.

I think I’d prefer to play more of a raw dmg character and not be so squishy.

Please let me know your ideas or builds you are currently using. THANK YOU!

Direct damage, CC = rifle.
Condition damage = pistol mainhand.

Survive ability = shield offhand.
CC, more condition damage = pistol offhand.

None of these are really inferior to the others depending on the build. With the patch coming in a few weeks that gives 2 handed weapons 2 sigil slots, you won’t even need to use pistol just for the extra sigil if you don’t want to.

Direct damage is a more power build, correct? Do you have any recommendations for a build? Right now I am specing into the following:

http://www.guildwars2hub.com/guides/professions/engineer-build-guide-riflegrenade-kit

Is this still viable in the current climate of the game?

bunch of grenade builds off the top of my head:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQFAUlspSXnvSiF17IyoCdmoHPGlNZfe8WtFEC-jwBBYfAkIAZmFRjtIcIa1hhVXDT5iIqGA-e
easy, mindless, great for beginners. decent damage through grenades and might stacking from elixirs.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQFAUlIqSYX3SiF17IyoCdGoH1FgNife8WtFEC-jgBBYfAUBAZmFRjt4qIas6aYKXER1A-e
my personal build. high damage and team support

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQFAUlIqyUH5SiF17IyoHdGpJaiKkffe8WtFEC-jgBBYfAUBAZmFRjt4qIas6aYKXER1A-e
static discharge variant. high spike damage. lower overall dps.

Mack Dack.4691:

Direct damage is a more power build, correct? Do you have any recommendations for a build? Right now I am specing into the following:

http://www.guildwars2hub.com/guides/professions/engineer-build-guide-riflegrenade-kit

Is this still viable in the current climate of the game?

The only thing not viable about that is the website you used to build it

If you want max DPS you’ll want 30 in Firearms so you can get Modified Ammunition. That’s not to say what you have is bad, but currently 30/30/anything is the most damage you’ll get. You’ll lose your condition removal if you do that though, it’s up to you. In this case you would probably want Healing Turret, and then from there probably not even an elixir focus anymore. Your build isn’t bad so you don’t need to do this, just a suggestion. If you like the elixirs by all means keep them.

ellesee.8297:

bunch of grenade builds off the top of my head:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQFAUlspSXnvSiF17IyoCdmoHPGlNZfe8WtFEC-jwBBYfAkIAZmFRjtIcIa1hhVXDT5iIqGA-e
easy, mindless, great for beginners. decent damage through grenades and might stacking from elixirs.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQFAUlIqSYX3SiF17IyoCdGoH1FgNife8WtFEC-jgBBYfAUBAZmFRjt4qIas6aYKXER1A-e
my personal build. high damage and team support

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQFAUlIqyUH5SiF17IyoHdGpJaiKkffe8WtFEC-jgBBYfAUBAZmFRjt4qIas6aYKXER1A-e
static discharge variant. high spike damage. lower overall dps.

Sorry I forgot to reply properly.

I will try your beginner build. Its close to my current once which is focusing on might through elixers. I am using Beserker 78 exotics with Superior Rune of Vampirism right now.

I am also using the Sigil of Force? The one with 5% dmg buff.

you’ll want to use battle or strength sigils if you’re using an HGH build. and you’ll want runes that have boon or might duration. otherwise you won’t get many might stacks.

When will the new patch drop when we can use two sigils in rifles?

Thanks.

Mack Dack.4691:

When will the new patch drop when we can use two sigils in rifles?

Thanks.

Should be in the major balance patch coming after the current LS arc ends. I believe we have 2 more LS updates, so we’ll get the final one 3 weeks from yesterday. 2 more weeks would be the first update after LS, so 5 weeks from yesterday is my guess.

In the meantime do you think I should remove that 5% dmg buff sigil and replace it with the 3 might stacking one? I figure might stacking is better based on the build but the Force one cost a lot of money!

I can just wait the few weeks and then add the might one, right?

ellesee.8297:

you’ll want to use battle or strength sigils if you’re using an HGH build. and you’ll want runes that have boon or might duration. otherwise you won’t get many might stacks.

I see this now. Having the Sigil of Force I sort of screw myself. Its tough to get might without the ability to change from grenades to the rifle and the duration is low.

The advice is really helping though. At first I was very overwhelmed being gone SO long, but thank you all for the help.

Might stacking is better based on your build, with the Grenade Kit you have plenty of hits to activate the crit effect as soon as it’s off cd. I would definitely get might duration runes, at least some cheap ones like Hoelbrak or Fire if you can’t afford Strength. Combo 2/4 Hoelbrak/Fire or 2/2/2 of all 3 if you can. Your might stacks will skyrocket if you can do that. Not intuitively, the best way to stack might is really not to pump out lots of might at once but to make the might you do get last very long so it starts over lapping.

Adamantium.3682:

Might stacking is better based on your build, with the Grenade Kit you have plenty of hits to activate the crit effect as soon as it’s off cd. I would definitely get might duration runes, at least some cheap ones like Hoelbrak or Fire if you can’t afford Strength. Combo 2/4 Hoelbrak/Fire or 2/2/2 of all 3 if you can. Your might stacks will skyrocket if you can do that. Not intuitively, the best way to stack might is really not to pump out lots of might at once but to make the might you do get last very long so it starts over lapping.

I did those adjustments with the runes. I have about 10 gold right now so I’m trying to conserve now. Do you think I will be OK with the Sigil of Force or should I switch to Battle right now? Can I wait till the patch comes out and just add in the Sigil of Battle down the road?

I had rings but they are ring of Valkrie focusing on power, vit and drit dmg. I want a little more life so I’m not a glass cannon.

Is 78 exotics Ok for now until I get more gold to pick up the 80s and then re rune them?

You’re fine sticking with Force for now if you don’t have the money for Battle (and I do suggest Battle over Strength if you’re using any kit which you are). It won’t make a huge difference, but you won’t be able to get as much might for now. Assuming you’ve changed your build to use HGH like the build you commented on above. If you haven’t, you’re not really in a might stacking build anyways.

Adamantium.3682:

You’re fine sticking with Force for now if you don’t have the money for Battle (and I do suggest Battle over Strength if you’re using any kit which you are). It won’t make a huge difference, but you won’t be able to get as much might for now. Assuming you’ve changed your build to use HGH like the build you commented on above. If you haven’t, you’re not really in a might stacking build anyways.

I did the HGH build mentioned above and tried it out on the Queensdale train. A lot to rotate, but I liked the challenge and keeping the might up.

Right now, I have the Superior Rune or Fire (2) Pirate (2) and Hoelbrak. All have the same initial 2 benefits. I will DEF get the Battle Sigil because I see the massive benefit of the 2 extra might stacks going into the rifle from using the grenade kit.

Its a TON of fun actually…I was getting anxious being an Engineer after I read so many negative posts, but it is a BLAST! I just need more cash for some gear, which all comes in time.

Glad you like it! That’s a good rune set to use for now, but on that big balance patch all runes are being looked at as well. For the exact reason that you are using 2/2/2. They want people to be more encouraged to go with a full rune set, so we’ll have to see how that turns out.

Also the Sigil of Battle will work going into or out of a kit. That’s why it’s better than Strength IMO. You have to always be attacking and critting to use Strength (plus it’s 1 stack at a time). For Battle you just have to switch which you do naturally.

I forgot to mention another advantage for rifle; mobility. With rifle in combination with Elixir Gun and Rocket Boots you can be one slippery little gearhead.

Adamantium.3682:

Glad you like it! That’s a good rune set to use for now, but on that big balance patch all runes are being looked at as well. For the exact reason that you are using 2/2/2. They want people to be more encouraged to go with a full rune set, so we’ll have to see how that turns out.

Also the Sigil of Battle will work going into or out of a kit. That’s why it’s better than Strength IMO. You have to always be attacking and critting to use Strength (plus it’s 1 stack at a time). For Battle you just have to switch which you do naturally.

I forgot to mention another advantage for rifle; mobility. With rifle in combination with Elixir Gun and Rocket Boots you can be one slippery little gearhead.

Thanks for all the advice. For now I will wait for Battle, just because I spent so much on the other one. I know it’ll make a huge difference, but for now it will be good to do some dmg like this and get used to the rotation.

I’m not much of a dungeon guy, I love the “train” PvE events and basically just kicking around with my friend that just got the game. I simply needed a great starting direction which you provided.

run AC p1/3. takes about 30 minutes to finish both with a good group and then you’ll have enough money for battle.