Guild Wars 2

I’ve been running a Pistol/Pistol Elixir Build (http://goo.gl/uZBWF) since basically forever. I have a lot of fun with it despite it’s relative simplicity, but recently I started playing a Warrior and it’s really made me re-evaluate just how viable my Engineer build is.

I’m geared mostly for Precision and Condition damage, as crits apply bleeds and burn, which are my main sources of damage. Obviously I can also apply a poison. Now, typically I can apply 6-9 stacks of bleed fairly consistently, and it’s certainly served me well in PvP situations, and I’ve run many dungeons and seemed to be doing alright. However, on my Warrior, I found that dual-wielding swords can apply 15+ stacks of bleed fairly easily, and while initially the bleed is short duration, it can be buffed to last longer. Does my Engineer’s mobility, burn, and poison make up for the disparity in bleeds applied? I haven’t gotten my Warrior to 80 yet; I’m unsure of how the direct sword damage compares to the direct pistol damage.

I guess I’m just looking for some sort of validation here, to be honest. I’m not really concerned if my build is not the absolute best Engineer build, but if it is really that poor a performer that I am a drain on a group, I guess I’ll try something else or just shelve the character.

Thanks for your time!

I started out with a similar build! I went Dual Pistols with Elixir H/Elixir B/Elixir U/Elixir R. Elixir B+Elixir U followed by Poison Dart Volley, Blowtorch, and Explosive Shot will melt a fool, especially with PISTOL SHOTS PIERCE! It’s delicious, and stays crispy in milk!

I’ve wrecked as a Dual Pistols Engineers. However, I’m more in between support/CC/DPS. Thusly said, I started messing with a Rifle/Elixir H/Rocket boots/Grenades(or Rocket Turret)/Elixir R with Mortar as Elite.

Also look at Utility skills that compliment your pistols. Rocket Boots are nice for breaking the immob/stun, and the rocket kick does 2k burning damage over 5 secs.

I don’t think we will ever put out the kind of damage that a warrior or thief does. But that doesn’t mean we can’t hold our own. Using your tossed elixirs on a group is nice. People will love you. Trust me. Slick Shoes, Glue Shot, Net Turret, Rocket boots, can do amazing things(but also make you a target. People will notice you).

Mobility: loads. However, if you are being jumped by two or more, drop a Glue Shot(dual pistols) or use Net+Jump Shot(Rifle). Slot tools with the 5 second swiftness when kit is equipped, and you have nigh-perma-swiftness(great for WvW).

Also, PvP is different than WvW or PvE. In PvE Dungeons, Engineers are highly sought after for our versatility. We have a variety of skills and utilities at our disposal for almost every situation. WvW, a single engineer can change the tide of an enemy zerg, or break a ‘Mexican Standoff’. Example: came up an a group larger than ours, and started tossing elixirs. Ran to the front tossing grenades. Dropped Mortar. Started launching into the ‘Turtle’. This gave the opening for the small group to rush in and wreck that larger group. Engineers can do amazing things.

I love my Engineer. I just suck at playing my Thief! XD

Respectfully,
Eijofor Suun

My advice? Try everything out!

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fcAQJAqalspSXnvSgF17IBoH6Nv8V0jHDZH/pAbB

Try that build out thats what i use with the P/P builds and it wrecks stuff i do change the goggles out for a asuran racial radiation field and i change the elite to a racial golem so its not my exact build but it will still wreck stuff.

the only problem i saw with your build is that elixir u is a must for dps

and yes our other pistol moves make up for our lack of bleed stacks. Also bleed stack is capped at 25 poison and burn are just duration increase

Don’t forget Utility Goggles, 20% crit and Blind Immunity… plus Analyze which puts up 10 stacks of vulnerability for 8 seconds to increase damage 10%.

Ejiofor.4801:

" will melt a fool, especially with PISTOL SHOTS PIERCE! It’s delicious, and stays crispy in milk!"

ROFLMBO! that is the FUNNIEST thing I’ve read all day!

Ejiofor.4801:

My advice? Try everything out!

I’d suggest the same thing. I settled on a bomb/burn/pistol build with a touch of speed and invis when immobilized. It’s nice in Orr when trains are following me to the next node. If they get close I use bomb them to death n stuff. It’s fun. The burns last longer when I’m bombing. I use gear that has pow prec cond damage to enhance the burns but while leveling i noticed it was much easier to use pow toughness vit on armor for the bombing thing. I heal alot with this build especially in Orr.

Oh and I too use goggles for their tasty goodness.

iirc piercing shot on pistol #1 does not apply conditions beyond the first target only the direct damage(power) component of the shot

Disastro.4086:

iirc piercing shot on pistol #1 does not apply conditions beyond the first target only the direct damage(power) component of the shot

wording sounds wrong there. It can be confusing to describe.

Direct hits by pistol one have the p1 bleed applied. if you have two targets in a straight line, with coated bullets. each will get the bleed.
The exploding shot does NOT apply the bleed. when a target is hit multiple times due to the exploding hit, they will not get the bleed applied. Even when p1 explodes at max range and double hits the primary target. this is simple the shot piercing, and exploding again at max range, and hitting the primary target once with direct, and once with exploding aoe.

This is of course further complicated by the sharpershooter trait in firearms. Where that bleed chance on crit, is applied to every single hit aoe. If you hit a target 3 times, 3 chances to apply that bleed.

I’ve played a bleed warrior a bit, and yes, they can stack up way more bleeds than a condition engineer can. If you want to play conditions in solo PvE just for fun, then yes, warriors will do more damage. (Not nearly as much damage as either class built power/crit, of course).

In PvP, I think the main difference is that the warrior can’t really apply any other conditions, so it’s really easy to remove their bleed stacks. I’d rather have poison, burn, and five stacks of bleeding on a target than 20 stacks of bleeding and nothing else…

Your build is very similar to what I’m planning to do (engineer is not level 80 yet).

What gear do you plan to use? I’m in doubt between Knight (Toughness, Power, Precision) or Valkyrie (Power, Vitality, Critical Damage), tending to Knight due to the increased survability. No idea what runes to take… I haven’t done the math myself, so I don’t know if it would be better to increase the Perception/Critical Damage side, or the Condition Damage/Condition Duration side.

Any ideas?