So here’s the thing:
I’ve had an engi for a while now, and i’ve tried carrying him into WvW like I do with my warrior so often. I find Engi delightful when roaming solo or in small groups, so much versatility! But:
For reasons i’ll mention later I’ve been wanting to take my engi into zergs, and find myself getting pummeled back and forth by CC, seeing as how i completely lack acces to stability…
I’ve tried multiple builds, including tanky ones, but it’s always the CC that gets me..
the lack of of stability is definately the mane problem especially since we are one of the tankier classes, as such we have kind of been relegated to running nades in zerg situations. Yes nade DPS is epic but other than that there is nothing else we can viably use build wise since we have no stability. Good news though this changes in one of the two october patches when throw elixer b starts to give guaranteed stability. this will hopefully open up options for more in your face builds on the engineer in zerg situations.
Etheeria (The mad bomber). If you don’t have shellshock your not doing it right.
the lack of of stability is definately the mane problem especially since we are one of the tankier classes, as such we have kind of been relegated to running nades in zerg situations. Yes nade DPS is epic but other than that there is nothing else we can viably use build wise since we have no stability. Good news though this changes in one of the two october patches when throw elixer b starts to give guaranteed stability. this will hopefully open up options for more in your face builds on the engineer in zerg situations.
I would love to be able to run flamethrower in zergs.. But it is impossible without stability… (Though even with stability i kinda struggle with retaliation)
I’ve been fine with FT and EG in zerg clashes, though I don’t do that often (we prefer smaller fights); Opening with FT #3 is good if a group comes up to you. However I’ll tend to play further out with him when doing that anyway, and falling back on my Rifle if needed. Or pull up toolkit as well depending on situation. Note I run a mix of Soldier and Zerker, to balance out the two (and so that I can dodge out if FT is hitting a Retal target).
Also consider runes of Melandru, which is reduced stun duration for this case, and I believe there are also stun/condition duration foods. I will probably go that route when I’m ready to finish map completion on my engi (I’ve not completed it yet on any character, and he’s the closest).
Editing to add: I am finding that its very important to keep track of the situation around you when running FT, in particular when you’re in a 1v2+ situation. A good way to practice avoiding stunlocks/knockdowns is by soloing a Veteran Dredge (preferably the ones that do that ‘gong’ thing). I did it recently to get a map completed – difficult but still possible, all in FT/EG/Rifle.
“The Meta Game does not stop at the game. Ever.” — Me
I like to view MMOs through the lazy eye of a Systems Admin, and the critical eye of a
Project Manager. You’ve been warned. ;-)
I main an Engi almost entirely in WvW. I tend to go back and forth between a nade build and an FT/EG build. That being said, CC is a major problem, especially while running FT. What saves my tiny little Asuran backside most of the time is Rocket Boots. Just make sure you jump away from the zerg rather then deeper into it!
I find that more often then not what gets me is retaliation. Our main attacks in both FT and Nades hit so many times that you really have to watch your health. However, a quick heal turret/overcharge/detonate/rocket boot the heck away from the zerg will normally keep you alive, (unless you bork the rocket jump and jump into the zerg instead of away… then you’re toast.)
When you zerg dive, what are your stats if I may ask? Ive been experimenting with a grenade-eg-rocket boot build which a former guildie got me started on and am sitting at almost 3200 armor with tons of protection uptime and 3300 attack.
But I would love to hear what you’ve been trying OP (and others).
Maguuma: Thug Life: [DERP][ME][PYRO] and other assorted dead guilds.
Pick up Protection Injection or Stabilized Armour (even both if you can afford the trait points) from the Inventions tree to stave of some of the damage when CCed.
For any zerg play I recommend high toughness, so either Rabid or a combination of Knight’s/Cavalier’s depending on whether you are power or condi.
I would also recommend taking either Elixir S or Tool Kit for some invuln when you know you have to run through a CC gauntlet
TBH, I get CC all the time when i’m in zerg fight, but I still survive.
Mostly when you do a zerg fight and die quite a lot, the problem is usually your positioning.
Do note that i didn’t even maximize the toughness but I still find myself able to live thru zerg fight when my zerg collide with bigger zerg. The highest ratio that I’m able to live thru is like 1:2.
Things to note thou, you need to know how the other zerg crash and their tactics. I usually go from the side and dive thru the zerg and get to thier backline and dps the hell out of my bombs and grenade. So, my problem is how can I not die when I first crash with the zerg. The problem is solve w/ elixir S. Also with the help of protection boon. I can survive most of the time even I got CC like 30% of the time when I first crashes with the zerg.
Just need to stack near commander and dodge/roll as you need.
Things about stability is that us engineer doesn’t really have a reliable stability so I guess to compensate that, we got ourselves a protection on CC’d, so you just need to trait it. If u still have problem surviving try drop sth. for protection injection. Do note that I didn’t even use a food, so if you’re still having trouble surviving, feel free to grab a defensive food (decrease incoming dmg. while getting cc’d or – condition duration).
My zerg-Build. Works awesome imo. Healskill and toolbelt skills recharge at 25% and additional i get stability at 20% health (runes). Plus tons of explofinisher for my water/fire-field and tons of AoE CC.
