Guild Wars 2

Ok, so first off, here is my build that I am currently using in sPvP:
Flamethower Build

So far it has been working great! The damage is nice, the survival is nice, melee opponents are much less threatening with all the blinds. It feels really balanced and is quite fun to play.

However, I think there is room for improvement. I feel like maybe I could use more survival, but then again I feel that as I become more experienced with this specific build I may be able to survive better anyways.

Ranged attacks are of course a problem. My blinds work great against melee opponents, but most players see this and still can dish out heavy damage from range.

And finally, the speed is an issue, though more of a QoL issue. Especially when I need to stealth and run, having no speed boosts is a bummer. I wish I could fit one in somewhere, but I don’t see where I can do that without sacrificing too much.

Any constructive advice would be very welcomed here.

Im assuming “dont use flamethrower” isn’t what youre looking for?

I wouldn’t pay attention to ignorant comments like that. In my opinion I am impressed with this build except I dont think I’d use pistol id use rifle and maybe a bloodlust or precision sigil to get great use out of ur might stacks. Since you are using the burning on crits a precision stacking sigil wud be nice. Even though you are using soldiers amulet with many stacks of might the condition burn crit hits wud do nice damage so more precision wud be ideal. Also the reason I say rifle cuz it has more dps potential then pistol. Even though u will be in flamethrower kit most of the time the rifle skills are very useful to pop into and use and switch back to flamethrower. I am assuming this is for pve?

Got tired of all the never us flamethrower talk out there, so set out to make a FT build. It only take up one utility slot, 10 stacks perma might, 1 good burst attack, AoE blind, fire field, great knockback, but so overlooked because everyone wants to be able to spam 1 with it and do awesome damage.

I see it as a utility ability, and it works great for that. I sustain burns and direct damage while building might, then set up and burst an opponent down.

I correct my comment I see now that it is a rifle. But if still use a precision sigil. Its not too expensive and wud definitely help those crits for burns

Thrackit.2158:

I wouldn’t pay attention to ignorant comments like that. In my opinion I am impressed with this build except I dont think I’d use pistol id use rifle and maybe a bloodlust or precision sigil to get great use out of ur might stacks. Since you are using the burning on crits a precision stacking sigil wud be nice. Even though you are using soldiers amulet with many stacks of might the condition burn crit hits wud do nice damage so more precision wud be ideal. Also the reason I say rifle cuz it has more dps potential then pistol. Even though u will be in flamethrower kit most of the time the rifle skills are very useful to pop into and use and switch back to flamethrower. I am assuming this is for pve?

Thanks for advice and support, but not sure what you are talking about. I’ll double check the link, but I am already using Rifle with Sigil of Minor Accuracy to stack precision. And right now I am mostly toying with it in sPvP with great success, but I do hope to adapt it to PvE later.

You know what. Wow I am brainfarting. I see that now. Have u ever thought of maybe creating a flamethrower build with hgh? Ull hold 25 might stacks permenantly and would not need the might stacking flamethrower trait

Flamethrower hurts like hell with 25 might stacks haha I’m going to theorycraft a build using flamethrower when I get home. Thanks for making this post. I am excited now. Flamethrower is so frowned upon but does have amazing potential

I did try a flamethrower HgH build, and while it was easy to deal with conditions and maintain 25 stacks of Might, the damage gain wasn’t worth the steep drop in survival I took.

I made this build with the intent of making the whole build playing to the Flamethrower’s strengths. Thus the large use of Smoke Fields, Blast Finishers, and burst attacks.

However, I suppose I could take a crack at making an HgH FT build that did boast a bit more survival. But then again, this build does hold points beautifully with all the knockbacks + smoke fields.

the bomb/ft nodefighter build uses ft. as for using it as your only or primary kit, you’re just gimping yourself.

ArrDee.2573:

the bomb/ft nodefighter build uses ft. as for using it as your only or primary kit, you’re just gimping yourself.

Ok, to clarify one last time. I am using the FT for it’s utility. If you wish to comment and contribute to thread, actually take a look at the build I linked. Please do not derail this thread on nonsense conversation on how unviable everyone believes the ft to be.

if you’re using flamethrower as a secondary kit, you shouldn’t advertise the build as a flamethrower build.

as for the build itself, you have no vigor. you NEED vigor or an energy sigil to make up for it or you will be fragile regardless of how much armor and health you have. dodging is everything in this game especially in pvp.

you have no stunbreakers, and no stabilized armor or protection injection to make up for it. hambows are prevalent and this build is already weak to them without any poison or sustain for your tankiness, plus they can be immune to your many blinds and have lots of stability to deal with your cc. this makes it doubly worse.

juggernaut shouldn’t be used if ft is your secondary kit. you swap to it, get your skills off, then swap out. there’s no time to stay in the kit to stack might.

i’d swap out incendiary powder for enhance perforamnce. you’re not building for condi, and with ft and bomb kits you already have permanent burning on the point.

bomb kit without forceful explosives is not a wise decision.

Despite using the FT for it’s utility, it is my main kit. This is a FT build. The goal is to sit in FT Kit while might stacks are building up and burst skills are coming off cd, and then swap to rifle and/or bomb kit as needed then back to FT.

I agree on the issue on the lack of Vigor and think I can possible remedy that by pulling out of the Alchemy trait line just a bit.

So far in dealing with stuns or Hambow Warriors, I haven’t had any issues. Some of those issues could be fixed by including an Elixir Gun in the build, but it will come at the cost of sacrificing a smoke field. :/

As for Incendiary Powder, I will look into removing it. It may very well be that with all my other burning abilities I don’t need it. However, burning is a great condition even without building for condition damage.

And yes, I really want to pick up Forceful Explosives, but I can’t even count the times Accelerant-Packed Turrets has been useful to me in some way. However, I could possibly drop Incendiary Powder for it.

I just posted this build in another thread, but here it is again, b/c I appreciate the FT.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vcQQJAqelUUpdrlcxWLseViMqQnFqgECqQdJ6R+1YW2nC0FA-z0yAYuASiAJCAZP0EIR0YlsIasqaAFDm2Mp6zI7TY0qJFwTTAA-w

Shaogin.2679:

Despite using the FT for it’s utility, it is my main kit. This is a FT build. The goal is to sit in FT Kit while might stacks are building up and burst skills are coming off cd, and then swap to rifle and/or bomb kit as needed then back to FT.

I think that’s where the confusion comes from. Most people swap to FT for its utility and #2 spike and then back to the kit/weapon they use for sustained damage or continue thru a rotation. You’re suggesting spending time in FT just to stack might, then swap out of it. IF might stacks are your primary use for Jugg/FT, I think there are better ways to stack might and still maintain effective autoattack damage than using FT.

Seras.5702:

I think that’s where the confusion comes from. Most people swap to FT for its utility and #2 spike and then back to the kit/weapon they use for sustained damage or continue thru a rotation. You’re suggesting spending time in FT just to stack might, then swap out of it. IF might stacks are your primary use for Jugg/FT, I think there are better ways to stack might and still maintain effective autoattack damage than using FT.

This is true for me. Once I gave up juggernaut my performance improved.

That single trait is very frustrating in its current form. I really wish it incorporated the elixir gun to have more synergy with deadly mixture. Then I think juggernaut would be quite nice for might stacking on top of the battle sigil. It’d also really help the FT in direct damage b/c a swap to EG for condi stacking wouldn’t cost all your might and you get a further boost with modified ammo. Plus, FT 4> EG4 on top of all that would be very nice. That alone would really help towards bringing FT/EG builds on par with the standard ’nade/bomb builds.

The issue is that

- Juggernaut is designed for the player to remain in FT for an extended period of time

yet

- Engi’s strength revolves round swapping in and out of kits often
- FT doesn’t deal enough damage on its own to justify remaining in it for long

Either Jugg needs to be redesigned or FT needs to deal more damage.

Seras.5702:

The issue is that

- Juggernaut is designed for the player to remain in FT for an extended period of time

yet

- Engi’s strength revolves round swapping in and out of kits often
- FT doesn’t deal enough damage on its own to justify remaining in it for long

Either Jugg needs to be redesigned or FT needs to deal more damage.

IMO they should just make juggernaut provide the toughness as well as a certain value of power and condition damage. I mean, the way it works now is a bit weird… it provides one fixed stat, and then another as a boon. If it just gave +200 to all of toughness, power, and condition damage and get rid of the might stacks, it would function better, and it would be roughly equal to the stats it currently provides so as not to throw it off balance.

I’ve tried making HGH + juggernaut flamethrower builds before, but I could never get them to be in a place where I was satisfied with them. Although you can do some interesting things with them (like apply a minute of burning in a few seconds).

Ok, just to make things completely clear, everyone knows the FT is not optimal as a main kit. That is not new information. The sole purpose of this thread is to work out a build that utilizes the FT as a main kit that is enjoyable to play despite not being optimal.

If for any reason you hate the thought of people playing the way they want or hate people using the FT kit, this is not the thread for your comments. If you are just trying to help by saying use something other than FT, then don’t, the whole world is aware of the stigma against FT already.

With that said, anyone who wants to contribute useful information on using the FT as a main kit and has looked at the build posted, your comments are welcome here.

I recommend taking a look into going pistol/shield for 2 sigils, a blast finisher, block, reflect/knockback, and blind. More utility there. Taking toolkit instead of bomb kit will let you supplement your FT damage by throwing your wrench (while staying in FT); combo with FT4 will also apply additional burn. Moving 10 from explosives to firearms will open up 5% damage to bleeding targets and let you take modified ammo for a damage boost. The % modifiers will do more than the 100 power. Or instead of modified ammo, you could look into the swiftness on crit trait to help your mobility. Combining that with invigorating speed will give you many extra dodges. Lastly, maybe look into taking mines instead of the flame turret.

All that should help you with closing range/dealing with annoying ranged fighters.

With the knock back from your turrets, flamethrower and BoB, as well as the bomb kit’s blind and immobilize, I don’t see why this wouldn’t be able to bunker a point for a decent amount of time. Your weakness is conditions so far. You’ve already mentioned that taking the elixir gun would mean a lost smoke field from flame turret. Personally, I would sacrifice the smoke field for the benefits of EG. Also, what about switching to pistol/shield for more bunker potential? You gain a blind, heal reduction from poison, knockback/reflect and a block/daze. Your primary damage dealer is the flamethrower anyway. Since you already know that FT damage is lower than other setups, might as well increase your ability to control the field.

Pistol/Shield does sound enticing, but is it worth giving up the burst and ranged damage from the Rifle? Also, gaining Swiftness and Vigor on crit could be just what this build needs, thank you for that. I am confused on why to take mines over flame turret though.

And I think I am going to try to implement the Elixir Gun into this build. I’m starting to feel like it is needed. When I make it home tonight I’ll implement and test some of these changes and see what works. :-)

Mines to remove boons and a lower cool down knock back. Some find them useful.

Going with EG is a solid choice.

I love this build. I posted it in another thread, but I think you might find this build useful.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vcEQFAUlUUpWrtbxkLseNiEShEefgeUX+1IKSh+1YA-z0yAofASEQ2bRrJwAWBLiGreBTXmUtLk6FQFD7OUWDAgAczbGAc0je0AA-w

I’ve never liked condi, so I’ve always run engie power. This has been the best build I have tried over the past 8 months.

I run FT all the time and use rifle as utility for #2-3-4-5 when i feel i need them. #3 i use to get bleeds on groups.
Other then that i feel i do more then enough damage. I also carry EG and elixir B. Sometimes swapping EG for other Elixirs/utility.

I think many are too stuck in the “omg ft sucks in dmg” mode to realise the damage really isn’t that bad, especialy in groups.

flamethrower is a power weapon, not a condi weapon imo. Trait and build accordingly.

I’ve been a huge fan of the Flamethrower for a loooong time. I used to run an FT/HGH build, but I eventually got tired of just drinking elixirs all day.

My current build is 20/30/0/20/0, with Rifle(Berserker/Might on Weapon Swap), with medkit, FT, Tool Kit, and Rocket Boots.

The key (in my experience) is to use a different kit for bursting. I use/used my flamethrower to stack might up to ~15-25 stacks, and then I’d Net Shot → Jump Shot → Blunderbuss with the Rifle. I more-or-less do the same now, just with slightly more focus on conditions on top of bursting: The sheer amount of burning applied by the FT and Rocket Boots is outstanding, let alone the confusion from Pry Bar (Tool Kit)!

The nice thing about my current build is that even without a source of vigor, the Gear Shield and Rocket Boots allow for survivability. Mixed with 3 stacks of might on heal skill (which is equipping the kit, not the f1 heal), another 3 from equipping a kit (Sigil on my rifle), and the 7-10 stacks from Juggernaut, the Rifle becomes a force-uh-nature, and the Pry Bar cometh as the destroyer of faces. Conditions are also enhanced by Might, so it all bundles together beautifully.

For a straight power build in PvE, try something like this:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vcQQFAUlUUpWrFYx6KseNiEqQhB6RddXjooHPWjNZA-z0xAYLASEQyrIasthioxqWwUlER1ejioVLGgqA-w

Through Juggernaut, HGH, and Sigil of Battle you’ll be able to stack serious might on yourself. Plus you’ve got Napalm for allies to blast. There’s almost no survival built in so you gotta know your fights. Notice the food though. That should help quite a bit.

Seras.5702:

For a straight power build in PvE, try something like this:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vcQQFAUlUUpWrFYx6KseNiEqQhB6RddXjooHPWjNZA-z0xAYLASEQyrIasthioxqWwUlER1ejioVLGgqA-w

Through Juggernaut, HGH, and Sigil of Battle you’ll be able to stack serious might on yourself. Plus you’ve got Napalm for allies to blast. There’s almost no survival built in so you gotta know your fights. Notice the food though. That should help quite a bit.

I’d maybe try this with 10 in tools instead of inventions… it reduces the tool belt cooldowns, plus gives you crit damage. Speedy kits just helps with mobility… or you could even take, god forbid, kit refinement and try for some might stacks.

Runes of the fire might also work nicely… gives you might duration, and the fire shield would help ensure the target is burning for some extra damage. Would be a big loss in crit damage though.

All good thoughts. I chose 10 in Inventions because it was literally the only defensive traiting done. But if you want 100% offense, yea 10 in Tools is your best bet.

Only thing I’d disagree with is you don’t need fire shield to keep your target burning. Between Napalm, autoattack, and the FT toolbelt your target should be rolling in burns.

I had no idea so many others enjoyed the FT and made viable builds with it as well. You are all my friends now, just don’t call me on weekends.