Guild Wars 2

Hey Guys,

First time poster. Recently got back into GW2 after having it since launch, I’m ashamed to say I never really gave it the time of day and I regret that now.
Alas, however I have started playing and have created an engineer as my first character as I have trawled the forums and guides for a profession I would enjoy the most. Engineer seems to fit that bill perfectly, he’s unique, tricky and from what i can tell takes some creativity.

However, I’m leveling through and do not feel like I’m experiencing this prof to the fullest. Is there any advice you can give on this? Maybe a particular skill-set/skill that opened your eyes to exactly how versatile engineers are? Maybe a point in your career, or an experience that proved to you exactly why you picked an engineer?

Even just a build that plays up all Engineers strengths just so I can really get the feel of where I am going with this character. Probably a bit too early to tell, but am hoping for a bit more guidance with such an individual and unconventional Profession.

Thanks for the help guys, love your work.

Think of your weapons more of utility than as the sole means for damage. When leveling, especially, you will put out significantly more damage using bombs/grenades than you will with weapons. This is due to the fact that the raw stats on our weapons tend to be a little on the low side compared to others. In addition, the kits base damage scale with LEVEL when you are < 80, so it will always be best in slot. In addition, moving around the map can be made very easy with speedy kits (tools trait VI), so get that ASAP as well as rocketboots. These (along with other utilities) make these class highly mobile. When killing mobs, it’s easiest to just group them up, drop a bomb 4 (aoe blind) and then a bomb 2 and just spam 1 and maybe switch to nades and spam 1 and 2 some more. Just remember the aoe blind because it makes killing mobs a cakewalk, except for those stupid dredge.

All-in-all, the real fun aspect of the class comes when you can theorycraft interesting builds at 80 with access to all the utilities. Oh, and don’t forget that mortar sucks and 95% of the engis on this forum are incompetent. Feel free to add me as a friend or pm me in game if you would like more info.

Thunderclock.7390:

Think of your weapons more of utility than as the sole means for damage. When leveling, especially, you will put out significantly more damage using bombs/grenades than you will with weapons. This is due to the fact that the raw stats on our weapons tend to be a little on the low side compared to others. In addition, the kits base damage scale with LEVEL when you are < 80, so it will always be best in slot. In addition, moving around the map can be made very easy with speedy kits (tools trait VI), so get that ASAP as well as rocketboots. These (along with other utilities) make these class highly mobile. When killing mobs, it’s easiest to just group them up, drop a bomb 4 (aoe blind) and then a bomb 2 and just spam 1 and maybe switch to nades and spam 1 and 2 some more. Just remember the aoe blind because it makes killing mobs a cakewalk, except for those stupid dredge.

All-in-all, the real fun aspect of the class comes when you can theorycraft interesting builds at 80 with access to all the utilities. Oh, and don’t forget that mortar sucks and 95% of the engis on this forum are incompetent. Feel free to add me as a friend or pm me in game if you would like more info.

Pretty much this. Gather bad guys up with grenades then sit around a corner waiting with bombs.
Once you want to start joining groups for dungeons, it’ll be wise to learn about combos.
All you need is bomb kit for #2 and #4 and some blast finishers.
Combo the heal turret with itself is also a great boon to everybody.

I’ll agree with this, although I did not use grenades while leveling (not that there had mind you I just didn’t lol) bomb kit is your bread and butter. You are a solo machine able to take on literally ANYTHING with the right tools and some patience. Also turrets have recently been buffed so… We will see if this is enough to add another layer to high end playstyle, time will tell.

Welcome to the best class ever! Use your kits… Love them.

A fairly unique trait to Engi’s is that we are, at the same time, viable at far, medium and close ranges – if properly equipped and traited. We really do occupy the middle-ground on everything. That’s part of what makes it so hard, and the real reason that it is so fun.

Most other profession seem to operate almost exclusively from a distance or in melee – we do both, plus deal damage at mid-range.

Also, as noted above, study combo’s – we truly excel at them. And be patient, an Engi really shines above level 80.

And if you focus on Power damage, don’t do so to the point that you discount all Condition damage.

Engineers are an incredible solo class, as they have the means to self combo and a wider array of skills at their disposal.

I also primarily used grenade kit but also elixir gun while leveling, ages ago now. Grenade kit is amazing for rounding up mass amounts of melee targets, while Elixir Gun offers a reliable stunbreak, extra healing and acidic leap offers a low cooldown blast with a pretty powerful damage over time you can drop on mobs that are chilly from your grenades.

Rifle is pretty invaluable for single target control as it offers a low cooldown immobilize and a reliable knockback. Pistol/shield is a another good choice regardless of whether you use condition or power for damage.

One thing I have to stress to you as an engineer is that you should pretty much never be just auto attacking. Untraited explosive shot (or fragmented as it’s now called) is pretty terrible, and even the fully traited version is underwhelming at best. Rifle can do some decent direct damage with the auto, but unless you’re somehow lining up mobs for the perfect piercing shot all the time, it’s probably not the most efficient way to kill things. Even for kits, the only half decent autos I can think of are Toolkit and perhaps fully traited bomb and grenade kits.

Despite engineer players being perhaps some of the most vocal and sensitive about changes to their favorite class, a well played engineer is in a rather good spot right now still.

Welcome to engineer.

Well for my 2c I leveled my engi purely through crafting so can’t say much about leveling with it.

It took some timebut the biggest ‘love engi’ moment for me is in wvw. Its just so much fun there, you can do so many things (and rocket boots!!), and you can quite easily 1vX.

The only thing I’d recommend with engi is patience. IMO its one of the hardest classes to play well and requires a lot of synergy and knowledge of your class and particular build. But once its played well you will have so so much fun.