Guild Wars 2

My question is if Engineer is usefull in PVE?
Will it be usefull endgame in dungeons? with a little world vs world on the side?
And what builds are usefull for it ? I mainly want to focus on the weapons don’t realy like turrets and such.

Also what EU server is good for lots of PVE with a bit of world vs world?

I’ve only started playing PVE endgame with engineer recently but I feel a lot of potential there. It’s more a matter if you are willing to master the class and put in the extra effort with engineer than flat out “is the engineer usefull”. I think especially in an organized team an engineer can fill many roles, from what I’ve heard condition grenadier (with an amazing range of 1500) does very well in fractals and SD rifle builds have decent burst damage as well. You can also provide quite a bit of might with fire combo field (FT or perhaps bomb kit) and blast finishers if your team syncs well + provide quite a bit of utility with reflects, condition removal and CC.

I play on Ruins of Surmia and it’s a pretty low pop server so I’m not sure what server you’d want to go to. Gandara and Underworld seem pretty decent but I can’t confirm this.

We don’t offer much to a party but (almost) any group composition can successfully run any dungeon. We don’t have any real group buffs and the skills that help the party can be done better by other classes. It’s pretty difficult to determine in pvp if a class is good, but in dungeons it is clear we are lacking. And since our traits determine which skills we should use we can’t change much skills on the fly depending on the boss fight.

mintberry.9013:

And since our traits determine which skills we should use we can’t change much skills on the fly depending on the boss fight.

Traits can be switched as well though

RuBarBz.4972:

mintberry.9013:

And since our traits determine which skills we should use we can’t change much skills on the fly depending on the boss fight.

Traits can be switched as well though

Yes but unfortunately they are often 30 point traits in different trees.

Maybe I was a bit to negative, but as you compare us with mesmer and guardian my 2 other characters the difference is huge.

mintberry.9013:

We don’t offer much to a party but (almost) any group composition can successfully run any dungeon. We don’t have any real group buffs and the skills that help the party can be done better by other classes. It’s pretty difficult to determine in pvp if a class is good, but in dungeons it is clear we are lacking. And since our traits determine which skills we should use we can’t change much skills on the fly depending on the boss fight.

I beg to differ, I think that any profession can be good in PVE especially engineer. We just happen to have the highest learning curve and it also depends on what your builds are. From my perspective, the best aspect engineer can bring to the party is control and conditions. It may seem minor but it makes a lot of difference in gameplay.
Some of the combo build that I used before that was really good was:
Rifle/Net turret/ Rocket Turret- for continuous immobilization and stun
P/P/Nades- to apply a wide range of conditions and vulnerability
P/S/Toolkit/Bombkit- Big damage and constant confusion (magnetic pull is amazing)
Multi-kit build- for obvious reasons

Elixir Gun- Super elixir is one of the best light fields we have in the game and fumigate is so good for team condition removal. (synergies well with FT)
Also we are really great at skipping parts in dungeons (if not the best), speedy kits and invigorating vigor for perma- swiftness and vigor.

I used to think engies didn’t has much to offer but I realize our role is not so obvious to others, and although we may not specialize in anything like other professions- we are one hell of jack-of a trade kind. =)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcEQFAEl0piYX3i6dEZkiODAApIvAsPPer2CCB

This is the grenade spec I ran while doing ddungeons, mainly fractals. I ran in full berserker gear and rifle. I went for full direction dmg. But in picking multi kits and rifle I bring alot of utility. Condition removal on the group, AOE heals and CC. I am not impressed with conditions or pistols in PvE. It is my opinion that direct dmg with the Grenade kit in zerker gear does more dmg.

While Grenade with HGH might do more dmg, I feel giving up all that utility and increase the already clunky play style of the Grenade kit was too much of a hassle and not worth the trouble.

For my last utility spot I would usually have toolkit, but it be switched out to either Elixir S or Elixir U (toss elixir U) depending on the encounter.

This way I bring very good dmg and lots of utility and support.

You are squishy, but you have extreme range and the saving grace here is that for those extra difficult encounter (Lava Shaman) this build still has rather good synergy with tanky condition gear. It’s not optimal, but it wont be crap.

It should be noted that for my Master slot in the tool tree I ran with Kit refinement and after the patch it was rendered useless to my build so I used Static Discharge as a test, but shortly after that I stopped doing PvE completely and got into the PvP. I guess Power wrench could be a rather useful trait in it’s place.

mintberry.9013:

We don’t offer much to a party but (almost) any group composition can successfully run any dungeon. We don’t have any real group buffs and the skills that help the party can be done better by other classes. It’s pretty difficult to determine in pvp if a class is good, but in dungeons it is clear we are lacking. And since our traits determine which skills we should use we can’t change much skills on the fly depending on the boss fight.

I absolutely disagree. We have the widest array of condition spam, easiest spammable weakness, great AOE damage and support, combo fields and finishers for area boons.

Also, that trait thing is just silly. Don’t think that just because you’re traited into something means you have to use it. You can do just as well without having a certain utility traited if it’s a single scenario that you’re having problems with. That’s what Engineers do; solve problems. I do it all the time. If a skill you have can mean the difference between you and your team going forward, you should utilize it.

But just for you, I’ve actually been working on finding the best setup for “trait sideboarding”. After KR died, I retraited at LEAST 12 times (Yes, I counted and got tired of counting) to find out how I wanted to keep playing this game. I have finally settled into 3/0/0/2/2. It gives me access to all the explosion based traits(larger bombs and mines, reduced CD on bombs and grenades, explosion damage increase, grenadier if I wanted to use it), most of the Elixir based traits(everything but HGH), and a host of really useful defensive and offensive passives(Auto Elixir S, 3 Might on Heal Use, Turrets cause knockback, Regen on Kit, Vigor on Swiftness, Protection on Disable). 20 in Tools gives me access to every Tool trait that’s actually important: Speedy Kits, Static Discharge, Speedy Gadgets, Power Wrench, Deployable Turrets, Packaged Stimulants, and Kit Refinement (which can have its uses every now and then). There was even a time where I actually took Always Prepared and got downed on purpose so that I can get a teammate an Elixir Gun. We spammed weakness and healing Light Fields like nobody’s business.

With 30022, I can be in the back dealing massive damage with Grenades, and then switch to something that’s focused on kiting with bombs, and then switch to something that utilizes exploding Turrets and fields, and switch to something with Elixir Gun and CC. It’s my favorite setup for the Engineer because it actually grants me the versatility that this profession was supposedly about.

Shoyoko.7309:

Also we are really great at skipping parts in dungeons (if not the best), speedy kits and invigorating vigor for perma- swiftness and vigor.

Well I would say the thief for example is a lot better at it with the group stealth and that’s fine because it is a role the thief should have.

Nilix.2170:

I absolutely disagree. We have the widest array of condition spam, easiest spammable weakness, great AOE damage and support, combo fields and finishers for area boons.

I got the feeling you really like your EG and your right it is nice. We do add things to groups of course but do you think they compare with aegis, reflection walls, might buffs etc. a guardian has, or the time warp, boon signet reflection walls, stealth and damage a mesmer has to help out a group?

Engi’s can run any dungeon we are just not as good as most classes. The reduced effectiveness off weakness and vulnerability on champs/legendary doesn’t help.

Should have explained what I meant with the trait thing. For almost all bosses/dungeons a certain damage cycle is the best in the build. Those variations you show are nice but do you find exploding turrets in combo fields as strong as the nade variant in dungeons?

I think you are missing the point mintberry. We can do everything, just that when going head to head with any class they will do certain things better, but they wont be able to do as many different things as the engineer. Just read what you are saying, you are comparing the Engineer to all the other classes and picking out 1 set of skills and saying how x class does this better. We are a DPS/support profession, meaning we bring very good DPS and solid support and utility with our CCs and weaker clones of other professions utility skills.

It’s the role we play and it is a very important one.

I just made a build for my Engineer which has been my best so far, getting 2500-3K crits with bomb auto-attack in green gear (knight’s armor and cavalier jewelery with ruby orbs, sigil of battle on berserker rifle)

It’s 30/20/0/0/20.
Explosves: III, VII, X
Firearms: II, V
Tool Kit: III, IX (can be II)

Utilities: Medkit, Bomb Kit, Net Turret, Goggles

It’s pretty active between switching to Medkit for Might/Fury, Rifle for Blunderbuss/Net Shot/Jump Shot, and Bomb Kit for your main source of damage. Can really keep something immobilized and vulnerable for your group. Not sure how it compares to some other builds but I like it

In list form, pros:
-Strong condition builds (easily the profession with access to the widest array of conditions).
-Decent party support. (Elixir R, strong condition removal, okay healing, reflect) Tons of blast finshers.
-Good amounts of control. (Net shot, turret knockdowns when traited, shield triple interrupt)
Cons:
-Inferior straight out damage. (Reliant on Conditions, or a kitten power/direct damage)
-Boon support isn’t the greatest. (Elixir mechanics/radius limits much of this)
-Huge learning curve.
-Arguably the class that requires the highest APM.

Just gonna put this out there because so many underestimate the strongest (imo) feature of Elixir gun: Fumigate. 5x condition removals in a cone, every 12 seconds. (Less when traited). Fumigate is more or less condition immunity for your party.

Overall, when played right, Engi is more than viable in dungeons. It just requires a bit more effort than ye olde zerker warrior/mes/thief or the elementalist healer with the trinity complex.

Even our damage builds offer tons of support. Traited nades are amazing for more or less perma 25 vuln, and routine access to aoe freezes and blinds.

mintberry.9013:

Shoyoko.7309:

Also we are really great at skipping parts in dungeons (if not the best), speedy kits and invigorating vigor for perma- swiftness and vigor.

Well I would say the thief for example is a lot better at it with the group stealth and that’s fine because it is a role the thief should have.

Engineer can technically achieve 13+ seconds of aoe stealth, regardless of build. Just takes a bit of time to set up. (Smoke bomb + blast finishers).

Definitely, Engineer is one of the stronger ‘skip’ professions. Not due to movement effects or such, but because of the sheer amount of potential blocks, perma swiftness and vigor and Elixir S, even without the cloak gimmick.

mintberry.9013:

1)do you think they compare with aegis, reflection walls, might buffs etc. a guardian has, or the time warp, boon signet reflection walls, stealth and damage a mesmer has to help out a group?

2)Engi’s can run any dungeon we are just not as good as most classes. The reduced effectiveness off weakness and vulnerability on champs/legendary doesn’t help.

3)For almost all bosses/dungeons a certain damage cycle is the best in the build. Those variations you show are nice but do you find exploding turrets in combo fields as strong as the nade variant in dungeons?

1) I do. Mainly because I find myself doing all those things when someone in the party can’t. Outside of Time Warp and Aegis, I can manage any of those. I fill gaps while providing things that the usual gap filler does not.

2)But that’s fine. Like you said I really enjoy EG. That’s where the support really Engineer shines, we apply weakness about as fast as they remove it. 50% Condition Duration says that it’s up indefinitely. Without it, the range of time where it’s not up is about… 1/4s. Even outside of Dungeons, I’ve seen wipes happen at things like Dwayna or the front gate of Arah. Often times, these things happen right after I stop spamming autoattack on my EG because I’m picking a fallen person up. It sounds self-important, but Crystal Desert does get dry spells in PvE activity. Having a < 10 person group attempting Dwayna isn’t uncommon for me.

3) As “strong”? No. Not really, but it’s also not that “useful” for much else. I don’t usually build primarily for strength. That is probably where I and most other players in general, diverge. It really helps that all classes can do damage in some way, so I can almost always rely on the rest of the team to do considerable amounts of damage. People will ALWAYS spec for it in PvE. I generally take either Grenade or Bomb Kit anyway, because they provide a lot of Power/Conditions as WELL as the control/support that I usually work with. However, my main focus is situational support and making sure that it’s easily changeable.

I don’t know how often other classes, or other players in general, swap their skills between fights, but I almost always do. Half because I like playing with different things, half because some things are more effective in other situations. Things change depending on what kind of tactics we’re employing, and what kind of problems the builds other people are playing aren’t equipped for. For a boss fight in a Fractal, let’s say Cliffside’s boss because you have a 99% chance to go there in a Fractal run, I might run EG and Elixir R. Depending on whether my team’s DPS is good or not, I’d either take Grenade Kit or Net Turret.

There are usually things that are more ‘efficient’ or ‘faster’, but some people play really well in different ways. I could go over a list of utility combinations that I employ during those kinds of fights, but it wouldn’t really help anyone else much unless they’re comfortable playing that way. Someone might suck at HGH, which I find super simple, but could be pro at tossing Turrets, Mines and such so she can set up for a nice quint blast of might/stealth, or just maintaining 6-9 stacks on the team over time in general (Thumper/Mine/Bomb Kit). Sure, an Ele or Guard can accomplish the same thing, but whether or not they are doing so is paramount. Can they do it and provide 5 forms of knockback(which just so happens to be enough to remove all the stacks of Unshakeable in a dungeon)? Utility is situational. I find that the Engineer is useful in every situation simply because I can do just about anything that other classes manage to do reliably (except Stability. Or Fear… but that’s why I buy those Grawl Ritual totem Environment Weapons every now and then) Whether it’s “as easy” is irrelevant to my usefulness.

Halcyon.7352:

Engineer can technically achieve 13+ seconds of aoe stealth, regardless of build. Just takes a bit of time to set up. (Smoke bomb + blast finishers).

Definitely, Engineer is one of the stronger ‘skip’ professions. Not due to movement effects or such, but because of the sheer amount of potential blocks, perma swiftness and vigor and Elixir S, even without the cloak gimmick.

Thief can do the same trick and save/ress a struggling team member later on using shadow refuge. If you or a thief has to wp back to help someone, who’s going back? And that’s exactly my point were good saving ourselves but we are not that good as a support class, we do have skills that help but so do others. A well timed aegis buff can save a party from a wipe, engineers just don’t have comparable skills. Those small things people are mentioning aren’t (much) better then small things other classes have ,but most classes have also some game changing party skills we don’t have.

mintberry.9013:

Halcyon.7352:

Engineer can technically achieve 13+ seconds of aoe stealth, regardless of build. Just takes a bit of time to set up. (Smoke bomb + blast finishers).

Definitely, Engineer is one of the stronger ‘skip’ professions. Not due to movement effects or such, but because of the sheer amount of potential blocks, perma swiftness and vigor and Elixir S, even without the cloak gimmick.

Thief can do the same trick and save/ress a struggling team member later on using shadow refuge. If you or a thief has to wp back to help someone, who’s going back? And that’s exactly my point were good saving ourselves but we are not that good as a support class, we do have skills that help but so do others. A well timed aegis buff can save a party from a wipe, engineers just don’t have comparable skills. Those small things people are mentioning aren’t (much) better then small things other classes have ,but most classes have also some game changing party skills we don’t have.

I dunno. I’d say potentially up to 6 seconds of inlvulnerability with which we are free to do just about anything is quite nice. Toss Elixir R often seems undervalued as well – doesn’t have an immense cast time for one.

But I can definitely see what you mean. I really wish Engineers could share the boon love easier amongst the party, at the very least. Or maybe heal slightly better… something. I agree that engineers probably are the most ‘self serving class’, which is why they’re such great solo’ers.