Guild Wars 2

Hi all,

I’ve had my Engineer shelved since launch, but kitten I want to like the profession! I love grenades in WvWvW, but even with ground mouse targeting on, I still think they’re just too clunky.

I tried Rifles, but the DPS and attack speed was slow and a bit painful.

So someone suggested dual pistols. I’m liking them a bit, and thought I’d ask if there’s a good PvE build out there I should look at, to ensure my traits and skills and gear are optimized for pistols.

Thanks!

P/P works best with a Firearms/Alchemy focus with either 3 elixirs or your choice of Tool/Bomb Kit for Confusion spam. In WvW, I favor the Tool Kit + Elixir S + Elixir R/U/B/C. In PvE I run three elixirs.

In Firearms, fill out all your traits to boost your Pistol (Coated Bullets + Rifled Barrels + Hair Trigger).

In Alchemy, fill out all your traits to boost your elixirs (Fast-Acting Elixirs + Cleansing Formula + HGH). If using Elixir B/U, go with Potent Elixirs somewhere in place of those three.

Fill out the final 10 points in Inventions or Tools. Explosives is a decent alternative with Incendiary Powder, too.

I run a 4/2 split of Rabid/Carrion with my insignias. If you’re running buff elixirs like Elixir B, boon duration is a good rune choice. Otherwise Might stacking runes are great.

I run dual Rampager pistols with Sigil of Earth and Strength. Corruption is probably a better option than Strength but I’m cheap-o and I just use one of my FT/EG pistols when running this build. I don’t do it very often in PvE and more so use it in WvW/sPvP.

Edit: Apologies on all the ninja edits. I thought you were looking for a WvW build primarily and had to re-configure the post to PvE as well.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/engineer/Mask-s-new-WvW-build-preview/first#post1620713

That is a good solid build and can play around with different types traits in Alchemy line.

100% condition duration is nice, but with the last patch they broke a few of the runes needed to achieve that. Until they fix Giver’s weapons this build only benefits the burn/bleed duration.

Awesome replies, thanks all!

Dual Pistol is often matched up with Elixirs, I go with Kits/Gadgets in my Ironman Mk1 Build: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/engineer/Ironman-Mk1-Build/first#post1591708

It gives you a MASSIVE HP pool for PvE as well as having decent direct damage in case of grouping up with people in Dungeons.
With Rocket kick and Blow torch, you get burn which is one of the stronger conditions, as well as Confuse from Static Shot and Prybar.

I have never used P/P Elixirs in dungeons. How does the damage compare to the FT or Grenade Kit?

If you’re going dual pistols, then a condition build is what you want to go with. From there you gotta decide on stacking condition duration, condition damage, or a mix of both. Right now I’m full rabid gear and I’m doing okay, but I feel a little lacking in direct damage with no power gear. Since I don’t have money to actually buy two full sets of gear, here’s the build I use except that I swapped the rabid trinkets for carrion. After comparing full rabid with my new rabid/carrion, I end up with:
-more power
-more effective hp
-same condition damage and duration

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/engineer/?2.0|a.1b.h16.a.1b.h1h|0.0.0.0.0.0|1b.719.1b.719.1b.719.1b.719.1b.719.1b.719|1h.62.1h.62.1h.62.1h.62.1h.62.1h.62|u59a.u67c.0.0.a6|30.d|2c.2v.2l.2h.30|e

I play both PVE and WvW, so there’s some things in here to deal with survivability. I prefer to use my pistols most of the time when there is more than one target because I can line them up and hit both with autoattack. If it’s just a single target then I’ll use elixir gun autoattack because it has longer bleeds and the weakness lowers incoming damage. I use the healing turret offensively because detonating it does over 1200 damage along with a pushback at melee range. The battering ram is great for interrupting enemies and you can drop supply crate on players while they are down. The toolbelt skill is a nice slow for kiting or chasing enemies. The third skill you can choose what you like. I chose elixir C because I felt I needed more condition removal in WvW than what super elixir could provide. Swapping weapons and using healing turret will keep an almost constant 6 stacks of might on you. For the traits, the last 10 points I put into speedy kits because I need the constant swiftness. You can go kit refinement to help in group situations on heals and condition removal. If you don’t need the swiftness, then I would suggest going 10 into vitality tree for trait that gives you 5% of vitality as condition damage. It will give more condition damage and health plus your might buffs lasts longer.

I second Phinaes’ post above. This is basically the setup that I run. Not sure how OP the damage output is, but it’s versatile and fun to play.

Thanks again for the helpful tips! I’m finding the Elixir Gun/PP build quite fun! It’s a little squishy when too many adds come, but I’m working on that….

What about the same build with shield vs. pistol in the other weapon slot? Seems to me that would be better for WvWvW anyway since you’d mostly spam 1-3 on your weapons and glue shot is a pain in the rear to use.

Sericenthe.5310:

What about the same build with shield vs. pistol in the other weapon slot? Seems to me that would be better for WvWvW anyway since you’d mostly spam 1-3 on your weapons and glue shot is a pain in the rear to use.

Blowtorch is mucho dmg in someone’s mug.

I am actually very new to the game, my first character is an engi and im only at 74, I have followed this thread for a couple days now, great responses and ideas, since I absolutely love using P/P.

I wouldn’t mind a few suggestions though, I was using the full firearm and alchemy that you guys sugegsted and it’s very nice but i can’t help but think turrets do a lot of damage.

Maybe im still new to using elixirs but I can take on 5-6 mobs at one time with turrets and still end up with top health while elixirs i can only handle 3 at my same level. It’s probably just the noob in me from being new I haven’t played MMO’s sicne Wrath from WOW and i got really bored.

Im just checking all the functionality of the engi and i absolutely despise using elixir gun, kits ect. I like the PISTOLS!!!!

drrobotnic.9387:

I wouldn’t mind a few suggestions though, I was using the full firearm and alchemy that you guys sugegsted and it’s very nice but i can’t help but think turrets do a lot of damage.

Turrets are fine in open world, but they fall to pieces in seconds when you’re playing in dungeons, even with traits.

The fix to Deployable Turrets is a welcome relief, but they need to be buffed—by like 100%—like they did with the Guardian’s Spirit Weapons. Tool Kit + Turrets should be a totally viable PvE setup but right now it just isn’t.

I have been toying with this might stacking build in pve. I have been having really good success with it.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcQQJAqalspSXH5ShF17IxoHfW0bGUh8K6xjh8kB;ToAg1Coo8y0loLbQOvkBNqYKC

(Copy and paste link in browser)

You can switch a pistol for a shield, the toolkit for a bomb kit, put in speedy kits instead of the toolkit trait and get some blast might.

You can also switch the toolkit to the utility goggles, switch the toolkit trait to the gadget one and have perma fury and vulnerability application. The sigil of battle only works with the toolkit or bombkit and is useless if you plan on going with the goggles.

A typical fight for me in the cursed shore starts with drinking/throwing elixirs, static shot, throw wrench, poison darts, auto until close enough to blowtorch, switch to toolkit, prybar, auto if the mob isn’t dead already (it’s usually dead). Gear shield is a life saver and the caltrops are a good slow in addition to the traited toolkit auto. I seem to have nearly perma swiftness and regeneration as well.

I can maintain 12-14 stacks of might at any given time with the dual pistols, more with the shield and bomb kit.

The build can also work with a rifle, but it is just OK. Might be worthwhile if going elixir U in place of R.

Yea i figured as much at 80 in dungeons, they just cream in leveling. Well good to know thanks, I will keep em dropped so I can learn to not have to rely on them for survival anymore. Thanks.

Phineas Poe.3018:

drrobotnic.9387:

I wouldn’t mind a few suggestions though, I was using the full firearm and alchemy that you guys suggested and it’s very nice but i can’t help but think turrets do a lot of damage.

Turrets are fine in open world, but they fall to pieces in seconds when you’re playing in dungeons, even with traits.

The fix to Deploy-able Turrets is a welcome relief, but they need to be buffed—by like 100%—like they did with the Guardian’s Spirit Weapons. Tool Kit + Turrets should be a totally viable PvE setup but right now it just isn’t.

I’m still relatively new as well (74 Guard, 33 Engi), and as drrobotnic said, I too find that w/ elixirs, I’m good up to about 3 mobs on me, then I’m in trouble. With turrets, sheesh……I can take on 5-6 mobs easily. This game (I too came from WoW) seems to like to overwhelm you with mobs. Every event, your personal story, dungeons…..they throw lots of mobs at you at once. Sure, turrets are made of paper, but after a few shots from my pistols the mobs are all aggro’ing me anyway so I just run around like a nutter (staying inside my healing turret range!) and let the rifle and rocket turrets add to the carnage. Good fun, and less cost at the repair merchant. ;-) For dungeons I just try to stay behind the meat shields…..

Of course, there’s nothing like popping an Elixir B, hitting the racial Battle Roar (I’m Charr), and opening a can of whoop-kitten with Wrench 3. :-D I really like the flexibility of this class!

If your a P/P Engineer I recommend rolling with Wrench Kit since it’s confusion stacking is so powerful in WvW…it also direct damage also hits like a truck too.

Tbh I think the P/P 100% Duration HGH (Rabid) build will probably be the most powerful single target build available once they fix Giver’s Weapons. Once their fixed it will be possible to have 100% condition duration on all conditions and have the benefit of stacking 15-18 stacks of might. On a side note, one could run Rampager’s with the condition duration runes and really benefit from the power/cd/prec for a grenade build (currently I’m pretty sure Rampager’s is a better choice for grenades or Berserker for power builds).

Fire turret doesn’t seem like much, which are the least important elixirs to drop for turrets.

I guess that was a dumb question since i am almost 80 nvm. THanks guys

Goloith.6349:

Tbh I think the P/P 100% Duration HGH (Rabid) build will probably be the most powerful single target build available once they fix Giver’s Weapons. Once their fixed it will be possible to have 100% condition duration on all conditions and have the benefit of stacking 15-18 stacks of might. On a side note, one could run Rampager’s with the condition duration runes and really benefit from the power/cd/prec for a grenade build (currently I’m pretty sure Rampager’s is a better choice for grenades or Berserker for power builds).

Pistol skills scale so horribly with Power it’s almost pointless to wear Rampager insignia gear. Going glass cannon may work in some dungeons, but Rabid works just as well and is more useful in WvW.

Rampager is more useful for Grenade Kit than it is a P/P Elixir build.

I ended up committing to P/P with high condition damage (and incidentally, toughness). What conditions I can apply do lots of damage, but due to the nature of engineer skills seem like they don’t last long enough. I’ll have to focus on my traits a bit more, but the build works fairly well, even in Orr. It just doesn’t quite feel super. Incidentally I use a shifting balance of elixers and turrets, depending on the situation.