Guild Wars 2

So, i started just yesterday roaming as engi condi grenade/bomb for the first time, following blindly this build http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Engineer_-_Roaming_Bomb/Nade with some changes since i’ m poor and could not allow those exact runes.

in short, in most skirmishes i got rekt most of times even if i had a friend guardian and was never alone, having most trouble against mesmers.
Now, i am a noob on this and that is out of discussion and to compensate a bit and try to have a better time figuring out the profession i want to ask some tips about how to use grenades, pistols and bombs. Obviously i will also need practice, but a bit of theory at the beginning won’ t hurt.

I use pistol if i need to chase an enemy for bleed and poison and i keep the confusion-blind if an enemy engages, grenade when i attack from far ( but i don’ t know if i should zone or predict and always go for the hit, and in which occasions i should use freezing and poison grenade – while the enemy is ensnared mostly?) and bombs when i get hard engaged: big bomb and smoke if i need to abscond, big bomb and fire if i need to get space and go aggressive and the simple bomb for capping points or baiting for damage. I reserve elixir S and the toolkit skill as panic button mostly.

I got it right? any suggestions?

Well, this build is horrible. No wonder you’re not successful with it.
My first suggestion would be to pick either granades or bombs, Elixir S change to elixir gun and pick toolkit on top of that. That alone will change a lot and increase survivability.
Another thing would be working build around that. Change traits, runes, sigils. If this goes for WvW – sigil of cleansing is great surviv-increaser, sigil of torments adds up decent damage. Runes vary depending whether you focus your build around granades or bombs.
After fulfilling everything mentioned above is good time to focus around playstyle with build, combos, tactics, but that will be improved anyway as the time playing goes. Watching recent engineer movies might help as well (game has changed quite a bit, watching movies that are 2 years old might be not related to the state of game as it is now).

Lol that build is silly! Metabattle strikes again! There’s no point in taking 3 in tools because there’s nothing worth recharging! Plus all Engi WvW builds should run either Elixir Gun or Rocket Boots for the huge mobility boost! Mobility is king in open world PvP! Try this build!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fdAQJAqelUUpvr9ZxELseNCbBNqxI6N2xq85GEgkC-T1hHABFp8jn9HaTPAAPAgFV/B4TAAUKBJFAMrBA-w

In my opinion, Adventurer is one of the best runes for condi Engi and they are cheap! But if you can’t afford condi duration food, you’re better off running Balthazar Runes! They are cheap as well!

As for your playstyle, at longer ranges you should be using your pistol auto attacks instead of throwing grenades! This is because grenades are easily dodged at long range! Pistol auto, while weak, is a reliable way to proc Incendiary Powder and for a condi Engi, burning is your main source of damage!

Learn your combo fields too! If you use Rocket Boots inside your Smoke Bomb, it’s a good way to disengage since you’ll leap away and give yourself stealth at the same time! The same thing applies to Shield 4! Also you can blast your water fields from your Healing Turret toolbelt and overcharge for extra healing with those skills!

Hope that helps! Wahoo! Bye frands!

Good to know that rocket boots proc blast where you casted it :P it looked like it procced where you finish!
in that case yeah smoke bomb + rocket looks promising. i did not mention shield because i forgot it, but i use that a lot too!

About the build, good to know that the fault was its part too! for example i assume that the grandmaster trait for the extended range is worthless, if used for this case?
I don’ t like much running double kit without stealth and elixir S, but i agree that the boots are too much good! Probably running S, boots and grenade is overkill for safety?

I would never run bombs and grenades in the same build for PvP/WvW.

Phineas Poe.3018:

I would never run bombs and grenades in the same build for PvP/WvW.

I’m going to second this.

Tool kit is pretty much mandatory.

Thank you all for the responses so far!

I gave another look at the build and decided what i would like to play and what not, and how i see it: since as it is said pistol attack is the main form of damage by range grenades would be useful more fro medium/short range attacks, together with bombs. Adding a toolkit would mean either use it as 3rd utility and having no room for elixir S or boots or decide between grenades or bombs.
Since S and Boots looks most useful the choice goes between bomb and grenade: if i pick grenades then i would pick elixir S since i would lack many fields to blast on besides water, and with bombs i would go with boots.

But i don’ t like the trait choice for grenades, so i decided to go with pistol and bombs since not only they have more strategical depth, but have more freedom in traits and looks way more fun! I will run toolkit, but i don’ t exclude running elixir gun later on.
For the build i picked up the ArrDee proposal on gear and slammed on it the traits and skills
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fdAQJAqelUUpvr9ZxkLseRCbBNqxAuNI2N2xP2gAA-T1hHABFp8jn9HaTPAAPAgFV/B4TAAUKBJFAMrBA-w

I picked the 5th trait on alchemy and i am not really sure about it, since i don’ t apply many boons by myself and is rather unreliable. I was also thinking about picking increased range on pistols rather reduced cooldown, but i guess that otherwise i lack too much damage ( and if i am too much distant i can’t use properly my somewhat tankiness and bomb kit), plus sharpnel because i need more to hit with bombs, than having bleed on bombs if they hit.

I’d drop the 3rd point off Firearms, and either pick up ‘Backpack Regenerator’ from Alchemy, or ‘Power Wrench’, ‘Leg Mods’ or even ‘Speedy Gadgets’ from Tools.

Backpack Regen: for those long, drawn out roaming condi fights
Power Wrench: for block cooldown
Leg Mods: for keeping mobility up versus soft-cc
Speedy Gadgets: for rocket boots CD

Also, for roaming, consider having one of your utilities flexible – ie. change it up based on the situation, before you engage.

So rocket boots might be your typical utility, but consider changing to:

Elixir S: to get the drop on someone via stealth, or fighting a small skirmish and you want to secure stomps & rezzes
Elixir Gun: for extra utility – bit of healing & condi clear, extra poison, downed cleave, and bleed/weakness pressure (good versus burst builds).
Slick Shoes: for some alternative means of escape and low CD stun break, the oil can be used offensively too and is good for securing stomps and rezzes

I even occasionally bring out utility goggles for dispatching enemy thieves. It is worth it just for the sheer fun of seeing them stand in SR wondering why they aren’t stealthing. Although I usually only bother if we are trying to clear a pesky thief out of a captured keep.

This looks much better! As Tor said, drop the third point in Firearms. Your best bet is certainly Backpack Regenerator, especially if you don’t use the extra condition removal EG provides. Power Wrench is not really worth it on a condi build (but excellent on a celestial one).

Every engineer has a different play style, so experiment with your alternatives. Tor detailed the pros and cons of the different utilities you can take. For me, EG and Rocket Boots are the safest options. You can also replace your shield with a second pistol for some extra pressure, and the immob on the 5th skill has a good synergy with your condi duration food.

ArrDee said that you should use pistol AA at long range, and that’s true. I haven’t played condi in a long time, but last time I checked, the AA on Elixir Gun was even better on condition builds, so use that instead if you choose to run it.

I am really liking the EG so far: blasts, weakness and so forth, while the toolkit is good for the block mostly, but i synergized not like the elixir gun and i am not really not into how it deals with enemies, even if i miss the block.

In which occasion i should prefer elixir gun over pistol for ranged damage, however? if i am teaming up with other allies for example? or just if i need to weak an enemy and jumo away?