Guild Wars 2

Hey guys,
My main is a necro but I wanted to try some different classes and chose engineer. I’m already lvl 25 and I’m starting to look into some builds and on YouTube the static discharge build look really powerful… But how does it work? How much damage does it do? Does it crit? (Idk yet because I’m not lvl 30 yet) and can someone post a good build for it like I say on YouTube?

Hi! Welcome to the engineer forums!

First of all: PvE or WvW / PvP?

Static Discharge (SD) releases a lightning bolt whenever you use a toolbelt skill. That’s why you should use toolbelt skills with low CD like gun turret. The damage is moderate and able to crit but it won’t interrupt your other actions wich makes it a good source of damage.

For parties in PvE, grenades and bombs are significant stronger and more useful, if its efficiency you desire

greez, (questions?)

It’s for PvP. On the videos I saw it go for 2k+ (x4 ), which made me curious on how powerful it could be. Are there any good builds you can reccomend for this?

Holl.3109:

It’s for PvP. On the videos I saw it go for 2k+ (x4 ), which made me curious on how powerful it could be. Are there any good builds you can reccomend for this?

To get it that high tho you need to be full berserker, in which case a thief or any class really simply farting on you will down you. Thats why its not that viable

Holl.3109:

It’s for PvP. On the videos I saw it go for 2k+ (x4 ), which made me curious on how powerful it could be. Are there any good builds you can reccomend for this?

Any static discharge build at this time is only going to be Hot Join and maybe soloqueue viable. In order to get a reasonable burst, you have to give up a lot of utilities for stuff that just isn’t that good. The best bursts come from Rifle Turret + Tool Kit + Utility Goggles. If you look at the tool belt ability for Rifle Turret and utility goggles, you’ll notice they’re instant, allowing for 2 static discharges at once. Tool Kit’s toolbelt ability is throw wrench, which when thrown correctly can hit twice (once on the way, once on the way back).

Unfortunately, Rifle turret itself sucks. A lot. Utility Goggles as a stun breaker is like using sand paper seatbelts. The only redeeming factor of the build is that the burst is instant, even more so at melee range. Even if you are CCed, you can hit people for a good 3-4k with just Surprise Shot. I’ve seen quite a few versions of the build. Some go full YOLO:

4/4/0/0/6

That’s some serious damage there. Take the traits that are all offensive and help with rifle damage. Obviously take Static Discharge in Tools. The rest are really filler traits. Speedy Kits and Power Wrench are good. I personally like Gadgeteer for the might.

0/0/4/4/6

Way more sustain and a bit less damage. If you don’t feel like shattering to everything that coughs near you, try going more defensive. You can make up for the lost damage by running Fire and Air sigils. Taking both of these adds a good 2-4k to a burst.

Always always always run berserker. Some good runes are runes of strength, eagle, air, ogre, and pirate. Experiment. Some runes, while not necessarily optimal, can be fun to try out. I remember having a blast with Runes of Svanir even though I’d never be caught dead with them in Team Arenas.

Carpboy.7145:

Holl.3109:

It’s for PvP. On the videos I saw it go for 2k+ (x4 ), which made me curious on how powerful it could be. Are there any good builds you can reccomend for this?

To get it that high tho you need to be full berserker, in which case a thief or any class really simply farting on you will down you. Thats why its not that viable

Honestly I don’t find thieves too bad with accelerant packed turrets and gear shield. There have been countless times where I have been saved by the turret knock backs and the block can stop their backstabs and whatnot. Utility goggles can also make you immune to their blinds. Thieves are a tough fight but there are ways to deal with them. It is a matter of catching them before they catch you.

Edit: The problem I have with this build is that you don’t have as many ways to disengage with this build so you have to pick your battles more carefully and that the attacks have a shorter range.

Myron.6732:

Carpboy.7145:

Holl.3109:

It’s for PvP. On the videos I saw it go for 2k+ (x4 ), which made me curious on how powerful it could be. Are there any good builds you can reccomend for this?

To get it that high tho you need to be full berserker, in which case a thief or any class really simply farting on you will down you. Thats why its not that viable

Honestly I don’t find thieves too bad with accelerant packed turrets and gear shield. There have been countless times where I have been saved by the turret knock backs and the block can stop their backstabs and whatnot. Utility goggles can also make you immune to their blinds. Thieves are a tough fight but there are ways to deal with them. It is a matter of catching them before they catch you.

And what happens after you use up your 20 sec CD block? You get oneshot yes for being full zerker

You forget that you can kill a thief just as quick with SD as he can kill you with his backstabs. All you do is spread your burst out a little more and wait out his stealth. By no means are they impossible. Mesmers are a bigger concern for me imho and either way every build has a counter but that doesn’t make them unviable.

Rifle is great for fighting Thieves, in my experience. Rifle knockback and net shot give you a second or two to burst them (or try to escape). If you’re glassy and they go into stealth, give them a second or two to get close to you, then use rifle #5 at your position and they’ll probably die if they’re in range. Your victory is not inevitable by any means, but as Myron says, you can kill them as fast as they can kill you.