Guild Wars 2

Using a sword and shield could Holosmith now be setup to be a Power/Toughness/Vitality tank?

Without picking gear yet this is the trait setup I was thinking of trying.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQJAsenEID1IjFJDWIDcJjFDDrvG+DHihBgxxeZMHkgWQA-e

Any thoughts?

I love the idea of it. Any particular reason you went with the Tools line? Alchemy seems like it might be a nice complement, even without any elixirs on the bar.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQJAsenEID1IjFJDWIDcJjFDDTMd8BGQ91wf4QMMAMO2LA-e

Also, some thoughts on the Holosmith traits:

Light Density Amplifier is perfect.
Crystal Configuration: Zephyr and Inventions: Mecha Legs… while not the same, seem to have a bit of excessive overlap with the movement impairment stuff.
Crystal Configuration: Eclipse might be a better option—or at least, better for situations where more defense and stability is important.

Enhanced Capacity Storage Unit might be better to give some offense to the build, but both of the other options (Thermal Release Valve or Photonic Blasting Module) seem like they could be really good options as well. PBM seems like it would pair well with the increased Heat Gen of Light Density Amplifier, while TRV might be a better choice with the Tools line and the Vigor/Endurance regen stuff it offers.

Both seem like good options, but with wildly different playstyles. One would focus on dodging as much as possible to control heat and keep it at a certain level. The other is more of a generate-heat-as-fast-as-possible, explode, repeat thing.

Like I said, I love the idea.

Maullus.1273:

I love the idea of it. Any particular reason you went with the Tools line? Alchemy seems like it might be a nice complement, even without any elixirs on the bar…. snip

I like Tools because of the decreased tool belt spells mixed in with the kinetic battery trait. Basically this build you will be keeping your heat above 50% while bouncing back and forth between forge mode and no forge mode. That way you are getting the benefits from above 50% heat along with the 5 stacks of kinetic battery that keep happening.

What gear set would you end up going with it?

You’re traited for power wrench btw.

Even with tank stats the Holosmith will move from a glass cannon a little bit up the spectrum to a balanced fighter or bruiser. There is no tank.

Also the stab and barrier on corona burst is way more survivable than super speed. Alchemy way more survivable than tools.. Idk what you’re trying to do really

Chaith.8256:

You’re traited for power wrench btw.

Even with tank stats the Holosmith will move from a glass cannon a little bit up the spectrum to a balanced fighter or bruiser. There is no tank.

Also the stab and barrier on corona burst is way more survivable than super speed. Alchemy way more survivable than tools.. Idk what you’re trying to do really

Gotta get that superspeed to be the ultimate dolyak escort in WvW though.

This is the build I’ve adapted for Holosmith from the one I’ve been currently running with Scrapper. Like to see what you think about it. Its meant for WvW play.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQJAsenUUBlIjFYBmYBcJjFDDr/G2DHihBgxxe5riUeSPA-jFyHQB7R9HhocRZPAAAcCAUx+DARJFDVC6F9AkCY1ZaA-w

Chaith.8256:

You’re traited for power wrench btw.

Even with tank stats the Holosmith will move from a glass cannon a little bit up the spectrum to a balanced fighter or bruiser. There is no tank.

Also the stab and barrier on corona burst is way more survivable than super speed. Alchemy way more survivable than tools.. Idk what you’re trying to do really

I have not had a chance to try anything out yet just theory crafting about a tank build. Since there has not been any mention so far in postings about using the Holosmith to tank.

I enjoy using shields and was hoping to find a build that would mesh well with it rather than going the sword/pistol route.

Not in PvE… there’s no reason to do such a thing.

In PvP this could end up being viable… I don’t know what combination of traits and amulet exactly, but if you get some tankiness through traits and gear you can still deliver good damage through PF. That sounds like potentially a good balance, and the Exceed skills seem generally good in PvP.

Zypher.7609:

Chaith.8256:

You’re traited for power wrench btw.

Even with tank stats the Holosmith will move from a glass cannon a little bit up the spectrum to a balanced fighter or bruiser. There is no tank.

Also the stab and barrier on corona burst is way more survivable than super speed. Alchemy way more survivable than tools.. Idk what you’re trying to do really

I have not had a chance to try anything out yet just theory crafting about a tank build. Since there has not been any mention so far in postings about using the Holosmith to tank.

I enjoy using shields and was hoping to find a build that would mesh well with it rather than going the sword/pistol route.

Sadly, the shield is still pretty weak due to the long cooldowns. Scrapper with hammer is much more defensive overall.

The devs seem to have something against the shield in this game. It’s a mediocre weapon with niche usefulness for pretty much every class that can use it.

Dahkeus.8243:

Zypher.7609:

Chaith.8256:

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Sadly, the shield is still pretty weak due to the long cooldowns. Scrapper with hammer is much more defensive overall.

The devs seem to have something against the shield in this game. It’s a mediocre weapon with niche usefulness for pretty much every class that can use it.

At least in WvW shield is pretty meta for both warrior and guardian. Axe/Shield and GS is the main warrior combo and Mace/Shield guardian is WvW zerg meta, both shields are pretty good.

Engineer shield is also really good but needs the CD’s on par with the other 2 so untraited is 20/25 seconds.

Arimas.3492:

Engineer shield is also really good but needs the CD’s on par with the other 2 so untraited is 20/25 seconds.

Maybe there is hope a dev will read this thread and lower CD’s?

Zypher.7609:

Arimas.3492:

Engineer shield is also really good but needs the CD’s on par with the other 2 so untraited is 20/25 seconds.

Maybe there is hope a dev will read this thread and lower CD’s?

I guarantee they already know about it. I can see their line of thinking though on why they don’t want to reduce the CD’s. Warrior shield has a block and a stun and Guardian shield has a cone skill that grants aegis and protection and a bubble that blocks projectiles and can flipover and do a very minor heal.

Engineer shield on the other hand has a 3 second projectile reflect that flips to a 5 person knockback/blast finisher and a 2 second block that stuns anyone who hits it for 1 second (even if they are in an evade frame ability like thief sword/pistol flurry) and flips over to a throw-able daze that dazes multiple targets both ways.

Comparing engi shield to the other two it can do a lot more things and its more versatile so I could see if that’s their reasoning they don’t want to reduce the base cooldowns.

I still think Engi shield is “skill for skill” is one of the best weapons in the game in terms of what it brings to the table… The cooldowns have unfortunately let it fall into disuse because it can’t keep up with the power creep nowadays.

Chop off 10 seconds from each cooldown and it’s back in business. Until then it’s sort of in a weird “it could be good if…” limbo.

Not completely dissimilar to Supply Crate.

ppl want to dps with scrapper…
then ppl want to tank with holosmith…

does not compute
(._o)

I’m under no real illusions that Holosmith is going to be a powerful tank survival spec. I would, however, like to play with its sustain skills in order to have a flippy, solar powered brawler instead of a glass cannon.

Arantheal.7396:

ppl want to dps with scrapper…
then ppl want to tank with holosmith…

does not compute
(._o)

I think most of it is Scrapper can already be a good bruiser, people want to know if its viable damage. Holosmith has already shown to be good glass cannon, people want to know if it can be tanky enough for non glassy play.

In my experience in WvW at least Scrapper can do a lot of damage, just not with what’s provided as utilities. Hammer does great damage and combined with core class options the damage is really good.

Holosmith has excellent damage output but with the right gear and other traits you can be tanky enough to not be glass cannon like. Probably won’t cut it as a full tank though.

Mercurias.1826:

I’m under no real illusions that Holosmith is going to be a powerful tank survival spec. I would, however, like to play with its sustain skills in order to have a flippy, solar powered brawler instead of a glass cannon.

I think Holosmith will be great as a brawler, especially with some if its skills its introducing like Spectrum Shield and Hard Light Arena that gives protection. Check this build I’ve mocked up, its similar to what I run with scrapper just fitted for Holosmith.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQJAsenUUBlIjFYBmYBcJjFDDr/G2DHihBgxxe5riUeSPA-jFyHQB7R9HhocRZPAAAcCAUx+DARJFDVC6F9AkCY1ZaA-w

Thanks for the discussion. Only a little bit of time left until we can get a good feel for this new spec.