Guild Wars 2

As we all know condi is being buffed, should I invest into Sinister gear? The problem I think is Engine is kind of weak at stacking condi so I really not sure.

For solos it already has, so it is worthwhile IMO.

The main issue with condi is the ramp up time. Engi is actually really good with Condition damage (as I said already best in solo situations), but if a fight is short no matter how good it is you have to compete with a power damage rotation that will start hitting hard instantly.

It’ll likely take 5-10s to reach our max condition damage in a rotation, but if we’re talking doing a dungeon, well, many bosses are already just about dead by that point.

So yeah, condi’s are going to greatly improve, and they might be our best bet for more sustained fights, but it will still depend on the situation. So if you’re worried about money, I’d just hold off a bit.

For dungs definetly not it will be full zerk there now (so not even assa/zerk combo) because all cool new traits will benefit much more prom power damage. For solo dungs/farming will be Sinister probably best choice.

I’m hedging my bets and crafting some Rampager pieces in preparation for the patch. As long as I don’t stack so much precision that I over cap on crit chance, I figure that’s the best of both worlds (condition and power) until we’ve had a couple of weeks to figure out the new meta.

Dude, I think a few of us are on the same wave length here.

I’ve just sorted myself a full rampager set (exotics only) in anticipation.

I’ve been using it in soloPvE and using Ramapger in place of celestial in PvE.
The build is glassy ergo PI over BR using 6/4/4 but being an experienced SD-Zerker mook it’s nothing I ain’t used to.

My only reservation is that anyone using 6 in explosives is going to lose a bit of power overall…. only a bit though.

I’m not sure on sinister vs rampager. but I think each will be powerful. Worth looking at.
Splitting might be ideal as well.

Base.
base stats are going from 926-1000. this is a 74 stat increase, to all stats.
Gear vs traits.

300 power from explosives, 300 cond damage/prec in firearms. 100 ferocity in tools. with standard 6/6/0/0/2 builds.
(or swap around with various builds)

The 30% stat buff. we don’t know the exacts obviously.
but a “FULL” set of ascended gear had 1087 main stat, 745 minor.

326 main, and 223 minor.
so in zerker, you are going to be gaining 400(74+326) power. from new stats, 100 more then 6 explosives, 200/300/400 if you had 4/2/0 in it.
223+74 is 297. your prec will stay almost exactly the same as 6 in firearms.
But you will be losing a good amount of cond. 74 from stats, but none on gear, 226 condition damage lost.
You gain ferocity. 100 with 2 in tools vs the 297 you will have now. 197 gain.

Full zerker is thus pushing you towards nearly 100% direct damage. This might be a dps boost.. but at the same time, most hardcore are well aware bleeds, etc were always a notable component to engi dps. this will be even more true with vul and condition damage changes. so the power and ferocity gains might mean power builds are just stronger, even with cond damage loss. SD rifle for example, wont really miss the condition damage from blunderbuss, and sharpshooter procs. grenades will miss it… but again probably gain more direct dps to compensate.

Sinister vs rampager.

Rampagers advantage is the 10% prec as condition damage which I am sure all will take. and additional sharpshooter/incendary procs.
The main stat vs minor stat means rampagers gives you 1423 prec, and 968 power/cond damage. kitten difference, thus 46 condition damage from the trait from specifically from rampagers.
How much crit is that? not going to guess without making sure formulas are the same.
It must also be noted, that new crit traits were added.
10% chance to crit vs bleeding is guaranteed. 10% crit vs near foes is possible/likely. no scope might even give you near 100%uptime on fury. A firearms engi is looking at possibly 40% crit for “free”. so it IS possible the prec is overkill.
The other negative is no ferocity. all that crit and no ferocity. icky.

Sinister of course is just raw cond damage. 445 difference.

Well I’ve been cuffing about on gw2skills and a full set of ascended sinister armour with rampager weapons and trinkets all with condi infusions nets about 1k condi, well over 2k power (6 in explosives) and just shy of 60% crit (pack runes). My current rampager build at least has 170% crit dmg (4 in tools)…. Guess I’ll have to wait and see how this pans out later :-?