Guild Wars 2

I love running as a grenadier in WvW when it’s zerg vs zerg, or when capturing/defending a keep. The range on grenades is the best in the game (1500), they’re AE, good conditions… I can do a number on an opposing zerg.

But grenades are almost entirely useless for 1v1, or small groups. I’m looking for something for those situations, while still keeping my 30 points in power for grenadier. (I also like 10 points in tools for the swiftness, but if I have another means of swiftness, that’s negotiable).

Currently I’m running as a partial flamethrower tank when I’m not grenadier. (Partial because I use Juggernaut, but not the talent that increases flamethrower damage by 15%, because I needed those 10 points for swiftness.)

FT and GK seem like an odd mix. Try Bomb Kit for when range isn’t an option.

Well, bomb suffers from the same problem as grenadier: it’s hard to hit anyone who’s moving.

Basically, I’m looking for anything that’ll work for 1v1 or small groups while still keeping grenadier. (I don’t keep grenades readied all the time; I swap them out when not running in a zerg or attacking a tower/keep).

Why not give P/P GK HGH a try?

SeniorChang.1795:

But grenades are almost entirely useless for 1v1, or small groups.

This isn’t true. I think you just need more practice using grenades.

Rodigee.7139:

SeniorChang.1795:

But grenades are almost entirely useless for 1v1, or small groups.

This isn’t true. I think you just need more practice using grenades.

That too.

I don’t think I could have more experience with grenades. They have a small radius and they make a red circle on the ground that enemies can see. Enemies don’t even have to dodge to avoid the red circles; running to the side is enough. Rarely, I’m able to stun someone and drop a grenade on them before they can recover, but that’s a whole lot of effort for one hit that frequently misses.

I’m going to give bombs a try. They share a trait line with grenades, and they have a wide radius that can be made wider with a trait. It’s big enough blast that to get out of it, you would have to dodge and run a bit. So you either stay and get blown up or run and get shot in the back. We’ll see.

SeniorChang.1795:

I don’t think I could have more experience with grenades. They have a small radius and they make a red circle on the ground that enemies can see. Enemies don’t even have to dodge to avoid the red circles; running to the side is enough. Rarely, I’m able to stun someone and drop a grenade on them before they can recover, but that’s a whole lot of effort for one hit that frequently misses.

I’m going to give bombs a try. They share a trait line with grenades, and they have a wide radius that can be made wider with a trait. It’s big enough blast that to get out of it, you would have to dodge and run a bit. So you either stay and get blown up or run and get shot in the back. We’ll see.

Only the toolbelt skill make circles. I think grenades are perfectly viable in a 1v1. You just need a lot of practice. And dont try to use them on 1500 range. If you want to hit with them, you have to stick close to meelerange.
I dont think bombs are the answer here.

By toolbelt skills, do you mean skills F1-F4? Or the number 1-5 skills? I always thought they all made red circles.

F1-F4 are toolbelt skills.
Indeed, 1-5 don’t make any circles

In sPVP, I’ve found that turrets work well of the grenades. Something like 30/10/30/0/0 or 30/20/20/0/0. Using grenade, rocket turret, and net turret.

The net turret and the rocket turret provide a large amount of control and supplementary burn. When immobilized, knocked down, or stunned, the opponent can’t avoid your grenades. So you follow up with more barrages, chills, blinds, all of that while they run about trying to avoid all of the ambient control flying around.

In sPVP, this is a very effective tactic in 1 vs. 1 engagements. Problem is… I’m not sure it will work so well in WvW. Biggest issue is that enemies can just disengage from the area, then re-engage you in a different location while the turrets are on cooldown.

Personally I just use the tool kit alongside of the grenade kit whenever I’m roaming, then swap that out for another elixir once I’m in a group or at my location.

“stick close to melee range when using grenades”

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UhRRNXpx9Ro/Tql5yNQWjCI/AAAAAAAABJk/3Vfcw9pJmRM/s885/Oh%2BGod%2BHow%2BHorrifying.png

You don’t have to choose bombs or grenades, both can work very well together. However in a 1v1 grenades aren’t that great bombs are much better in general. In fact i was watching a 1v1 tournament on Teldo’s channel on youtube and none of the engineers used grenades.

I can hardly imagine engi without at least bomb and/or tool kit on his bar. Tool kit is a must have tool for survival, and bomb kit is just too good for everything, especially with increased area trait.

Think Thief Clusterbombs.

Long range siege and Melee Range OPness.

I run 30/10/0/20/10 with toolkit, bombs and nades. I think you just need a bit more practice w/the nades. Once you learn to lead people they are deadly.