All around general PVE build
Never really considered using the trait spread you picked for guard with hammer, I can see it working decently but I think if you try 15/15/0/20/20 as a hammer build you’ll have better success with it.
15 in radiance for blind spam and vul stacking on trash mobs is really op. The 20 in virtues lets you have the option of another condi clear and depending on if you’re solo or in a group, you can take empowering might if you need might or the two symbol traits if you have might from party members. Also, I would just take fiery wrath in zeal instead of the vuln on imbo since you won’t really have an imbo that’s up that often.
You are missing out on some instant condition removal in traits meaning your only removal will be reliant on purging flames (take into account cast time/cd) and whirl finishers in light fields (unreliable), plus you aren’t using anything that whirls, eg GS so you then have to rely on your pugs.. and well, faith in that area of humanity is all but gone.
Larger symbols is a mixed bag, one half of me says pugs are kitten and will not melee or stack, meaning larger may be required. Likely at this point though they are sitting at range and no matter how big your symbol is it wont hit them. The other half says if you group with anyone decent who is melee range with you, you really should not require this trait anyway. Mobs should easily fit within regular symbol size, along with your allies. Especially given that the regular symbol size has already been upgraded to a larger size in a patch not too long ago. I would also strongly recommend you take the 15 radiance for blind and vauln spam.
Grandmaster Forum Mind Brain
|-Swiftpaw Sharpclaw [DnT]-|
|-Swiftpaw Sharpclaw [DnT]-|
(edited by swiftpaw.6397)
I’ve heard 15/15/0/20/20 is the best hammer build. Its just not traiting WoP with hammer is beyond stupid, and empowering might is another 5-6 stacks of might for the group. And the increased symbol size is just kinda there, i dont really know what else would fit. Im assuming shout cool down, for whenever i need a shout. If only EM was an adept. Plus the 10% extra dmg on low endurance is nice, even tho ive heard you lose DPS if you purposefully dodge. I just like to know its there for when i do use all my dodges. Im also just curious why not 25 in zeal, an extra 10% dmg on your main damaging attack is pretty good. Im also curious how the 15/15/0/20/20 build compares to the GS Sw/F build damage and utility wise.
I much prefer 0 15 30 20 5.
Damage is still great, you bring a lot of group buffs and you heal insane amounts through AH.
I much prefer 0 15 30 20 5.
Damage is still great, you bring a lot of group buffs and you heal insane amounts through AH.
You won’t have that much condition removal though. A bit from the Purity trait and perhaps Signet of Resolve or Purging Flames. Not sure if that’s enough for certain dungeon encounters with pugs.
Although many people find AH very selfish I find it useful with casual pugs. However, when I play with a strong team I can immediately tell that the build is too defensive.
Perhaps the new Meditation heal will allow us to fully trait into Valor and easily switch between an Offensive Meditation build and Defensive AH build.
I much prefer 0 15 30 20 5.
Damage is still great, you bring a lot of group buffs and you heal insane amounts through AH.
No offense, and i dont want to start a flame war, but thats one of the worst PVE builds you can run. 30 valor is completely useless, and AH is incredibly selfish. The only support your giving is limited boons from shouts. You’re not even providing condi removal. And with hammer, you want at least 15 zeal for vuln on symbols. You also can’t have consecration master, which is one if the best traits for Pve.
10/25/0/25/10
This build is primarily for pugging. I can maintain 10-15 vuln, and 20+ might all by myself. I’ve got reflects, long lasting stability, and group condi clear. Combined with perma protection to anyone in melee range (you should be). Staff is for all the run sections in dungeons, and empower is great in pugs. Line if warding is great for blocking off mobs, as well as ring of warding on hammer. A typical fight will start with me using empower, dropping swiftness symbol on the mob, then swapping to hammer and autoattack ing, unless im stacking might or stealth with #2 and using my utilities as needed. Ill pretty much stay in hammer until the next encounter. If a certain part of the dungeon doesn’t need reflects, or stability, ill tailor those two abilities to what would fit best. However condi clear is always good, so that one stays on my bar.
Im just wondering how i could improve the build, i know its not perfect meta build, but its so helpful when pugging(all i do in PVE) and saves me tons of headaches. I have been thinking of taking 10 out if zeal into radiance or virtues tho, either for blind(and vuln) spam or into virtues for more group condi clear.
For an all around Hammer build for pugging I’d go 15/15/0/20/20
1) Blinding Jeopardy < Blind Exposure spam. Especially since spamming Justice will also stack might, bringing me to…
2) Drop Empowering Might. Half the time that trait overwrites longer duration might stacks and can actually make stacking might harder. Better to use the Symbol duration and size traits.
3) 20 into Virtues will give you access to Absolute Resolution for group condition cleanse.