Guild Wars 2

In Before: the following build is not viable for PVP, WVWVW and has issues in Dungeons as well. I think it is a good example why Dragonhunter can be fun but also shows the obvious flaws.

Lets begin:
With the upcoming changes to DH there are some nice high damage combos that will be fun and devestating in open world pve. Yet in executing the flaws of some traits become visable.

’The Build:*
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQJASTnsAB9ChtCB+7AkdilAiSu7L/13KAy23MLBfwJE-TlRBABRcJAua/R5He6CA4JAQp6PmpEkUARM1C-w

It was my attempt to create a build that uses SoJ and get as much damage modifiers as possible as well as bow and at least one trap.

Rotation:

Dragons Maw >
> move back to take advantage of pure of sight (lol) >
>pull a group of 5 enemies in the trap >
> just before the trap snaps LB#4
> mobs get pulled
> activate SoJ (hit all of them – not actually planable in the huddle) recieve retaliation
> SYS (optional)
> LB #2
> LB #3
> F3 (if needed for protection or UA refresh)
> LB #5
> LB #2

This should down everything in the trap.
After you F1 you will benefit from the following damage modifers for 6 seconds:

+ 20 % Unsceathed Contender
+ 10% Radiant Power
+ 10% Big game Hunter
+ 10% Pure of Sight
+ 10% Zealots Aggression
+ 10 % Rune of the scholar
+ 7% Power of Virtues
+ 5% Sigil of Force

so in total 82%
these Modifiers are applied to two hits that are essentially two mighty blows if deflecting shot blocks something (which in HoT wil always be the case)

Now here comes the dumbest thing ever. Even though this is a straight up power build Big Game Hunter makes no sense. In this build it would also be more beneficial to keep SoJ on passiv and gain the retaliation from SYS anways since it also adds the 7% damage modifier

Even without Permeating Wrath the rotation will grant 15 hits on each target and would cause 15 burn stacks on every mob in the trap. Dulled Senses that will give basically the same amount of Vurnability as Big Game Hunter. Traiting Permeating Wrath would increase the burn and vurnability to 20 stacks. The damage gain though burn (without Condi damge) comes close to outways then the loss of the remaining 5% damage modifier benefit from BGH. It might get interesting if you can stack more SOJ. In group play enemies tend to have 25 stacks of viurnability anyways.

So BGH and SoJ need some serious additon to make them useful even in non high end competitive sceanrios. I would vote for a flip skill that pulls in all effected enemies (900 range) and cause 5 2s stacks of burn. (this might be a tad OP considering you can pull them through a purging flames twice. Yet it would make traps a lot more useful. since you have a destinctive means to pull the enemy in. I vote for voice acting “Get over here”.

This would make SOJ a signiture skill for DH.

Radiant Power increases crit chance, it’s not a damage modifier. I assume you meant the Retribution trait.

No real reason to list damage modifiers. In the real world of things, you’re not going to have a permanent upkeep of Burns, Retaliation, 90% health, Aegis, or 7 unique boons for that 7%.
I understand you meant procing your Virtues and Utility effects to obtain these effects but I definitely wouldn’t waste valued utilities just to have increased damage that’ll only last for 4 seconds.

A 30% damage modifier with maybe a burst of 60% at any time, is a more realistic scenario for the DH.

As for your point, yea you’re right, it’s a bit counter intuitive. The only thing that makes sense is that, the DH doesn’t have any reliable way to efficiently keep his dmg modifiers. Activating F1 and attacking during the tether is another way to effectively keep your damage modifiers as it’ll guarantee burn effects and vulnerability on the target.

The problem with DH’s F1 is that, it doesn’t offer that active burst effect the skill was meant for.
No burn guardian will actively use it except for when they Renewed Focus, if that.
Power Guards may find it effective but will hardly use it thanks to SoJ’s incrrreeddbily long cast time. They’ll use the skill if they have no other CDs available.

Not that any of that matters because Hunter’s Fortification will be an absolute must for any DH build.