Guild Wars 2

I’ve been having fun with this hybrid damage build in pvp.

https://youtu.be/zDG08dgwRgs

Video contains:
- Build overview
- Team and solo fights
- Post-match statistics
- 80’s music…

Have fun!

Thanks for posting this. Fun video, and I think using scep/sh/sw is really clever and surprisingly effective. Now you don’t get a 9s dps loss when swapping to staff. Two thumbs up.

Thx!

The dual-scepter idea has definitely been posted in builds previously. I just spent some time thinking about what I get out of staff, and decided I would rather have the scepter with the cooldowns on the 2 and 3 skills in combination with a different off-hand.

I’ve been experimenting with rune set and my third utility slot for a couple weeks (I started testing as soon as the Mercenary amulet was announced). For me, it was important to get damage up and still keep the inspiration line. Berserker runes and well of calamity seem like the best choices so far (the well helps make up for cover conditions I lost by dropping staff).

There may not be a role for a build like this on an organized team. It’s not the best bunker, it’s not the best burst to +1 a fight, and there are better support builds. But as a build to bring into a solo queue pvp match, I’ve been finding it fun.

Hopefully, it’s fun for others to try out as well.

very fun to watch.
i’m currently testing a similar build using sword/sceptre+torch/sword OH and staff. sceptre seems to be quite superior however in terms of condi synergy, however.

i run 1 or 2 phants in util slots with healing signet+inspiration traits for continuous healing. i also trait phantasms so that every one shattered gets -2s reduction on any phant skill CD, PLUS phantasm resummoning with chrono traits.

if you have at least 2 phantasms summoned, you get extreme cd reduction to the point that you’re spending 90% of your time summoning more phantasms to attack and let them shatter on opponents. that’s basically the rotation.

my experience with the build so far:
infinite alacrity uptime WITHOUT WELLS + constant condi pressure on 1 or more opponents + constant healing from signet+shattering + condi removal using disenchanter phant + shattering traited + toughness from merc or rabid amulet + near constant phant defender effects

i rarely find that i even need to switch weapons to gain access to new summons or moves that arent already CD-ed, just need to watch that im not summoning over the limit of 3

so far in spvp i’ve outbunkered about everybody and held home points and mid points without needing to rely on stealth or pu. the only trouble ive had in anything pvp was 1v1’s with a superstealth+regen thief, but i still got him as long as you stay out of blind and keep summoning while hes not stealthed

update: much more effective using your double sceptre tactic, i now run scep/torch + scep/shield and it’s owning even the zerker+troll+condicleanse builds in hotjoin

Glad you’re having fun!

I’ve tried phantasmal disenchanter. It’s great for group support and nice to pull boons off the enemies. The cast time is just a little long for me. But I keep experimenting, so maybe I’ll come back to it.

i took your idea for both scepter weapon set and its nice. but i miss my staff PR mainly
i will try to put some video with it. i did small changes with trait and utilities to buff the condi dmg burst.

Well you gotta hand it to Anet! Who would have thought we’d see builds forego Staff in order to —basically-- get 2x OHs and even go so far as endure a single MH to do it! lol!

That tells you volumes about what the nerfs to Staff did. They effectively killed what was a barely functioning weapon. All it had going for it was it’s defense! Everything else about it was trash and then you go and severely nerf that defense WITHOUT bringing up the offense that we’ve complained about for YEARS! (Silly slow projectile doing meaningless damage. 1200 range, but better off the closer you are, bad Phantasm, and long CDs on #4 & #5 unless you get the nerfed trait that barely made this weapon bearable!? I could vomit it makes me so agitated about how clueless these people are sometimes! )

On another note, you’re not alone. I have switched to a Sword/Torch & Scepter/Shield Paladin Power Shatter, and played the same weapons in a Merc hybrid shatter. Both work well, and simply outperform Staff both offensively and defensively! This also makes it much easier to give up the entire Chaos line, which outside of the 3 nice GM Majors is actually a very lackluster specialization line now that Staff and it’s trait was nerfed to subpar status.

I was running a PU build with Staff|S/F. Was fun, switched to your trait lines and was more fun. I swapped out staff for shield, and its still fun. I think clone generation is a bit slower as you can’t get 3 out immediately but thats probably me being bad at mesmer.

Either way, more fun to play than my reaper/druid/berserker/ele.. for now

Edit: I only play wvw, so I use perplexing runes.

Windwalker.7421:

Well you gotta hand it to Anet! Who would have thought we’d see builds forego Staff in order to —basically-- get 2x OHs and even go so far as endure a single MH to do it! lol!

That tells you volumes about what the nerfs to Staff did. They effectively killed what was a barely functioning weapon. All it had going for it was it’s defense! Everything else about it was trash and then you go and severely nerf that defense WITHOUT bringing up the offense that we’ve complained about for YEARS! (Silly slow projectile doing meaningless damage. 1200 range, but better off the closer you are, bad Phantasm, and long CDs on #4 & #5 unless you get the nerfed trait that barely made this weapon bearable!? I could vomit it makes me so agitated about how clueless these people are sometimes! )

On another note, you’re not alone. I have switched to a Sword/Torch & Scepter/Shield Paladin Power Shatter, and played the same weapons in a Merc hybrid shatter. Both work well, and simply outperform Staff both offensively and defensively! This also makes it much easier to give up the entire Chaos line, which outside of the 3 nice GM Majors is actually a very lackluster specialization line now that Staff and it’s trait was nerfed to subpar status.

i dont remember reading, what was the nerf to staff?

From the notes:

Chaos Armor: This skill no longer blinds enemies. It will instead apply weakness to them for 3 seconds. The applied duration for swiftness and confusion has been increased from 3 seconds to 5 seconds.
Chaotic Dampening: The duration of protection has been reduced from 5 seconds to 4 seconds.