Guild Wars 2

I tried using it and I just end up dying compared to the other weapons, is there any way to not make it suck, I really want to use it?
Thank you and I’m new to GW2, sorry if I’m asking a bad question.

It does not suck. Suck is a bad word to use. haha. Scept #2 is good. The only issue I’m having with it is the Auto Attack. I use a Lockdown build and I use a scept. I do not even see how the word suck would be used describe it. I know it has issues but for me, it could certainly have room for improvement.

The main use of scept for me is the clone generation. Scept 3 inflicts confusion stacks it will be better in a condition build. scept 2 is a defensive skill that again scales with condition damage to maximize the torment.

It’s not a bad question. Scepter is a bit of an odd weapon.

As StickerHappy points out, probably the strongest skill is #2, if you are set up to do condition damage. To use skill #2, you need to press it and get hit within 2 seconds. It’s hard to train yourself not to dodge away, but you need to see the word “block” flash up on the screen. This does the damage to the thing that attacked you, creates a clone, and applies the Torment condition. Then if you can get the attacker to chase you, it will do even more damage.

The #3 skill creates a beam. It starts slowly and then pulses five times. The beam can pierce up to five targets, so if you can line up multiple opponents, it will hurt them all. The beam does pretty good damage, and it adds the Confusion condition. Confusion is not very good against monsters because they usually do not attack very quickly (and confusion only damages opponents when they use a skill).

The autoattack does okay damage, but it travels pretty slowly. It will hit more quickly if you are closer (but being closer can make defending tougher). On the third attack in the sequence, a clone is created.

So both the autoattack and the #2 skill can create clones. These clones will do basically nothing with their attacks. But you can shatter them.

I use the scepter because it’s the only mainhand weapon that lets you attack from range. I don’t have high condition damage, and I don’t try to create lots of clones. So I’m only getting some of the value out of the scepter. But I find I still like it after I’ve gotten used to it, and it’s supposed to get some improvements in a future update.

Pretty much what eldenbri said. Just want to add the following things:

• try to use the sword if you can, it deals much more damage and has an easy aoe
• only use ranged weapons if you have to, they deal less damage in general
• while you are leveling and are probably unexpirienced, I suggest you (sry colesy) to use the GS (greatsword) together with a sword and a focus.
• if you have learned how to dodge proberly and how to block, try using the sword mainly
• sword offhand and pistol are the strongest dps single target phantasms
• the staff phantasm outdamages them however if the enemy has 4+ conditions on it (different conditions) and is a great choice for harder bosses when fighting in groups
• the scepter is a good choice if you need to be ranged (dangerious enemy) but still want to be able to stay near your allies to recive buffs
• you can prevent the scepter from creating clones wich destroy your phantasms (if you got 3) by do 2 auto attacks, cast your offhand phantasm, do 2 aas, cast 3, 2aas, offhand support if needed, weapons swap.

The Scepter gets good in certain builds, and more so at higher levels. When you start traiting conditions on clone deaths the clones from the auto attack become much more valuable. And the torment from the block, as mentioned, gets brutal when you build for condition damage, which is what you’re shooting for with the conditions on clone kills. The confusion from #3 gets good damage out on players, but isn’t as strong on mobs, much like condition damage.

All in all Scepter feels like a more PvP (WvW for me) oriented weapon. I don’t really use it much in PvE, but love it in PvP situations.

Edit: Had this in mind the whole time I was typing but never said it. Condition builds aren’t as powerful as a strong direct damage build in PvE, and thus the scepter isn’t as strong there, where as conditions in PvP combined with a good fit and toughness are quite powerful. And as I mentioned the scepter is a very effective ranged weapon in PvP due to its synergy with our condition builds.

.#2 and #3 are great.
.#1 is pretty garbage though. On paper, it’s great for clone generation.. but, the cast is extremely slow and so is the projectile. It also has no special effects tied to it other than summoning clones.

Zach.3264:

.#2 and #3 are great.
.#1 is pretty garbage though. On paper, it’s great for clone generation.. but, the cast is extremely slow and so is the projectile. It also has no special effects tied to it other than summoning clones.

As Raz mentioned as soon as you put 10 points in Chaos then the number 1 is fantastic in WvW. AoE conditions for all.

All around, the Scepter is a very good weapon but you have to use it in the context of what it does. It excepts at single target condition pressure (Torment and Confusion both being conditions which punish certain actions, namely running and skill usage) via it’s various moves, while still scaling pretty ok with power.

That’s what it does. It can work for some ghetto-AE in a pinch (#3 can go through targets and #1 with 10 in Chaos provides AE conditions easily), but it’s not a weapon intended for pure group fights (considering Sword/X + Staff or GS + Staff in those cases).