Guild Wars 2

This is the eternal question that looms over my head. I run a Domination/Dueling/Inspiration mantra build, and in this build I’m never sure exactly which one to take. Keep in mind that this build doesn’t take a single shatter related trait normally.

I did some tests on a Dolyak in frostgorge, and I got the following damage using my baseline stats and gear:

Stats:
2311 Power
54.7% Crit Chance
215.9% Crit damage
+5% damage (superior sigil of force)

Mind Wrack, No Shatter Traits.
1573, 1580, 1608, 1615, Average 1594, Total 6374

Power Block: 1698

Shattered Anguish will give either a 15% or 30% boost. This is a bonus of 956 to 1,912 damage on Mind Wrack. The real kicker is that Mind Wrack is an AoE skill that hits 5 targets, so the total contribution can be upped to x5 of what it is on a single target. This is a total boost of anywhere from 4.8k to 9.5k.

I find myself shattering 3 illusioins quite frequently, given that my battle plan is to use phantasms for sustained damage. When my targeted enemy is about to die, I pop mind wrack, which usually blows up the P-Warden and 2 Swordsman from I-Leap and I-Riposte. Against oveworld enemies and dungeon elites, it isn’t uncommon for me to use Mind Wrack every 16 seconds, or once per enemy group roughly.

The advantages to power block are, of course, its weakness condi and the fact that it isn’t reliant on murdering phantasms. With MoD, Diversion, and I-Riposte, I get 7 interrupts in a 38 second period, which will come to roughly 3 interrupts per Mind Wrack. This comes to 5k damage. In theory, this could be more, since I-Riposte and MoD can simultaneously interrupt up to 5 people each, however this is a phenomenally difficult feat, with 2 simultaneous interrupts per nameless squad of enemies being rare.

Against Champions I don’t shatter that often. But, this doesn’t give power block an
immediate advantage, due to how defiance works.

The answer in this debate hinges on a single question:

Does the increased recharge from Power Block effect enemy skills?

If it does, then Power Block is the winner, due to the very unique and potent defense that it will provide. If it doesn’t, then Shattered Anguish wins due to its easier and greater damage.

What are your guy’s thoughts on this?