Guild Wars 2

Hey mesmers. Back after taking a few months off. What’s new? Oh they nerfed our blink spots? Cool, cool. Glad to see things are humming along as usual…

Seriously though, coming back and playing lockdown again, loving it as usual. I had a though last night, and of course I’m not the only one since I saw Ross posted another 6/6/x/x/x build.

My question is: Is CI essential for a lockdown build? I used to think so, but now am questioning it.

I’m thinking 6/6/0/2 with CS and HM for 3 charges, running mantra heal with menders for good surviability. The triple heal plus 6 condis cleared is awesome.

Giving up CI and bountiful seems weird though, as I’m very used to it. The main thing I like about CI is that it always works, no rng; you interrupt they get immob. The rng on CS bugs me, but what else should you take instead of CS? Not PB…

Basically a rambling post to discuss how essential people see CI as for lockdown in the current state of game.

While it makes landing bursts easier, CI isn’t necessary. Personally, i tend to swap it for PU lately, because i mainly roam in WvW and the added survival helps immensely.

I would think about picking something else than CS, though. I can’t really like a trait that lengthens my dazes only to randomly decide to give me a 1s stun instead.

Also, since i’m lazy i don’t like having to manage 2 mantras, having to recast them after every fight because i used 1 or 2 charges. Not saying you should drop them as they are the main benefit of 6/6/0/2.

Along very similar lines, here’s a 6/6/0/2/0 build I’m playing right now (mostly as a WvW havoc build).

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsfRl0npMt1oxRNcrNipxcqqIdANcQpDZ8FA-TpRBABBu/wCPAANOBAkVG4hDBAAHBAA

I decided to avoid CI because I really wanted Mender’s Purity + Harmonious Mantras for the condition drop, but also because I felt CI was less reliable than my teammates’ unconditional immobilizes. (It gets better if you run Staff, though.)

In terms of my build, I’m not relying on the stun. However when the dazes do become a stun the target suffers greatly for it. Otherwise a daze can simply be shutting them out of their skills while I do something. Really though its the interrupts that make the target suffer. That damage hurts.

Ross Biddle.2367:

… Really though its the interrupts that make the target suffer. That damage hurts.

See, this is kind of where I’m at with lockdown now: Is the most important lockdown trait is Halting strike, an adept trait? Kind of says a lot about our GM lockdown traits if so…

Could we call any 2/x/x/x/x with MoD a lockdown build? Not like nobody knows this, just brings home once again that I think lockdown deserves more buffs/attention, at least in terms of interesting traits, *cough Disruptor’s Sustainment *cough

MSFone.3026:

Ross Biddle.2367:

… Really though its the interrupts that make the target suffer. That damage hurts.

See, this is kind of where I’m at with lockdown now: Is the most important lockdown trait is Halting strike, an adept trait? Kind of says a lot about our GM lockdown traits if so…

Could we call any 2/x/x/x/x with MoD a lockdown build? Not like nobody knows this, just brings home once again that I think lockdown deserves more buffs/attention, at least in terms of interesting traits, *cough Disruptor’s Sustainment *cough

But the thing is, Halting Strike is not enough. To make a lockdown/rupt build work you have to dedicate the entire build to it which requires correct weapons, all 14 trait points, and MoD among other utility choices. Whether CS rupt or CI rupt, build + skill = success. Mess either of those up and you’re dead in the water.

Oh, also, You can be successful in a lockdown/rupt build without Halting Strike. But you’re more powerful with HS than without.

Halting Strike allows you to use interrupts aggressively. That in itself doesn’t really allow you to play “lockdown,” it’s just a great skills that helps you pressure and burst harder, and dedicated lockdown builds have a lot of ways to benefit from it so why not?