Guild Wars 2

Besides greatsword what do you think will be the most popular 2nd weapon set for reapers. Add range with a staff? Reaper seems to be a power build so scepter is out. Maybe Axe focus for more chilling vun and cripple?

Thoughts?

Full melee with dagger and warhorn chill+WoS+immob+gravedigger

I’m a MM necro , I will definitely get both great sword and staff as they provide AOE damage and support for me and my minions.
Using Nightfall skill will trigger Vampiric Aura , staff main attack will trigger lifesteal , Soul Spiral will trigger leeching polts.

Wouldn’t get too comfortable on only GS. I personally plan on going Staff + Dagger/Focus or Dagger/WH for my reaper.

Unless of course you’re specifically asking for what goes with GS. If thats the case, its hard to say anything but Staff or you might find yourself in Kite City taking a one way train to Pwn-town.

I run Axe/Focus & Dagger/Warhorn now so I’m used to melee range and only get back far enough 600 range when I step out to readjust. Thing is I always had my DS skillls for long range in a pinch. Now that the Reapers Shroud is melee too thats not an option. Thinking Staff may be the best bet if I do a Greatsword Reaper.

Condi could definitely be possible with Chill becoming a damaging condition with traits, so scepter isn’t as off the table as you’d expect~

Certain builds (death nova MM for example) would probably use scepter+dagger or staff instead. If they were a vampiric necro I’d think they’d still use dagger+warhorn.

In fact, I’d say whatever “main weapon” for builds that pick up the reaper trait line won’t change.

If the necro’s “primary spec” is reaper though, I’d say Axe+focus makes the most sense.

ronpierce.2760:

Wouldn’t get too comfortable on only GS. I personally plan on going Staff + Dagger/Focus or Dagger/WH for my reaper.

Unless of course you’re specifically asking for what goes with GS. If thats the case, its hard to say anything but Staff or you might find yourself in Kite City taking a one way train to Pwn-town.

Without a GS it’s not really a reaper, is it?

I personally have all the weapons minus a scepter on me at all times and swap around depending on the fight.. mostly for mobs I have Axe/dagger Dagger warhorn.. but with bosses i change to focus (unless in frac 38 due to chill) Now.. when Reaper comes out i’ll be going GS but i’ll also keep the weapons on me (inc staff) and swap when I need them.. tho staff is more farming or wvw… to say whats the best to go with reaper is impossible.. there will be times you need to range something then melee… Fracs again.. and without an axe your stuck.. cos tbh staff doesn’t cut it, So while gs dagger warhorn is sweet there will be times u need axe.. also dont forget with the shout Reapers getting dagger OH #5 skill is even MORE weakness :P

SrebX.6498:

ronpierce.2760:

Wouldn’t get too comfortable on only GS. I personally plan on going Staff + Dagger/Focus or Dagger/WH for my reaper.

Unless of course you’re specifically asking for what goes with GS. If thats the case, its hard to say anything but Staff or you might find yourself in Kite City taking a one way train to Pwn-town.

Without a GS it’s not really a reaper, is it?

Sure is. It’s all about that scythe and reapers shroud!

I highly doubt that when you pick up the specialization which is the use of a greatsword, that you wont be using it. The specialization will probably force you into picking up the gs because why wouldnt you? Your choosing to specialize in using a greatsword but your just going to play the other weapons for a new ds? I dont think thats how the specializations are going to work.

As in a second weapon what has chill on them? The staff and the focus so youll probably be picking up the staff or I would say maybe axe focus or even dagger focus. Chill is going to do so much for the reaper that it might be bad to not pick up one of those weapons. It might be good to pick up something a little more tankish like dagger dagger, weakness more blinds a root and life transfer with a good auto attack since your probably not going to go full zerker gear so being in melee 100% will probably be a good way to play. Valk, cavalier or soldiers gear all might be good since youll have a pretty high crit chance just from chill and ds.

I can see a bunch of different builds being tried out with it though, signets, chill spread with epidemic depending on how well it can apply chill, maybe going spectral for melee defenses.

We really need more information, but i think i might go dagger dagger for my second weapon set and keeping consume conditions and blood is power for my utilities.

ronpierce.2760:

SrebX.6498:

ronpierce.2760:

Wouldn’t get too comfortable on only GS. I personally plan on going Staff + Dagger/Focus or Dagger/WH for my reaper.

Unless of course you’re specifically asking for what goes with GS. If thats the case, its hard to say anything but Staff or you might find yourself in Kite City taking a one way train to Pwn-town.

Without a GS it’s not really a reaper, is it?

Sure is. It’s all about that scythe and reapers shroud!

Plus Reapers historically have taken alternatives to GS when they’re reaping in close quarters or in tight interiors. Hard to swing that Scythe or GS against Ninjas in a hallway for example. Happened.

The reaper elite spec gives access to greatsword, shouts, reaper shroud and traits. To me, it looks like the last two things are the most valuable and make it worth taking the elite just for them.

So I’m looking at at build that only takes advantage of the traits and shroud. Not planning to use greatsword or the shouts right now.

For PvE its gonna be dagger and one of the offhands. Which offhand really depends on the build/situation. We could see dagger offhand more often if we end up taking chilling darkness + bitter chill.

I’m running staff for more range and chills (effectively two on one weapon set) and a little extra condi-clear. While GS has more chill over a period of time, staff has more burst chill which is useful with the build I’m going. I don’t want two melee weapons and axe is pretty worthless to me, so I’m using staff.

I’ll be going D/WH + GS most likely. Staff is still a garbage weapon even if it now has chill on the 5 skill, though with how awful Axe is now its really hard to compare how bad these two weapons are. It might actually be worth taking staff w/ Greater Marks to make up for the on-demand poison that I’ll be losing.

The Wizland.8435:

I’m running staff for more range and chills (effectively two on one weapon set) and a little extra condi-clear. While GS has more chill over a period of time, staff has more burst chill which is useful with the build I’m going. I don’t want two melee weapons and axe is pretty worthless to me, so I’m using staff.

This pretty much sums it up. For power Necros looking to get the most out of chill procs while minimizing range weakness, Staff is the way to go:

- 1200 Range, medium damage LF gain AA that pierces (Life Blast replacement).
- Mark of Blood for Regeneration. Best mark for power builds to pre-cast to provoke enemy dodges because of it’s low CD. Also Regeneration is always triggered if you’re close enough, evaded by enemies or not.
- Two AoE Chills (4s base on Chilblains and 3s base on Reaper’s Mark) that can trigger/hit at up to 1440 Range (1500 with Greater Marks).
- 1440 -1500 Range Condi transfer on Putrid Mark. Access to a Blast Finisher.
- Chilblains/Putrid Mark for Weakness Combo.
- Poison on Chilblains.
- Superb LF gain with Soul Marks.

Marks in of themselves are fairly anti-kite/anti-stealth. Enemy players tend to use dodges to evade pre-casted Marks rather than get hit with their effects. For Reaper, this may be a great way to set up GS damage spikes as enemy players have already wasted 1-2 dodges. I think many enemy players will be a lot more hesitant vs. Reapers triggering Marks, since they don’t want to get loaded up with Chill before the fight truly begins. Since we have always had access to a ranged option (Life Blast), I think we underestimate the lack of a 1200 range AA option for Reapers. Going Dagger/Warhorn would be nice for direct damage, Life Siphon and Locust Swarm, but I think Locust combo with RS may be less effective than just using GS for AoE burst DPS and Staff for kiters/range.

When on the offense, ideally you would want to connect with GS fully, switch to staff when an enemy beings to kite, slow them down with Chilblains/Reaper’s Mark and then Pop into RS using Deathly Charge to close, repeat.

Defensively you want to setup at least Mark of Blood to trigger auto regeneration on enemy closing and make them waste a dodge fearing Chilblains/Reaper’s Mark. You could even lay them out as well if you plan to switch to GS before entering combat. Then play the same as above.

As for PvE, I think it would be fine in most cases to have GS+Dagger/Warhorn, unless you’re forced into any range (A good time to use Life siphon though).

Basically if you’re using Reaper for any chilling effects you’re going to want GS or a Staff at the very least. Any Chilling Darkness procs are only for 1 second and aren’t very reliable. Well of Darkness and Plague Form being the only potent options for the trait. I would leave Chilling Darkness to Reaper condi builds with Staff+Scepter/Dagger-Offhand setups. They naturally spec into curses and have room for Plague and WoD on their skillbars.

For me, I’ll probably be taking staff for MM, Axe/warhorn for my Pursurer build, scepter/dagger for Conditionmancer, though idk if i’d even use Greatsword for Conditionmancer, might just stick with staff.

I hate staff. It’s slow casting, slow attacking and has long kitten cooldowns. Been stuck with it because unlike other classes we have only one good condi weapon and one good power weapon. Boring

I do wish they’d give Staff some love after numerous kicks in the groin. It went from an incredible support/utility weapon to just sort of “meh” over the years. It’s really sad to me. :/

I think Reaper has some potential for Condi builds. But the way Shroud is designed, it will be not so optimal I believe.

Condi builds will want to take PoC+Lingering/Contagion and Dhuumfire. That’s two traitlines. I don’t think that people will want to go Spite as Condition build anymore.

So it leaves Death Magic, which has one nice trait called Putrid Defense. And good GM minor when we take Vital persistance trait.

I don’t believe that Blood rework will be enough. Transfusion looks nice, but if Siphons are still based around hitting multiple with millions of small attacks, it’s crap as always.
If they finally decide that Siphons have to be active, then we can talk.

So either DM or Reaper. Reaper brings lower cd Dark Path for teamfight, AoE fear and Ice field, while taking instant Fear, gapcloser, ranged AA and Torment.

If the game is still game of instant, procs, blinds and evades, then Reaper Shroud will be better pick.

I also don’t believe that Greatsword will have some huge play in PvP. Certainly not after all the stuff Thief and Mesmer get.

As for me, Staff.

Balekai.6083:

Basically if you’re using Reaper for any chilling effects you’re going to want GS or a Staff at the very least. Any Chilling Darkness procs are only for 1 second and aren’t very reliable. Well of Darkness and Plague Form being the only potent options for the trait.

After the changes chilling dark! is a 2s base and this can be made up to 3s with minimal investment .Also You are missing out Nightfall! from this and thats a pretty low cooldown. Its been changed “so its slower but stronger” but would still be a potent option for the chilling darkness trait.

Rym

I also don’t believe that Greatsword will have some huge play in PvP. Certainly not after all the stuff Thief and Mesmer get.

I believe the opposite and that the weapon, from what we have seen, has plenty of tools to be an extremely valid choice. Especially when used to combo with certain other skills and traits.

As for my weapon choice. GS with either Axe/Horn , Dagger/Horn or Axe/Dagger. Want to mess around with Unholy Feast and Spiteful Spirit and see how effective they both would be chained for 3~6k aoe damage and infinite retaliation.

I think the second weapon set really depends on how the core trait rework pans out (pvp wise). I would say dagger/wh synergizes best with the gs, but imo you literally can’t afford to lose the utility/range on staff with what we current have. Any half decent team will focus you and you’ll just die with no mobility or sustain.

PvE definitely dagger + wh/focus would go with gs the best.

Probably won’t be using great sword. I’ll only use it for the first week or so when people can’t predict the skills. Seems like blinds are going to be your worst enemy lol.

I will use great sword for PvE though.

SrebX.6498:

ronpierce.2760:

Wouldn’t get too comfortable on only GS. I personally plan on going Staff + Dagger/Focus or Dagger/WH for my reaper.

Unless of course you’re specifically asking for what goes with GS. If thats the case, its hard to say anything but Staff or you might find yourself in Kite City taking a one way train to Pwn-town.

Without a GS it’s not really a reaper, is it?

Just because you’re getting a new weapon doesn’t mean you have to use it to benefit from the new traitline. Old weapons will be just as good, if not better. For example, I doubt any chronomancers outside of WvW will actually use sheild, in pvp they’ll stick with GS/sw/torch or GS/staff, but most of them will still take chronomancy because it will let them have better cooldown management across the board, more utility and mobility, and time traveling burst potential, all without even needing to use the shield at all.

Similarly I’m not convinced reaper GS will be a musthave for power necro builds, but I am sure that the reaper traitline will be. The GS cast times are slow as molasses, and I doubt they’ll hit like a truck as lifeblast did. It will probably just be good for cleaving things in WvW. Personally I’ll probably run around with spite, soul reaping, and reaper in pvp with d/wh and staff and just do enhanced version of the same running around and hoping that passive procs bring everyone to their knees. I only hope that the damage from the shroud knight skills outclasses the old deathshroud enough. As for shouts, the only one I can really see myself using is the elite one, but lich form may still be better.

Of course of all of this is dependent on what will happen to the condition immune meta we have right now.