Guild Wars 2

A question for veteran necromancers out-there

Many people say that a minion master who focused on condition is a waste

But i think it’s pretty late for my necromancer, because he’s already suited with condition boosting equipment (plus, I’ve applied an Aetherblade skin on his condition boosting armor)

some people said that I should abandon minion master and become a full pledged conditioner, but I refused that
being a summoner is the first reason why I choose to be a necromancer

Is there any viable minion master condition built out-there for PvP, sPvP and WvW

Most MMs mostly just trait for the minions, and the actual MM themselves can run a few different amulets. I think conditions are viable with MM, but you will likely lack any strong condition traits like terror.

But I don’t see why it wouldn’t work if played right with a solid mod of MM direct damage and condi damage from you. Could be some issues getting the minions to attack, but I don’t know as much about that as some others might.

How is it compared to a power oriented minion master?

Not quite as good, really. The minion-related traits are more suited to Power builds (as Curses has none) and the vulnerability stacking that Axe/Focus brings synergizes better with the all physical damage minions.

That said, a 0/2/6/6/0 build can work surprisingly well. Nigh immune to conditions yourself, you just keep wearing down your opponents with constant poison and weakness.

Try 0/4/6/4/0

You get enfeeble and terror for good ole condi dmg
All the minion traits including death nova for some more condi
Then the siphoning traits for sustain

I have used that trait set up with rabid amulet and sc/d + staff successfully in sPvP

I think the power version is slightly better due to the CC you get from mainhand dagger and offhand warhorn.

Either build is not really a very high dps build anyway

I would never use a “normal” MM build in PvE, only sPvP/WvW (roaming/small group).

Is condi MM possible? Yes. Why is it not played more often? Read below.

The reason power MM works so well is because it has a lot of natural synergy. If you look at what power weapons give that synergizes with minions:
Axe – cripple, retal, LF generation, vuln application, boon removal
Dagger – LF generation, healing, immobilize
Focus – boon removal, chill, vulnerability, regen, LF generation
Warhorn – LF generation, unblockable AoE daze, swiftness, cripple

Note that they all have a few things in common: they all not only function (less so in Axe’s case) as stand alone weapons, but their stand alone utility also greatly improves minion damage and/or survivability through kiting, vuln, boon removal, etc. On top of that, they work very well to extend your own life, which works well for minion builds in general. I left staff out since its utility, not power or condi (also I hate staff in MM builds, its a personal thing).

On the flip side of condi weapons:
Scepter – cripple, unreliable LF generation
Dagger – weakness, blind

Notice the massive change in how much they give? Condi MM builds are essentially about “I want to play minions but I also want to use a scepter”. The synergy is much less obvious, unlike power your weapons don’t fit as well, also as it is now condi is pretty reliant on certain rune/sigil setups that don’t particularly benefit MM. And finally, what do you think of when you think MM? You think 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 fights, basically very small fights on side nodes. What do you think of when you think condi? Teamfighting. Oops.

That all said, you can make it work (although again I dislike it). 0/4/6/4/0 for a straight transfer from standard to standard, or 0/2/6/6/0 for the off-build version. 6/0/6/2/0, 6/4/4/0/0, 6/0/4/4/0 are three versions that let you use Dhuumfire, of differing ideas. Also 0/4/6/0/4 is possible. You can also try other slightly different builds, there are a lot of potential ideas.

Basically, I would focus on getting either Terror or Dhuumfire (which gives you TotM too), which means you simply choose one big trait (Death Nova, TotM, or VM) that you can’t have; not actually the biggest deal. Death Nova’s poison can be augmented easily enough in a condi build, VM just means a bit less sustain, TotM just means a bit less minion damage. I’d then make sure that you are using proper sigils and runes to support what you have been traiting (don’t go healing power runes without 20 BM for example), and be smart about your utility picks (have enough minions, but don’t force yourself to carry all minions just because you’re an “MM”).

Anyway, it can be done, despite my dislike of it, especially if you try to focus on something that MMs aren’t known for, like teamfighting. If, however, we saw the addition of something like sword (a cleaving condi weapon), and/or the addition of more condi-focused minion traits, then I think condi MM would be far better than it is now.

… I’m a Necromancer who likes minions and using scepter. I’ll just go sit in the corner now. >.>

My armor is equipped with complete superior rune of undead but I do possess a power oriented axe (sigiless), knife (sigilless), and staff, thus making a hybrid build

will a hybrid build works on a minion master?

and what rune/sigil do I supposed to enchant on my minion master?

Zaxares.5419:

… I’m a Necromancer who likes minions and using scepter. I’ll just go sit in the corner now. >.>

Honestly scepter isn’t the problem for me, staff is. But ya, don’t let my bias against condi MM get in the way of your fun :P

archwyvern.3102:

My armor is equipped with complete superior rune of undead but I do possess a power oriented axe (sigiless), knife (sigilless), and staff, thus making a hybrid build

will a hybrid build works on a minion master?

and what rune/sigil do I supposed to enchant on my minion master?

Staff isn’t so much a condi weapon as it is a utility weapon, same with dagger offhand. But no, I really wouldn’t use a hybrid build. A condi build might be able to be made to work, especially if you had an idea on how to make a niche or special build for yourself, but a hybrid build needs more offensive stats and non-minion utilities than can be afforded. Maybe a hybrid build that has some minions but doesn’t trait them heavily, but then I think you’re just spreading your stats out too much.

This is my boy necromancer current build. Yup, I mean a conditionmancer hybrid with MM

Set Weapon 1 : Exo Staff, 179 condition, 128 power, 128 vit——-superior sigil of corruption

Set Weapon 2: Exoscepter 90 condition, 64 power, 64 vit————-
ExoWarhorn 90 condition52 power, 52 vit, —————sup sigil of intelligence

Slot skills :
6. Summon Blood fiend/ Consume condition
7. Spectral Wall
8.Spectral Walk
9.Summon Bone fiend/Flesh Wurm
10. Summon Flesh Golem

I don’t use bone minions and shadow fiend due to their melee nature, low damage and VERY stupid AI,
I still use flesh golem (Although she’s EVEN MORE STUPID than the previous two) because I don’t like plague form and lich form is just not practicable)

Traits 6/4/0/0/4
Spite (6) life blast/Training of Master/Dhuumfire
Curse (4) Hemofilia/Terror
Death(0)
Blood(0)
Soul Reaping(4) Unyielding/Soul Marks

As you’ve said, I took Dhuumfire to enchance my condition nature damage

I also took unyielding as a replacement for Axe, I thought it is better to use death shroud due to longer range
I didn’t take flesh of the master, because flesh golem herself is pretty tanky, and the other two rarely dies anyway

Armor : Combination of Exotic Ogden and Exotic Carrion with Superior rune of undeath x6

Haven’t tries it on Pvp, but currently this build hit the hardest and provide necessary protection (death shroud) and escape route

That isn’t really an MM build, even hybrid, its a condi build that has flesh golem instead of plague. You’re literally one trait off of what would be considered a fairly normal condi build.