Guild Wars 2

at last, some optimism about this weapon! if the notes are correct, axe training will be going to master level this means, if you are a power necro using an axe, you can finally get both axe training and close to death.

Yes but too bad necro axe still hits like a feather duster. I don’t think it will matter much.

SJWhat.9237:

Yes but too bad necro axe still hits like a feather duster. I don’t think it will matter much.

This guy thinks that all Zerker necros use the #1 ability instead of life blast and dagger #1 lol. In the Necro CoF speed run, all but 1 person used axe as their main weapon.

Well it’s more about the weapon being very clunky on it’s main damage dealing part. Not only can it get dodged or blocked, people can just take a casual step to the side which will completely kitten your ghastly claws over lol. Everything combined(as in all the dodges/blocks/invulns/invis/casual step to the side) you barely ever land any good ghastly claws on people, the ability also needs a target. I also do not see any OH weapon to have good synergy with ghastly claws, as in a stun or immobilize or something like that to set it up. It’s just clunky, if you don’t hit the first hit, nothing hits so no dmg or LF for you mr. Necro. Funny how dagger is melee and ends up being more reliable for sPVP.

youlostthegame.8102:

SJWhat.9237:

Yes but too bad necro axe still hits like a feather duster. I don’t think it will matter much.

This guy thinks that all Zerker necros use the #1 ability instead of life blast and dagger #1 lol. In the Necro CoF speed run, all but 1 person used axe as their main weapon.

If that’s true, they have alot to improve.

Iceflame.5024:

Well it’s more about the weapon being very clunky on it’s main damage dealing part. Not only can it get dodged or blocked, people can just take a casual step to the side which will completely kitten your ghastly claws over lol. Everything combined(as in all the dodges/blocks/invulns/invis/casual step to the side) you barely ever land any good ghastly claws on people, the ability also needs a target. I also do not see any OH weapon to have good synergy with ghastly claws, as in a stun or immobilize or something like that to set it up. It’s just clunky, if you don’t hit the first hit, nothing hits so no dmg or LF for you mr. Necro. Funny how dagger is melee and ends up being more reliable for sPVP.

Dagger is more reliable for reasons you already stated. If Ghastly Claws misses then tough break, and it is easy to avoid. I find the only redeemable skill on the axe is Unholy Feast.

As for my first post I feel I didn’t need to explain the shortcomings of the axe when I say, “Hits like a feather duster.” I was just saying that I doubt Close to Death would help necro axe that much; because, at the end of the day it is still necro axe.

Our cof speed run was awful btw. Ghastly claws doesnt do enough damage to be worth while when your forced to axe auto attack or lifeblast until you switch back to dagger. This trait change might make the burst on axe ok when the target is under 50% hp but it will probably still be less dps than dagger + locust swarm.

spoj.9672:

Our cof speed run was awful btw. Ghastly claws doesnt do enough damage to be worth while when your forced to axe auto attack or lifeblast until you switch back to dagger. This trait change might make the burst on axe ok when the target is under 50% hp but it will probably still be less dps than dagger + locust swarm.

I may be wrong, but assuming 14 second cooldown on reaper’s touch on focus (traited), and it hitting the foe three times, makes it much more desireable for dps purposes than mildly hitting locust swarm. Yes it hits 10 times, but one reaper’s touch will do more damage in addition to vulnerability than locust swarm does in its whole duration. It would, however, decent option for swiftness even though it constantly puts you in combat just by being close to enemies.

Targuil.3741:

spoj.9672:

Our cof speed run was awful btw. Ghastly claws doesnt do enough damage to be worth while when your forced to axe auto attack or lifeblast until you switch back to dagger. This trait change might make the burst on axe ok when the target is under 50% hp but it will probably still be less dps than dagger + locust swarm.

I may be wrong, but assuming 14 second cooldown on reaper’s touch on focus (traited), and it hitting the foe three times, makes it much more desireable for dps purposes than mildly hitting locust swarm. Yes it hits 10 times, but one reaper’s touch will do more damage in addition to vulnerability than locust swarm does in its whole duration. It would, however, decent option for swiftness even though it constantly puts you in combat just by being close to enemies.

Locust swarm crits for 600 up to 1200 damage and provides low radius aoe. Makes it very good dps because it adds dps while you are doing the dagger auto attack chain. Also means you should trait for warhorn skill cooldowns. You can have both though. Take dagger and warhorn and then put a focus in the second weapon set. When you swap weapons it wont interupt the auto attack on the dagger. Same principle was used on the axe/mace axe/axe warrior build when that was popular.

spoj.9672:

Targuil.3741:

spoj.9672:

Our cof speed run was awful btw. Ghastly claws doesnt do enough damage to be worth while when your forced to axe auto attack or lifeblast until you switch back to dagger. This trait change might make the burst on axe ok when the target is under 50% hp but it will probably still be less dps than dagger + locust swarm.

I may be wrong, but assuming 14 second cooldown on reaper’s touch on focus (traited), and it hitting the foe three times, makes it much more desireable for dps purposes than mildly hitting locust swarm. Yes it hits 10 times, but one reaper’s touch will do more damage in addition to vulnerability than locust swarm does in its whole duration. It would, however, decent option for swiftness even though it constantly puts you in combat just by being close to enemies.

Locust swarm crits for 600 up to 1200 damage and provides low radius aoe. Makes it very good dps because it adds dps while you are doing the dagger auto attack chain. Also means you should trait for warhorn skill cooldowns. You can have both though. Take dagger and warhorn and then put a focus in the second weapon set. When you swap weapons it wont interupt the auto attack on the dagger. Same principle was used on the axe/mace axe/axe warrior build when that was popular.

I haven’t experienced anything over ~600 damage crits under normal circumstances, though that may be I haven’t used it extensively with might stacks. Just going by tooltip damage, in full ascended berserker build with ruby orbs, it should be around ~158, times 10, meaning 1580. For reapers touch, the numbers are 595, times 3, meaning 1785, plus vulnerability. We should also take into account that locust swarm has long casting time, which could be used to use dagger 1. Whether this is worth it or not… depends on locust swarms true casting time with aftercast and if low enough to make it worth it to cast (<1s+0,41s) and whether the target will survive it’s whole duration. To make a comparison: with same amount of power, my whole dagger chain does 2465 tooltip damage over 2,2 seconds.

Also to note: To attain the highest possible damage with dagger 1 in solo situation: Don’t ever interrupt dagger 1 chain, only cast something else after completing it.
Try to time your vulnerability spikes with DS fury flashing and possible wells/BiP to gain multiplicative benefit of all at the same time.
Flashing in DS for fury and enfeebling blood does NOT interrupt dagger 1 chain.

E: Corrected firstly incorrect numbers due to annoying equipment bug.

Targuil.3741:

spoj.9672:

Targuil.3741:

spoj.9672:

Our cof speed run was awful btw. Ghastly claws doesnt do enough damage to be worth while when your forced to axe auto attack or lifeblast until you switch back to dagger. This trait change might make the burst on axe ok when the target is under 50% hp but it will probably still be less dps than dagger + locust swarm.

I may be wrong, but assuming 14 second cooldown on reaper’s touch on focus (traited), and it hitting the foe three times, makes it much more desireable for dps purposes than mildly hitting locust swarm. Yes it hits 10 times, but one reaper’s touch will do more damage in addition to vulnerability than locust swarm does in its whole duration. It would, however, decent option for swiftness even though it constantly puts you in combat just by being close to enemies.

Locust swarm crits for 600 up to 1200 damage and provides low radius aoe. Makes it very good dps because it adds dps while you are doing the dagger auto attack chain. Also means you should trait for warhorn skill cooldowns. You can have both though. Take dagger and warhorn and then put a focus in the second weapon set. When you swap weapons it wont interupt the auto attack on the dagger. Same principle was used on the axe/mace axe/axe warrior build when that was popular.

I haven’t experienced anything over ~600 damage crits under normal circumstances, though that may be I haven’t used it extensively with might stacks. Just going by tooltip damage, in full ascended berserker build with ruby orbs, it should be around ~158, times 10, meaning 1580. For reapers touch, the numbers are 595, times 3, meaning 1785, plus vulnerability. We should also take into account that locust swarm has long casting time, which could be used to use dagger 1. Whether this is worth it or not… depends on locust swarms true casting time with aftercast and if low enough to make it worth it to cast (<1s+0,41s) and whether the target will survive it’s whole duration. To make a comparison: with same amount of power, my whole dagger chain does 2465 tooltip damage over 2,2 seconds.

Also to note: To attain the highest possible damage with dagger 1 in solo situation: Don’t ever interrupt dagger 1 chain, only cast something else after completing it.
Try to time your vulnerability spikes with DS fury flashing and possible wells/BiP to gain multiplicative benefit of all at the same time.
Flashing in DS for fury and enfeebling blood does NOT interrupt dagger 1 chain.

E: Corrected firstly incorrect numbers due to annoying equipment bug.

Yep some good advice about not interrupting the auto attack chain. I personally never pay much attention to tooltips as they are usually wrong/bugged or just not accurate. In cof p1 i was getting about 400 crits on locust swarm but that was when scaled down to lvl 75 and not having full might and banners to help boost dps. This was also when i was still using 30/10/0/0/30 so I wasnt maximising my damage potential. Traited warhorn gives 14seconds of locust swarm. The 1 second cast time is a pain I will admit, but if you only cast it at the end of your dagger chain then it is definately worth it.