Guild Wars 2

I’m looking for a ranged build for general purpose PvE and WvW for necro. The two obvious choices for main weps are Axe and Scepter. I would like someone with a better understanding of these weps to explain the pros and cons of power vs condition ranged necro dps. Please assume that my equipment has at least one defensive (toughness/vit) stat. Build recommendations are welcome.

Axe pros: Works better with allies. Power build overlap is a complete non-issue and the more power builds are in the group, the more valuable the vuln stacking from axe auto is. Also gives fairly frequent death shroud access and fairly frequent AoE boon-rip. In WvW, either Axe Training or some boon duration can easily net you perma-retaliation to make those Longbow rangers cry.

Axe cons: very low sustained damage and barely qualifies as a “ranged” weapon. The cripple uptime is pretty low.

Scepter Pros: Longer range and perma-poison with strong cripple uptime. Is generally stronger against high-armor targets.

Scepter cons: Lowest life force generation of any weapon we have. Damage is extremely susceptible to cleanses which run rampant in organized groups (not so much in pug zergs, though).

Little additional details to Drarnors post

Scepter builds can go full condi (rabid and dire), half hybrid (carrion) or plain hybrid glass (rampager), benefiting from high safty/cheap very high cond damage, high sustain/not being hindered by objects and generally hard to mitigate damage respectively.
The auto attack chain has a 0.35/0.35/0.5 power scaling progression, but since the last hit applies poison instead of bleeding, it can freely be stopped for other skills.
Grasping dead is a core kiting skill with high range for its effect and a 0.7 power scaling pre target, but otherwise straightforward on cooldown cast skill
Feast of corruption on the other hand, despite its flat (1) power scaling, has the potential to be the skill with the highest damage multiplier in game (having a 48% damage boost from just base rotation necro condis). But sadly its usages on power builds are quite limited past a bit of life force.

Axe is plain straight forward being a spam 2 weapon (2.88 power scaling) with 3 when the situation demands/for kiting and can easily be used in a deathly perception valkyre build, dishing out more flat damage, but being limited as a one target weapon.

You can go full berzerker scepter if you want. If you play it right you’re like a fake fresh air ele with timing 3 bursts right after someone gets below 50% to proc crit+chill of death for an instant huge burst.

Axe is only good if you can make use of everything it gives you: vuln stacking, life force generation, and retal. It works best in tanky power builds that need a ranged damage option that isn’t staff. Besides that, it is really underwhelming.

Eh, while you can go full Zerker scepter, about half of your auto-attack damage will still come from the conditions. Scepter scales that badly with power.

Bhawb.7408:

You can go full berzerker scepter if you want…

…to do no damage?

I know, we’ve had this discussion before. You can get a decent number once in a while if the stars align, but under the same circumstances Ghastly Claws will do 50-70% more damage, not to mention that the cd is lower. And this is a best case scenerio for the scepter, with less condis on your target the damage difference is much higher.
The scepter is simply the worst weapon you can have in a power build.

condition builds aren’t viable in pve atm. And are hated on in most groups.

So..go with axe for pve.

scepter for pvp modes if you like it.

range is also rarely worth it in pve as the damage is very weak, keep a ranged weapon in your inventory (scepter or staff). for the rare times range is preferred.

flow.6043:

Bhawb.7408:

You can go full berzerker scepter if you want…

…to do no damage?

I know, we’ve had this discussion before. You can get a decent number once in a while if the stars align, but under the same circumstances Ghastly Claws will do 50-70% more damage, not to mention that the cd is lower. And this is a best case scenerio for the scepter, with less condis on your target the damage difference is much higher.
The scepter is simply the worst weapon you can have in a power build.

Scepter is fine.for.power builds, I’ve.been roaming in a scepter/staff power build and been doing crazy good lately, yes it works much better in a hybrid build but played.right it’s dangerous.

Edit: as a hybrid you will have better burst capabilities.

alamore.1974:

I’ve.been roaming in a scepter/staff power build and been doing crazy good lately,

Like I said, it’s the worst choice for power builds. I can only assume that you would’ve done even crazy better lately if you had a different weapon instead.

flow.6043:

alamore.1974:

I’ve.been roaming in a scepter/staff power build and been doing crazy good lately,

Like I said, it’s the worst choice for power builds. I can only assume that you would’ve done even crazy better lately if you had a different weapon instead.

Yes I could do more damage, but.using axe puts me in melee range. Chills.mixed.with flesh worm and swiftness I can keep my.distance from.any power necro easily. And verse classes such as wars, poison is more valuable then doing little.more.damage.

Its the.worst choice if you want max damage up close, but if you wanna keep distance its worth trying.

Edit: and for the op I’m talking. WvW