Guild Wars 2

I tried Bloodstone Fen on Saturday completing the story and some exploration solo; just diving in with no research or preparation.

The build I used was Spite, Curses, Soul Reaping, and full Viper’s with condition duration consumables. Scepter dagger were my primary weapons and used all corruption skills, though I switched them around a few times.

For the story, it was not an optimal build so I cannot recommend it. I found myself wanting more sustain as I learned the story’s mechanics and the new mobs’ skills.

The build and some minor variants were better for solo roaming but I feel it too over optimized.

For those of you who tried Bloodstone Fen as a Necro last week, what was your build(s) and your impressions?

I used my normal wvw base power necro build and had no issues with the story or map. Not sure I’ve even been downed on the map after spending several hours there.

Brought exactly what I bring to fractals, DM/Curses/Reaper. With Rise, CPC, and Epidemic mostly. Using Plague sending to bounce the condi’s back and Parasitic Contagion for a stupid amount of extra sustain. Pretty hard to die as a necro, especially if you get swarmed (rise → Epidemic, lol).

Just my usual shout reaper. Zerk gear, Soldier trinkets. Works fine. Only time I get downed is if I space out and get caught in a jade construct’s spin

Its one of the few places I found Axe to be very useful.

My Necro is Knight with defensive traits. I use the same build everywhere. Feel free to laugh but I love it… Anyway, story was easy to solo and the map is just like HoT maps: everyone gets downed around me while I don’t even go under 50% HP.

I didn’t do it with my necro yet but, after experimenting with thief, warrior, mesmer and ranger, I think the most optimal build for the bloodstone fen’s story mechanisms is a variant of a minion master build where you will favoured ranged minions and survivability.

- Blood fiend, bone fiend and wurm as key utility.
- DM, BM and whatever line you like.
- a range weapon. I barely recall any boons so scepter ain’t really needed.

Other than that, master magic reflection‘s use and exploit any situation where you can use glider’s skills (safe way to kill stupid AI in story. in the open bloodfen the white mantle seem to have excessive range and hit you with rock attack)

Dadnir.5038:

I think the most optimal build for the bloodstone fen’s story mechanisms

Any necro build should work just fine, the story is really easy.

I use a variation of the Viper Horror build.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vRAQJArYnM0AV3gN3AebCs3gliBT6DEC6ARBgBQCIuHWETiA-TxRAQBtRJYA1DQhHAAAOBA9Y/Bxo8Liq/AA-e

That is the variation I use for everything really. Although…. I might switch to all Vipers and Thorn runes eventually.

But on topic, I have no problems with any story missions or open world content. I am rarely downed, unless (like others have said) I am just not paying attention, watching TV, wife and/or kids talking to me, the usual. I really believe the best builds are the ones you have a feel for playing. There are quite a few conditions in Bloodstone Fen. The biggest one I have found is the stacking confusion. not attacking when you have 15 stacks is crucial for survival.

i found it a breeze with zerker reaper necro,

basic blighters boon build using Spite/Soulreaping/Reaper
based around apply might to self and vuln/chill to enemy.

it has awesome damage and awesome sustain,
25 stacks of perma might and 25 stacks of vuln

for gear i go full zerker with strength runes and a strength sigil for constant might applications (also bloodlust, because why not? XD)
i was only using exotics, i’m too casual for ascended :P

I was trying out both power and condi builds. I run Berserkers as well as Vipers. But my findings where pretty much the same as they always are except for when you’re playing dungeons. Condi is just superior… Higher damage, higher survivability.

Maybe someone had better luck with power, however I often find condi is just the superior option on necro.

When I ran power, I didn’t have many problems with survivability. It is definitely a play style difference and does require a faster reaction time, in some situations. I was playing a power minion build, so they added to the survivability.

Although, I have to add, I main spec Conditions; the build i mentioned above is what i use.

I guess people have written of using Minions to do PVE when they struggle? I had no problem doing anything with this:

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vRAQRBLRhG2IDN0Ujd1gbNwejjghaOD7w6GTgAICknQKUCA-ThTAQBU4ACcNlBBUfgYUilOzTR7JAaEwgSwZoBRanAgXs/ohQBHIAAcQAio6PMRphAgaA-e

Condi MM (e.g., Viper Horror with Curses/DM/Reaper) works well in the new zone since you don’t really need the speed as you are almost always gliding to move around the map. But on other maps that require a lot of running around I just can’t stand to be without Blood Magic for the speed while wielding a dagger. In the latter case I prefer a power MM reaper build (BM/DM/Reaper) rather than giving up Reaper for BM/DM/Curses (Curses and DM are pretty much mandatory for a condi MM).