The Protector
This is a tanky solo & support PVE build inspired by The Abomination by Nemesis.
Motivation: a build which is modest cost, easy to play, and offers some supportive value in a group, as well as being quite viable solo, and likely also decent in WvW (although I haven’t tried it there yet).
Principles:
- High Toughness and Vitality (~1800 toughness/~28.8k health)
- AoE Power-based – staff and axe/dagger
- Support via offering Protection to allies and extra armor when rezing
- Deathshroud – good LF generation and leverage of Deathly Perception
Methods:
- Use of wells combined with Ritual of Protection trait provides self + allies in the well with Protection for 3 sec. Protection is a 33% reduction in damage taken, which equates to roughly an additional 900 toughness for those 3 sec.
- Use of wells combined with Vampiric Rituals provides a great deal of healing from siphoning.
- Although the build has negligible Crit Chance, use of Deathly Perception trait provides +50% crit chance while in DS for decent Life Blasts.
- Use of 4 x Runes of Earth to add toughness, support the Protection and offer Protection on hit.
- Use of 2 x Runes of Mercy provide additional 400 toughness while reviving an ally.
Notes:
- This is a modest damage build. Killing a Veteran Giant, for example, is a bit slow. It is not a ZOMGMEGACRITZ build.
- Bloodthirst could be swapped with Ritual of Life (Well of Blood on revive). That well will also trigger Protection.
- Because we cannot heal while in DS, it is optimal to try to plan your use of DS for when wells are on CD, or between well casts, (e.g., when you are kiting/on the move) in order to maximize your gains from Vampiric Rituals and Vampiric traits.
- Soul Marks could be swapped with Mark of Revival, at the cost of LF generation.
- Use of Dagger instead of Focus for offhand is just my personal preference. In WvW I would likely opt for Warhorn instead.
- Sigils: Flexible. E.g., could follow Nemesis and use Sigils of Leeching + Sigil of Restoration for offhand, or go Bloodlust/Force/Battle direction, or Renewal, etc.