Guild Wars 2

So last night logged on and looted http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Mathilde's_Weapon_Chest
from 18 gilded strongboxes, and figured its a good time to level up my necro!
I plan on mainly roaming with small groups in wvw (5-15tops), and the occasional dungeon or fractal from time to time.
Did some searching and found this post
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/necromancer/Build-Staff-Corruption
from a few months back…i believe before dire stats were around
so added some dire changes and this is what i got
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQMQNBmODbkRrdPeTdjePBIp46nhUsbtRPOOYjB-j0BB4iAoOROFqIas1gFRjVJjIqWdDz6rIa1SBMp0I-w
(2500 attack(not power), 2500 armor, 25k health, 1900 CD, 24% CC)
I guess I’m here for more info on the WvW Necro, does full condition(Condiduration, fear duration, scepter, dagger) work more efficiently in small groups or is a hybrid even viable? I know in spvp I needed stunbreak like no other, but is that true for wvw as well? Also what sigils are best to use? I’m sure bursting goes on the staff, but what about the axe/wh (force/energy?) Keep in mind my necro is still only lvl 20 so this is deff. just some theorycrafting going on but if there is anyone that can provide some further insight on what their favorite necro spec is for wvw be much appreciated. =D

SweetCream.8051:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/necromancer/Build-Staff-Corruption
from a few months back…i believe before dire stats were around

That would be my build.
I actually have 2 dire accessories, but I indeed added them before that prefix was introduced with a name.

SweetCream.8051:

I guess I’m here for more info on the WvW Necro, does full condition(Condiduration, fear duration, scepter, dagger) work more efficiently in small groups or is a hybrid even viable?

Well, since I still use my own build I can attest to its viability
What is better for small groups? That’s very situational, every type of build works and has its pros and cons.
I will say one thing though: a Dhuumfire condimancer = ez-mode. It needs less skill to be pulled off since you basically auto-proc huge damage every 10 sec. So if you’re a newcomer to the class this is a good place to start.

Anyway, the modifications you made to my build actually makes it a full on condi build rather than a hybrid. The 2500 power you’re referring to is actually the attack value (power+weapon dmg), my build has ~2k power and 3,2k attack. When you shift that much power over to condition damage your axe and shroud skills will lose a lot of their umpf.
So my advice: if you go full dire you should drop the axe for a scepter and go 30 in Spite for Dhuumfire. If you want to run my build instead then go with a dire staff (instead of carrion), the loss of 130 power shouldn’t be too big of a deal, direct damage matters a lot more on the axe/wh set.

SweetCream.8051:

I know in spvp I needed stunbreak like no other, but is that true for wvw as well?

Since wvw is a pvp environment as well: yes, you need stun breaks. But compared to tpvp you have the luxury of being able to switch skills all the time, which you (…or every player actually) should do.
Adepting to specific situations or opponents is part of fighting in WvW. My build is called “Staff+Corruption” so naturally I picked 3 corruption skills to be displayed in the build calculator, but this particular combo isn’t always in my utility bar, especially since they reworked our stunbreaks.
The stunbreaker I use most of the time is Well of Power: It has the lowest cooldown (not counting the wurm), provides a dark field, cleanses conditions and is a rather reliable source for boons like vigor or even aegis. Against some opponents you might want to take Spectral Armor instead (or both) to prolong your stay in Death Shroud, against necros I sometimes use Plague Signet.
Like I said, it all depends… and I actually use about 80% of all utility skills on a regular basis (but ~2 corruption skills most of the time).

SweetCream.8051:

Also what sigils are best to use? I’m sure bursting goes on the staff, but what about the axe/wh (force/energy?)

I’ve actually considered using a sigil of bursting, but for me hydromancy (despite being rather situational) is a better pick for the gameplay that comes with my build.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQMQNBmODbkRrdvTzYjePhIV4age0L1CIG94YCmlB-jkCB4iAYLRmkGgEBmKAKFqIaslgFRjVJjIqWdDzMuIa1SBso0I-w

Took what you said into consideration and tbh I like the axe/wh so I’d like to stick with the hybrid variant without full on copy pasta of your build.

30/30/10/0/0
Dhuumfire, target the weak, fear deals damage, traded master of corruption for warhorn recharge and swapped retal on DS for signet might.
Switch Dire axe/wh for zerk, swap scavenge runes for mad king and vit infusions for power
I will be trading traits and utilities around on the fly for different situations.
3k attack with sig of spite equipped, 2300 armor, 23k health, 30% cc with a/wh, 1600 condidamage with staff, 80% condidura with food.

More critiques please!!

Alright, that build is really strong, but let’s check out all the changes you made one by one:

1. Dhuumfire instead of Greater Marks:

I actually make this switch sometimes when I duel people if they don’t know or believe how strong that trait is for necros. Against some classes it won’t do all that much and you could be better off with unblockable marks, against some other opponents this makes all the difference or even gives you an unfair advantage.
Why do I not run this myself all the time? I want to have Protection of the Horde! Jk :/
Most of the time this seals the deal on 1v1s that I would have won anyway, so unless I use epidemic on burning I give up some aoe.
Also, some situations on a small scale fighting lvl are all about positioning and area control. Greater Marks are almost 80% bigger than the standard one. The bigger the fights get the more you’ll appreciate the extra size and the unblockable feature, not just for tagging targets but also because the utility on your marks and the combo field/blast effects cover bigger areas.

I’m not saying you should pick Greater Marks over Dhuumfire, but for my style it’s the better choice.

2. Banshee’s Wail – Mater of Corruption

This is also a switch I make sometimes when I duel, depending on my opponent I sort of rotate between those two traits and Spectral Attunement.
But the smart thing about chosing Banshee’s Wail as your standard trait for this line is: you don’t need a sigil of paralyzation to get 3sec daze out of it, which imo is the most important thing about running a warhorn in WvW. You have a slight aftercast delay, so the extra second goes a long way for following up with other skills or getting a heal uninterrupted. Plus you get more swiftness and lf regen, so it’s definitely a good choice.

3. Mad King: approved.
4. Pizza: approved.

5. Infusions:

You actually can’t pick offensive or defensive for all of them, accessories and rings have to be one of each. But yeah, it should be power or vitality. Also, you want to get the WvW infusions with +5 stat and dmg/def against guards, they are the cheapest.

6. Sigils:

They certainly work. I’d maybe get a second set of axe/wh with 2 corruption sigils to quicky get your condi stacks to 25 and then switch back to those two.
Here’s the thing, I was actually running this particular sigil combo before I posted my build like half a year ago.
So why do I use different sigils now:
Back then people didn’t know that the Sigil of Paralyzation added an extra sec to stuns and also worked on daze as well (even fear as it turned out, but that was nerfed), so that became my replacement for Sigil of Force. Not the best choice for me in some PvE content of course but whatever…
@Sigil of Battle: I actually added a little paragraph about my sigil choices in my build thread, and you can even see it in the 2 little clips I added in the end.
For the axe set it’s all about the extra burst I get after I switch. Sigil of Battle could maybe outperform Geomancy in the long run (especially if you are not in range for Geomancy to hit anything), but for the style I play I really need the extra instant damage on switch. (it deals some pretty nice direct dmg too, not just 3 bleeds)
Most of the time I switch to axe and follow up with Ghastly Claws right after I go into Shroud and close with Dark Path, that way I still have fury on me for the Ghastly Claws sequence and the gap closer basically guarantees Geomancy to hit.
Also, the on-switch-damage can also serve a defensive purpose because switching weapons can be done while you are stunned. So even if you’re disabled you still have means to defend yourself other than going into Death Shroud.
So bottom line for me: Geomancy is my prime choice for PvP, against npcs Battle can work too or even better sometimes.

7. Signet Mastery:

A good choice as well. Not sure if it’s really better than Spiteful Spirit though.
Retaliation damage is not to be taken lightly, especially if you run a high power value with your build. So if it’s just for the reduced cd on the signet I’d say not worth it, the 3 stacks of might gives it a little edge though.
My alternative choice to Spiteful Spirit for PvE is Reaper’s Might… for the might stacks obviously. But against other players it is again another layer of defense when going into Shroud even if you are disabled.

SweetCream.8051:

So last night logged on and looted http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Mathilde's_Weapon_Chest
from 18 gilded strongboxes, and figured its a good time to level up my necro!
I plan on mainly roaming with small groups in wvw (5-15tops)

So with that still being the base of why I’ve started this build and after talking to others, reading threads, watching YouTube guides, and testing in SPVP I’ve arrived at this build/gear combination for my current play style.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/external?l=http%3A%2F%2Fgw2skills.net%2Feditor%2F%3FfQAQNBHhZakRLdPbTejePhIV4agesL1CIG94YMmgB-jEDB4iQ4MBkgAk%2BAiABIFqIaslgFRjVJLyKbYqXJVBDwauIa1SBso0I-w

3k attack, 1300 condition damage, 2200 armor, 23k health, 25% crit chance(mainly for dhuumfire but also barbed precision), 80% condition duration(95% bleed)

Currently incapable of testing in WvW, but mainly just looking for input from people other than those I’ve talked to! Thanks in advance for any opinions as your input/critiques are greatly appreciated!

My only critique, in general, is how some of these builds utilize a high amount of power. From recent testing in PvP, I have found that the initial damage per second with the axe is higher than with the scepter/dagger. However, overall, I am still able to kill things faster with a maxed out condition build, than a power build with the axe/warhorn/staff. My question is, why would you go for power when you can do more damage with conditions, and why aren’t you using more minions, when in fact, with the right amount of minions, you can do even more damage with the axe/minions than a condition build. Lastly, why not go all dire? The amount of power you get seems great in theory, but the axe doesn’t do that much damage to begin with, unless you are utilizing the vulnerability properly so that your minions can do more damage. A hybrid build with more condition damage than power just makes more sense to me.

I’m sure a full condi build may kill things faster with their ability to overwhelm the target with little red squares but I enjoy the twist of being able to apply some conditions(staff rotation + DS rotation) then swap to axe for direct damage that can’t be cleansed. The extra vulnerability is nice, but with target the weak the extra 4%-+10%(given the opponent is probably going to have conditions on them seeing as we’re in this ‘condimeta’) direct damage is what I’m after. I feel my condidamage/condi duration are in decent spots, (bleed ticks for 100/s, burning 300, fear 600, poison 200) to where if they don’t remove those conditions they’ll be hurting, an if they do well that’s more time I have to use ghastly claws/daze, DS, or swap back to staff.
As for including minions, I’ve never been in love with relying on AI to do my bidding, not saying it wouldn’t increase my dps or synergize with what I’m aiming for, I’m basically just uneducated when it comes to using minions efficiently in pvp(save for golems charge)
The thing is as a necro, at first glance people will expect you to be running some sort of condition build unless you have a minion army summoned, then they know what’s coming, but by going hybrid(not fully squishy) I feel you have that element of surprise that the typical scepter/dagger/staff necro won’t have.

Since SweetCream’s build is somewhat related to mine…

Chuck Nizzle.6283:

From recent testing in PvP, I have found that the initial damage per second with the axe is higher than with the scepter/dagger. .

That is one of the reasons why you want an axe in the first place. It’s a staff build so most of the time you’ll switch betwen staff and Shroud until you need the axe burst.

Chuck Nizzle.6283:

However, overall, I am still able to kill things faster with a maxed out condition build, than a power build with the axe/warhorn/staff.

The only time I ever switched to a more condi heavy scepter build was against Liadri at Queens Gauntlet, because auto attacking with huge condition damage from a distance is a lot easier when you have to run and dodge certain death the entire time.

Chuck Nizzle.6283:

My question is, why would you go for power when you can do more damage with conditions, .

You don’t do more damage unless you’re trying to take down a champion npc like Liadri by yourself. Against other npcs or players your damage isn’t higher at all.
Plus, when you go hybrid you eliminate certain weaknesses that come with a pure condi build, like being completely useless in world event or dungeon bosses when you condis are getting pushed off by other players constantly. Or objects and structures.. or being hardcountered by classes like stun warriors.

Chuck Nizzle.6283:

and why aren’t you using more minions, when in fact, with the right amount of minions, you can do even more damage with the axe/minions than a condition build..

It’s not a minion build.

Chuck Nizzle.6283:

Lastly, why not go all dire?

It’s not a pure condi build.

Chuck Nizzle.6283:

A hybrid build with more condition damage than power just makes more sense to me.

A build with more condition dmg than power is likely to be a pure condition build since you have 916 power by default. 1300/2100 is a good ratio for this hybrid build.

SweetCream.8051:

bleed ticks for 100/s, burning 300, fear 600, poison 200

bleed: 107, burning: 635, fear: 627/940, poison: 214

SweetCream.8051:

I feel you have that element of surprise that the typical scepter/dagger/staff necro won’t have.

That is indeed one of the perks.