Guild Wars 2

This is about the desirability of even activating our class mechanic in a (non open world) PvE setting. It comes down to whether it is something you actually want to do or only do sparingly or begrudgingly. Whether you only do it for a few seconds when you absolutely have to (flashing shroud for survival/stability)…or if you want to use it profusely.

I tend to only use shroud when I absolutely have to in PvE. I can’t see that really changing in HoT either. There’s too much stacked against shroud in PvE versus just using the necro/reaper without even bothering with shroud. There’s being locked out of your utilities anytime you use shroud. There’s being blocked from receiving group heals when you use shroud. There’s decreased damage output when you use shroud. All you get from using shroud is some damage soaking. There’s just too much you give up to make it worth it in my mind.

Other professions actually want to use their class mechanic for significant benefit…and if they don’t…there has been real effort to push them towards actually wanting to use their class mechanic. Mesmers are a prime example of this…the new trait layout and elite specialization are pushing mesmers towards actually wanting to shatter for significant benefit. They have even made efforts to encouraging phantasm mesmer builds to begin incorporating shatters (illusionary reversion, seize the moment, and chronophastasma). Warriors and guardians elite specs have had similar adjustments to encourage more usage of their class mechanics. Even the new engineer elite specialization looks like it will be exciting to use the new tool bar skills. Why is ours a dud in PvE? What’s exciting about turtling or taking a dps loss to lose access to our utility skills and group heals? Even if we take reaper, we’re better off trying to dodge all of the traits associated with our class mechanic. I’m more than a bit disappointed so far with the missed opportunity to make this profession desired in group PvE content and to make shroud builds a desirable thing. I had deleted my necro previously multiple times and I just rerolled it again for the promise of a desirable group PvE necromancer…but its looking like wasted effort so far.

Reaper’s Shroud can flow very easily into damage rotations and in fact is a necessary part of maximizing them. That’s where the Might and Vuln stacking come from.

I’ve found you don’t camp Reaper’s Shroud. You weave it in.

Death Shroud is the Only non pathetic ranged damage on the class.

Reaper shroud has a couple of nice tricks. You will not camp it however. You will pop in, do your tricks, and get out.

What are the tricks?

(1) Pop RS 3 when entering RS for a 1k Blighter’s boon heal while continuing to damage
(2) Pop RS 4 for whirls. Get in a fire field for max effect. (tons of burning!) (or use your spectral wall for big confusion stacks).
(3) Pop RS 5+ RS2 for frost aura 10% damage reduction
(4) Spam the auto (Traited) for quick mights stacks.

Reaper shroud drops too fast to stay in it since you are still mostly face tanking damage (and the pure damage isn’t great), but popping into shroud to quickly get small heals, might, and a lot of burn stacks is pretty nice.