Guild Wars 2

Firstly, I want to make clear that as someone who has been running Zerker meta for almost 2 years, I’m finally willing to try out a new build.

Without abandoning any Zerker gear from my inventory, I’m thinking of buying the pieces for a condi set, and swapping between gear/weapons/accessories depending on the situation.

Problem is, HOW should I run Condi Set? More specifically, which stats and runes? (I’m looking towards dungeons in particular, but also WvW.)

Unfortunately, Necromancer isn’t exactly a master of conditions like we are hyped up to be… We have access to bleed, which builds only very slowly. We also have poison, but poison…..

Would it be a good idea to use condition runes to compensate?

Rune of Perplexity comes to mind as a good source of conditions, since Necromancers are capable of applying lots of fear (“interrupts”), which should be able to double our efficiency with terror condi dmg. (But does rune of perplexity with fear work against bosses which have defiant?)

However, Rune of Balthazar may have synergy with Dhuumfire due to its massively increased burn duration, and the ability to apply AoE burn when using a Signet which has massive synergy with Signet of Vampirism.

Also, which stats to use? Rune of the Undead’s ability (7% of Toughness converted to Condi Dmg) makes me think it might be useful with Rabid Armor?

Anyways, I’m open to ideas. What is the most efficient setup possible for a condi necro in PvE and WVW?

at least what I have been doing, I have 4 sets of gear for my Necromancer. each used in different places. It has been working for me. it might help settle some stuff for you.

DPS powerMancer: Bezerker/Scholar. Dagger with warhorn and focus on swap.

PvE learning how to solo dungeon path: Knights/scholar. Dagger with Focus and warhorn

PvE/WvW Hybird: Rampager/Runes of Aristocracy. Dagger and Scepter on main hand. with Warhorn, focus and dagger in off hands. Staff on swap ocasionally. The encounter will dictate to me what will go where. (been playing with lupi solo with this set. and running flanks and tail in WvW zergs)

WvW roaming, floating and attaching myself to a comander set: Dire/undead. Scepter Warhorn, and staff on swap.

I do not have a set of the Rabid yet. so I cannot vouch for its use or methods. At some point I would love to get a Set or 2 with strength runes…. Bottom line? personal opinion would lead me to say for WvW go Dire. for PvE go Rabid. I think your rune set will depend on how you want to build. and use a complimentary set for it.

rabid/rampager with aristocracy runes

I’m a little skeptical about Aristocracy runes in a PvE condi build. What does it accomplish? It supposedly grants us might increased duration, but where is our source of might?

And any other rune/stat ideas?

Kain Francois.4328:

I’m a little skeptical about Aristocracy runes in a PvE condi build. What does it accomplish? It supposedly grants us might increased duration, but where is our source of might?

And any other rune/stat ideas?

You would need to trait Spite VI “Reaper’s Might” or you could bring “Blood is Power”. I think “Rune of the Undead” is a good all purpose choice which is cheap and offers maximum Condition Damage. The other Condition runes aren’t particularly useful for PvE.

Kain Francois.4328:

Firstly, I want to make clear that as someone who has been running Zerker meta for almost 2 years, I’m finally willing to try out a new build.

Without abandoning any Zerker gear from my inventory, I’m thinking of buying the pieces for a condi set, and swapping between gear/weapons/accessories depending on the situation.

Problem is, HOW should I run Condi Set? More specifically, which stats and runes? (I’m looking towards dungeons in particular, but also WvW.)

Unfortunately, Necromancer isn’t exactly a master of conditions like we are hyped up to be… We have access to bleed, which builds only very slowly. We also have poison, but poison…..

Would it be a good idea to use condition runes to compensate?

Rune of Perplexity comes to mind as a good source of conditions, since Necromancers are capable of applying lots of fear (“interrupts”), which should be able to double our efficiency with terror condi dmg. (But does rune of perplexity with fear work against bosses which have defiant?)

However, Rune of Balthazar may have synergy with Dhuumfire due to its massively increased burn duration, and the ability to apply AoE burn when using a Signet which has massive synergy with Signet of Vampirism.

Also, which stats to use? Rune of the Undead’s ability (7% of Toughness converted to Condi Dmg) makes me think it might be useful with Rabid Armor?

Anyways, I’m open to ideas. What is the most efficient setup possible for a condi necro in PvE and WVW?

Because Necromancers have a high health pool, Runes Of Scavenging will synergize better than Runes Of The Undead. Both are great options though.
As for gear/stats, this is the build I have been running for a very long time. It’s designed with WvW solo roaming in mind so although a lot of my utilities aren’t for condition application the build still allows for lots of damaging pressure.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fREQRArY7djc00Tb5NG3wfbCchaqnA6BIAi2o/gJIfB-TVyCABAcQAO+BAQ1+DIfCASR/AWK/8R9nxUCO9RAIAACAzcmDdmDdmFCYxaA-w

95% duration with food + Sigil Of Malice, fear procs from Runes Of The Nightmare + damage from that fear from Terror trait, Lots of health and toughness, capable of applying up to 8stacks of torment at times, easy access to two boon corruptions, 2 stunbreakers for those extra spammy CC builds, 2 excellent condition cleanses + a condition transfer and two boon strips.
Feel free to customize the build to suit your needs but this has worked wonders for me for a very long time. Hope this helps!

signet mastery, blood is power and sigil of battle gives you loads of might.

Condition sets on the necromancer are fairly diverse. And i can’t say all work in all situations though. Considering that different condi builds function better inf different situations. For example, Going pure Rabid with runes of the Krait is fantastic in PvE especially with epidemic. Although its not as good in WvW. Although it can work, from what I hear Dire/rabid mix is preferred. But I’m not the best person to ask for WvW seeing as I dislike WvW because it gives me a headache and I never seem to know whats going on. Another good idea is Rampagers. This is supposed to be one of out best damage sets but it has major problems with it. It takes our strengths from both sides of power and condi builds but at the same time takes both sides weaknesses.

No build is perfect. And I might suggest getting Rare equipment of each first if you have the money for it and experiment a little before making a final choice.

SpellOfIniquity.1780:

Because Necromancers have a high health pool, Runes Of Scavenging will synergize better than Runes Of The Undead.

If with synergizing you mean stats, then that’s true only if you are actually going for equipment with Carrion-stats. Scavenging runes scale from vitality, and base vitality is the same for all classes. Just the size of the basic health pool is different. Now if you go for Rabid, Dire or a mix of those two, Runes of the Undead will actually give you more condition damage. Even with full Dire they would win statwise, because they add some extra-toughness, while Runes of Scavenging don’t add any vitality.

Kain Francois.4328:

Unfortunately, Necromancer isn’t exactly a master of conditions like we are hyped up to be… We have access to bleed, which builds only very slowly. We also have poison, but poison…..

On the contrary, my friend. We ARE Kings of conditions (and engi is the Queen). We have access to all condition that deals damage (except confusion). Don’t stop looking at bleeding&poison.
Consider burning from dhuumfire, it’s still a must for conditions and don’t forget about torment! Some bosses that walks too much take a lot from our 5# skill in DS. And not all bosses are immune to fear!

The key to make things works is condition duration. You have to at least to raise up Bleeding a 133% (100% + Lingering curse) and try to raise as much as possible the durations of the others conditions . This is where the trait/rune set up is important.

WvW
If you want to use conditions , then you can pick any sPvP build and stick with that.
Condition are just too slow in ZergVsZerg, so those builds are high performing only in small fights.
Inside zerg you could just switch trait and skills for a wellmancer, even with condition set up, so at least you’re doing Aoe support.
I suggest to avoid Carrion, stick with Rabid/Dire. Otherwise, you will be downed by every thief. Necro really needs that thougness.

Scepter/Dagger with Spectral Wall and Bone Fiend, traiting for Dhuumfire:

Non-RNG access to every condition in the game. Not even using runes or sigils for it.

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

Scepter/Dagger with Spectral Wall and Bone Fiend, traiting for Dhuumfire:

Non-RNG access to every condition in the game. Not even using runes or sigils for it.

Yeah, even confusion! Eh wait… nope.

For WvW roaming, dire stats are prefereable. Cond necros are usually focus fired down as soon as they are spotted, so bunkering up is key to survival. For sigils I’ve come to use corruption and torment(you get a lot of runners, AoE torment adds some dps to these people). For runes, because I run a terror build, I use nightmare. They saved me from ridiculous amounts of focus fire SO many times. Krait runes are good too, and require less farming and are still pretty effective.