Guild Wars 2

So several threads recently have got me wondering about power builds again. Looking at a build calculator for the last hour or so has gotten me nowhere. Basically what I’m trying to do is make a tanky power build that uses at least some minions. I want to make two versions of this build. One for sPvP and one for WvW. The WvW one will probably be used for the odd dungeon run if a guild mate ever needs help or if I ever get around to doing the last personal story quest and have to go to Arah. Here’s the lines I’m thinking along. I’m sure I need some pointers from those more experienced with power necros than I am.

Weapons:

I’m almost certainly going Staff and Dagger/Warhorn. I love the Staff and want to give Dagger a try on a decent build. Warhorn is there mostly for the speed boost, as I don’t think I’ll be able to fit a speed boosting utility on my bar. Still, the other effects of the horn seem pretty nice anyway.

Traits:

I’m struggling here deciding which way to go. I could go with 30 Death or 30 Blood for a minion trait, or I could go 30 Spite for Close to Death. sPvP I’m leaning toward Close to Death. The other options are Fetid Consumption, Death Nova, and Necromantic Corruption. Fetid Consumption I like a lot for condition removal, and I’m leaning toward it for the WvW/PvE version of the build. The build also lacks other condition removal outside of Putrid Mark, but I suppose Putrid Mark could do well enough on its own if need be. Death Nova is really popular, but I don’t understand the appeal. It seems to only put down a poison field. While I understand that poison is great for limiting healing and being a combo field to provide weakness, I’m not sure I get why people love it so much. Perhaps someone can enlighten me. Necromantic Corruption I’d only really consider for sPvP boon removal, as it doesn’t look like the build is going to have any other access to boon removal. What’s the best path to take for the grandmaster? Blood Magic, Death Magic, and Spite are probably going to end up getting all my points – unless there’s a reason I should consider a different spread?

Skills:

I want to use Blood Fiend for the heal, mainly because my eyes were recently opened to how effective the little bugger is over time. For utilities I like Bone Minions and Flesh Wurm. The third spot is open for discussion. For my elite I’m leaning toward Flesh Golem, though I may use Lich Form in the WvW version sometimes for the fun of it.

Gear:

For sPvP it’s a tough decision. I don’t want to go Berserker because I want to be more durable than that. Knight’s amulet gives vitality instead of toughness in sPvP so it isn’t terribly attractive, but at least it includes precision. Soldier’s is probably my best option for toughness, but lacks precision. What’s likely to be the most effective choice of amulet?

For WvW it’s a bit easier since I can mix Berserker’s and Knight’s gear.

In both cases I’m leaning towards a 4/2 split of Runes of the Earth and Runes of the Grove. Roughly 20% uptime on protection (considering boon duration) without having to do anything seems nice. Would I be better off with a different choice?

Thanks to anyone that takes the time to respond. I’ve mostly played only condition or hybrid Necro builds, so I’m not really sure how to put together a power build.

Well a power build is certainly viable, the kind of build you’re actually talking about is currently what I am using in game myself.

Both for sPvP and WvW/PvE only difference is I use warhorn in sPvP and Focus in WvW/PvE due to the chill and the regen you can get with it.

Now, I will admit the build I’m using is primarily dagger based and only really switch to the staff for Putrid mark (Not using Fetid Consumption) now I will admit I did consider Fetid Consumption or even Close to Death, but I stuck with Death Nova mostly because of the poison itself. Poison reduces the effective heal by 33% which might not sound a lot but it does add up specifically in my build at least with the gear I’m wearing.

I am wearing Invader WvW gear due to the fact that Sentinel Insignias are expensive as hell. 7g a pop I think it was last time I check. But I am running Sentinel Dagger n Sentinel Focus (WvW/PvE) along side with Azurite Jewelry. Runes is the Rune of the Soldier(5) and than Crests of the Soldier for even more toughness and Vitality. Got about 33k HP currently.

In sPvP I am wearing I think it was the Soldiers Amulet it’s the one with Power/Toughness/Vitality. Along with rune of the Dolyak (6) now the sigils are “Sigil of Force” or that one since in this build you wouldn’t have ALOT of precision at all. At most 4%…

I wish I could explain how to play it but I can’t, anyway to summarize a power build is viable…

Here’s the build: http://gw2.luna-atra.fr/skills_tool/?lang=en&code=3837004m4qih8bln10k0uk04v4v5f5r5r5u5uh2h2hche

If you want to see it in use, you can just take a look at some of the videos on my tPvP stream at http://www.twitch.tv/elshagan

Elshagan.6342:

Runes is the Rune of the Soldier(5) and than Crests of the Soldier for even more toughness and Vitality. Got about 33k HP currently.

Oh my beloved AH guardian with runes of the soldier and shouts… the reason I send my necromancer to oblivion,