Guild Wars 2

Hey guys,
I’ve been playing necro for a few months now and I’m still not sure which (dagger or focus) offhand I should be using. My main hand is dagger/x atm and I run staff too. In PvE I’ve been using dagger/dagger for a long time but since I started PvP I have also been using focus. I run a power 30/10/0/0/30 build which focuses on heavy life blast/transfer dmg. When I’m not in death shroud I do a combo which consists of spectral grasp>dark pact> well of suffering> (reapers touch sometimes)> some dagger 1’s and than I continue into DS. In PvP I’ve been getting hurt by condis a lot. 50% of the time a condi is in top 3 things that hurt the most. So I’ve been seriously considering using dagger offhand because of #4 (deathly swarm <blind which transfers 3 condis and bounces>) and also because I’m quite familiar with it. The only thing stopping me is focus 4 which adds some nice vulnerability and does more dmg than deathly swarm. Also #5 is very useful for boon tank warrior/guardians. So what do you guys think will fit best into my whole build thing?
Ps. Only for pvp
-Hollts

Hey there Hollts. I personally prefer to use focus over dagger. Focus 4 provides solid damage, vuln, AND regen. Focus 5 is a great boon strip / CC to open with or to use when your opponent decides they’ve had enough and tries to run. Dagger 4 is a great condi clear / blind, but I replace that with Plague Signet for the clear (no blind, but meh). Never really cared much for Dagger 5. Maybe it’s just me.

However, take into account that you will look WAY cooler dual wielding daggers. Always a factor in choosing.

Digno.6945:

Hey there Hollts. I personally prefer to use focus over dagger. Focus 4 provides solid damage, vuln, AND regen. Focus 5 is a great boon strip / CC to open with or to use when your opponent decides they’ve had enough and tries to run. Dagger 4 is a great condi clear / blind, but I replace that with Plague Signet for the clear (no blind, but meh). Never really cared much for Dagger 5. Maybe it’s just me.

However, take into account that you will look WAY cooler dual wielding daggers. Always a factor in choosing.

Oh ok, I get what ur saying. But atm I don’t have any weakness in my build, is that bad? I love that condition a lot because 50% o the time the guy does 50% less dmg. Wouldn’t it be better than to have dagger #5?

Taking offhand dagger is fine. It always is a question of trade offs and offhand dagger offers enough to be viable.

I like dagger over focus.

Focus 4 gives you a nice spike, focus 5 is worthless most of the time in pvE. Both Dagger 4 and 5 are fantastic in PvE and pvp. Dagger 5 has a huge AoE which is great for tagging, and weakness is really good vs bosses. Dagger 4 cleaves to three targets, is ranged, and blinds and clears your conditions.

I suppose for optimum theorycrafting DPS, focus is better than dagger (but Warhorn is better than focus).

All our off-hands are pretty interchangeable depending on needs. Just pick the one that suits your needs the most. Also a certain number of the effects can be gotten from traits/weapon combos.

I’m a fan of the focus especially in PvP. 4 for decent damage and vuln, 5 for slowing targets down and removing their boons. Good range on it, especially with the right traits. Very useful against warriors and guardians mainly.

nekretaal.6485:

I like dagger over focus.

Focus 4 gives you a nice spike, focus 5 is worthless most of the time in pvE. Both Dagger 4 and 5 are fantastic in PvE and pvp. Dagger 5 has a huge AoE which is great for tagging, and weakness is really good vs bosses. Dagger 4 cleaves to three targets, is ranged, and blinds and clears your conditions.

I suppose for optimum theorycrafting DPS, focus is better than dagger (but Warhorn is better than focus).

Warhorn? I consider that the worst actually. 2 sec daze…. Could be used as heal interrupt i guess but DS 3 would too, as well as flesh golem charge. And locust swarm just gives some more mobility and a bit of dmg but overall not much. Why do u consider it the best?
(Ty for all the responses but I’m still not sure ????)

Power: Dagger/Wh – Axe/Focus
Condi: Scepter/Dagger – Staff
Offhand dagger is good to transfer conditions you got (corruption skills/plague signet)
Focus is good vuln stacking + boon removal
→ looking from PvE perspective

Warhorn is an unblockable AoE long CC. Makes it possible to counter a lot of healing skills, rezzes, stomps, etc. It is comparable to reaper’s mark in many functions.

WH 5 gives you a long amount of swiftness, over 100% cripple uptime, meaning anyone you catch in it should never escape, plus it generates a lot of LF, like a LOOOOOOT of LF. 20% per person caught in it for the full duration, it can potentially fill your entire LF bar on its own in one cast (it will overfill giving you 110% if you have gluttony). Its all a matter of preference, all of our OH weapons are very strong in their own way.

Bhawb.7408:

Warhorn is an unblockable AoE long CC. Makes it possible to counter a lot of healing skills, rezzes, stomps, etc. It is comparable to reaper’s mark in many functions.

WH 5 gives you a long amount of swiftness, over 100% cripple uptime, meaning anyone you catch in it should never escape, plus it generates a lot of LF, like a LOOOOOOT of LF. 20% per person caught in it for the full duration, it can potentially fill your entire LF bar on its own in one cast (it will overfill giving you 110% if you have gluttony). Its all a matter of preference, all of our OH weapons are very strong in their own way.

Don’t forget the WH 5 + DS Tank combo

Oh I didn’t know it was that useful…. I’ll check it out because I do a lot of DS bunkering and I’ll like the extra LF.