mesmer of Blackgate
http://intothemists.com/
http://intothemists.com/
Fear...
The main thing you’re doing wrong is using Axe/Focus for what looks to be a condition build.
Fear builds are okay, condition builds based around fear are great.
30/30/0/0/10, or 30/20/0/0/20 are the choices you want to take in terms of Rabid Amulet.
In addition, you should have scepter/dagger + staff, rather than axe and focus.
For utilities, you’ll want to choose between Plague Signet, Signet of Spite, or Spectral Walk. You always want to have Corrupt Boon in sPvP, as it is vital against any build that uses boons (which is most all of them).
Spectral Wall can be used, but only situationally and never in a Tpvp build.
Running zerker amulet with a scepter/dagger is just asking for you to get killed.
Running a power DS build is bursty, but I don’t have any experience in that area. All I know is that you’ll want to use axe/dagger MH for power, and scepter MH for condition.
Agree with Caine’s entire post. I’d also add that you should make sure that either your opponent does not have stability up, or that you use corrupt boon to remove it before using your fear to ensure you get the hit.
My current build uses Blood is Power, Corrupt Boon, Spectral Wall, and Flesh Golum. I open with BiP, CB, and then cycle my staff skills. This fear condi build seems to work great verse one opponent. However, when there are multiple opponents I struggle. I’m not talking 1v2 or 1v3 either. It could even be a 4v3 and all three opponents will primary me nearly every time forcing me to blow every survival skill I have in a matter of seconds. This makes it very hard to contest points. This is especially if ive one or two allies being super conservative while I get nuked.
Initially, I assumed spectral skills were designed for both pvp and fear builds. However, my first spectral build attempt was very very weak. Sigh… I’m tempted to just go with Wells since it dishes out blinds and protection. I might take Bloodthirst as well to throw some life steal into the mix. Rabid seems to work here as well with high toughness to enable high “effective” HP and the precision helps Vampiric Precision and Sigil of Blood. Hmm…..
mesmer of Blackgate
http://intothemists.com/
http://intothemists.com/
Agree with Caine’s entire post. I’d also add that you should make sure that either your opponent does not have stability up, or that you use corrupt boon to remove it before using your fear to ensure you get the hit.
Another thing to note, is that if they have stability up, stability will corrupt into fear 100% of the time.
Edit:
My current build uses Blood is Power, Corrupt Boon, Spectral Wall, and Flesh Golum. I open with BiP, CB, and then cycle my staff skills. This fear condi build seems to work great verse one opponent. However, when there are multiple opponents I struggle. I’m not talking 1v2 or 1v3 either. It could even be a 4v3 and all three opponents will primary me nearly every time forcing me to blow every survival skill I have in a matter of seconds. This makes it very hard to contest points. This is especially if ive one or two allies being super conservative while I get nuked.
Initially, I assumed spectral skills were designed for both pvp and fear builds. However, my first spectral build attempt was very very weak. Sigh… I’m tempted to just go with Wells since it dishes out blinds and protection. I might take Bloodthirst as well to throw some life steal into the mix. Rabid seems to work here as well with high toughness to enable high “effective” HP and the precision helps Vampiric Precision and Sigil of Blood. Hmm…..
However, with Rabid and an Axe, you have no direct output of condition damage, only the condition damage from your fears, staff, and utilities.
You should not open with utility skills. Utility skills as a Necro work as counters, additional pressure, or buffs.
Opening with Corrupt Boon especially will leave you weak later in the fight, as you should wait until they are at MAXIMUM BOONS before you throw it. No, it doesn’t mean that you should wait until they have 5. It means you should wait until they have the maximum amount that they can achieve by themselves. If they don’t have protection, stability, or 8+ might, do NOT use your corrupt boon.
I would suggest switching to scepter/dagger, and one of the above builds I mentioned. I can give you exact builds (including traits, sigils) if you want. However, it’s ultimately about finding the play style that suits you.
You’re a necromancer. Remember, you’re going to get focused pretty hard as soon as they see you. Your job is to stand near the back, or on a high point, and rain conditions down on the battle field. Your job is to weaken everyone so that your team can do the rest. Stomping as a Necro, especially a condi necro, is difficult and should be avoided unless there is no other option.
(edited by Caine.8204)
Another thing to note, is that if they have stability up, stability will corrupt into fear 100% of the time.
Unless they have more than 5 boons because stability has the lowest priority.
Opening with Corrupt Boon especially will leave you weak later in the fight, as you should wait until they are at MAXIMUM BOONS before you throw it. No, it doesn’t mean that you should wait until they have 5. It means you should wait until they have the maximum amount that they can achieve by themselves. If they don’t have protection, stability, or 8+ might, do NOT use your corrupt boon.
I disagree.
Timing your CB is a little more delicate than just waiting until you see a lot of yellow icons under your opponents name.
Sometimes you just want to turn fury into blind to avoid a heavy hit, or turn retaliation into confusion, or a ranger’s regeneration into poison.
It’s a lot more about the right timing and countering certain class/build specific moves than saving it up for “tha maximum boons!!”.
Fear used to be great for a lot of things last fall when it was an interrupt that worked on bosses. Last winter, fear/terror was still powerful for PvP. The recent patches nerfed it, somewhat, so fear is just good for PvP and PvE. Other skills can be traited instead so do not feel like a fear build is the best one. The tricky thing about YouToobe is that the videos represent the state of the game when they were made. Nemesis has tried to keep up with the patches but it is a never-ending chore.
What it comes down to is you must decide what weapons you want to play and build your skills and traits around them. I have dozens of, “This is no good,” builds I have tried. Axe and focus work well in power builds because that is where the trait buffs are so that is what you need to plan for. From there, you can do power, hybrid, or MM. If you do MM, you should plan on Axe Mastery and Training of the Master and forget about both grandmaster skills.
Another thing to note, is that if they have stability up, stability will corrupt into fear 100% of the time.
Unless they have more than 5 boons because stability has the lowest priority.
Opening with Corrupt Boon especially will leave you weak later in the fight, as you should wait until they are at MAXIMUM BOONS before you throw it. No, it doesn’t mean that you should wait until they have 5. It means you should wait until they have the maximum amount that they can achieve by themselves. If they don’t have protection, stability, or 8+ might, do NOT use your corrupt boon.
I disagree.
Timing your CB is a little more delicate than just waiting until you see a lot of yellow icons under your opponents name.
Sometimes you just want to turn fury into blind to avoid a heavy hit, or turn retaliation into confusion, or a ranger’s regeneration into poison.
It’s a lot more about the right timing and countering certain class/build specific moves than saving it up for “tha maximum boons!!”.
That ranger will remove that “one” poison in a heart beat.
I agree with flow on corrupt boon. It has more justification than using it on someone with full boons. Might stacks, retaliation, and stability all make me think of using it. Ive used it on swiftness on people trying to get it away. It has it’s uses, if anything using it on full boons if they have stability up isn’t accomplishing a whole lot if you’re trying to use fear.
I agree with flow on corrupt boon. It has more justification than using it on someone with full boons. Might stacks, retaliation, and stability all make me think of using it. Ive used it on swiftness on people trying to get it away. It has it’s uses, if anything using it on full boons if they have stability up isn’t accomplishing a whole lot if you’re trying to use fear.
I mentioned the might stacks and stability in my post. And waiting until they have 3-4 with one of those being stability is ideal.
In my humble, noobly opinion, axe/focus is definitely viable.
Gear up for a high crit % and use ‘on crit’ sigils. Pop in and out of DS to trigger Furious Demise, and use Ghastly Claws to burst some stacks and regain life force.
With it’s 8 attacks in 2.25 seconds, one Ghastly Claws can result in ~ 10,000 damage with no additional buffs. Hit them with Doom before you pop out of DS to keep yourself at a safe distance and do even more damage.
I see a lot of people say signets suck, but I think the movement speed is incredibly helpful for survival, and the might stacks work well with this build for me.
Last thing, you can also play a power version of this build by using beserker’s amulet, power/crit damage gear, and either might stacks, lightning/flame, boon removal, etc.
Give it a whirl and tell me what you think.
In my humble, noobly opinion, axe/focus is definitely viable.
Gear up for a high crit % and use ‘on crit’ sigils. Pop in and out of DS to trigger Furious Demise, and use Ghastly Claws to burst some stacks and regain life force.
With it’s 8 attacks in 2.25 seconds, one Ghastly Claws can result in ~ 10,000 damage with no additional buffs. Hit them with Doom before you pop out of DS to keep yourself at a safe distance and do even more damage.
I see a lot of people say signets suck, but I think the movement speed is incredibly helpful for survival, and the might stacks work well with this build for me.
Last thing, you can also play a power version of this build by using beserker’s amulet, power/crit damage gear, and either might stacks, lightning/flame, boon removal, etc.
Give it a whirl and tell me what you think.
You’re using rampager’s, not Rabid, which was the entire problem.
In my humble, noobly opinion, axe/focus is definitely viable.
Gear up for a high crit % and use ‘on crit’ sigils. Pop in and out of DS to trigger Furious Demise, and use Ghastly Claws to burst some stacks and regain life force.
With it’s 8 attacks in 2.25 seconds, one Ghastly Claws can result in ~ 10,000 damage with no additional buffs. Hit them with Doom before you pop out of DS to keep yourself at a safe distance and do even more damage.
I see a lot of people say signets suck, but I think the movement speed is incredibly helpful for survival, and the might stacks work well with this build for me.
Last thing, you can also play a power version of this build by using beserker’s amulet, power/crit damage gear, and either might stacks, lightning/flame, boon removal, etc.
Give it a whirl and tell me what you think.
You’re using rampager’s, not Rabid, which was the entire problem.
You’re missing my point. The solution I suggested: using ghastly claws and furious demise to proc on crit effects. Either amulet can work.