Guild Wars 2

So what will this mean for new-ish players such as myself? I only have a couple traits unlocked so far, is this a new one to aim for first before others? Will the New Necromancer Guide stickied at the top of this forum need updating?

To be honest, this isn’t much of a buff and more of a bandaid.

I am one who always feels prevention is always better than being affected by something to begin with. Which FitG did very well when popped DS.

It being a Stunbreak still offers very little. DS was instant cast to begin with. If you saw a Hammer warrior or such, you popped it before hand. Not after and you shut them down.

Plus, the 1 Stab stack is still laughable. Necros will still be ping-pongs.
The hits you could have prevented outright before do not overshadow how much you will be hammered after you waste your DS now.

3 seconds of pure stability on a 6sec cooldown (and if you pop it for the pure stability only, its effectively only 3 seconds CD of pure anti-cc), far outweights 1 stunbreak and one CC prevention afterwards.

In a duel of 1v1? It’s okay. In a group fight? I think a +50% crit will make all your teammates happier.

Narkodx.1472:

Gryph.8237:

Personal battles are boring so take it to Pms, as it does not add to the discussion. Express you opinion on the traits as that is useful but I don’t want to wade through the bs surrounding your personal battles.

Agreed problem is flow thinks his opinions are superior to others and says people “have no idea what they are talking about”

This personal battle is part of the discussion, so chill, Gryph.

Narkodx, I have no idea why you feel the need to be this condescending towards me, but fine… it’s all my fault and my “opinion” is worthless. Happy now?

Necromancers have justifiably complained about being shut down and lacking options to counter CC. The added stunbreak is a pretty nice improvement. Personally, I like the change. I’m willing to sacrifice raw damage modifiers to be more survivable and more reliably land my skills.

It’s a bit shizophrenic to ask for survivability and then not being willing to invest into it. Expecting it for free is rather naive. People need to free their minds of restrictions like supposedly mandatory traits.

Endless Soul.5178:

So what will this mean for new-ish players such as myself? I only have a couple traits unlocked so far, is this a new one to aim for first before others? Will the New Necromancer Guide stickied at the top of this forum need updating?

Since you’re just leveling you should be fine without it. There is no PvE content where you’d really need it to get along. In the long run it could indeed be a trait you might want to try.

Xaylin.1860:

It’s a bit shizophrenic to ask for survivability and then not being willing to invest into it.

The thing is, necros are lacking sustain at their core design. So yes, to a certain extent we expect some survivability buffs without having to make any compromises or investments.

Blocking is not that big of a deal. Aegis can be removed pretty easily, Guardians are the only people who have a block that is super important to remove. Now, that isn’t to say the trait is bad, because the ability to continue to pressure people through their defensive CDs can be really important. However that doesn’t mean it is absolutely necessary over a stun break on as low as a 10s CD that can counter two CCs in one use.

Really the only time FitG is not a very serious consideration is if your build doesn’t have points in SR and it would be a massive change to your build that you can’t afford.

Talonblaze.3175:

It being a Stunbreak still offers very little. DS was instant cast to begin with. If you saw a Hammer warrior or such, you popped it before hand. Not after and you shut them down.

Plus, the 1 Stab stack is still laughable. Necros will still be ping-pongs..

Need to test the trait, but the trait is really good if it lets you take only one or even zero utility skill stun breaks.

If the trait works well, condis will be able to get both signet of spite and corrupt boon on their bar again.

I would love to try this trait in a power build. Something like 2/6/0/0/6, with path of corruption. Is there a runeset that allows for enough precision to run berzerker gear and reliably crit even without the trait? Or even 2/0/6/0/6 with unholy sanctuary. (may have to swap in precision gear for that one).

nekretaal.6485:

Is there a runeset that allows for enough precision to run berzerker gear and reliably crit even without the trait? Or even 2/0/6/0/6 with unholy sanctuary. (may have to swap in precision gear for that one).

Pack is the go-to rune for that sort of build. You can get to around 66% crit chance in SPvP when you have Fury.

flow.6043:

Xaylin.1860:

It’s a bit shizophrenic to ask for survivability and then not being willing to invest into it.

The thing is, necros are lacking sustain at their core design. So yes, to a certain extent we expect some survivability buffs without having to make any compromises or investments.

That’s true. However, some people obviously expect too much. At least I’d consider FitG to be too powerful to be baseline. And even though it might not be baseline, I really don’t get why so many people don’t even try it just because – what a surprise – it means making comprises elsewhere.

Xaylin.1860:

Endless Soul.5178:

So what will this mean for new-ish players such as myself? I only have a couple traits unlocked so far, is this a new one to aim for first before others? Will the New Necromancer Guide stickied at the top of this forum need updating?

Since you’re just leveling you should be fine without it. There is no PvE content where you’d really need it to get along. In the long run it could indeed be a trait you might want to try.

Good to know, thanks for answering.

The only point where I disagree with you, Flow, is the importance of the unblockability portion.

Two professions can get Aegis: Guardians and Mesmers. Mesmers have no control over when or if they get it, so they really are not even worth considering here.

Aside from that, there is only one blocking skill not on Guardian that also lets you do something other than block for its duration, and that is Arcane Shield. Which never sees use primarily due to its ungodly cooldown.

Since the best part about having unblockable marks is Reaper’s Mark interrupting whatever you like, is it worth interrupting a block channel, since they are doing nothing else?

If you currently have no points in Soul Reaping, yes, I can understand why you think FitG is too much of an investment. But saying Greater Marks is better for most builds is downright false.

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

Two professions can get Aegis: Guardians and Mesmers. Mesmers have no control over when or if they get it, so they really are not even worth considering here.

Just to complete the list, there’s Well of Power. And Guardians can share aegis with allies too.

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

Aside from that, there is only one blocking skill not on Guardian that also lets you do something other than block for its duration, and that is Arcane Shield. Which never sees use primarily due to its ungodly cooldown.

Arcane Shield is a standard utility for Fresh Air eles and I actually see it a lot.

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

Since the best part about having unblockable marks is Reaper’s Mark interrupting whatever you like, is it worth interrupting a block channel, since they are doing nothing else?

Reaper’s Mark is not the only one you want to land on blocking opponents.
For example, I don’t want to wait 3 seconds to use my condi transfer against several classes. Or just poisoning and chilling them while they have their block channel going can completely turn a fight around. Not to mention that they are pretty much guaranteed to not dodge because they wouldn’t want to cancel their block skill.

Also, yes it is worth interrupting someone’s block channel. Maybe you want to follow up with some blockable skill, maybe you want to get someone off a capture point, or maybe you just want to enable your allies to land some damage as well.

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

If you currently have no points in Soul Reaping, yes, I can understand why you think FitG is too much of an investment. But saying Greater Marks is better for most builds is downright false.

And I never said that.

New fitg sounds good. Might try 20606 again for giggles.

Pretty sure this has become a discussion about opinions.

Roe.3679:

Pretty sure this has become a discussion about opinions.

And I agree with yours

All the cons from power necro views… Soul Marks is not a necessary for condition necro, there is a bug with Terror and partial damage ticks I believe they are looking at it as well as fear not interrupting, freeing a utility slot for more offense is the biggest advantage of this trait so a condition necro can definitely afford it.

It’s certainly a good change.

It isn’t any game changer, however, at least not for me. Current meta specs are not as heavy-cc packed, except of engineer maybe (which is mostly favorable matchup for Necro anyway). The annoying CC is rather immobilize, not raw stuns like in the days of hambow (that change would be the game changer back then).

It doesn’t really solve our issues in PvP, though I have to say, it’s a very good option.
The main issue is, however, that it’s your bonus stunbreak and that’s cool, but you’ll most likely remain with same utilities. I mean, Wurm, SA/SW, CB. Especially for Condi Necro, what else would you get? Honestly speaking. I believe it could be more of WvWvW trait.

I pack Spectral Armor or Spectral Walk because of their utility, not really stunbreak. Stunbreak was an addition.

These utilities are just too vital. Replacements?:

1. Spectral Wall – looks like a good alternative. It’s kind of one-trick pony against competent opponents however, could give you couple seconds for breath and not much besides that.

2. Corrosive Poison Cloud – I would really love to use it. Really, really. But even if it’s pretty cool already, it still lacks. But I have to admit that it’s doing better vs. cele meta on point and can stop some pressure and give the upper hand. But it lacks in 1v1, 2v2 setting Necro’s place is at and same like with Epidemic, is one of “teamfight” utilities. But we still perish in no time under gaze of more than 1 player.

3. Epidemic. My favourite skill in the entire game. But no, remains on the backseat. You still don’t get that much value of it in this meta. And even if you do, it’s extremaly situational and, with short weakness durations, doesn’t bring much self-defense.

4. Signet of Locust. It’d be okay. But if dear ArenaNet…
…fixed the kitten signets in death shroud.

5. Well of Corruption – it’s kind of okay, even for carrion condi I believe. But I don’t really like wells, they’re one-trick pony and have heavy cooldown. Not many crits either.

6. Well of Power – that’s not a bad thing. But it’s already been okay alternative for mandatory spectral.

7. Well of Darkness – small radius, poor man’s Black Powder with again, long cooldown. Better off with Spectral Wall.

8. Signet of Spite – that’s some option. But for 1v1 and not much more. And requires yet another CC to land it successfully because current meta builds have days of evades/blocks/cleanses/dodges.

9. ???

Electro.4173:

Dark FQ.1038:

kitten is such a good trait line , too many good traits…

LOL that typo

Hehe a typo hehe