Guild Wars 2

Alright, I’m looking to give the MM another try, because it was the whole reason I initially chose the Necromancer. I realize the likelihood it will work in WvW is completely shot, but I’d like to manage something for PvE and maybe PvP. Current thoughts are to go for Axe-Focus for Vuln generation, since it’s the only way to increase their damage. Current trait distribution looks like 20/0/20/30/0, taking all minion traits available as well as the focus c/d and siphoning traits. Staff alt for support- slow, poison, regen, etc.

The question is… can this work? Minions don’t tend to last long, even with the increased health as they have no avoidance. So the heal/armor/condition cleansing benefits will quickly fall off. If I can keep throwing them back out reliably enough, I figure I may have some luck, but I’m not sure. If they’re drawing aggro they could be handy simply as a distraction against bigger foes, letting me and my allies breath for a moment. With a total of 6 (or 7) minions they could in theory completely eat an aoe (assuming it doesn’t prioritize players and bosses have the same limitation). I have no clue how well they work as damage dealers, even with the increase from the trait.

Minions work very well as damage dealers and cannon fodder. That is the standard MM spec for axe/focus, so you should do fine. Do not worry about trying to keep your minions alive with healing. Either they take very little damage, or they get one shot by massive aoe. Although MM works better in spvp, it still works in dungeons. If you run 20/0/30/20/0 and pick up the Death Nova trait, you get a poison combo field which you can blast finish for aoe weakness. IMO weakness is very important for minimizing damage taken in dungeons. I believe knights gear works best with axe/focus + minions.

Copenhagen.7015:

Minions work very well as damage dealers and cannon fodder. That is the standard MM spec for axe/focus, so you should do fine. Do not worry about trying to keep your minions alive with healing. Either they take very little damage, or they get one shot by massive aoe. Although MM works better in spvp, it still works in dungeons. If you run 20/0/30/20/0 and pick up the Death Nova trait, you get a poison combo field which you can blast finish for aoe weakness. IMO weakness is very important for minimizing damage taken in dungeons. I believe knights gear works best with axe/focus + minions.

This is spot on though I prefer running 30/0/20/20/0 for more axe damage. However, 20/0/30/20/0 is really nice for group poison fields and if you want to run the melee guys. The problem with death nova is if you run Bone Minions, Bone Fiend, and Flesh Wurm is that occasionally they will die away from a fight and so you have a wasted poison field.

Well, the main reason I’m thinking 30 in Blood in place of the other two is the condition removal. I’ve found myself struggling with that in other builds. My condition necro generally ran into an issue of always having used his condition removals already used for something else when he ended up needing them, or enemies just applied more conditions than I had removals. I can see both the alternatives boosting damage, but with all minions I only have a condition removal on my staff and I see that being an issue, at least for me.

As advice for dealing with condition damage as 20/0/30/20 is to pop retaliation then swap to DS. If you are seriosly getting burned by condition damage… some really annoying champions is to stop blowing up minions and using extra siphon to mitigate it out. Its much simplier under water due to different DS skill set but on land in general use DS to simply soak it up and while you are at it use aoe. Don’t forget that retaliation too.

The best and fastest way to build life force is via Dagger 1st skill , got staff as main ( landing marks ) and Dagger/focus ( switch to get might and damage ) then transform and use Life Blast to get might , finally use Life Transfer to heal minions and damage foes.
Try this build http://tinyurl.com/bs4jaon

search youtube for PoE summoner Witch. Thats the way MM should be.