Guild Wars 2

Current status: Struggling against druids and scrappers. Their healing and sustain is insane.

Necro, not Reaper.
I tried Reaper and don’t like it.
Too melee and too kiteable against other classes in WvW.

TLDR: I’m sharing my 1 year roaming experience against other classes for what its worth. Also I’ll expand on this as I fight more against the new elite specializatoins.
I’ll also post videos to show.

Naturally, my sharing will be based on the build I’m using. But it can still be useful to take points off and adapt it into your builds.

Current Build (still fine-tuning as I face off against the new elite specs)
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vRUQNAnYWjc0Q5N2ZD22A/NOMGKZIUBFNtJiihI+zBwAA-TFCFAByt/AAnCgCV/5KlgIp8IJlYppPYhnAQAAEgdWn15ODc0je0je0j2N35OP6RPaA-w

Vs Power Warrior

General tips:
- Plague form + blind to negate their Rampage
- Watch out for their Immune to condi stance so you don’t waste your fear
- Watch out for their stability icon and use corrupt boon on them
- If they run to widen the gap for more healing time and cooldown and show signs of wanting to drain your lifeforce before committing, don’t be afraid to run in the opposite direction, disengage by entering towers/keeps or just teleporting away.
- I mean, hey, if you can run first away from me, so can I. I don’t have to chase after you or wait there for you to come back. Right?

• Skull-crack build
  • Commonly uses Mace/Shield + Greatsword
  • Combos include:
    • Using Greatsword rush to get close, whirlwind to damage and evade, switching to blocking with shield as they get close, before shield bash followed by Mace skull-crack burst stun, then switching to greatsword to hundred blades and then whirlwind out.
      Video: https://youtu.be/k0LO8SZVw3k
  • How to fight:
    • Use dodges to evade Greatsword rush and whirlwind.
    • Use Shroud to breakstun if you get caught by shield bash. The subsequent stability pulse will negate the skull-crack that usually follows.
  • Thoughts:
    Build variations include Mace/Shield + Hammer.
    With 2 utility stun breaks and shroud stun break + stability, we should have a fairly even chance against them.

• Eviscerate build
  • Commonly uses Axe/Shield + Greatsword
  • Combos include:
    • Using Greatsword rush to get close, whirlwind to damage and evade, switching to blocking with shield as they get close, before shield bash followed by Eviscerate.
      Video: https://youtu.be/OZMKlopXwJA
  • How to fight:
    • Use dodges to evade Greatsword rush and whirlwind.
    • Use Shroud to breakstun if you get caught by shield bash. Eviscerate usually follows right after the stun so you may want to save a dodge for immediately after you breakstun.
  • Thoughts:
    Their killer moves generally involves shield bash + eviscerate.
    Repeat this mantra: breakstun + dodge, breakstun + dodge, breakstun + dodge.
    With decent enough reaction and internet connection to execute the mantra above, we should have a fairly even chance against them.

• Rifle build
  • Commonly uses Rifle + Greatsword
  • Combos include:
    • Using Rifle autos and volley to engage, then rifle kill-shot burst, then switch to greatsword to open up the gap, switch back to rifle and repeat.
      Video: https://youtu.be/nP0578-r5_k
  • How to fight:
    • Use your dodge for kill-shot and volley.
    • Use shroud to tank and trade hits with him.
    • Rarely a warrior will use Greatsword rush to get close. They use it to kite. So don’t need to save dodge for this.
  • Thoughts:
    Their rifle autos and volleys hurt. So don’t be stingy on using shroud to tank. But no matter what you do, dodge their kill-shot and we should have a fairly even chance against them.

• Sword build
  • Commonly uses Sword/Shield + Greatsword or Hammer
  • Combos include:
    • Using sword to leap to you, followed by shield bash, sword flurry burst to immobilize you, switch to greatsword to hundred blade you or auto with sword, then switch to hammer to stun you, then switch back to sword to final thrust you.
      Video: https://youtu.be/yc6hekuIvAc
  • How to fight:
    • Dodge his shield bash. Very important. His combos usually depend on shield bash landing.
    • Use shroud to breakstun, remove immobilize.
  • Thoughts:
    With our many stun breaks and remove condi in shroud, we should have a fairly even chance against them.

• Hammer build
  • Commonly uses Hammer + Greatsword
  • Combos include:
    • Using Greatsword rush to get close, whirlwind to damage and evade, switching to hammer staggering blow which is almost instant knockdown with no tell-tale animation, hammer burst and hammer 5.
      Video: https://youtu.be/DKagEb-W4Jk
  • How to fight:
    • Use dodges to evade Greatsword rush and whirlwind.
    • Save a dodge for his hammer burst which is very obvious jumping animation.
    • Use your shroud to breakstun and stability to tank his stuns.
  • Thoughts:
    With our many stun breaks, we should have a fairly even chance against them.

• Longbow build
  • Commonly uses Longbow + Greatsword or Hammer
  • Combos include:
    • Using Longbow 5 to immobilize you, longbow burst and longbow 3 to nuke.
      Video: https://youtu.be/sKrHUGQlC9s
  • How to fight:
    • Don’t stand in the fire circles. Dodge out of them when you see longbow 3.
    • Save your shroud for the hammer stuns
  • Thoughts:
    I’ve never fought a Longbow power build while roaming, though I have seen one in action.

Vs Mesmer

General tips:
- Stand on your staff mark when the mesmer is invis. Gives yourself more reaction time. And so they don’t burst out of invis at point-blank range.
- Some mesmers like to invis and blink behind you and burst from behind. So you need a good 360 awareness and reaction and internet connection when their bursts come out of invis.
- Mesmers can come out of invis with aegis so don’t be too quick to burst them. Try a couple of autos, bait out their dodges etc.

• Shatter burst build
  • Commonly uses Greatsword + Sword/Torch
  • Combos include:
    • Greatsword 4 then Greatsword 2 + Blink to you + Mind Wrack + Greatsword 3 + Greatsword 5
    • Greatsword 4 then Greatsword 2 then switch to Sword/Torch then Sword 3 to immobilize and blink to you then Sword 2 + Mind Wrack
      Video: https://youtu.be/bDVXL425UsQ
  • How to fight:
    • Greatsword 4 may not need to be dodged. Run straight and you might be able to minimize damage.
    • Greatsword 2 must dodge because it generates clones and can usually lead to bursts.
    • Sword 3 must dodge because it generally leads to bursts as well. If you failed to dodge, use shroud to tank or use staff 4 which usually removes the immobilize from you and with enough luck with crits, can kill off the clones that are usually running towards you because of shatter.
    • Save your fear to interrupt his mantra/heal/mass invis or use it to interrupt his rhythm.
    • Most mesmers like to dodge once their Sword 2 evades end so don’t be too quick to try landing a burst.
      Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_JCOcM8LqI
  • Thoughts:
    Mesmers that run either power lock + power return or power spike + power return traited for 3 uses are extremely painful.
    Some mesmers time their power lock with their burst so you’ll need fast reaction to stun break and dodge. Usually if you’re not focused and prepared, you end up wanting to dodge but finding yourself stunned and by the time you stun break, you find yourself too late to dodge and the burst had landed.
    If you’re able to react fast with decent internet connection, you should have a fairly even chance against them.

Vs Ranger

General tips:
- Save your dodge for rapid fire. The rest of the longbow skills are not easy to dodge.

• Longbow build

Vs Guardian

Vs Elementalist

Vs Revenant

Vs Engineer

Vs Thief

Vs Necromancer

Reserve 15 necros

Just a question, but what are you trying to achieve with your build?

I kinda modified it to what might be better but it’s just my opinion.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vRUQNAndWjc0Q5N2ZD22A7NOqFK6bMHlBMBCgGIG2/bJA-TFCFAByt/AAnCgCV/5KlgIp8IJlYppPYhnAQAAEgdGduzAH9oH9oH9odzduzje0jGA-w

Urukami.4796:

Just a question, but what are you trying to achieve with your build?

I wanted a jack of all trades build that can have a fair chance against most if not all other classes in a 1vs1 while roaming in WvW.

Citing an extreme example, I don’t want to run a heavy condi build that has zero chance against a diamond skin elementalist.

I understand though that it is not very possible to have a build that is 50-50 chance against every other classes’ builds. there will be fights favoring my build and fights that favor the enemy’s build.

But I don’t want a build that has zero chance against another particular build like condi vs diamond skin.

I’m trying to find a build that has at least a 30% chance of winning against any other builds. That is, even if I meet the worst counter to my build, it is still a 30% chance I can win.

Urukami.4796:

I kinda modified it to what might be better but it’s just my opinion.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vRUQNAndWjc0Q5N2ZD22A7NOqFK6bMHlBMBCgGIG2/bJA-TFCFAByt/AAnCgCV/5KlgIp8IJlYppPYhnAQAAEgdGduzAH9oH9oH9odzduzje0jGA-w

The concept behind my build is, full berserker armor/weapon/trinkets + fully defensive traits/utilities. Many stunbreaks, many condition tranfers, more dodges.
That said, I think your build is more focused offensively and not so much the attack+defense combination I had in mind.
Not that your build is bad, in fact I think your build has great synergy with heavy boon removals pairing with axe and focus combi.
But I feel some fights, necros don’t have the initiative and often have to survive a burst or two, which my build may be more capable of surviving.

I tried running with focus, but focus 4 was too unreliable and doesn’t bounce well, requiring me to set it up with a fear, which may not be worth it (or maybe I’m casting it wrongly)

focus 5 cast time was too long…

I prefer dagger because of the condi transfer/blind.
dagger 5 not so useful though but still passable with the weakness application.

I dropped path of corruption because I decided to run with corrupt boon. with master of corruption traited, that is a pretty decent boon corruption ability already without POC. and master of corruption allows me to have a faster heal too.

I thought of running spite line too, but since I decided not to go with focus, and i thought axe cooldown was decently fast already, i went death magic for more defense.

I went plague form because it is more defensive and gives more survivability against things like rampage and to tank possible bursts when caught out with shroud on cooldown.

i added some videos for each of the posted warrior and mesmer builds so far to show their common rotations.

EremiteAngel.9765:

Urukami.4796:

Just a question, but what are you trying to achieve with your build?

I wanted a jack of all trades build that can have a fair chance against most if not all other classes in a 1vs1 while roaming in WvW.

Citing an extreme example, I don’t want to run a heavy condi build that has zero chance against a diamond skin elementalist.

I understand though that it is not very possible to have a build that is 50-50 chance against every other classes’ builds. there will be fights favoring my build and fights that favor the enemy’s build.

But I don’t want a build that has zero chance against another particular build like condi vs diamond skin.

I’m trying to find a build that has at least a 30% chance of winning against any other builds. That is, even if I meet the worst counter to my build, it is still a 30% chance I can win.

Carrion chill reaper does this. I know you don’t like reaper, but don’t hamstring yourself just because. Unless you want to play a warrior or something.

EremiteAngel.9765:

Urukami.4796:

I kinda modified it to what might be better but it’s just my opinion.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vRUQNAndWjc0Q5N2ZD22A7NOqFK6bMHlBMBCgGIG2/bJA-TFCFAByt/AAnCgCV/5KlgIp8IJlYppPYhnAQAAEgdGduzAH9oH9oH9odzduzje0jGA-w

The concept behind my build is, full berserker armor/weapon/trinkets + fully defensive traits/utilities. Many stunbreaks, many condition tranfers, more dodges.
That said, I think your build is more focused offensively and not so much the attack+defense combination I had in mind.
Not that your build is bad, in fact I think your build has great synergy with heavy boon removals pairing with axe and focus combi.
But I feel some fights, necros don’t have the initiative and often have to survive a burst or two, which my build may be more capable of surviving.

I tried running with focus, but focus 4 was too unreliable and doesn’t bounce well, requiring me to set it up with a fear, which may not be worth it (or maybe I’m casting it wrongly)

focus 5 cast time was too long…

I prefer dagger because of the condi transfer/blind.
dagger 5 not so useful though but still passable with the weakness application.

I dropped path of corruption because I decided to run with corrupt boon. with master of corruption traited, that is a pretty decent boon corruption ability already without POC. and master of corruption allows me to have a faster heal too.

I thought of running spite line too, but since I decided not to go with focus, and i thought axe cooldown was decently fast already, i went death magic for more defense.

I went plague form because it is more defensive and gives more survivability against things like rampage and to tank possible bursts when caught out with shroud on cooldown.

The thing is, if you want to be a jack-of-all trades then celestial will be the one for you (hybrid builds aren’t too bad either using carrion or sinister). Your build has quite the power however its defense is pretty weak therefore (imo) it’s best to just focus offensively (offense is the best defence(you can say it the other way around too)). Death magic is decent but only if your armor/toughness is around 2.5K or more (imo).

You already have a good condi removal as long as you manage it well through your heal and plague signet and plague sending and with decent vitality you’re technically able to deal with condi builds out there therefore I don’t think you would need to run death magic nor dagger, maybe warhorn might be the way for the daze (interrupts) and mobility (cripple to enemies + swiftness to you) as dagger 5 isn’t really that important since you tend to just inflict weakness with every crit and 50% crit technically you can perma apply weakness + when you go to DS you apply weakness.

The problem now is those who are running zerker builds. The best way to handle them (imo) when you are also fairly zerky is to just presurre them early on and if he lags behind or uses up a lot of his defensive CD then it’ll technically be your win so long as you don’t mess up.

The reason why I also chose POC rather than MOC is due to the fact that you might need to corrupt certain boons while corrupt boon is on CD and if you miss corrupt boon then you don’t have any other way. Plus another reason why I don’t (specifically myself) choose MOC is just because i’m just used to the 30 sec CD and I just tend to time my heals and spend my life force efficiently while the heal is in CD ^^ but then again it is nice to have a lower cd with the heal and corrupt boon.

When it comes to the ultimate i can understant why you might take plague but to just counter one-two class i think it’s a bit of a waste. It’s best to either stake to lich form or Flesh Golem but by the looks of your build best to go for lich form.

Great initiative, Eremite.

@Kami: WTF is that? “Main Professions: Necromancer & Revenant” TRAITOR!

Lynnie.7213:

Great initiative, Eremite.

@Kami: WTF is that? “Main Professions: Necromancer & Revenant” TRAITOR!

Ha Ha Ha…. Kami hopped on that Rev train!!!! lmao

I made one too but i would never put that on my signature…. lol