Guild Wars 2

Some traits that need to be looked at.

Spite

(III) Spiteful Removal: When you kill a foe remove 3 conditions. Has any one even used this in PvP or PVE? I would rather have something like remove a condition when a minion dies/sacrificed.

(VII)Spiteful Marks: Marks deal 10% damage. Mark damage is awful(except for putrid mark crit). There is absolutely no reason to take this trait.

(XIII)Parasitic Contagion: 5% of your condition damage heals you. This trait isn’t entirely weak in pve, I can’t imagine people using this over dhumbfire in a condi build still. No SPVP build would use this(Maybe WvW?? hmm no kitten this one as well).

Curses

(V)Reapers Precision 33% on crit to gain 1% Life force. GOD kitten it I take this trait a lot for power builds because there is no other choice. 33% chance for 1% gain is some serious weak sauce.

(XII)Withering Precision 5 sec of weakness on cirt… 20 sec cd. Yeah 20 sec cd makes this trait garbage.

Death Magic

(XII) Necrotic Corruption Minions have a 10% chance to remove a boon. Minion Mancers won’t get anything out of this trait(maybe a dueling server). We put our flesh wurm out of battle so we can escape. We detonate bone minions/and rarely use blood fiend(not to mention we sacrifice that as well) over CC. That leaves Flesh golem and bone fiend to with a 10% chance to remove a single targets boons. Useless.

(XIII)Unholy Sanctuary Regenerate health in DS. This trait is only worth a kitten with a decent healing power investment and if you stay in DS for long periods of time. . . . .Does anyone else see the problem with this SYNERGY? There is none.

Blood Magic

(II)Bloodthirst: Siphoning effectiveness +20%. Siphoning is in a terrible state atm, there is no reason to take a vampire build over another build in any part of Guild wars 2(vampire master trait is the only exception). That being said there is no reason to take this trait compared to something else..ever.

(V)Vampiric precision Siphon on crit. Same as above.

(IX)Deathly Invigoration Heal when you exit Death Shroud. If you have 1536 healing power(max amount without sigil in pvp) this trait will heal you for 1014 health. fml

(XII)Vampiric Rituals Wells siphon health. Again Siphoning just under performs in this game. Not to mention any one with a triple digit IQ will move out of your wells. And in PVE you would trait to kill quickly.

(XIII)Unholy Martyr In DS draw 1 condition from allies every 3 seconds, gain 5% life force. Gawrrrufffggggsdfn ANet.

Soul Reaping

(V)Speed of shadows: 25% movement speed in DS. No one would use this trait compared to others.

(XIII)Renewing Blast Life blast heals allies it passes through. This trait has a lot of healing potential. To bad its fn broken. I’ll give my team mate a 6 round LB facial and it just wont register sometimes. Ug i wish this one worked properly, me hilarious to see pve groups standing in lines to get epic heals.

There is a few more, but they sorta have there place some where in the game. Toxic landing for jump puzzles and kitten etc etc.

I was going into this expecting to disagree (people tend to list niche traits like Chilling Darkness as “useless”) with at least one, and yet everything was spot on. 10/10 agree with everything listed (although I feel they could quickly become good with certain fixes).

Don’t forget Toxic Landing. Ugh…

I actually sometimes take Speed of Shadows in WvW when my server is in minority. Apart from that I agree.

I actually use Spitefull Removal for condition removal in PvE.
Usefull for larger weaker mobs that give conditions, imo.

Play how u like. I ended up with a vampiric/minion build (for PvE).
Lots of minions, Death Nova and some vampiric and minion traits.
So yes i use Bloodthirst, in combination with the trait that has minions steal/siphon health.

parasitic contagion is actually okish for soloQ
http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=;0_-34;0kHFC0x3RIkJ0;9;4T;0JJ49C;428-19-Vw07U;1jzyvjzyv2o
this build does ok in most soloQ games.
That being said the trait ahs it’s issues, namely that it doesnt help you sustain through condi remove which would b eteh thing you actually need from a sustain trait. If it would work a bit like altruistic healign and just heal youz a flat amount on condi application it would be way betetr and actually give necro a good sustain build.

Hi all, may I know what the current ‘meta’ build is for open-world PvE?

I ask this because as a fresh Lv80 I have recently been favoring the siphon wells setup, using Bloodthirst, Vampiric Precision and Vampiric Rituals along with the Wells of Blood, Corruption, Darkness and Suffering (as such) . This build offers great sustained DPS plus healing, making it amazing for storyline content, trash mobs farming and general dynamic events where I can simply wade into mobs, cycle my Wells and let my siphon healing and Death Shroud state keep me alive; the greater the number of enemies, the higher the frequency of my siphon procs from Wells. With this Siphon + Wells combination I can dive headlong into any PvE encounter and almost never ever die while still outputting good damage.

So I was surprised to see siphon traits slammed in this thread. Is siphon really that underpowered and are there other builds that blow this one clear out of the water for PvE content?

Absolutely, check the sticky thread.
But kitten that, most fun ive had in pve is with siphon wells

And maybe thats worth adding to the list, is anyone ever using Fear of Death (2s fear when downed)?

I only use fear of death on failhammer. It’s quite entertaining to get ganked in the hammer only to watch them fall off. The rage is real.

Also it doesn’t proc when you go into downed state, procs when your finished.

Fear of death is actually not too bad as it is bugged and has no ICD atm so it will trigger on every down and also every tiem you get stomped

Huh I’ve only ever noticed it fearing when I am stomped never noticed it working when I get downed….

sAdam.5876:

I actually sometimes take Speed of Shadows in WvW when my server is in minority. Apart from that I agree.

I chose speed of shadows because there is always a better choice(even in WvW). If your condi Path of Midnight/VP is just so much more useful. Power builds would go for VP/POM/Spec Mastery/Unyielding blast. Most WvW builds run spectral walk, just having spectral mastery would give you much more movement bonus then speed of shadows.

CSZTerence.1095:

So I was surprised to see siphon traits slammed in this thread. Is siphon really that underpowered and are there other builds that blow this one clear out of the water for PvE content?

When it comes to PVE content any build can really be viable. But siphoning just under-performs. With a DPS build you can run around clearing content way faster, and still not die. Also full zerker is a must for dungeon groups.

You know most builds may not synergize but if you think about it for bunker purpose as a necro the DS hot and gain a condi gives 3% LF topped with critting to get 1% = endless ds. meaning a necro could pretty much stay in DS for ever if possible. just gotta set it up properly.

Souldestructor.9576:

You know most builds may not synergize but if you think about it for bunker purpose as a necro the DS hot and gain a condi gives 3% LF topped with critting to get 1% = endless ds. meaning a necro could pretty much stay in DS for ever if possible. just gotta set it up properly.

I’m assuming your talking about pvp even though the build your talking about isn’t viable anywhere.

Necro have no place as a bunker atm. We can not buff our team with a bunch of boons. We are lacking stability(we suck kitten at rezing and stomping), and the ability to decap.

But say you do go 6 points into Blood Magic just to “stay in DS forever”. You will get 5% lf every 3 seconds. In a team fight that’s not going to perpetuate Deathshroud. What if the condi transferred is 15 sec of burning?

And reapers precision??(how much crit chance will you have in a 6 BM bunker build?) Life transfer might gain you few extra lf percentages, but after that you will be spamming Life Blast. A slow..slow skill with a 33% chance to gain 1% LF on crit. With a build with no crit chance.

nm fod works /15

Blackmoa.3186:

parasitic contagion is actually okish for soloQ
http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=;0_-34;0kHFC0x3RIkJ0;9;4T;0JJ49C;428-19-Vw07U;1jzyvjzyv2o
this build does ok in most soloQ games.
That being said the trait ahs it’s issues, namely that it doesnt help you sustain through condi remove which would b eteh thing you actually need from a sustain trait. If it would work a bit like altruistic healign and just heal youz a flat amount on condi application it would be way betetr and actually give necro a good sustain build.

This is actually a really good idea! I can see the rationale for placing Parasitic Contagion in the condition duration trait line—the longer your DoTs stick, the more sustained healing you theoretically receive. However, given how easily conditions can be cleansed, it may benefit to make this trait function like AH to encourage use of skills and traits that pulse (wells, Corrosive Poison Cloud, Locust Swarm, etc.). Alternatively, skills like Epidemic and Signet of Spite could function in a manner similar to a guardian’s Empower, providing something resembling “burst” healing.

Login.5102:

Souldestructor.9576:

You know most builds may not synergize but if you think about it for bunker purpose as a necro the DS hot and gain a condi gives 3% LF topped with critting to get 1% = endless ds. meaning a necro could pretty much stay in DS for ever if possible. just gotta set it up properly.

I’m assuming your talking about pvp even though the build your talking about isn’t viable anywhere.

Necro have no place as a bunker atm. We can not buff our team with a bunch of boons. We are lacking stability(we suck kitten at rezing and stomping), and the ability to decap.

But say you do go 6 points into Blood Magic just to “stay in DS forever”. You will get 5% lf every 3 seconds. In a team fight that’s not going to perpetuate Deathshroud. What if the condi transferred is 15 sec of burning?

And reapers precision??(how much crit chance will you have in a 6 BM bunker build?) Life transfer might gain you few extra lf percentages, but after that you will be spamming Life Blast. A slow..slow skill with a 33% chance to gain 1% LF on crit. With a build with no crit chance.

well you can focus on a build that synergizes with 6 in bm for a condition transfer build, can be possible with Sigil of Generosity and the tons of condi cleanse a necro can do. Putrid Mark, Plague Sig(if it doesn’t bug), Among other things, Reaper’s Protection, if you get feared opponents around you get feared for 3 secs if specced for it. Pretty much look at the big picture sometimes. don’t think a build is bad when you can find ways to make it seem like it’s not fun but in fact might be viable.

^Post that Build^

Right up until you transfer a single damaging condi or you get focused and whoops all of a sudden you have no LF and now you’re just absorbing condis and have no damage.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fRAQNArYWjc00TbnN+2wfbigha6eoIW3oPgA4cpKJA-TJxHwAA3f4YZAxPBAAnCAA

Used what i could don’t know if it will work i haven’t used it. yet.

Here is a variation of it same stuff but more mobility.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fRAQNArYWjc00TbnN+2wfbigha6eoIW3obgA4cpKJA-TJxHwAn3f4YZAxPBAAnCAA

I’m quite fond of Spiteful Removal for PvE. It allows me to keep moving on my condition build Which has 6/6/0/0/2. When you finish a fight as a necromancer there is nothing worse then having 60 seconds of crippling or bleeding/poison and having to wait after a fight to get it off. Not having to spend a cool down on a skill or heal is convenient. Its really what I would call a “Quality of life” trait.

PS, losing a condition on minion death would make the trait bad. We already have a minion trait that pulls conditions off of you so having something on minion death is redundant.

I think most traits you listed arent useless perse but too weak to take compared to other traits.

The only useless ones are in my opinion spiteful marks, necrotic corruption and speed of shadows. Thoes should be removed and replaced with better ones. The rest should simply be buffed.

Edit: To spiteful removel it could be changed into something like if something dies around you (be it minions ,allies or enimies) remove the conditions. So you could get some control over it if you have e. g. boneminions and selfdestruct them and still have the old effect.

Muchacho.2390:

I think most traits you listed arent useless perse but too weak to take compared to other traits.

The only useless ones are in my opinion spiteful marks, necrotic corruption and speed of shadows. Thoes should be removed and replaced with better ones. The rest should simply be buffed.

Edit: To spiteful removel it could be changed into something like if something dies around you (be it minions ,allies or enimies) remove the conditions. So you could get some control over it if you have e. g. boneminions and selfdestruct them and still have the old effect.

what you’re suggesting is too good for an adapt trait.

Lily.1935:

Muchacho.2390:

I think most traits you listed arent useless perse but too weak to take compared to other traits.

The only useless ones are in my opinion spiteful marks, necrotic corruption and speed of shadows. Thoes should be removed and replaced with better ones. The rest should simply be buffed.

Edit: To spiteful removel it could be changed into something like if something dies around you (be it minions ,allies or enimies) remove the conditions. So you could get some control over it if you have e. g. boneminions and selfdestruct them and still have the old effect.

what you’re suggesting is too good for an adapt trait.

Maybe but you can rebalance it with a longer cd or less condition removel i dont know it was only a suggestion. Its not like that Anet now has to implement it that way.

Have it on an ICD, point being it needs a trigger mechanic that isn’t useless.

Bhawb.7408:

Have it on an ICD, point being it needs a trigger mechanic that isn’t useless.

It isn’t useless. I’ve gotten loads of millage out of it. There is no other minor trait I would rather take for my condi build. In spite that is.

Lily.1935:

Bhawb.7408:

Have it on an ICD, point being it needs a trigger mechanic that isn’t useless.

It isn’t useless. I’ve gotten loads of millage out of it. There is no other minor trait I would rather take for my condi build. In spite that is.

Spiteful Spirit is actually pretty fun. It’s amusing to turn someone’s massive multi-hit burst against them.

A trait that doesn’t provide you any meaningful benefit is useless. It is only remotely “useful” in clearing you from being in combat after you’ve already won. Its not actually giving you something to help you win a fight, it is simply providing you a small QoL improvement (something that you can also accomplish through a variety of other means) because you don’t feel anything else in that spot is better than something that doesn’t even help you win your fight.

Expanding its proc’ing triggers is a massive improvement to the skill, something that could actually make it useful in combat.

Grandmaster minor trait in the spite line. Absolutely awful to say the least.

I have played with these traits in casual PvE and agree they are not overly effective except for these two in limited use.
Spiteful removal – certain MM builds
Spiteful marks – tag and bag events.

The rest and toxic landing are lame novelties, including the vampiric traits, which I think should be tied to some forms of group heal build instead of being totally selfish. I do use life transfer in casual play for minion or ally heal and it would be nice to have more synergy between group support and vamp traits.

Spiteful Removal+Parasitic Bond+Sigils/Foods that give health/might/swiftness/endurance on enemy death do have a place, it’s in zerg fights in WvW where you’ve tagged a lot and stuff dies fast.

In zerg fights you have absolutely no need for more condition removal than the already up to 5 full/near full condition wipes (WoP, plague signet, CC, staff 4, dagger 4). Just CC and staff 4 will be more than enough, really.

Bhawb.7408:

In zerg fights you have absolutely no need for more condition removal than the already up to 5 full/near full condition wipes (WoP, plague signet, CC, staff 4, dagger 4). Just CC and staff 4 will be more than enough, really.

Not to mention all the condi wipes your allies give. It actually surprises me people are defending spiteful removal the most out of all the traits listed.

2500+ hours on my necromancer, and not once did I even consider taking this trait over something else.

I just pointed out an enviroment where(under certain conditions) it can prove useful. I think ive used this trait during leveling though

Spiteful removal – solo PvE blood fiend w/o condi draw from minions. That is it for me.

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

Lily.1935:

Bhawb.7408:

Have it on an ICD, point being it needs a trigger mechanic that isn’t useless.

It isn’t useless. I’ve gotten loads of millage out of it. There is no other minor trait I would rather take for my condi build. In spite that is.

Spiteful Spirit is actually pretty fun. It’s amusing to turn someone’s massive multi-hit burst against them.

we were talking in the context of PvE. And Retaliation isn’t that good in PvE. I’d much rather have condition removal then retaliation in pve.

Bhawb.7408:

In zerg fights you have absolutely no need for more condition removal than the already up to 5 full/near full condition wipes (WoP, plague signet, CC, staff 4, dagger 4). Just CC and staff 4 will be more than enough, really.

I hate when people bring up zergs. You can face roll in a zergs, balancing on zergs is stupid. In many dungeons however, that condition removal when faced with trash mobs who apply loads of conditions, primarily crippling, is extremely helpful. Starting with the point “Well zergs” is stupid. Its dumb, stop talking.

Lily.1935:

I hate when people bring up zergs. You can face roll in a zergs, balancing on zergs is stupid.

Because trash mobs are so threatening that you need a trait to get rid of conditions that you can easily wipe in other ways? Because trash mobs in PvE are great balance points? Trash mobs are the definition of faceroll, you just spam DPS after you’ve pulled them and they melt.

The point is the trait doesn’t matter to your success. You aren’t going to suddenly lose fights if you don’t have this condi, it just makes things more convenient for you. If a trait has no impact on whether you win a fight or not its just not well designed. Necromancers have far more than enough condi removal for PvE’s uses, you really only need extra in small roaming and sPvP, both of which this trait is absolutely useless in.

Pve so hard, it’s so hard figuring out what corner to all stand in and spam a rotation.

Bhawb.7408:

Lily.1935:

I hate when people bring up zergs. You can face roll in a zergs, balancing on zergs is stupid.

Because trash mobs are so threatening that you need a trait to get rid of conditions that you can easily wipe in other ways? Because trash mobs in PvE are great balance points? Trash mobs are the definition of faceroll, you just spam DPS after you’ve pulled them and they melt.

The point is the trait doesn’t matter to your success. You aren’t going to suddenly lose fights if you don’t have this condi, it just makes things more convenient for you. If a trait has no impact on whether you win a fight or not its just not well designed. Necromancers have far more than enough condi removal for PvE’s uses, you really only need extra in small roaming and sPvP, both of which this trait is absolutely useless in.

And I have had it be very useful in fights. Its saved me quite a few times in Fractals. Mostly from crippling and Chill. Mostly though, it allows me to keep moving. It saves time, which is important. There Isn’t a better adept trait in spite for a condi set, this is a fact.

reapers might, signet mastery, and spiteful spirit. all better.

NeXeD.3042:

reapers might, signet mastery, spiteful talisman, spiteful spirit, and even kittening deaths embrace are all better.

FTFY

I wish signet mastery had an additional CD bonus based on the number of signets equipped.

5% for 2, 15% for 3, 25% for 4, or something like that.

maybe check out the minor traits as well, they are funny when you look at stuff like

http://postimg.org/image/v7ykqg8il/

at 25% hp u get 1 might for 5 seconds …… and that trait even is a 5(earlier 25) point one

Seiishizo.7162:

maybe check out the minor traits as well, they are funny when you look at stuff like

http://postimg.org/image/v7ykqg8il/

at 25% hp u get 1 might for 5 seconds …… and that trait even is a 5(earlier 25) point one

You get 1 stack of might every time you get hit at and under that threshold. It even works when you are in ds. It is not as bad as you think although the threshold could be bumped up a bit. 30-40% would be a viable solution.

djooceboxblast.9876:

Seiishizo.7162:

maybe check out the minor traits as well, they are funny when you look at stuff like

http://postimg.org/image/v7ykqg8il/

at 25% hp u get 1 might for 5 seconds …… and that trait even is a 5(earlier 25) point one

You get 1 stack of might every time you get hit at and under that threshold. It even works when you are in ds. It is not as bad as you think although the threshold could be bumped up a bit. 30-40% would be a viable solution.

40% would make it a good trait and that’s why it’s never gonna happen, devs have an irrational fear of a powerful Necro from the fabled land of GW2-betalond.

Necros have the worst recovery mechanics in the game, anything that triggers while we are under 50% HP has to be pretty powerful to swing a fight in our favor. If it triggers under 30% than it’s pretty much meaningless.

Lol that doesnt make it a good trait. Bumping up the thresh hold does nothing to improve that god awful trait.

From a spvp standpoint it would be pretty amazing on a ds spectral soldiers build with might stacking and strength runes if you made the threshold like 50.

Really? Im not seeing it.

The trait wouldn’t suddenly become amazing if they increased the threshold. It might become okay in very, very specific builds that have a lot of might stacking, but it won’t suddenly become a good trait with use to everyone,. It’ll just be decent for DS-based might stacking power builds.

Its a fairly weak source of conditional might stacking on a profession that doesn’t particularly stack might well either.