Guild Wars 2

I recently started messing around with GW2 again… after being away since the first few months the game was out. Since then, of course, they reworked stuff and locked in a bunch of things on my character’s builds that I find… well, sub-optimal. My Necro was the worst off, but still has some hero points saved up so he’s not hopeless.

My Necro is currently level 53 and has about 125 hero points saved up …so enough to max out two specialization paths (or whatever they’re called, sorry I forget some terms). Thing is, most of the info I’ve looked up seems outdated or geared towards end-game, HoT PvP/WvW builds.

I’m looking for a solid SOLO leveling PvE build to go from 53-80. You don’t need to get ultra-detailed… I’d be happy with:
Spec 1: X
Spec 2: Y
Spec 3: Z
Weapon Set 1: A
Weapon Set 2: B

Any more info is appreciated, but the above would at least give me a running start…

Thanks in advance for any info!

If you plan on PvE leveling, use as much power in your equipment as you can get but do not worry so much about precision or ferocity as critical hit chance is lower. Take some defensive stats with power for a little more survivability but also do not fret if your equipment is not ideal. You will get equipment from drops, chests, and as leveling rewards.

Do your personal story, too. It gives great experience, as does exploration. Grab hero points as well. You will need them even more than experience.

For the hero points you have, first, prioritize getting 25% movement speed increase; either Blood Magic’s Quickening Thirst or Signet Training’s Signet of the Locust. Quickening Thirst reduces dagger cool down, which is not that important, but gives 25% movement speed when equipped with a dagger, your highest dps weapon. (Dagger-war horn or dagger-focus are good combinations for melee. Use staff, axe, or scepter for range and practice going in and out of Death Shroud to avoid damage.)

Second, put points into Minion Training until you get Summon Bone Fiend, at least. Minion Master is by far the easiest way to play Necromancer.

With your remaining hero points, I recommend looking at Death Magic, if you are running MM. If you are not doing minions, Blood Magic, Soul Reaping, or Spite are good places to put hero points.

Again, focus on exploring and obtaining hero points. They are what you need to unlock (utility) skills and specializations (traits). You will get experience just from running around trying to collect these points. Even after you get all the traits and skills unlocked, you will still want hero points to unlock the elite specialization’s additional skills and traits, if you have the Heart of Thorns expansion.

I leveled to 80 without minions and found it to be pretty easy with dagger/wh and staff (staff mostly for tagging mobs in large group events like world bosses). Mainly did exploration/hearts and personal story. I used Spite 1,2,2 and Blood Magic 2,3,1. In my 70’s when the 3rd spec opened up I used Soul Reaping 1,2,2 (shroud build). I used signets and wells on my skill bar. Bought new green (masterwork) “strong” gear every 10 levels or so since it is so cheap on the TP.

At 80 I switched to a MM build for HoT zones (switch out Soul Reaping for Death Magic 1,1,1) and a full minion bar. After unlocking Reaper I switched out Spite for Reaper 1,3,3 and switched out one of my minions for Rise. Full zerkers armor plus scholar runes. Switched weapons to GS plus axe/dagger. Love this power reaper MM build for solo PvE at 80. And it can be easily switched to a non-MM build (e.g., Spite/Soul Reaping/Reaper with shouts) for grouping when minions aren’t desired.

Here’s 3 basic builds…

Condition:
Set 1 : Scepter / Warhorn or Dagger — try both
Set 2 : Staff or Scepter / Warhorn (if you picked dagger above try this)
Heal : Consume Conditions — will save your kitten from condi spam and cripples (signet of vampire for more damage)
Utility 1 : Blood is Power
Utility 2 : Epidemic (unless vs 1 enemy)
Utility 3 : Corrosive Poison Cloud or Plague Signet (if you took signet of vampirism so you have a condition cleanse)
Trait for corruption with this build if possible

If possible, take Summon Flesh Golem as an elite.. so good for solo.

Power :
Set 1 : Dagger (or Axe if you need range, but dagger is better overall) / Warhorn (or Focus for raw damage)
Set 2 : Staff
Heal : Signet of Vampirism or Consume Conditions (signet more useful here IMO)
Utility 1 : Well of Suffering
Utility 2 : Well of Corruption
Utility 3 : Signet of Spite (or Signet of the Locust if you didn’t take warhorn)
Trait for signets and wells with this build if possible

Minion Master :
Set 1 : Dagger / Warhorn
Set 2 : Staff
Heal : Summon Minion
U1 : Summon..
U2 : Summon..
U3 : Summon..
Elite : Summon..
(don’t take flesh worm)
Trait for minions
This build is easy mode don’t recommend it as there’s no challenge and teaches you horrible habits.