Guild Wars 2

I have read many messages saying that Necro is only good in WvW and not really viable in the current meta in any other mode.

But I really like the concept of necromancers and I would like to see what you hardcore necromancer players think.. Now of course, I’ll play what I enjoy but I also would like to know if this class has been proven to be effective;

in PvP and in PvE. PvE really is not my priority since most of the time i’ll be playing WvW and PvP.

Do you guys prefer condi or powermancer and why?

Also what armors are usually used with what builds?

If you guys could get me up to date with all those questions, I would be forever grateful. Thanks!

edit: I read Ascii’s terrormancer is a strong build but is it still viable after 15th april patch and is it still being used?

I would really apprecate some answers guys, I’m really eager to learn and some tips would be so helpful

PvE look at spoj’s build that’s stickied up top of our subforum, it explains it all. We can compete in single target DPS, but lack cleave (only have AoE on high CDs) and bring very low utility. Necromancer is the last person you’d ever pick, but you’ll still be able to do the content.

Also we are actually useful in boss blitz because of certain mechanics: Boom Boom for poison, Shrek because we essentially bypass his mechanic, Sparc because ranged non-projectile, and literally anyone can do Kuraii and Wiggins, so literally 5/6 bosses we are at least as good as anyone else, or specifically favored. I specifically mention this because if they are making new content that specifically favors certain things (although AGAIN they overvalue reflects, since nearly every boss is affected by it) then Necromancers in the future might find themselves in better spots if we get some QoL changes alongside good new content.

In PvP, run condi if you want to practice for “competitive” play, power if you want to just have fun in soloQ (not high viable really), and MM if you want a fun but not considered very high tier viable spec. In PvP you can definitely play Necromancer and succeed, even at the highest level, but it won’t be as easy as rolling your face over the keyboard on Warrior, for example.

Bhawb.7408:

PvE look at spoj’s build that’s stickied up top of our subforum, it explains it all. We can compete in single target DPS, but lack cleave (only have AoE on high CDs) and bring very low utility. Necromancer is the last person you’d ever pick, but you’ll still be able to do the content.

Also we are actually useful in boss blitz because of certain mechanics: Boom Boom for poison, Shrek because we essentially bypass his mechanic, Sparc because ranged non-projectile, and literally anyone can do Kuraii and Wiggins, so literally 5/6 bosses we are at least as good as anyone else, or specifically favored. I specifically mention this because if they are making new content that specifically favors certain things (although AGAIN they overvalue reflects, since nearly every boss is affected by it) then Necromancers in the future might find themselves in better spots if we get some QoL changes alongside good new content.

In PvP, run condi if you want to practice for “competitive” play, power if you want to just have fun in soloQ (not high viable really), and MM if you want a fun but not considered very high tier viable spec. In PvP you can definitely play Necromancer and succeed, even at the highest level, but it won’t be as easy as rolling your face over the keyboard on Warrior, for example.

Thank you very much for the answers, would say Necromancers are viable in WvW? and can you please please give me a link to a condi build you find powerful for pvp/wvw?

Necros are in my opinion more viable in wvw than any other game mode. They form the N in GWEN and are basically one of the main sources of damage in large group fights. I have a thread floating around here that discusses the merits of power vs condition and that depends on the scope of the fight, but either way, necros add a lot of burst aoe to zeros through wells and marks and death shroud skills. You can easily tag lots of enemies that way!

Necromancers aren’t just viable in WvW, it is by far their strongest gamemode and the only one where they are a nearly required profession to have. Note that condi falls off hard as the groups get bigger.

For condi builds, this should almost always be your base setup nowadays:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fRAQNAW74ic0UeD/NJCGqoFAnLlJBA

Anything left blank/unassigned is because its optional, up to your playstyle, and because that build works for both PvP and WvW.

Runes:
In PvP I’d almost always use Traveler or Speed runes (you need movement speed to rotate properly), in WvW you can use Undead, Traveler/Speed, or basically any of the runesets that proc conditions (Perplexity, Krait, etc.).

Skills:
Corrupt Boon – if you don’t have this, you shouldn’t be playing Condi Necro.
Flesh Wurm – the go to stun break because of its ability to get you completely out of danger, and in some cases z-axis movement can get you places where only thieves can follow
Spectral Armor – basically the main other one you should consider, if you pop this and go straight into DS you’ll basically take no damage for the duration
Signet of Spite (aka Signet of Skill) – great for extended overload, can be used after CB to completely screw someone, or as a secondary CB like effect without need of boons to corrupt.
Plague – the go to elite, a big AoE blind and poison, plus with Chilling darkness you get some chill up in there too
Flesh Golem – if Plague isn’t that great in your situation, or especially if you have on-elite use or on-interrupt runes, you can pick Flesh Brolem to help you out

Sigils:
You have a few choices here: corruption, doom, geomancy, earth, generosity, and plenty others. Pick something that fits your playstyle and situation, see if it makes sense, and try it.

Stats:
Carrion or Rabid for PvP (they all basically scale the same, its simply a preference)
Rabid or Dire for WvW (you can use Carrion for roaming, but these are much better for all around due to toughness’ scaling in groups)

Traits:
If the trait was filled in, you should almost always take it, unless you have a big reason not to. Extra traits can be used in Spite/Death Magic/Soul Reaping as desired. Spite is generally for extra boon removal, Death Magic is for staff traiting/general purpose defensive traiting, Soul Reaping is if you want Foot in the Grave or Master of Terror + Soul Marks.
In the extra slots:
Chilling Darkness – good for plague, otherwise don’t use
Weakening Shroud – if you expect people to hit you in melee, pick this bad boy up, along with geomancy you can get some nice bleed bursts
Path of Midnight – good overall, faster Dooms, faster Dark Path’s, more Tainted Shackles, all good

I play Leeto’s speed necro build.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/necromancer/Leeto-s-power-dagger-PVP-build/page/2#post4048180

I’m using it every day with one or two changes depending on my mood, but it’s viable and fun to play with teammates who are on your own level and know the mechanics of your build. (iow know when to res/support).

Bhawb.7408:

Necromancers aren’t just viable in WvW, it is by far their strongest gamemode and the only one where they are a nearly required profession to have. Note that condi falls off hard as the groups get bigger.

For condi builds, this should almost always be your base setup nowadays:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fRAQNAW74ic0UeD/NJCGqoFAnLlJBA

Anything left blank/unassigned is because its optional, up to your playstyle, and because that build works for both PvP and WvW.

Runes:
In PvP I’d almost always use Traveler or Speed runes (you need movement speed to rotate properly), in WvW you can use Undead, Traveler/Speed, or basically any of the runesets that proc conditions (Perplexity, Krait, etc.).

Skills:
Corrupt Boon – if you don’t have this, you shouldn’t be playing Condi Necro.
Flesh Wurm – the go to stun break because of its ability to get you completely out of danger, and in some cases z-axis movement can get you places where only thieves can follow
Spectral Armor – basically the main other one you should consider, if you pop this and go straight into DS you’ll basically take no damage for the duration
Signet of Spite (aka Signet of Skill) – great for extended overload, can be used after CB to completely screw someone, or as a secondary CB like effect without need of boons to corrupt.
Plague – the go to elite, a big AoE blind and poison, plus with Chilling darkness you get some chill up in there too
Flesh Golem – if Plague isn’t that great in your situation, or especially if you have on-elite use or on-interrupt runes, you can pick Flesh Brolem to help you out

Sigils:
You have a few choices here: corruption, doom, geomancy, earth, generosity, and plenty others. Pick something that fits your playstyle and situation, see if it makes sense, and try it.

Stats:
Carrion or Rabid for PvP (they all basically scale the same, its simply a preference)
Rabid or Dire for WvW (you can use Carrion for roaming, but these are much better for all around due to toughness’ scaling in groups)

Traits:
If the trait was filled in, you should almost always take it, unless you have a big reason not to. Extra traits can be used in Spite/Death Magic/Soul Reaping as desired. Spite is generally for extra boon removal, Death Magic is for staff traiting/general purpose defensive traiting, Soul Reaping is if you want Foot in the Grave or Master of Terror + Soul Marks.
In the extra slots:
Chilling Darkness – good for plague, otherwise don’t use
Weakening Shroud – if you expect people to hit you in melee, pick this bad boy up, along with geomancy you can get some nice bleed bursts
Path of Midnight – good overall, faster Dooms, faster Dark Path’s, more Tainted Shackles, all good

Thank you very much man this helps a lot. So Rabid is both good for WvW and PvP?

Any should I go all Rabid if i choose so? Weapons, armors, trinkets amulets etc?

Thanks again for the input it really helped alot.

MrSimpleMan.6194:

Thank you very much man this helps a lot. So Rabid is both good for WvW and PvP?

Any should I go all Rabid if i choose so? Weapons, armors, trinkets amulets etc?

Thanks again for the input it really helped alot.

Rabid is good for both, yes. In WvW toughness > vitality because of how much healing you’ll receive and how much better that scales over time, also toughness has better multipliers that give you some extra condition damage (undead runes if you use them, consumables).

If you go rabid, you can go full rabid, part rabid part dire (dire if you want more vitality and don’t need as much precision), and you can mix in some carrion if you want as well. But you generally want a lot of armor for WvW.

In PvE .. I find Hybridmancer to be the way .. Good “direct” damage and some conditions to boost yourself and create a disadvantage for the enemy.. like blinds and weakness..cripples 2 + might <3

HardRider.2980:

In PvE .. I find Hybridmancer to be the way .. Good “direct” damage and some conditions to boost yourself and create a disadvantage for the enemy.. like blinds and weakness..cripples 2 + might <3

Full berserker build does more and can still do decent condition damage and control. :P

Hybrids only work where theres good condition damage on a good direct damage weapon. The only thing that comes close to that is engi nades and warrior sword. Necro is not a hybrid class. You lose way too much effectiveness in both condi damage direct damage when going hybrid on a necro.

Air and Fire is the “IN” thing in pvp, condi is quite useless.