Guild Wars 2

I thought I’d share the build I’ve been playing around six weeks now. The inspiration came from playing a pretty generic D/x + Staff Soldier Well Bunker build since launch. I needed something new, and spent a while pondering on what exactly I wanted to do, deciding on a few criteria I wanted to meet:

1) It couldn’t be as much of a one-trick pony build as wells. Surely, wells are great for enemies that pile on, but in WvW in particular, this obviously doesn’t happen as much as you might like.
2) In line with #1, I did not want to be locked into using any particular type of utility skill. Traits that affect specific utility skills are not to be taken, as to allow utility skills to truly be treated as utility and be swapped out based on the need at hand. Instead, general or weapon specific traits are taken. In this way one build can be equally viable for all areas of the game.
3) The skill cap need be higher than well builds. Well of Suffering + Dagger autoattack was pretty well top DPS- Death Shroud was pretty much useless outside of soaking damage. This was not very involved gameplay and I wanted something a little more interactive.
4) Get the low hanging fruit of both offensive and defensive traits. The goal is not to be a full on bunker, nor a damage fiend, but more of a bruiser of sorts.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQAQRBIRdG2IjWne8m2G9eCYSh3cHp44lpeUO6nD

Build Notes:

-Traveler Runes are used, but not available in build editor. I found the extra utility slot freed up from SoLocust far more useful than any given rune set. The stats spread is pretty useful in this build anyway.

-I am currently using a mix of Knights/Soldiers with a couple of Celestial Trinkets, which still leaves crit much lower than I would prefer. In Spvp I use Barbarian with Celestial Jewel. If the Barbarian stat combo is ever opened up in PvE I will certainly go Knights with some Barbarian mixed in for WvW. Subbing Celestial for Soldier is another route if Healing Power scaling is ever noticeably increased.

-Sigils are Accuracy/Battle on both weapon sets. Since you’re critting a good bit the extra condi damage from Might helps on your Bleeds + Torment. Sigil of Blood may be a decent alternative to Battle- I’ve yet to try it, but please let me know how it works if you do!

Gameplay Notes

-Swapping in and out of death shroud, and weapon swapping is optimal to keep might stacks up as well as taking advantage of “on DS effects.” That being said don’t be afraid to use DS to eat damage or to life blast in marginal situations. It is optimal to be swapping in and out of DS as much as possible, but don’t let this be a rule. Between Ghastly Claws and dagger auto you get a good bit of LF generation. Likewise, if you expect a knockdown to be coming soon, hold off on DS to swap in for stability.

-Per the goal of the build, utility skills are completely up to preference. I pretty most always use Well of Power. In open PvE I go Suffering/BiP or Suffering/SoSpite for max damage. Dungeons depend entirely on the fight. WvW I like Spectral Armor + Corrupt Boon or Spectral Wall, again depending on the scale of fighting.

-If you don’t like dagger offhand, definitely go for the Focus. I’ve never been a big fan of the weapon, but it has merits. I prefer the weakness + Condi removal myself.

-Some traits can be swapped to preference. I like to drop Bloodthirsty for Deathly Invigoration in dungeons or more organized WvW. If you’re not a fan of Foot in the Grave, it can certainly be swapped for Deathly Perception, though that begins to deviate the build a bit. Weakening Shroud/Golem can also be subbed out for Chilling Darkness/Plague for larger scale WvW.

-Weakness is most certainly heavy avoidance builds, particularly stealth thieves- sustain depends on hitting things for lifesteal… they keep resetting the fight and manage to outsustain you. Also, there is a particular Mesmer condition build that loads up on Clones/Phantasms with invis. Also, very tough for similar reasons. Most everything else I win or its a sustain stalemate.

Please leave any feedback you have. Especially if you try it with a Celestial/Knights mix and/or Sigil of Blood I’d love to hear your results. Thanks!

I like this. d/d for dueling and a/w for bubbling up. finally a non-staff build that makes it work. I saw the 0/x/0/x/x format and I had to take a closer look.

Very very defensive. personally in my opinion since you have offhand dagger, i’d drop corrupt boon and slide in either the wurm or the well of corruption. (or even signet of spite for the plethora of conditions.)

+1!

Thanks! Spite is definitely an option. I personally don’t use the activate much, but rather keep it equipped when soloing camps, so if another player comes along and I’m out of combat I can swap to any given skill because its never on cooldown.

Flesh Wurm is another great skill for escapes. I tend to be a dive in all or nothing type of player (perfect for the necro style) and use skills that make my victory in that fight more likely, but if you want the option of getting away it’s definitely there.

In regards to weapon setup- that’s the plan. I like D/D because I find Deathly Swarm is often dodged at range, so I use it as a point blank condi transfer in most cases, or after a Dark Pact. Axe/Warhorn is great when you need to chase, disrupt, or back out and heal. Banshee’s Wail is an amazing trait. 3 second dazes are a huge deal in group fights. Wail + Heal is always great.

Has anyone had a chance to give this one a try? I’d love to hear feedback from hybrid players as this has some minor similarities.

with a mix a knights and soldiers, I’d be slotting straight rubies I assume. Your head is in the right place, maximizing the use of those might stacks from swapping weapons.

Proc’ing boons from natural gameplay is a good mark on this build.

Keeping that static power really high is important, as is bringing up your damage curve with crit chance %. DS benefits from this the most.

My opinion though, about the blood tree… Its very very lackluster given that Anet has nerfed the traits there into oblivion. You’d be better off grabbing Dark Armor from death10 and some extra power and condition duration from spite10 as well.

if you can work on might stacking with LB, you can turn your DS into more than just a damage soaking tool.

Try looking at http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQAQRBIRdG2IjWne8m2G9miQqQzgK8+IFFbZUPKH6OHA

Just better trait selections, why cast enfeebling blood on entering DS if your condition damage and duration isn’t pumped very much?

Squeeze the extra power out of your DS and get tankier with your weapon selection. Both axe and dagger have a channel skill, and Dark Armor will keep you alive when those pro warriors and thieves try to HS and charge/leap at you.