Guild Wars 2

I just started leveling a Necro and tried to theory craft a dagger/dagger build that puts up bleeds via crits with death shroud usage. This is my first ever build attempt so if any other Necros could take the time to look at and rate/criticize the build, whether or not its viable etc, would be great. Thank you.

The build utilizes full undead runes, with a superior sigil of earth on the main hand and a superior sigil of blood on the off hand, with a superior sigil of hydromancy on the staff.

I am using a rampager’s amulet with 3 carrion and 2 berserker jewels.

For healing, I am thinking of either prayer to Dwayna or well of blood
For utility skills I have spectral grasp, walk, and armor with the lich elite skill
My traits are 0/30/0/20/20
Hemophilia(II), Withering Darkness(III), and Withering Strikes(XII) under Curses
Dagger Mastery(I), and Quickening Thirst(X) under Blood Magic
Spectral Mastery(IV), and Decaying Swarm(VIII) under Soul Reaping

Thanks in advance,
Yakamashi

Few things that popped into my mind:

• why not consume conditions? It is in my opinion one of the best heal skills in the game
• spectral grasp is awfully situational
• spectral armor has 72 second cd (traited)
• why hemophilia from Curses 20?
• dagger recharge might not be worth it, since the main damage comes from autoattack anyway.

Other than that, just try it out in different situations. Will try recalling the dual-dagger / staff build I used to run for quite a while and will post it here later.

First off: I’m talking from a PvE perspective only. Second off: I am Not A Pro. So these are just tactics to try and see if you like them.

Some things you might consider:
Consume conditions seems like a really good idea. The condition removal may seem redundant with the rest of your build, but well of blood’s recharge can get you killed waiting for it.

Running all spectrals is an interesting choice with D/D, since it generally doesn’t have problems generating life force, but if you want to use a lot of death shroud it could prove useful. I’d still suggest trying spectral wall instead of spectral armor though: you already have a stun break, and spectral wall can grant more protection on a shorter recharge. If you can drag mobs with you (or pull them with spectral grasp) you can get a lot of vulnerability out of it as well.
(Quick Combo for a mob that’s ranged and won’t chase you: Spectral wall just in front of you, spectral grasp to pull them through the wall, death shroud -> doom to make them run through again, then chase them through it for the protection boon.)

I’m not sure chilling darkness is a good choice. It’ll only be relevant on dagger 4 (deathly swarm?) and between dark path, spectral grasp and the occasional chillblains you’re not hurting for chill. Consider taking weakening shroud (Curses IV) instead. You’ll probably be going into death shroud often anyways, but not so frequently that the internal recharge will be an issue.

Plus, if you use weakening shroud, you could probably change dagger mastery to mark of evasion (Blood Magic III): the bleeds and regeneration would be nice, and I don’t think you’d actually give up much for it. The only recharge that’s really holding you back on D/D (in my opinion) is on enfeebling blood, and weakening shroud basically lets you cast it twice already.

I do like the choice of quickening thirst though: 25% bonus movement speed can be very important. Spectral mastery is a solid pick, and decaying swarm can give you a chance to chase down / escape / generate a bit of life force when you need it most.

This got really long, so one last thing: have you considered blood is power? Since you’re somewhat hybrid, you get the best of both worlds from might, and you have a method or two to pass the self-applied bleed back to your foe.

Current Build I use for PvE/WvW. Swap Spectral Grasp for PvE
http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mcVMzzM9MmCMTomCMToa9MxxoMVaMo

*Last skill in Soul Reaping is #12. Not sure why it doesn’t show.

Also, anything with dagger mainhand should be focused around a berserker set. With all berserker armor/gems and ruby orbs, I have 21.6k health, and no survivability issue.

Thank you for all of your advice, you guys pointed out a lot of things that I didn’t really think about. i think I will try and make a d/d /staff build with an emphasis on death shroud.