Guild Wars 2

In regards to PvP, I was running a standard 6/2/0/0/6 build but decided to switch out some of my power for some extra toughness, vuln stacking and death shroud support using Death Shiver, Soul Comprehension and Ritual of Protection. Doing this however means i don’t have Close to Death anymore and 100 less power from the traitline. Do you think the traits iv’e got from the Death Magic tree make up for this loss?

I’m using A/W and D/F along with WoS, WoC and WoD. I’m not sure if i want to switch WoD for BiP, i’d get more damage but WoD makes you near invincible for 5secs and on top of that gives me protection from the Ritual of Protect, plus i’ll have the passive vuln stacking from Death Shiver.

I’m in a pickle deciding what to do. The build i was running before worked fine, i was rampaging every match, but i don’t know if that loss of 100 power and Close to Death will hinder my damage too much.

Your going to miss the damage and conditions are going to eat you alive.

I trait Death Magic for at least one of these three reasons:
1. Boon duration (might) in specific PvE
2. Staff mastery and greater marks also in PvE
3. MM Death Nova

If you want toughness, it is cheaper, stat-wise, to get it from trinkets or armor.

Verdis.8472:

I was running a standard 6/2/0/0/6 build but decided to switch out some of my power for some extra toughness, vuln stacking and death shroud support using Death Shiver, Soul Comprehension and Ritual of Protection. Doing this however means i don’t have Close to Death anymore and 100 less power from the traitline. Do you think the traits iv’e got from the Death Magic tree make up for this loss?

I’m using A/W and D/F along with WoS, WoC and WoD. I’m not sure if i want to switch WoD for BiP, i’d get more damage but WoD makes you near invincible for 5secs and on top of that gives me protection from the Ritual of Protect, plus i’ll have the passive vuln stacking from Death Shiver.

I’m in a pickle deciding what to do. The build i was running before worked fine, i was rampaging every match, but i don’t know if that loss of 100 power and Close to Death will hinder my damage too much.

Pve, pvp, or wvw?

Might also try http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fRAQNAW4Yjk00SbNN22whbCchCy3MAi8CKBqjjz4ZB-TJBFwACuIAy3foaZAAPBAA

I have been using it in PvP & WvW for a while now and it’s great

PvP is mainly what i think about. PvE tends to work for me no matter what build i am. I have Consume Conditions, but yeah nothing else for removal. I tend to switch to DS when things are getting rough as a damage sponge and usually the opponent will either die or run away because my life blast does so much damage

Verdis.8472:

PvP is mainly what i think about. PvE tends to work for me no matter what build i am. I have Consume Conditions, but yeah nothing else for removal. I tend to switch to DS when things are getting rough as a damage sponge and usually the opponent will either die or run away because my life blast does so much damage

This is why I suggest a staff dagger/dagger build

Both the staff & off hand dagger have a way to transfer conditions back onto the enemy. This can be especially good vs condi tanks.

I think if you sacrifice some power for toughness you are getting away from the point of powermancer. Your best defense is an aggressive offense. Making the enemy sweat is how you avoid damage. If they are trying to heal and defend, they probly won’t be hitting yoyou much. By losing power you aren’t putting enough pressure on em, which gives em time to do some damage.

LittleHorn.6728:

I think if you sacrifice some power for toughness you are getting away from the point of powermancer. Your best defense is an aggressive offense. Making the enemy sweat is how you avoid damage. If they are trying to heal and defend, they probly won’t be hitting yoyou much. By losing power you aren’t putting enough pressure on em, which gives em time to do some damage.

Good answer, i’ve decided to put the 2 points back into the power traitline. Where do you recommend i put the other 2 though? I had them in Death Magic for Ritual of Protection, but i don’t know if that’s the best option.

I’ve build crafted with power necro so much and I would honestly never move the 6/2/0/0/6 trait split. The only way you’re going to change the build is by switching runes and sigils and utilities and possibly the weapons. If you move any of the traits around the build suffers severely in damage.

Verdis.8472:

In regards to PvP, I was running a standard 6/2/0/0/6 build but decided to switch out some of my power for some extra toughness, vuln stacking and death shroud support using Death Shiver, Soul Comprehension and Ritual of Protection. Doing this however means i don’t have Close to Death anymore and 100 less power from the traitline. Do you think the traits iv’e got from the Death Magic tree make up for this loss?

I’m using A/W and D/F along with WoS, WoC and WoD. I’m not sure if i want to switch WoD for BiP, i’d get more damage but WoD makes you near invincible for 5secs and on top of that gives me protection from the Ritual of Protect, plus i’ll have the passive vuln stacking from Death Shiver.

I’m in a pickle deciding what to do. The build i was running before worked fine, i was rampaging every match, but i don’t know if that loss of 100 power and Close to Death will hinder my damage too much.

You can try 6/0/6/0/2. Having 4 in Death magic is too far to not get the fifth one.(imo)

@Verdis:

Jelzouki.4128:

I’ve build crafted with power necro so much and I would honestly never move the 6/2/0/0/6 trait split. The only way you’re going to change the build is by switching runes and sigils and utilities and possibly the weapons. If you move any of the traits around the build suffers severely in damage.

This is what I follow, and i would recommend it for you as well. The two points in Curses helps with crits. which is good

And i would certainly not want to lose close to death. 20% extra damage can be devastating to enemies when you have vulnerability stacked on em and might stacked on you courtesy of DS.

No stunbreaks on the most easily focused class, especially after the life force at start nerf.
No condi removal except a long cast easy to interrupt skill that also is your heal.
3s of protection won’t save you. Soul comprehension is a nice passive but it’s not worth building around it at all.

Oh and you severely lack ranged pressure. Staff may not be much but it has crazy life force generation. Axe range is a joke and only works to kite pure melee with no gap closers which honestly doesn’t even exist.

You will get targeted, chain immobilized and stunned and you won’t be able to do anything about it because you are right in their face with that silly 600 range axe has.

robertul.3679:

No stunbreaks on the most easily focused class, especially after the life force at start nerf.
No condi removal except a long cast easy to interrupt skill that also is your heal.
3s of protection won’t save you. Soul comprehension is a nice passive but it’s not worth building around it at all.

Oh and you severely lack ranged pressure. Staff may not be much but it has crazy life force generation. Axe range is a joke and only works to kite pure melee with no gap closers which honestly doesn’t even exist.

You will get targeted, chain immobilized and stunned and you won’t be able to do anything about it because you are right in their face with that silly 600 range axe has.

I agree with regards to the stunbreaks but what are you smoking kid? Staff has terrible life force generation unless you can position it pierce multiple targets.

On another note, take staff. It makes every necro build better.

Staff does not make every build better. It isn’t that good on anything that isn’t condi, its pretty much only taken in non-condi because power builds want something to do at 1200 range, and yes I’m still really salty about Putrid Mark’s nerf. The fact that staff is even considered decent anymore is a testament to how abysmal our ranged options are.

Bhawb.7408:

Staff does not make every build better. It isn’t that good on anything that isn’t condi, its pretty much only taken in non-condi because power builds want something to do at 1200 range, and yes I’m still really salty about Putrid Mark’s nerf. The fact that staff is even considered decent anymore is a testament to how abysmal our ranged options are.

Sad but true, I’ve actually switched to a/d even thought I hate axe.

Yep, staff is one of Necro’s best tagging tools and has the longest range but that does not mean it is good, just that there are few other options.

Necromancer still needs a ranged single target weapon. Staff is more like a utility weapon than something designed for dps.

Bhawb.7408:

Staff does not make every build better. It isn’t that good on anything that isn’t condi, its pretty much only taken in non-condi because power builds want something to do at 1200 range, and yes I’m still really salty about Putrid Mark’s nerf. The fact that staff is even considered decent anymore is a testament to how abysmal our ranged options are.

You are a sitting duck with a/d if someone is ranging you. Being able to cast your marks behind you is huge for peeling. It could use more life force but I love my staff. I agree it could use a damage buff maybe? But It does make every necro build better but whatever floats your boat bhawb.

I’m assuming everyone is basing this off a power build so have you ever tried casting the auto attack then popping your death shroud to get a life blast off and make your staff AA crit? Plus air and fire procs can equate to a lot of damage. The staff auto attack crits between 1500-2100.

In the grande scheme of things, staff is the LAST weapon that needs help on necromancer. Again….this is my opinion. Don’t get offended if you don’t agree with me, just rebuttle with numbers and facts as I have provided.

If you’re going to tell me axe is a ranged weapon i won’t bother replying to you because it is complete and utter poopy (as a ranged weapon). The axe needs a ranged buff, or needs to be turned into a cleave weapon similar to dagger or warrior axe.

Jelzouki.4128:

Bhawb.7408:

Staff does not make every build better. It isn’t that good on anything that isn’t condi, its pretty much only taken in non-condi because power builds want something to do at 1200 range, and yes I’m still really salty about Putrid Mark’s nerf. The fact that staff is even considered decent anymore is a testament to how abysmal our ranged options are.

You are a sitting duck with a/d if someone is ranging you. Being able to cast your marks behind you is huge for peeling. It could use more life force but I love my staff. I agree it could use a damage buff maybe? But It does make every necro build better but whatever floats your boat bhawb.

I’m assuming everyone is basing this off a power build so have you ever tried casting the auto attack then popping your death shroud to get a life blast off and make your staff AA crit? Plus air and fire procs can equate to a lot of damage. The staff auto attack crits between 1500-2100.

In the grande scheme of things, staff is the LAST weapon that needs help on necromancer. Again….this is my opinion. Don’t get offended if you don’t agree with me, just rebuttle with numbers and facts as I have provided.

I usually just los, if I can, but I found the situations where I was screwed from range classes to be less often than when I could use axe 3 and 2 d4 and 5 in conquest. Plus I don’t actually mind dying on point anymore. I can usually take at least one with me.

Jelzouki.4128:

You are a sitting duck with a/d if someone is ranging you. Being able to cast your marks behind you is huge for peeling. It could use more life force but I love my staff. I agree it could use a damage buff maybe? But It does make every necro build better but whatever floats your boat bhawb.

This is basically what I just said, staff is only used because it is our only long range option for power builds. If we had any remotely decently designed 900-1200 range power weapon it would be used over staff in power builds. Also, the range issue and kiting is much more of an issue to glass power builds, any tankier build can deal with not having it (those builds are just bad for other reasons).

Jelzouki.4128:

I’m assuming everyone is basing this off a power build so have you ever tried casting the auto attack then popping your death shroud to get a life blast off and make your staff AA crit? Plus air and fire procs can equate to a lot of damage. The staff auto attack crits between 1500-2100.

Remove the extra stuff, air/fire procs work on anything. Staff’s AA alone has roughly 0.34 less power scaling and the same base damage as >600 range Life Blast, has just as long of a cast+aftercast (1.4s attack cycle), has no tracking, and is really slow moving. Elementalist Staff, Ranger LB, Warrior LB, Guardian Scepter, Elementalist Scepter, Mesmer GS (at 300 range or higher), Engineer Rifle – almost every single 900 or higher power weapon AA is better than staff.

Now sure, staff is about utility, except in a power build this utility is much more limited. At its full range, it gives very low amounts of life force, some chill/poison, condition removal, and an AoE CC. This isn’t anything to write home about, focus/dagger OHs both provide extremely similar functions, all we are missing is either a ranged MH or ranged 2H and we’d easily fill this, with much better skills suited to a power skillset.

Staff is essentially a condi utility weapon that gets forced onto power builds because they need to be able to do something at 900+ range, and our only options there are scepter or staff, and staff at least brings some utility and a slightly less bad AA. However, staff on its own is a bad weapon for power builds, it only works because of a huge deficit we have.

I agree with you in that case.

How is staff a condi build weapon more than power? Except fear which can be traited for it doesn’t have much going in the condition department. Chill isn’t a damaging condition, transfers don’t scale with your stats so it basically only has 2 silly bleed stacks and some poison(which is more utility than dps to negate heals and whatnot).

The auto scales with power. It’s even better in power builds than in condition because necro spends most of the time autoattacking.
Axe range is a joke and will force you to position badly.
Staff is purely for utility/kiting/range pressure. That’s why it’s used in all the builds.

I think of staff as a utility weapon, not a power or condi weapon. It does little bits of a lot of things: piercing auto attack, regen, chill, poison, fear, condition transfer, lots of AoE, 1200 range…

Staff has low dps no matter which build you use. It is not at all like Ranger’s long bow, for example. I tend to lump staff into the same category as Necro’s off-hand weapons.

robertul.3679:

How is staff a condi build weapon more than power? Except fear which can be traited for it doesn’t have much going in the condition department. Chill isn’t a damaging condition, transfers don’t scale with your stats so it basically only has 2 silly bleed stacks and some poison(which is more utility than dps to negate heals and whatnot).

It has bleed, fear which gives terror, transfer does scale with your stats just not your condition duration. It has been specifically nerfed because of condition builds as well. At this point the utility staff gives power builds is awful, it gives you a slow, weak, badly scaling AA, chill/poison, condition removal, and CC. Any other of our weapon sets give that much “utility”, all that staff gives is range.

robertul.3679:

The auto scales with power. It’s even better in power builds than in condition because necro spends most of the time autoattacking.

The only reason you spend time AAing with staff is because you have no 900+ ranged damage except LB. A 0.47 coefficient per second AA is garbage, if we had any other option we’d take it.

robertul.3679:

Staff is purely for utility/kiting/range pressure. That’s why it’s used in all the builds.

You can’t offensively pressure someone by tickling them with staff AAs. Its used in many (not all builds) simply because it is our only 1200 range option, and because power builds don’t really want to take scepter, even though scepter gives almost as much utility as staff does. If you introduced a proper ranged power weapon staff would disappear on power builds almost universally.

Bhawb.7408:

It has bleed, fear which gives terror, transfer does scale with your stats just not your condition duration.

How did you come to this conclusion? I can’t seem a proof for it and everything seems to point in the opposite direction:
-The transferred conditions keep the original source.
-The combat log doesn’t show it as your damage.
-The trait parasatic contagion doesn’t work with transfered conditions.
-Sigil of generosity use the original applier’s condition damage.

Its just how I understood it to work, but it is entirely possible that I am wrong.

one of the strongest builds i play is power/well/lifesteal,
admittedly i don’t play ranked, but it has no problem with 2v1s or even some 3v1s, in unranked, and its really really easy!
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fRAQNBIhZakjmWarsxmGOcTgMUTmCtQkBwBQdTcEvKA-TJBFwACeAA12foaZAAnAAA

basically precast the staff Marks on the point and then switch back to dagger/warhorn,
ALWAYS use Locust Swarm it deals so much AoE damage when used with life steals,
rush the enemy root them, cast both wells and then banshee wail, now either auto attack or go to death shroud for 4+5 then 1 1 1 1 spam.

like i said, really easy build and its really strong
great synergy between lots of fast ticks of damage, causing life steal and critting granting life force which can then be used to spam 100% crit chance DS skills that hit hard!