Guild Wars 2

How does Power and Condition Necromancer compare at the moment? Kind of new to
Necro.

The general consensus I’m getting from other threads is that Condi is better, but wanted a few more opinions on how enjoyable each is and what their damage is like.

And yes, I do have access to Reaper/greatsword.

Thanks

EDIT: My bad forgot to mention that I only really play PvP and PvE(that includes fractals etc AND open-world)

PvE? PehVehPeh? WuvWuv?

In wvw zerg fights power necro with wells is meta. In any other area condition necro is considered superior aka meta.

Power: WvW zerg. PvE open world solo.

Condition Damage: All PvP. WvW roaming. PvE bosses and group events including dungeons, raids, and fractals.

Honestly? Both are viable in both pvp and pve. The overall DPS isn’t that different in real world situations (aka, outside of smacking a still golem).
For shorter fights, power has higher DPS, for longer fights, condi has higher.

That said, most raid groups won’t even consider taking anyone who’s got even one skill or trait outside of the meta.

Condi necro still brings more to the group in PvE, so I’d stick to that. Also, the jagged horror nerf is worse for raids than it is for fractals. I also wouldn’t take death magic whatsoever anymore and instead always take blood magic, at least looking at how things are now, haven’t gone through/haven’t seen any tests yet.
In PvP, power necs are rarely ever seen because lots of their power kit just doesn’t do all that well there, though the axe buffs (especially the unholy feast one) might’ve made this a bit more valid I guess. Someone who plays more PvP than I do can probably say something about that.

If you just want to play necro, either will be fine, dps is more or less equal, but condi overall brings more and is generally more accepted. For running around in open world I’d play power over condi every day though.

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

Condi necro still brings more to the group in PvE, so I’d stick to that. Also, the jagged horror nerf is worse for raids than it is for fractals. I also wouldn’t take death magic whatsoever anymore and instead always take blood magic, at least looking at how things are now, haven’t gone through/haven’t seen any tests yet.
In PvP, power necs are rarely ever seen because lots of their power kit just doesn’t do all that well there, though the axe buffs (especially the unholy feast one) might’ve made this a bit more valid I guess. Someone who plays more PvP than I do can probably say something about that.

If you just want to play necro, either will be fine, dps is more or less equal, but condi overall brings more and is generally more accepted. For running around in open world I’d play power over condi every day though.

Condi necro is sought after mostly because of Epidemic, which is really the only thing a necro can bring to the party that another class can’t. Power reapers are still pretty good DPS slot though (granted, other classes are better picks).

As for pvp, power reaper is fine (for me personally, I do better with a power build), it just requires understanding the class, and playing tactically, not rushing in as one would with a melee heavy armor class. Dagger/warhorn is a great combo, and coupled with axe/warhorn for range, especially now after the axe buff, it’s quite solid combo. Staff is a pretty good choice for power, too (I prefer axe though, despite the lower range and no aoe skills). Greatsword is less useful, but still viable in pvp as well, but it requires a lot more skill to time things perfectly, and can be easily interrupted. Very useful in coordinated team fights though.

Biggest problem with necro imo is that people simply copy builds from metabattle, and follow the rotation, not many actually take the time to understand the class. This might work with more forgiving classes, but not with something like a necro or a thief.

Delahk.1560:

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

Condi necro still brings more to the group in PvE, so I’d stick to that. Also, the jagged horror nerf is worse for raids than it is for fractals. I also wouldn’t take death magic whatsoever anymore and instead always take blood magic, at least looking at how things are now, haven’t gone through/haven’t seen any tests yet.
In PvP, power necs are rarely ever seen because lots of their power kit just doesn’t do all that well there, though the axe buffs (especially the unholy feast one) might’ve made this a bit more valid I guess. Someone who plays more PvP than I do can probably say something about that.

If you just want to play necro, either will be fine, dps is more or less equal, but condi overall brings more and is generally more accepted. For running around in open world I’d play power over condi every day though.

Condi necro is sought after mostly because of Epidemic, which is really the only thing a necro can bring to the party that another class can’t. Power reapers are still pretty good DPS slot though (granted, other classes are better picks).

As for pvp, power reaper is fine (for me personally, I do better with a power build), it just requires understanding the class, and playing tactically, not rushing in as one would with a melee heavy armor class. Dagger/warhorn is a great combo, and coupled with axe/warhorn for range, especially now after the axe buff, it’s quite solid combo. Staff is a pretty good choice for power, too (I prefer axe though, despite the lower range and no aoe skills). Greatsword is less useful, but still viable in pvp as well, but it requires a lot more skill to time things perfectly, and can be easily interrupted. Very useful in coordinated team fights though.

Biggest problem with necro imo is that people simply copy builds from metabattle, and follow the rotation, not many actually take the time to understand the class. This might work with more forgiving classes, but not with something like a necro or a thief.

I know. Still more than power necro brings and things such as weakness can still help groups, especially weaker ones.

I’d actually argue that you have an easier time just rolling necro without looking into things while it’s not that easy on other classes. That being said, the amount of necros not even closely getting down a decent rotation and picking absolutely horrible choices and not knowing anything about what they can possibly do is saddening.

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

That being said, the amount of necros not even closely getting down a decent rotation and picking absolutely horrible choices and not knowing anything about what they can possibly do is saddening.

The amount of people I’ve seen say stuff like this, but make zero effort what-so-ever to actually help people learn, is staggering.

This community has been nothing but ruthlessly elitist since the day I came online, rivaled by absolutely nowhere else. This game’s population has spat the worst sort of bile I’ve ever seen, while staunchly refusing to try to improve the people they claim are bad at the game.

People don’t like their teammates being bad? Teach them if you know so kitten much.

MeinUguu.8256:

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

That being said, the amount of necros not even closely getting down a decent rotation and picking absolutely horrible choices and not knowing anything about what they can possibly do is saddening.

The amount of people I’ve seen say stuff like this, but make zero effort what-so-ever to actually help people learn, is staggering.

This community has been nothing but ruthlessly elitist since the day I came online, rivaled by absolutely nowhere else. This game’s population has spat the worst sort of bile I’ve ever seen, while staunchly refusing to try to improve the people they claim are bad at the game.

People don’t like their teammates being bad? Teach them if you know so kitten much.

I like how you give me kitten but don’t even know what I did or not did.
Why the kitten am I supposed to give a 10 page essay here on how you can port up with flesh wurm to the second switch before the drill room in underground facility after activating spectral walk, then porting back down in time after everyone is in?
I’ve helped a lot of people understanding necro better, but there is no reason to go out of my way to teach those who don’t ask simply because how often players get offended at making suggestions/giving tips, even if you are being nice.
If someone comes up to me and asks “hey you’re running this instead of that what I’ve seen there, why?” “hey how did you do this just now?” etc. then I’ll gladly tell them and help them improve and people did that in the past, same when I see people asking in map chat.

So don’t give me kitten for that.

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

I like how you give me kitten but don’t even know what I did or not did.
Why the kitten am I supposed to give a 10 page essay here on how you can port up with flesh wurm to the second switch before the drill room in underground facility after activating spectral walk, then porting back down in time after everyone is in?
I’ve helped a lot of people understanding necro better, but there is no reason to go out of my way to teach those who don’t ask simply because how often players get offended at making suggestions/giving tips, even if you are being nice.
If someone comes up to me and asks “hey you’re running this instead of that what I’ve seen there, why?” “hey how did you do this just now?” etc. then I’ll gladly tell them and help them improve and people did that in the past, same when I see people asking in map chat.

So don’t give me kitten for that.

I never said you yourself were part of that problem. But there has been an awful lot of people foaming at the mouth about how much of a professional superman they are at this game, and in the same breath refusing to spare even an idle tip to the people they see fit to berate over every little mistake.

MeinUguu.8256:

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

I like how you give me kitten but don’t even know what I did or not did.
Why the kitten am I supposed to give a 10 page essay here on how you can port up with flesh wurm to the second switch before the drill room in underground facility after activating spectral walk, then porting back down in time after everyone is in?
I’ve helped a lot of people understanding necro better, but there is no reason to go out of my way to teach those who don’t ask simply because how often players get offended at making suggestions/giving tips, even if you are being nice.
If someone comes up to me and asks “hey you’re running this instead of that what I’ve seen there, why?” “hey how did you do this just now?” etc. then I’ll gladly tell them and help them improve and people did that in the past, same when I see people asking in map chat.

So don’t give me kitten for that.

I never said you yourself were part of that problem. But there has been an awful lot of people foaming at the mouth about how much of a professional superman they are at this game, and in the same breath refusing to spare even an idle tip to the people they see fit to berate over every little mistake.

Well it did sound like you were directly targeting me with that, nvm in that case.

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

Well it did sound like you were directly targeting me with that, nvm in that case.

No, you’re right. It wasn’t as properly worded as it ought to have been, doesn’t come off quite right.

GW2, itself, allows a great deal of casual, solo play. Old MMORPGs heavily punished failures by loss of hours or days of XP. Almost nothing could be soloed. It could take half an hour or more just to get to a grinding location and that was after waiting around trying to find a group with the right professions, levels, and consumables. Just trying to get to another city solo was difficult.

GW2 is designed for sloppy rotations (or none at all) and easy solo adventure so players do not have to invest as much time and do not need static groups. Please do not get too upset with other players. Their failures do not cost their groups that much compared to old MMORPGs.

Both are fine, the major issues coming from the fact that Power is more punishing and is naturally countered by its Condi counterpart. Otherwise, they both play well in most all forms of the game.

NovaanVerdiano.6174:

I know. Still more than power necro brings and things such as weakness can still help groups, especially weaker ones.

I’d actually argue that you have an easier time just rolling necro without looking into things while it’s not that easy on other classes. That being said, the amount of necros not even closely getting down a decent rotation and picking absolutely horrible choices and not knowing anything about what they can possibly do is saddening.

Yeah, true. When raiding I usually end up taking my druid though, as my squad usually lacking one.

To be fair, I had easier time playing my revenant than I did my necro for a long while. Then I decided to customize it, and now it’s my favorite class :p

Anchoku.8142:

GW2, itself, allows a great deal of casual, solo play. Old MMORPGs heavily punished failures by loss of hours or days of XP. Almost nothing could be soloed. It could take half an hour or more just to get to a grinding location and that was after waiting around trying to find a group with the right professions, levels, and consumables. Just trying to get to another city solo was difficult.

GW2 is designed for sloppy rotations (or none at all) and easy solo adventure so players do not have to invest as much time and do not need static groups. Please do not get too upset with other players. Their failures do not cost their groups that much compared to old MMORPGs.

Yeah, true.
That said, it can be really frustrating the other way around, too. When you’re trying to help others by offering teaching runs and such (talking pve here), and all you get is people who whine at you that this or that class sucks or broken, and refuse to listen to you when you’re trying to help them out.

The beauty of GW2, for me at least, is that it’s a casual game, but allows for really competitive and hardcore content.