Guild Wars 2

So, to not hijack Chilling darkness discussion…

People there presented this build: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wApCHAdWrNc
as go-to power, apparently.

After going through it, I have a number of questions that I hope some people will be able to answer with numbers and experience.

First, and minor, question is non-usage of axe trait in Spite line.

10% damage increase and reduction of CD for 2nd skill is beefy. Sure, axe won’t be used once 50% HP threshold is broken, but Chill of Death won’t be used above it. Also, axe WILL be used below 50% in real life situations, because sometimes you just need to go ranged. Obviously, golem doesn’t fight back, but that’s not behavior of bosses.

With heavy use of axe as suggested in rotation, which one would actually be better NOT on dummy fight?

Second, and more important question, is about Soul Reaping vs Blood Magic.

The only reason SR even exists in this build is for 5% damage modifier. Also, Dhuumfire, but seriously… On the other hand, build runs 2 wells, axe and warhorn, all of which benefit extremely from Blood Magic line. It reduces well CD and stockpiles syphons, which really add up damage on fast-hitting skills. It also offers damage increase to party – while it can’t be measured on dummy fight, I wonder if it will provide at least equal damage increase in real fight.

Number of other factors for BM are self-sustainability that comes from it, and at least some form of group support it offers (mostly to dead people, but it can be important).

Points against SR are that Dhuumfire is completely wasted below 50% (since RS is also melee range, below 50% you’ll be in RS only to facetank something you most likely shouldn’t), and that 5% is tied to LF – which in real fight can fluctuate quite a lot, so it’s not constant uptime.

So, where and how am I wrong in this wall of text?

To me the only reason why a blood magic power build could bench more than soul reaping it’s for the damage from the more frequent leeching whirl finisher, but at 90% those whirl will be into a fire field while doing true pve

Seems to me you’ve already pointed out everything.

Personally I use axe / focus (sometimes warhorn) over dagger, simply because of the range like you said, and in that case you wanna trait for axe too obviously.

Blood magic with wells is definitely better than Dhuumfire because you don’t really want to use Reaper’s auto attack, it’s not better than greatsword.
Plus, when you don’t use Reaper’s autoatk you have no use for Reaper’s Onslaught trait either, so you can switch that to Deathly Chill for even more damage, even if it’s little.

10% damage increase and reduction of CD for 2nd skill is beefy. Sure, axe won’t be used once 50% HP threshold is broken, but Chill of Death won’t be used above it. Also, axe WILL be used below 50% in real life situations, because sometimes you just need to go ranged.

a) axe 2 is strongest hitting skill we have, naturally you want 10% more dmg on it and cd reduction lets you use it twice before swapping
b) only raid boss where power will be viable is KC and you will use axe below 50% as an opening burst because you get to prepare before each burst. going ranged on normal bosses is a bad behaviour in general so it’s not an excuse to go axe below 50%. only good choice to start with axe below 50% is when you are allowed to prepare an opening burst (like archdiviner getting invuln until you hit seal etc)

With heavy use of axe as suggested in rotation, which one would actually be better NOT on dummy fight?

chill of death doesnt hit hard, axe 2 hits hard and you spend more time above 50% than below

The only reason SR even exists in this build is for 5% damage modifier. Also, Dhuumfire, but seriously… On the other hand, build runs 2 wells, axe and warhorn, all of which benefit extremely from Blood Magic line. It reduces well CD and stockpiles syphons, which really add up damage on fast-hitting skills. It also offers damage increase to party – while it can’t be measured on dummy fight, I wonder if it will provide at least equal damage increase in real fight.

SR is taken for golem benchmark, in real raid/fotm you should take BM

Points against SR are that Dhuumfire is completely wasted below 50% (since RS is also melee range, below 50% you’ll be in RS only to facetank something you most likely shouldn’t), and that 5% is tied to LF – which in real fight can fluctuate quite a lot, so it’s not constant uptime.

a) dont worry about dropping below 50% life force, you wont if you can dodge and if your support classes are decent + you can very quickly replenish
b) gravedigger spam benefits the most from the 5% so taking Soul Reaping isn’t wasted below 50% hp.