Guild Wars 2

I played a 60 levels of Necromancer way before HOT… what i disliked was that the staff felled like a predominant weapon required in every build i came up with…

How much has changed after HOT, can you have a full ranged or a full mellee build?

And what about a strong support build?

I like how it’s strong in PvE and how is easy to survive in a common PvE/Dungeon. And in high level grant you some hard times if you want to be at the same level of the other classes. Also I love his mechanic, still if it’s what make it unbalanceable.
I played it also because I wanted a condition class, but it revealed to me to be one of the worst condi class of the game (unless for epidemic).

I play it mainly in PvP, still if it’s a low tier class.

If you want a support build, you seriously took the wrong class, expecially in PvE/Dungeon/Fractal/Raid/WvW. You don’t have skills to help your allies, unless for the vampiric trait in Blood magic and the minor trait that make them don’t lose hp while downed, but the vampiric build is only good if you want to make a Dagger/Warhorn build and be unkillable in PvE, not for support your allies. Then you have the Plague Signet, that is good to transfer conditions from allies to you, helping them but carrying a lot of bad things on you, waiting for a transfer skill (Staff4, OH Dagger 4 or PS itself).
You can be useful for your team in sPvP corrupting the enemy boons into conditions, but that’s not truly a support build, have no survavibility at all, you need an ally to ress you every moment (seriously) and you don’t grant any kind of boons/help to your allies. You only make the enemy easier to kill when heavy focused.
The necromancer totally lack of any real support build.

The staff is the “best” weapon in more or less every build. The reason is not because it’s strong in power or condition, it’s because it grant the only good way to build Life Force (expecially if traited), that is the mechanic that make the necromancer alive in WvW/sPvP and high level Fractals and Raids, also grant you a condi transfer skill and a fear skill.
Nothing more. It’s our Utility weapon. Really bad damage and slow projectiles but grant LF and utility skills.
That make it a weapon we can’t drop, expecially because a large amount of other weapons grant a Bad LF amount. Scepter, warhorn(for his CoolDown of 30 sec), Focus, Dagger Offhand(don’t grant LF at all), Greatsword(unless you’re really in the middle of the fight, a thing you’re able to do only in PvE and some Dungeons), them all don’t grant you good LF amounts. The Axe can grant you good LF, but only if traited.
Dagger MH can grant you a good LF generation, expecially combined with the warhorn. It’s still not good as the staff (traited) but can be good in a lot of situations and the dagger is one of our best melee dps weapon.

If you want to build a full melee build, you can use the Dagger/Warhorn vampiric build, that is good, with the Axe/Focus as secondary weapon set. Also the GS isn’t badm but more situationale than the dagger.

As a ranged build, you can use the same build, using the Axe/Focus as main set, or try a Condition Based build with Scepter/x (warhorn,dagger,focus, your coice) and Staff.
If you play the core class, you have a Ranged Shroud, if you use the Reaper you have a Melee Shroud. But your best choice is the anyway the Reaper for his good traits and good combo in shroud plus stability. The core class is good only in WvWvW zergs.

The ability to continue dealing damage in situations that would kill any other class are what I love. I just wish that ability was more valued by the community.

Edit: OH and the self reliance. The ability to self might, apply max vuln on your target, the ability to heal yourself through careful use of shroud to mitigate damage inbetween heals. There’s just so much play in the class its hard for me to give it up.

Shadelang.3012:

The ability to continue dealing damage in situations that would kill any other class are what I love. I just wish that ability was more valued by the community.

Edit: OH and the self reliance. The ability to self might, apply max vuln on your target, the ability to heal yourself through careful use of shroud to mitigate damage inbetween heals. There’s just so much play in the class its hard for me to give it up.

random question but bear with me. How long have you played necro in spvp?

Speaking from a strictly PVE/non-raid perspective:

I kinda view Necro as the firefighter class: everyone else runs out, Necro runs in.

Obviously, Necros aren’t immortal, but I’ve done and survived stuff on Necro that would have pulverized me on any other class. Two health bars. Minions. Wells. As Shadelang said, the self-reliance. While it isn’t an ideal play strategy, a Necro can facetank a lot, if built for it.

It is by design a selfish class, offering very little in the way of party support. It does, however offer a ton of survival. In that regard, it fits my playstyle very well. I’ve tried all classes and various set-ups, and Necro is the one I always come back to.

If you poke through this subforum, there are a number of posts with viable builds, both for a power and a condition set up. There are also a number of websites listing builds for various game modes, such as metabattle.com and qt. Please keep in mind that the builds on metabattle especially are heavily theory-crafted; I would use them as starting points, not as the be-all-end-all. If you play mostly open world/solo a lot, you won’t have half or even a third of the buffs/boons these builds assume you’ll have under perfect conditions ( as in, party, boons, food, etc ) and you’ll find yourself disappointed.

When I land my elite shout then reaper shroud 5,4 and people die,It’s like when u get a perfect Steal backstab combo in as a thief,.

lordbachus.6091:

I played a 60 levels of Necromancer way before HOT… what i disliked was that the staff felled like a predominant weapon required in every build i came up with…

How much has changed after HOT, can you have a full ranged or a full mellee build?

And what about a strong support build?

What makes necro fun for me is Reaper spec, a good mix of Viper + Trailblazer gear, well of corruption, corrupt boon and epidemic.

Everything else on it kinda sucks and blows monkey balls.

Ragion.2831:

Shadelang.3012:

The ability to continue dealing damage in situations that would kill any other class are what I love. I just wish that ability was more valued by the community.

Edit: OH and the self reliance. The ability to self might, apply max vuln on your target, the ability to heal yourself through careful use of shroud to mitigate damage inbetween heals. There’s just so much play in the class its hard for me to give it up.

random question but bear with me. How long have you played necro in spvp?

Funny funny. I know about necro’s issues in PvP. (To awnser your question ive pvpd on necro and ranger since the games release I am however a PvX player despite having reached legendary every season so far in a rather small number if games each time..hitting legend x4 in the most recent season)

But the OP didn’t specify PvP in his title. He asked what made necromancer fun for the individual.

In PvP Necro has trouble sure. But in PvE (such as fractals and raids) and to an extent wvw as well everything I have said holds true.

There IS more than one game mode you know?

Necromancer is fun for a multitude of reasons, dependent on game mode:

In PvP, Necro is fun because it generally demands a higher level of rotational knowledge, matchup knowledge, and positioning simultaneously than most other classes. In order to be optimal to your team, you need to do all of these things well, and be thoroughly adept in understanding when to get aggressive, when to get out, and where to be. It feels great to prosper as a Necromancer in PvP, because it generally means that you did something better than your opponents, be it rotations or winning fights.

In WvW, it feels great to be an exceptionally strong profession due to our ability to stat-balance and fill in our holes. When we’re able to get just the stats that we want in just the amounts that we want them, it makes us feel stronger than ever. It’s also refreshing to be one of the few classes in the game that is able to play a truly hybrid build in a PvP role and not get punished in any specific regard.

In PvE, there isn’t any other class that can quite match our single-handed sustain; we are able to survive where just about no other class could, and we do it in DPS style. Through traits like Parasitic Contagion, Master Of Corruptions, Blighter’s Boon, Vampiric Aura, and Augury of Death, we can gain a ton of free healing and sustain without sacrificing any major amount of damage or stats. It feels great being able to 1v4 your T4 fractal group by carrying them through fights that they manage to wipe in, after one of them complains about how “he’s not trying to take an hour to complete fractals”.

not the gameplay. i only enjoy the theme of death

Umm Firefighter class? Whatever.
Bad condi… I think not. See below.
Survivability: you have two lives.

Nuff said.

MiloIsMilo.1586:

Bad condi… I think not. See below.
Survivability: you have two lives.

Nuff said.

It is bad. Other classes can do much better than that. We just got some gimmicks that aren’t good most of the time.
Shroud does basically nothing for your survivability when you have classes that can kitten blocks, inulvn and whatnot, even more so affecting multiple party members at the same time.

As for what I like about necro, I always liked the bursts and the idea of actually being able to kitten kitten up while making sure your enemies can’t escape. Sadly, there’s not much that in actual gameplay thanks to crappy dps, how necro is supposed to work etc.

stability corrupts

MiloIsMilo.1586:

Umm Firefighter class? Whatever.
Bad condi… I think not. See below.
Survivability: you have two lives.

Nuff said.

Other classes do way better.
Seriously, an engi, mesmer, warrior or ele with the right build can do way better that that. In pvE is really easy stack conditions against a single boss and we’re the slowest class to do that and the only conditions we can stack for a good amount are bleed and poison, the two worst conditions of the game (for damage), while others can stack torment and burn for high amount and huge damage.

Survavibility: for PvE is really good, can survive to things that no other can. That’s because have more hp than others and in PvE that work because you can facetank everything without any problem of cc, conditions, a focus by insane dps and more. You Chose how mane enemy face time by time and in dungeon/fractal/raid you’re in a team that focus all the same enemy and is ready without any problem to help you if you need. Also our mid range dps make us never be the target of our enemy in dungeon, unless we truly want it.
Also in www that work, sometimes.
In sPvP that totally don’t work, not at all. You don’t have time to recharge your LF before the next enemy kills you, you can’t do your combo easy and you are Cced to the hell for seconds.

The necromancer is not bad in PvE, it’s strong, but if you seriously compare it with the other classes, it’s damage is subpar, don’t grant any offensive/defensive support to the team and can’t do things other classes can do while still better than you. Boon corrupt for raids? Ask to a revenant to use mallyx to remove boons converting it into confusion and the game is ok, while he can inflict much more damage than us.
We can only survive better for self sustain. But can’t be healed while in shroud, a thing that make the other classes easier to keep alive if you play with a healer.

The thing that make the necro be played is the Theme, the Reaper Shroud (because it’s really cool!) and his ability to survive alone in random PvE contents. Or in WvW for some zergs with the old-but-gold power-well build.

Silv.9207:

MiloIsMilo.1586:

Umm Firefighter class? Whatever.
Bad condi… I think not. See below.
Survivability: you have two lives.

Nuff said.

Boon corrupt for raids? Ask to a revenant to use mallyx to remove boons converting it into confusion and the game is ok, while he can inflict much more damage than us.

Or, you know, the chrono tank who has boon removal on sword auto ^^

I enjoy imagining people screaming at their screens when fighting me going “WHY WON’T YOU DIIIIIE?!”

Necromancer certainly doesn’t have the sustain of certain bunker builds but played properly, you can be amazingly difficult to bring down. I love being in situations where I feel like I should be long dead but I’m still kicking because of Life Force management and health protection.

There are a number of reasons I enjoy Necro but honestly, it all comes down to the fact that I just find it the most fun. Different strokes for different folks and Necro appeals to me in so many ways. It has it’s problems, as does every profession, but I’ve stuck with it for 3 years and I haven’t regretted a minute.

For me its just going in brawler style and coming out the last person standing. Even in spvp a lot of time I join a team fight late to just slaughter the enemy team with aoe dmg, chill, poison, cripple, and blinds. I’ve had so many spvp games where I have never die even once.

It’s a bit of the same for pve. So tanky, especially with traits like blighters boon.

Then there is my condi necro, which melts things in an aoe, not to mention all while being able to send condi’s back at opportune moments.

Personally, I enjoy the thrill of being in downstate…

(just kidding <3 )

I enjoy commander focusing/corrupting on my necro. the salty whispers are worth it

besides being a punching bag and having a big red target on my head

MethaneGas.8357:

Personally, I enjoy the thrill of being in downstate…

(just kidding <3 )

I swear we do more damage from down #1, when in full zerker, than when we are up and running.

FrostDraco.8306:

For me its just going in brawler style and coming out the last person standing. Even in spvp a lot of time I join a team fight late to just slaughter the enemy team with aoe dmg, chill, poison, cripple, and blinds. I’ve had so many spvp games where I have never die even once.

It’s a bit of the same for pve. So tanky, especially with traits like blighters boon.

Then there is my condi necro, which melts things in an aoe, not to mention all while being able to send condi’s back at opportune moments.

U and anet share the same opinion of how the necro is doing.
Guess the necro is fine.
I just wish some 1 from the balance team would streem his gameplay while solo quing.
But probly they r right, and everything is fine .
U sound like 1 mans army can u 1vs 5 also

Necros is by far the most unfun prof to play against…slow painfull and ugly….a complete failure.

Prince Vingador.8067:

FrostDraco.8306:

For me its just going in brawler style and coming out the last person standing. Even in spvp a lot of time I join a team fight late to just slaughter the enemy team with aoe dmg, chill, poison, cripple, and blinds. I’ve had so many spvp games where I have never die even once.

It’s a bit of the same for pve. So tanky, especially with traits like blighters boon.

Then there is my condi necro, which melts things in an aoe, not to mention all while being able to send condi’s back at opportune moments.

U and anet share the same opinion of how the necro is doing.
Guess the necro is fine.
I just wish some 1 from the balance team would streem his gameplay while solo quing.
But probly they r right, and everything is fine .
U sound like 1 mans army can u 1vs 5 also

You don’t know my opinion on the state of necro, so stop pretending like you even have a clue.

FrostDraco.8306:

Prince Vingador.8067:

FrostDraco.8306:

For me its just going in brawler style and coming out the last person standing. Even in spvp a lot of time I join a team fight late to just slaughter the enemy team with aoe dmg, chill, poison, cripple, and blinds. I’ve had so many spvp games where I have never die even once.

It’s a bit of the same for pve. So tanky, especially with traits like blighters boon.

Then there is my condi necro, which melts things in an aoe, not to mention all while being able to send condi’s back at opportune moments.

U and anet share the same opinion of how the necro is doing.
Guess the necro is fine.
I just wish some 1 from the balance team would streem his gameplay while solo quing.
But probly they r right, and everything is fine .
U sound like 1 mans army can u 1vs 5 also

You don’t know my opinion on the state of necro, so stop pretending like you even have a clue.

Don’t get too offended. At this point I understand Vingador to be an exceptionally closeminded individual that doesn’t see past the viewpoint of PvP, hence why his entire sarcastic counter-remark was based in solo-queuing ranked.

I just tried the Reaper properly the last few weeks and I’m getting quite addicted to playing as a necro now. I love the greatsword skills and how powerful they are – especially in PvE. As it should be, in my opinion. The skills in Reaper Shroud are awesome too, and I love the effects when you go into Reaper Shroud.

I only wish Anet would bring back the Dhuum’s Soul Reaper Scythe skin. I would love to use that as a greatsword. It would probably have to use different animations, but I want it SOOOOO bad. You could wield it perhaps like how Daredevils wield their staves. It’s sort of on an angle – same way scythes are held.

I also wish Anet would make some really awesome necromancer light armor skins. I looked at the wardrobe these last few days and just none of them are truly decent. I want to see armor similar to what Dhuum from GW1 wears. Spiky, leathery looking light armor with chains and loops, and glowy bits that you can dye. That would be my ideal necro armor. I wish Anet would do these things

I like reaper because I don’t have to have a target.

the dark theme, death, dark animations, the whole grenth thing, “fashion wars”, minion master gameplay is fun to me as well.
Death shroud gives much survivability.

As for weapons, unlike many other professions, necromancer weapons are usually straightforward. some are for pure damage, others are for pure condi. Some are have additional effects such as boon coruption/strip combo fields finishers ect.

People should also use deathsrhoud skills as well more often instead of just saving it for a “oh snap” button for shielding their health pool.

MethaneGas.8357:

Personally, I enjoy the thrill of being in downstate…

(just kidding <3 )

It’s a real thing as far as I’m concerned. It makes me smile every time i end with teh rally after going down. That and teh poison well(?) has provided me with much enjoyment.

Just the other day fighting on mid i dropped 3 enemies when i popped it off. I can only imagine the salt blocks rendered from their tears. I died but luckily some of my team had made it back to finish them off in time.

I also, when not getting a foot planted in my kitten , enjoy being underestimated by mine enemies. Sure sometimes i get rofl stomped but i do enjoy laying the smack down on when possible on unsuspecting foes.

Overall i dig the class as a whole with it’s theme and elements. I find it fun to play in all game modes.