Guild Wars 2

I’m still in the planning stages of making a necromancer, but I’m wondering how bad I’d be gimping myself going S/F over S/D. On paper the dagger looks better for a condition build, but for aesthetic reasons I’d rather run a focus. I’m primarily an open-world PvEer, so I can afford to sacrifice a bit of optimization and still get by. But there’s a line where less-optimized becomes self-defeating, and I’d like to know if S/F lies on the wrong side of that line.

And while I’m asking for tips from the pros, I’d really like to run CPC. But I’m already planning BiP and Epidemic. That leaves just the one slot, and I’m thinking it will probably go to a signet. What do you guys think of CPC, particularly in the open-world PvE context?

Thanks for any wisdom you guys can impart on this novice.

Focus is far from optimal, but its open world PvE, so its not like min/maxing is remotely needed.

CPC can be a good area denial/debuff spam, but in open world it is rare you will need such debuffs, or even find an area where a static field meant for denial is worth it.

Only reason I started carrying focus was in WvW the enemy composition seemed to be about 50% Guards, 40% DD ele’s and 10% playing something else, possibly as a joke. So, they needed less buffs and focus is fine for ripping them off and then ripping them down.

In PvE, not so much of an issue (thank god), but you might come across the odd mob that buffs self, buffs others (Dredge comes to mind) and you can peel them off and have an easy time of it. Otherwise the dagger will be slightly better overall for what you want it to do and maybe pack a white warhorn to switch in for speed buffs going between A-B

If you don’t care about loosing optimization always go for looks>efficiency. No matter the enviroment PvX. If that’s what most fun for you

For the 3rd skill on pve i go for either well of darkness or Corrupt boon if the mobs buff a lot.
WoD along with offhand dagger 4 can give 6 seconds of blindness along with a great synergy by passing our self inlficting conditions to the enemy.

if you were pvping where the boon strip would be enough of a bonus to take focus over dagger I would say go for it.

but all the focus will give you in pve is more kiting capabilities and LF regen. I would take dagger over focus for pve.

if u like focus try a power build?

darkace.8925:

And while I’m asking for tips from the pros, I’d really like to run CPC. But I’m already planning BiP and Epidemic. That leaves just the one slot, and I’m thinking it will probably go to a signet. What do you guys think of CPC, particularly in the open-world PvE context?

CPC is really good if you use it with putrid mark (blast finisher→poison field and condition transfer). Without the staff I’d only take it with the master of corruption trait (which would make sense with epidemic and BiP). Without that I’d probably use a well, definitely no signet… maybe signet of the locust out of combat but that’s it.

For ‘optimal’ open world PvE, dagger off hand, and Signet of the Locust. Switch off-hand dagger for a warhorn for travelling. CPC can be very effective. Switch ‘Locust for CPC if you know you’re going into extended combat, such as with archers, event champions or other things that don’t move around much. As flow says, the master of corruption trait is well worth taking for BiP, Epidemic and CPC.

Off-hand dagger (4) is really effective with the corruption utilities – especially if you’re running all three. S/D and Corruption utilities is the bread-and-butter condition build for a reason.

So: yes you’ll be gimping yourself quite a bit by running S/F. The good news is, it’s only open world PvE, and you can easily try both S/D and S/F to see how much effectiveness you’re trading for looks.

I may sound off tune but for all my complaints about the profession, I think many heavily underestimate the focus, I’m running a Clerics armor Power/Siphon build in PvE and I do extremely well with the reapers touch with it’s group regeneration ability also because I have a good degree of healing power and the Spinal shivers chilling + Boon stripping from boon stealing mobs.

> I think many heavily underestimate the focus

Agreed. The Focus is wonderful with dagger or axe. Less so with scepter.

Its fun with the 15 point fury trait on going DS. You can get a ton of hits in that 5 second window with focus and axe/dagger, right after you’ve stripped 3 boons. If only it also boosted dagger #2 lifesteal, and we had some kitten stability.

Theres some good synergy to be had for a power necro that relies more on weapon damage than utility damage, but admittedly it just isnt enough yet. 400 toughness while channeling thrown in there among our traits, cmon now that’s just a slap in the face. Cant channel while stunned. Some vampiric traits then? Cant siphon health while stunned. Hell you cant even siphon health while in DS. Still a focus definitively goes with a power build, the vuln does nothing for condis. Get Corrupt Boon if you want boonstrip?

TBH dagger is still a far strong choice for what you are interested in. Deathly swarm can transfer the corruption self conditions to the enemy (such as the BiP self bleed) and gives you access to two AoE bleed skills which you can then follow with epidemic. Staff gives you another AoE bleed and poison AoE. If you combine all 3 of these skills and follow it with epidemic, it is far more effective than using focus.

I would recommend trying a power build if you really enjoy using the focus. But, that being said its your character and do what you enjoy.

I would think the point of carrying a focus with a condition build is that you are planning to stack the chill with staff 3/DS 2 with the intent of spreading it with epidemic and/or you are stacking regen and you have enough power to make using focus skills a non-waste of time.. Otherwise probably not worth it.

I’ll also add that Scepter is awful at generating Life Force.
That’s one thing the Focus can definitely help with.

That tends to be much more of a problem in PvP than in PvE, but it’s still nice.

Thanks for the feedback, guys; and please keep it coming.

I’ve seen mention Focus is better with Power. Truth be told, I’ve always intend to run a healthy dose of Power in spite of being a conditionmancer. Condition Damage and Condition Duration will still be my primary focus, and Precision might get some love too, depending on my choice of Sigils. But the reason for the Power is many mobs in open-world PvE simply don’t have the staying power to justify the effort required to set up the dots.

I’m not sure this is a good idea, but it’s something I’ve had in mind since I first started theorycrafting. Feel free to let me know how, if at all, this changes your stance on the dagger vs focus. And thanks.

That is just a problem with a condition build. A little power isnt really going to change that. I personally wouldnt spread out my stats too much as it would probably just have the opposite effect. Power works really well with high crit and crit dmg, but conditions get stronger from the precision alone, therefore i would focus on that stat if you are so keen on a little more extra direct dmg. You’d also get more bleed stacks before the mob dies with barbed precision and sigil of earth, which helps a little too. I think precision with dagger would be better than power with focus, if your focus is on conditions.