Guild Wars 2

Currently I’m lvl 65 and am running 0/25/15/0/15 with LB & Axe/Horn. Stacking pow/prec.
Emphasis on LB, lotsa dodges w/ protection, and quickness swapping.

Now, should I respec into Marks if I want to keep using LB? What should I change? The 15 in BM almost seems required in any build and the 15 in WS is pretty crucial for staying alive in sticky situations. Since I’m not doing PvP or WvW, is that a waste of 15pts?

Is a condition build more effective when leveling? I’m fast approaching the harder areas like Orr and Southsun and want to make sure I’m running a build that will keep me alive and still be efficient for knocking out hearts and DEs.

T_T My poor post not showing due to stupid forums connection. Gotta retype it all over again.

Doing it short because I dont want to retype all over again. Exchange SB for your LB. Go Berserker greens/rares for gear and Trinkets or knight/valk trinkets. Traits are 30/30/0/0/10 with M IV/VIII/XI. S I/VIII/XI. BM VI. Let pet tank/attack (bird/cat/riverdrake), fire off Pet’s F2 skill after swap for fast skill charge + 3 stack of might. Use 1 or 2 signet to keep pet and yourself alive. Use frost or spike trap to cc. Hope you see the reasoning of this build, go 100% Frostgorge Sound, should get to you 80 or close to it when done then redo your traits to anything you want.

Edit. Oh, and dont use bear. Use Bird/Cat/River drake.

Thanks Himei. Couple questions:

2 traits for traps and I’m only bringing 1 for CC purposes only? That seems like wasted traits.

2 traits for signets but our signets (in my experience) have really long CDs. Which do you suggest bringing? Hunt is the only one with a workable CD. Should I bring Stone even with the 2min CD for those ‘o crap’ moments?

3 stacks of might for pets on swap with only 10 pts in the BM line seems like buffing a weak tool, not to mention no 15pt minor trait means longer times between swaps. Explain “fast skill charge” please.

The goal of this build is supporting your high damage pet. Keep in mind that no matter how much damage your pet does, it wont outdamage you. CC with the traps from afar will allow your pet to continue attacking the target by crippling or chilling the target, never letting them escape. While you do this, you are contributing dps from your high crit/pow from the berserker’s gear. Reason for this, besides Orr, your pet will retain most (if not all) aggro. It’s still up to you if you want to swap those 2 major traits for pet ones (like Pets gain life on crit) but I find this is more effective.

One of the trait is 20% CD on signets to help with the long CD. Hunt is useless if you use a bird, which I recommend. Upon attacking, the birds will give you swiftness, so you can just attack bunnies to get swiftness when traveling. Stone is good for added toughness for a pet to survive, especially big hits that can 1 shot it if you time it well. Hunt is useful but not that great, it wont keep your pet alive that much longer BUT enough for it for swap along with Stone. Plus when activated, you will also benefit from its effect due to major trait. You can always take one signet and replace for another trap, up to you.

3 Stacks of might along with Active Signet of the Wild makes a good difference plus the major traits of Skirmishing I. “Fast skill charge” refers to the activation of a pet’s skill when you press that F2 key. You know that it doesnt activate right away, there’s a delay on it. When you swap and gain quickness, that delay is cut in half, allowing your pet to launch its F2 skill faster. It is helpful for pets like Birds, cats and River drake. Gaining that 5 second decrease from 15 in BM kinda doesnt make sense for leveling. Most enemies will be dead in under 15s after your first swap due to high power/crit damage from you and quickness boon PLUS your pet’s damage. You wont be in battle for long.