Funny thing – I really missed character level progression here. :P When you play profession from level one then you have time to learn how to use each skill and what trait you should choose to get best result for your playstyle. And here I was thrown into level eighty and I had very little time to figure out how and what should I do (I couldn’t spend enough time to play because I had other things to do).
There were three weapons for my disposal: Hammer, Staff and Mace+Axe.
I really don’t understand Staff…I tried play with it in every game mode but failed miserably. This weapon is designed for close combat but I don’t feel it being effective enough. Probably I just couldn’t find right combination with traits but overall feeling remains.
Hammer is much better then staff and have really long range – much longer then I expected. But it’s too slow for my taste. I prefer fast combat so this weapon just isn’t designed for me.
Mace + Axe – Yes, finally something that gave me a lot of fun. This set is fast enough, have blasts and good combos. It really liked Frigid Blitz followed by Searing Fissure and Echoing Eruption. And best thing is that most skills are designed to pass through several enemies.
Legends…
I find Ventari a little bit odd. It doesn’t have any offensive skills so it’s hard to use it in open PvE. I didn’t use it at PvP – didn’t have time to learn it correctly so I didn’t want to ruin playtime for my team. I don’t see too much synergy with currently showed legends because they both are a little supportive (in their own way) even if you could use it to attack. I’m really looking forward to Shiro’s Stance which should be DPS based to balance out lack of DPS that Ventari gives. It could however be a great asset to some focused team because it’s first almost dedicated healer/support. Especially with Staff and properly chosen traits.
I like overall Mallyx’s feeling – dark and somehow evil. I just love Unyielding Anguish – the best skill ever. Especially in WvW where I could throw myself at the entrance to some building preventing enemies from entering. I know that other professions have similar mechanics that could be used that way but none of them could be used so often. :P First I thought it’s a little unbalanced but then again spamming it means I could not use anything else because if I would I just wouldn’t have enough energy to cast it. I’m not sure if I like that this skill teleports enemies in a random direction but I can live with that.
What I don’t like is the idea behind Mallyx which is having conditions to be more effective. But I think it’s because I didn’t have enough time to learn this (lack of level progression) because I should probably focus on Resistance and Pain Absorption.
I have mixed feeling about Jalis Stance. It gave me some protection through Rite of the Great Dwarf and Inspiring Reinforcement but then again I almost didn’t use Forced Engagement and Vengeful Hammers. I just didn’t find any situation when I could use it to gain some benefit. Hammers leads in this ranking because of upkeep needed to use them – it constantly draws energy so it’s very easy to empty it when you use some other skill as well. And as you know zero energy means loosing hammers.