Guild Wars 2

NEW BUILD:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYAQNAoaVlUmaPHcS6E+5Ex2jdmTeyVIpePI7YNLA-jgxAYLBRyCAVIiJvioxWcLiGrylIqGA-e

Following up on my previous thread, I attempted to make a build based on offensive group support, this is what I came up with, after some excellent suggestion from Auesis. (I got rid of the previous rampager set it didn’t really make any sense in terms of dps output, this new build keeps most of its DPS utility while offering superior team support)

The idea of the build:

1. Steal them blind! (See what I did there? Get it? Get it? Ok I’m sorry…) Slight of hand allows for steal to be basically less than a 20s cooldown. Meaning group will have 2 stacks of might, 10s of swiftness and fury, in addition to 15s of vigor every 20s. In addition, you want to constantly keep targets blinded. This is explained by my…

2. My weapon choices (d/p, short bow) doesn’t require a lot of initiative burning (although you CAN burn initiative extremely fast if you wanted to doing the BP/HS combo or spamming CB, but that wont be optimal), and this build allows for relatively quick initiative recovery, and rewards you for having high initiative (opportunist, first strikes, lead attacks). In total, assuming you have 10 initiative at all times which is a reasonable bet, you can have up to 20% damage increase, 40% increased damage if target is below 50% health. Tack on another 10% from runes of the scholar if you can keep your health above 90%, which is entirely possible because…

3. This build allows for multiple sources of blinds, from anything that stealths you (BP+HS combo or CnD for AoE blind), to specific weapon/utility skills like shadow shot, black powder and blinding powder. Blind target = target that isn’t hitting you = increased life = increased chance for the 10% damage increase when health above 90% in scholar runes to trigger.

What I am bringing to the team:
A little bit of might, 10 stacks of vuln for 3s, daze, 10s of fury, swiftness, and 15s of vigor every 20s. Also, a steady stream of blind. Also the DPS is nothing to sneeze at either.

What do you think? Is it worth trying to invest in this kind of build to up party support? Or are we just better off going balls to the wall in DPS

I think a Venom sharing build, 20/0/30/0/20 would be better support wise. You could give your party up to 9 stacks of Might via Venoms and Stealing. Lot’s of bonus effects from Venoms, as well as powerful Life stealing. Keeping a 50% up time on Vigor and 33% up time on Fury/Swiftness

I tried the venom build before and it is extremely moody. The range on the venom share is either bugged or you need to be very coordinated in your group (which is impossible in pugs) for the effects to kick in. I also found the life stealing underwhelming, and the damage output wasn’t very good. I don’t know I haven’t tested it extensively that was just my reaction to the venom build before I moved onto something else

The power/condition split is unnecessary and is cutting too much in to your direct damage, which is infinitely more powerful than conditions. I am totally Berserker and I use the exact same trait point setup, but with Furious Retaliation instead of Ankle Shots and the Shadow Arts slot always changes. Sometimes Deception reduction, sometimes condition removal, sometimes blind, sometimes 2 initiative upon Stealth to supplement Lead Attacks as well as First Strikes.

I use D/D, S/P, S/D, whatever fits the situation, but never P/x, ever. The only exception is P/P against the Dredge Suit, simply because you have to kite him around the room and the single-target DPS is better than Shortbow.

There is no need to cut your own DPS for offensive group support. None of the support this build gives requires you to reduce your damage. The only build that exceeds the strength of this one is 10/30/0/0/30 for the extra initial Power before the initiative drops a little or, above that, the famous Signets of Power build that has no support whatsoever.

I agree I’m not in favor of condition damage in dungeons and vs boss fights (unless it is to stack vuln), but going 30 into trickery gives you 300 condition damage just sitting there… I was thinking you may as well use it right?

Now that you mention it I never thought of investing into trickery for the purpose of increasing dps… it’s possible I suppose. I just hate the 300 condition damage just sitting there it makes me want to use it lol

@ Auesis,

You know what you’re absolutely right I change my mind! This makes a lot more sense:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fYAQNAoaVlUmaPHcS6E+5Ex2jdmTeyVIpePI7YNLA-jgxAYLBRyCAVIiJvioxWcLiGrylIqGA-e

Retains a pretty healthy base attack and very high crit damage % while offering pretty nice party support, I need to try this out in dungeons!

Alternatively instead of shortbow offhand perhaps a sword/pistol would make more sense because if the increased attack damage of sword autoattack… testing will commence!