Hi,
Demolisher warriors can be played in many flavors (vanilla, berserker), with many setups (GS/Bow, GS/Axe/Shield, GS/Hammer…). Each has its own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.
I’ll focus on GS/Bow below, as it is the one that left you the most memorable impression. I only play the vanilla version, though (here’s a build video I made after the June patch). Don’t hesitate to ask if you’re interested in other demolisher builds (e.g. Axe/Shield).
1) General Strengths
One of the selling point of GS/Bow is to benefit from Combustive Shot (bow F1) to freely cleanse conditions with Cleansing Ire, buff power with Berserker’s Power, regenerate with Adrenal Health, get more endurance with Building Momentum.
Your first counter is to prevent Combustive Shot: interrupt the skill, or block/reflect the projectile.
Other than that, GS/Bow lets a warrior apply pressure at both melee and range, and can help him build might easily, although slowly. Condition management is excellent.
2) General weaknesses
Most power warriors use stances. Stances are strong, but have long CD – you must bait the warrior into using them (apply pressure), kite away when the stances are active, and deal with the warrior before they return.
GS/Bow has no hard control and no interrupts. At best, the warrior can trade blows with you, but not disrupt your rhythm.
GS/Bow has no blocks, and its projectiles can be blocked / reflected. Your damage will always be taken, unless evaded, dodged or stance’d.
The vanilla version has only one long stability and two stun breakers. The berserker version has more. This means that your hard CC may be moderately successful.
Be aggressive, but be flexible. A power warrior will trade blows to benefit from his innate toughness – just make sure you don’t trade blows when the stances are up. If possible, avoid the GS chained burst (see below), and counterattack immediately after.
3) Overview of the GS play
The GS is used for mobility and damage, and it must be used at melee. The most common combo, which can be used offensively as well as defensively, is centered around GS #3, which has good damage, breaks immobilize and is an evade.
Basically, get close to the opponent, then dodge towards the opponent to trigger Reckless Dodge, swap to the GS to trigger Hydromancy, then traverse with GS#3, repositioning behind, following up with GS #5 and GS F1. There are other patterns, but this is the most common one.
What’s important to note is that GS skills can and will be chained together to inflict big damage. If you mitigate one, don’t be happy: more are coming.
To counter this, evade or block. The GS/Bow build usually does not pack the Signet of Might, so your blocks are safe. You may use blind, but the warrior has two resistances (Healing Signet, Berserker’s Stance), so this may not work. In any case, don’t take the GS burst on, it’s violent.
If the warrior throws GS #4 from afar, try to walk sideways to avoid the hit, and dodge if you cannot.
If the warrior runs GS #5 from afar, interrupt, dodge or block. Never take the hit, and be aware that there is always a violent follow up (either GS #3, GS F1, or swap and Bow #2).
4) Overview of the Bow play
The bow is a slow weapon, used for its F1 which triggers burst effects (more damage, cleanse, health and endurance), for its soft control (blind, immobilize) and to apply ranged pressure.
Every skill of the bow is a projectile, so you can block or reflect.
Bow #1 is used to apply ranged pressure, annoy and lure the opponent into melee (when a switch to the GS awaits).
Bow #2 is always used at melee, to maximize the value of the 3 projectiles (which hit hard and burn). Some players prefer to put a sigil of Hydromancy on the bow rather than on the GS, so use the GS to get close (e.g. GS #5), then swap when reaching the opponent and use bow #2 immediately.
Bow #3 hits hard, and usually follows a Combustive Shot, for the might combo. As a matter of fact, avoid all bow AoE, and don’t stay inside a Combustive Shot.
Bow #4 is just a blind, nothing fancy. Bow #5 is just an immobilization. Some warriors will try and follow up with Hundred Blades, but that’s quite rare to succeed (too obvious).
Good luck.
