In the wake of a discussion about variations of PS builds and seeing how it generated the interest of the warrior community I’ve decided to release the PS build theorycrafted by yours truly.
Explanations and goals
This build is mainly a support build capable of capping out your entire group’s might stacks at about 90% of the time during constant DPS, although with the mindset to offer as much might production to the group as possible with retaining as much personal DPS as possible a few noteworthy selections were made.
Note that I do not endorse this as a competitive choice for the sole reason that you are unable to provide permanent fury to your group as an Elementalist with Persisting Flames would, this build’s practical application is largely tied with PUG’ing and can absolutely carry horrible groups.
FAQ
1. Why those sigils on greatsword instead of Battle and/or Strength?
A: The choices I made on the sigils, sigil of night or dungeon specific and sigil of force, carry the hopes of sacrificing as least DPS as possible. I felt confortable with the might production while using Greatsword without having to rely on a sigil of strength for the extra might stack at about every 1.6 seconds or sigil of battle on switch at every 9 seconds.
2. Why Axe/Mace on switch in a build without Fast Hands?
A: The Axe/Mace on switch were included to provide a basis for a Fast Hands variation that can be applied in situations that demand it. Trait-wise I recommend taking 1 point out of Arms and into Discipline and dropping Rending Strikes to get Fast Hands. In fact, this is a greatsword camping build as you deal the most damage and produce the most might while doing so and I would not recommend a Fast Hands variation unless absolutely necessary.
3. Are Strength Runes absolutely necessary?
A: If you want to optimize your impact on your group’s performance, yes. Strength Runes provide the best might duration in the game (that affects all might produced by you) with the least DPS loss, in most situations they prove better than Scholar Runes even in terms of DPS.
4. How much DPS does this build pump out with such support oriented traits?
A: I have not ran the numbers but I was getting around 35k Hundred Blades in Crucible of Eternity on the golem, therefore in sub-optimal circumstances. Then again, this is not a DPS build but a build one would use when playing in a horrible group that needs a lift, I use it quite often when playing PUG roulette.
5. Strength Runes are quite expensive, are there any alternatives?
A: There are 2 alternatives and each have their own drop-offs: Hoelbrak Runes will nearly give you the same might duration but you will lose considerable DPS and Scholar Runes will sharply reduce your might duration but give you better DPS depending on circumstances (when below 90% health Strength Runes pump out better DPS).
6. Why those choices of food?
A: Truffle Steak is the standard food choice for most PvE players in terms of efficiency vs cost and it happens to help this build reach 97% crit chance under the effects of Fury and Banner of Discipline. Sharpening stones are just put in the place of specific potions of slaying that I would recommend as an optimal choice.
7. Why use these utilities?
A: For Great Justice! produces 6 stacks of might on cast for your entire group and also some fury uptime and both are valuable DPS boosts. Banner of Discipline increases your group’s chance to critically hit (170 Precision is about 8% Crit Chance) and your group’s critical damage. Signet of Fury helps you optimize your own critical chance that is vital to helping you maintain your group’s might supply via Forceful Greatsword trait. Do I really need to explain the choice of Signet of Rage?
I hope this has proven useful for you and that most of your lingering questions have been answered if there’s anything further you’d like to know, just ask.