Explain how the trait choices are bad. To me they all seem almost common sense.
Unsuspecting foe pays dividends with this build, blademaster is also a sensible choice with sword being your main source of burst (22+10+20+50) and allows for more bleeds to proc so that you can take full advantage of the +10% damage from 25. Furious is also an obvious choice as this build is extremely dependant on using your burst skills as often as possible.
Dogged march is a necessity as this build would otherwise be very easily kited (53% reduction on movement impairing conditions). Sundering mace is a necessity to me at this point as you will be hard pressed to keep your opponent locked down without it (a more coordinated team may be able to take better advantage of the lockdown faster, making cleansing ire a better choice here).
Destruction of the empowered, despite what people say, is quite a good +damage trait and with berserker’s power now not really worth the investment (basically every other trait in this line is now useless minus 15 minor if you’re not running GS).
Signet mastery is the only one that I’d replace with anything tbh.
Still running this here and there, though hammer/sword+horn seems to be better for teamfights involving necros (this build can take one out of the fight, but most teams are running at least 2 these days). Depends on my own team comp (if we’re lacking on AoE dps I’ll go zerk hammer with a modified version of defektive’s build).
Still have yet to lose 1vs1 with this against anything other than staff shatter mesmers though. Not that they’re than incredibly powerful, just that they are a very good hard counter with this build (strong burst and the ability to pack full stunbreaks and phase retreat).
