Guild Wars 2

I always really like Maces in fantasy games, however after the Skullcrack nerf and the move of Unsuspecting Foe the weapon dropped out of use pretty much over night. Hambow is now the clear choice due to how useful AoE control is. Thing is, playing the same build over and over isn’t exactly the most enjoyable thing for a lot of people. I’ve been trying Sword+LB and while it has its uses, you quickly miss the ability to deny stomps on foes without Stability.

The Skullcracker build with Mace+GS was considered by some to be inferior to Hambow because it lacked as much AoE and the easy cleansing that bow offered. However, there were a few tings that Skullcracker did much better than Hambow. For one it was much more mobile, few things move faster than a GS Warrior. It also offered much better single-target damage as well as setting up people for spikes. Another benefit of GS is the ability to just sit on a downed enemy and use 100b while their teammates try to revive them. Their easy Skullcrack targets and it’s not uncommon for them to fail at the res while getting downed themselves.

What’s unfortunate about the Unsuspecting Foe move is that Skullcracker didn’t appear to be the targeted build. What made everything synergize so well was being able to take Forceful Greatsword along with UF to gain 100% crit chance and gain might throughout the 100b channel time. Now that isn’t possible and you have to decide between UF and FG. Some would view this as balanced, but the is is that ANet never seemed to view the build as OP and the move was purely for reducing the amount of damage Hambow could do.

What makes this all worse is that whenever I try to make a build using Mace that doesn’t have GS I find the result heavily lacking. Take a bow and after stunning them your follow up is limited to Arching Shot and a Fan of Fire and that’s pretty much it. Even with all those critting it’s still hitting much less than a 100b. There’s also the problem of mobility. Even Hammer can use Earthshaker and swapping mid jump in order to put some distance between you and the enemy if you need to peel, Mace lacks this. Mace in general is more of a enabler of combos and a defensive set when with a shield and offers little else. When it’s paired with GS these issues are covered.

I also tried Sword/Mace and having that extra knockdown is very nice but it still brings less damage. Nice in a team fight but personally I like to have a bit more self dependance as a roamer.

So this is my current mindset, I want to hear ideas that I may be blind to. So far I just can’t see any other weapon that synergies as well with Mace as GS, but perhaps I’m wrong. So far this build gives you the most damage without sacrificing points in Defense. If you do take the risk and run something like this one you’ll hit harder but you’re much more vulnerable to condis.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Oh man, yeah, this exact train of thought has been through my mind too. Unfortunately I don’t have a great solution either, but I can chime in with some thoughts:

On GS/Mace builds: In my mind this has always been a premier dueling build with a subtly high skill cap. The interrupts, blocks, and GS evade can be utilized to great effect if you use them well. You can still land skullcrack reliably against most classes (thief/guard, not so much) if you know class mechanics well and count dodges. What has me excited right now too is that you might be able to counter debunk engi pretty hard with this. The downside though, I just don’t think it’s a strong enough teamfighter, not compared to hambow. You might have to stick to side capping.

Other things:
I really want to make a distracting strikes build work, but it’s been tough to do. Something like mace/sw + LB, shooting for hybrid condi/power damage.

The only other power option you might have is something like mace/sh + axe/mace. There’s sick stun juggles like skullcrack->swap -> axe AA -> tremor -> eviscerate – > swap -> shield bash -> daze -> skullcrack that I haven’t played with since the sigil of para nerf. Not sure how well it works now, and mobility is going to be tough. Again, maybe strong against decap engi. Might be possible to frenzy those combos.

Have you tried a hybrid build like m/sw-sw/mace?

The mace/shield + Gs build was the most OP build warrior ever had, i was the first one to talk about it on the forum, i remember winning some 3vs1 in tpvp, just too much!
I think the best version of it right now could be this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNApeRjkOxupQGPMxBEMDNsKOPoClgJ0HsDA-TsAA0CnICSFkLITQygsBNQYZxUEA
Zerker amulet is useless, the Valkyrie is way better for this kind of build, you simply dont need 100%+ crit chance.

Mijo.3274:

The mace/shield + Gs build was the most OP build warrior ever had, i was the first one to talk about it on the forum, i remember winning some 3vs1 in tpvp, just too much!
I think the best version of it right now could be this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNApeRjkOxupQGPMxBEMDNsKOPoClgJ0HsDA-TsAA0CnICSFkLITQygsBNQYZxUEA
Zerker amulet is useless, the Valkyrie is way better for this kind of build, you simply dont need 100%+ crit chance.

…..

But the build you posted is better. Just take VI in arms instead of V, it is way more useful and gives you near perma-fury. Also, I like hydromancy on mace (chill>F1 is way easier, and a nice added burst). After the next patch you will be able to use that along with Sigil of Fire on GS. Just add the Sigil of Force to the GS and you’re done.

Still a strong build, but the purpose of this build has better classes for it.

Brigg.6189:

Other things:
I really want to make a distracting strikes build work, but it’s been tough to do. Something like mace/sw + LB, shooting for hybrid condi/power damage.

The only other power option you might have is something like mace/sh + axe/mace. There’s sick stun juggles like skullcrack->swap -> axe AA -> tremor -> eviscerate – > swap -> shield bash -> daze -> skullcrack that I haven’t played with since the sigil of para nerf. Not sure how well it works now, and mobility is going to be tough. Again, maybe strong against decap engi. Might be possible to frenzy those combos.

Just wanted to post some experiences with the builds I theorycrafted earlier

#1-Distracting strikes – R O M used this build in the last mistpedia tournament (placed second). It’s a decent duelist build with a decent skillcap, landing rupts and blocks are key. That said, I’m not crazy about it, not quite sure why he liked it enough to run it in the tourny. My biggest problem is amulet choice though, I’m not sure what’s best here, and I don’t think I was able to maximize effectiveness. It’s an interesting build though.

#2-Power Mace- I ran this with soldier ammy/zerk jewel and really liked the feel. Good duelist, great stunlocking potential, biggest downside is mobility and lack of aoe. For small fights though it’s very fun, managed to get some 2v1s with this thanks to the down state management with stuns.

I was stupid earlier though, mace is terrible against engi due to protection injection, forgot about that.

Since this appeared back up here again I just thought I would add that I went back and modified my old Skullcracker V 3.0 build and I was actually pleasantly surprised.

Skullcracker V 3.5

Not a huge change, just switched the runes to Lyssa and made sure I had over 50% crit. I wanted to ensure when you did the SC+100b combo you didn’t have to have your Signet of Rage up to get 100% crit chance. I like Sigil of Hydromancy because not only do you get damage that is equivalent to another normal attack, if they use a stun breaker they typically eat a few more hits and following up with Whirlwind Attack is much easier. If you need to make a quick escape the chill will also assist in that.

It serves a slightly different role than Hambow, less AoE but better single target DPS in addition to being much faster. Also, Mace is much faster at interrupting foes trying to stomp or trying to revive. Hundred Blades is also great for cleaving downed targets as always. Being able to reflect projectiles is always fun especially when timed right and you force someone to half kill themselves. This can be a nice alternative to Hambow if your team already has one on their team.

Protection Injection can certainly make killing a Engi take longer but if you pace out your Bull’s, Bash, and Cracks they can’t do anything to you. Not to mention you can humiliate them by reflecting all their best stuff.

Mace + Sword / Longbow, 20/0/20/0/30 is typically run with Carrion amulet, from what I’ve seen. This allows for strong condi and power damage.

The main lockdown of the set really comes from landing impale or pin down – each is pretty crippling and requires any squishy target to forget what they’re doing and cleanse. The fact that you give them burning, potentially confusion, deal lots of direct damage and CC them is an added bonus! I think it’s a very strong build, with good team fight capability and 1v1 potential… Lacking in mobility, but you only feel that on certain maps, and it’s only a tiny but worse than hambow mobility-wise.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vIAQNAnZSjMdUFajHmhwJaAB9QDrCuwU4HUPwjNMOA-TsAg0CnIKSVkrITRyisFNYY9x8DA

This is what I’m runnin atm in PvP. I never liked Hambow simply because bow does not dmg at all (just #3). Axe AA is insanely strong. Combo to stun + ES is deadly. Best thing is this wpn set is amazing in any 1v1 situations but it also provides nice AoE control due to hammer and some kind of big aoe dmg due to axe. And tremor is just to good to use shield or sword there. In close combat there’s no way you can see it coming and after it ES follows.

The build @Siroso pointed is one of the best dueling builds for warrior, it’s less viable in team fight imo but you should win any 1v1.

@Burr if you miss 100b after stun crack so much – why not take off hand axe?
Yes whirling axe spin to win, the ultimate noob skill is very viable on locked enemies.
Mace+axe makes GS+mace build in one set and you have another weapon set for you own choice.
Plus if u take ‘sharpened axes’ this combo could give a near full 3 bars again.

I see either the hammer – for a more dmg oriented of the CC turtle build (mace+shield /Hammer).

The long bow.

Or something like this (amulet and sigil for own choice):
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vIAQRApX8ejMdUFajHmhwJagAz4KV5yY8KRpwOuB-TwAA1CnIKSVkrITRyisFNQYZxmgZFA
You have great mobility and quick attacks from sword, a lot of defense and cc from mace and shield, and a great damage combo from skull crack + whirling axe into shield bash + final trust.

I really not sure if it will work, but it sure will be fun.

@Eiland The problem with Whirling is that its DPS is lower than if I just whacked them with axe AA, not to mention 100b (on my build I average a good 2k less on WA in PvP). Not to mention Axe 4 is pretty much useless since you generally have fury anyways and the damage isn’t that great. Reflect Projectiles is actually a surprisingly useful trait and it only really works with shield. I really do want to like offhand Axe but it’s just…crap.

The weakness that GS has is that it’s burst is bad, Mace’s weakness is that it has no mobility and can’t directly take advantage of its burst. When you combine the 2 they suddenly make up for each others weaknesses, they see practically designed to go together. If WA offered some sort of utility like reflection or evade then I could see possibly using it, but that wouldn’t make Duel Strike any less worthless.

Yeah I get to show off my mace/mace longbow build!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vIAQNApZTj8c03ZVIGewJaAAzwrqsH+R9wu7iD-TsAg0CnIMSZkzIjRSjsGNKY9xkAA

I’ve been enjoying this build in tPvP for quite some time now.

This build provides adequate defense and group support with AoE fire field and blast from longbow, and single target lockdown on aggressive enemies. This build shines with team play as coordination with your team mates allows you to quickly pick out the most dangerous opponent and destroy that target.

This build has sustained DPS with burst coming from chaining multiple attacks across your weapon sets.

Have fun!

You can run pretty much anything and be successful on warrior just run a cancer condi build with mace/sword and longbow settlers amulet.

apt.9184:

You can run pretty much anything and be successful on warrior just run a cancer condi build with mace/sword and longbow settlers amulet.

I prefer being creative rather than running well known builds. But that’s just my opinion!

Mijo.3274:

The mace/shield + Gs build was the most OP build warrior ever had, i was the first one to talk about it on the forum….

Umm…. completely not true.. Not even close to true.

You do know people can easily go back and read your post history?

The only builds you ever mentioned for the first 6 months or so were the standard Greatsword/Longbow build that someone else made highly popular in tpvp at the start of the game and the face roll Dagger/Dagger Elementalist build.

In other words, it seems like you started a Warrior at launch then jumped ship to the Elementalist in their hay day.

Well mace shield was always a good build but it got a lot easier to play since the previous buffs and very few people really played warrior before buffs that’s why you barely saw mace shield. If you do want to make a build with mace you need longbow regardless because cleansing ire with longbow is irreplaceable. Hopefully some longbow changes will be put in place so that it is not mandatory on every build because that’s the case right now.

apt.9184:

Well mace shield was always a good build but it got a lot easier to play since the previous buffs and very few people really played warrior before buffs that’s why you barely saw mace shield. If you do want to make a build with mace you need longbow regardless because cleansing ire with longbow is irreplaceable. Hopefully some longbow changes will be put in place so that it is not mandatory on every build because that’s the case right now.

No it’s not! I use many builds that don’t even use cleansing ire let alone longbow. I simply know how to dodge attacks.

apt.9184:

….. very few people really played warrior before buffs that’s why you barely saw mace shield.

Plenty of people use to play Mace/Shield builds. I use to play Spvp with a Mace/Shield—Greatsword build way back at launch. However, most of the people I use to play with have left this game (around 3-6 months after launch) because Anet never did anything about PvP. I quit after the introduction of Ascended Armor.

It wasn’t that hardly anyone played Warrior. In fact, most people played Warrior at launch of this game (hot join mostly but still some tpvp had Warriors from time to time). It wasn’t till around 3 months in that everyone saw they were not going to fix the class and jumped ship.

With continual horribly done balance patches and zero incentive to play every real pro (and almost all of the high level) pvpers left.

I might log on every once in a while (around once every month or so) to see if anything has gotten better, but it seems to do nothing but get worse each patch. They have two VIP areas as I understand it now. You can only access them if you buy the pass with gems. That is just a giant kick in the face to what the company use to stand for and it makes me sad for what this game could have been.

bobomb.5209:

apt.9184:

Well mace shield was always a good build but it got a lot easier to play since the previous buffs and very few people really played warrior before buffs that’s why you barely saw mace shield. If you do want to make a build with mace you need longbow regardless because cleansing ire with longbow is irreplaceable. Hopefully some longbow changes will be put in place so that it is not mandatory on every build because that’s the case right now.

No it’s not! I use many builds that don’t even use cleansing ire let alone longbow. I simply know how to dodge attacks.

If you play against other good players in team que longbow is essential cleansing ire plus longbow is too strong. You can still play mace shield but it really is not that great anymore just cause hambow does way more with little effort. I wish longbow would be nerfed so other weapon sets would be more viable.

My 2c. Before I quit I fell in love with this build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vIAQNAneTnUJStHWGCWhAnIGQQK0wqQpAPcj0jwwMWDA-TsAAyCnIqRVjrGTNyas1MsYZxsAA