Guild Wars 2

IIIIITTTTTTTTT’SSSSSS BAAAAAAAACCCCKKKKK!

let me start by saying that while technically this build was possible last season, the changes to the Defense Spec and the inclusion of the new Demolisher Amulet has brought this build up to a more viable level.

Skull Cracker: The Revival

Skull Cracker: The Revival: Cleansing Ire Version

The New Demolisher amulet is great for this build. It plays off great with Blood Reaction, you will have a high crit chance and decent Ferocity despite being fairly tanky. Your damage is decent, your sustain is decent, but neither are incredible. However what this build excels at is DISRUPTION. This build has six different types of CC, one of them being instant and with Signet of Strength all of them are potentially unblockable. Now, you can swap the Signet for something like Stomp or Bull’s Charge, but there’s so many blocks that I feel being able to simply ignore them is more important. You could also go Double EP but honestly it didn’t feel necessary. I’m messing around with Sundering Mace but the limits on it make it mess attractive. If hitting CC’d foes in general caused Vulnerability then it would be pretty great and it can be nice for squeezing some more damage out.

You could actually swap the Mace out for Axe or even Sword, heck with a few trait changes you can use any weapons with this this since the main concept is just the synergy between all your stun breaks, Rousing Resilience, and all of the buffs that came with the patch to Defense. While Mace might seem an odd choice since Skull Grinder is focused on condi, the damage on it is decent (3k), and it is also majorly disruptive. Not only does it have a daze, but the blind means that you can really throw off any sort of counterattack after you connect.

I use Berserk in this build more as a way to wear down the enemy CDs than anything else, hence the use of Savage Instinct. Once you force them to use all of their stability and stun breaks, they are highly vulnerable to any sort of Head Butt/Skull Crack + 100b combo. Do it right, and you can have them stunned for and absurdly long time with the combo of Head Butt -> Skull Crack -> Shield Bash. If your team is smart and doesn’t use any junk CC that’s a death sentence for any build without a auto-trigger immunity.

One build I have found myself being effective against is Chronomancer. Now, let me say that getting hit by a Double Moa will of course probably kill you, but that kills almost everything. I’m getting better at predicting the Moa however so it’s becoming less of an issue. Outside of that, having a instant CC in the form of Taunt and the ability to totally bypass both the Aegis granted by Staff but also their block on shield can really cut into their sustain fast. They’ll be too bust using their shatters to use Distortion and playing defensive to mount a heavy offense if you time things right. Save your blocks and Berserker Stance for major shatters and they won’t be able to hurt you effectively. What also makes this build especially effective vs them is the fact that you can use a Arc Divider to kill all of their clones AND trigger Adrenal Health with almost no chance of missing. This means that you’re constantly having high regen where as vs a class like Daredevil they can focus purely on blinding your burst.

Will Warrior play a major role in the next season? Seems unlikely. That being said, much like the first time Mace/Shield + GS rose to prominence it does a decent job as countering something that is meta. Revenant is still god-tier in many ways but it lacks the amount of CC this build offers, so maybe there’s something there.

EDIT: Added an Alternate version that is based around Cleansing Ire and being tougher vs condis.

EDIT 2: Updated builds.

looks good and will hit hard while having great sustain but im concerned with the lack of stability and condi clears.

I know you dont really want too much stability since you want to proc rousing resilience but i do think Eternal Champion is better overall since there is so much CC out there you will still have decent chances to proc RR. With Scrappers and Druids plus Rev Staff 5 you will have lots of opportunities to use RR even with pulsing stability from Eternal Champion.

On condi clear you only have Brawlers recovery and bersker stance/Heal Signet. If you come across a lot of burn warriors plus mesmers you might be overwhelmed. I found having sigil of generosity on GS and purity on mace/Shield set helped against condi heavy teams.

Otherwise i like it and have been a fan of skullcrack for a long time.

Yea, I could see potential in this, but outside of hitting your perfect combo, I’m not sure how great this will be. You’ll hit like a wet noodle with mace main and berserk mode will be more of a handicap to you if you want to land your mace CC since the first level of skill crack out-performs skull grinder’s CC, so I’m guessing you’ll have to be kitten surgical in when you go berserk.

Also, you probably shouldn’t waste shield bash if you head butt into skull crack. Stuns don’t stack in duration so your shield bash won’t do anything to a target already in a 4 sec stun. You’d probably get the most out of this combo by putting a sigil of agility on the GS and swapping for the 100 blades immediately after the skull crack.

I am a fan of the control warrior. I am testing it with strength. Discipline is not what i need. Also i go with dolyak signet but change this slot depending on match (berserker stance or might signet)
I squeeze out more power with armored assault. Also demolisher amulet.
I am also testing if body blow pays of or the 2k extra HP are fine.
Had no problems with stuns so far (i like to jup out of a stun with stomp). Condi defence is cleansing ire. Stability is a nuisiance but i can rip it. I am not a good warrior player but in 1:1 this kills. I have a bit troubles in larger fights with it. Might test greatsword and trait it.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNAS5enMdAtdgldAOeAElilfAzYBEAaAIxgDXL495Wd3uA-TpBCQBc4IAAgDCQGuAADc/h88AAWYZAA

It just feels like a warrior.

Wolfric.9380:

I am a fan of the control warrior. I am testing it with strength. Discipline is not what i need. Also i go with dolyak signet but change this slot depending on match (berserker stance or might signet)
I squeeze out more power with armored assault. Also demolisher amulet.
I am also testing if body blow pays of or the 2k extra HP are fine.
Had no problems with stuns so far (i like to jup out of a stun with stomp). Condi defence is cleansing ire. Stability is a nuisiance but i can rip it. I am not a good warrior player but in 1:1 this kills. I have a bit troubles in larger fights with it. Might test greatsword and trait it.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNAS5enMdAtdgldAOeAElilfAzYBEAaAIxgDXL495Wd3uA-TpBCQBc4IAAgDCQGuAADc/h88AAWYZAA

It just feels like a warrior.

Yea, you’ll do lots of CC with a build like that…but little else. You have no damage, so you’ll knock your enemy around and then they’ll just brush themselves off, heal up, and destroy you once your CC is all on cooldown and that’s assuming they don’t block/evade/blind/stability your CC.

In a team fight, you’ll be more useful, but even there, the lack of damage will still hold you back.

Wolfric.9380:

I am a fan of the control warrior. I am testing it with strength. Discipline is not what i need. Also i go with dolyak signet but change this slot depending on match (berserker stance or might signet)
I squeeze out more power with armored assault. Also demolisher amulet.
I am also testing if body blow pays of or the 2k extra HP are fine.
Had no problems with stuns so far (i like to jup out of a stun with stomp). Condi defence is cleansing ire. Stability is a nuisiance but i can rip it. I am not a good warrior player but in 1:1 this kills. I have a bit troubles in larger fights with it. Might test greatsword and trait it.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNAS5enMdAtdgldAOeAElilfAzYBEAaAIxgDXL495Wd3uA-TpBCQBc4IAAgDCQGuAADc/h88AAWYZAA

It just feels like a warrior.

I tested a Hammer Mace/Shield build last night using Strength/Def/Berserker lines (using distracting strikes Etc). It was kinda fun, i just felt i didnt do enough damage and if you come across someone with lots of stability like Scrappers using final salvo or Warriors using Eternal Champion (like i do) then a lot of your control goes out the window.

I just find Hammer to be sooooo weak that it annoys the heck out of me.

Yes thats why i go rifle in this build …. its only 1 CC less, ranged and builds a bit adrenalin.
But i wanted to test hammer again. So this is what i run at the moment. If you say its hammer is meh then i stick to rifle or might go GS which i can trait in this build.

And damage ? I hit quite hard with demolisher amulet.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNAU5enMdAtdgldAOeAElilfAzYBEAaAvP3q72FJGc4aBA-TZBCQBM4BAwhrAwCLDAgDCwA3fAA

Spartacus.3192:

looks good and will hit hard while having great sustain but im concerned with the lack of stability and condi clears.

I know you dont really want too much stability since you want to proc rousing resilience but i do think Eternal Champion is better overall since there is so much CC out there you will still have decent chances to proc RR. With Scrappers and Druids plus Rev Staff 5 you will have lots of opportunities to use RR even with pulsing stability from Eternal Champion.

On condi clear you only have Brawlers recovery and bersker stance/Heal Signet. If you come across a lot of burn warriors plus mesmers you might be overwhelmed. I found having sigil of generosity on GS and purity on mace/Shield set helped against condi heavy teams.

Otherwise i like it and have been a fan of skullcrack for a long time.

Yah EC is another solid choice, I swap it out depending on the enemy team comp. If you do that I would actually probably go with Endure Pain over Outrage just because you can save Berserk for the main Stun Break.

As for condis, I haven’t been having too much trouble because of the regen we have now from Adrenal Health. So long as you properly use the Resistance you have you should outlast most condi builds.

Spartacus.3192
looks good and will hit hard while having great sustain but im concerned with the lack of stability and condi clears.
I know you dont really want too much stability since you want to proc rousing resilience but i do think Eternal Champion is better overall since there is so much CC out there you will still have decent chances to proc RR. With Scrappers and Druids plus Rev Staff 5 you will have lots of opportunities to use RR even with pulsing stability from Eternal Champion.
On condi clear you only have Brawlers recovery and bersker stance/Heal Signet. If you come across a lot of burn warriors plus mesmers you might be overwhelmed. I found having sigil of generosity on GS and purity on mace/Shield set helped against condi heavy teams.
Otherwise i like it and have been a fan of skullcrack for a long time.

He’s right. And besides you don’t want to waste your time in berserker breaking stuns. you want to lock them down with your 2 second burst skills. The great thing about headbutt is that you can stun yourself then enter berserk, which will proc rousing resilience. then you can spend your time in berserk bringing on the pain. For condi cleanse you need an answer because you don’t have cleansing ire.

I run heavy condi removal and got blown up by a Skull Crack build twice last night. In part because I haven’t seen the build before but the speed it dropped me was shocking. Definitely going to try it out for myself.

If mace f1 had the speed and animation of Skull Grinder, I’d never play anything but Mace. And the design of Moot really upsets me.

I am bringing back a CC warrior this season. Just debating if it is going to be vanilla gs/mace
hambow
dual wielding sw/mace mace shield

With cleansing ire and adrenal health, I feel like you just cannot pass up on this opportunity to run CCs

emkelly.2371:

Spartacus.3192
looks good and will hit hard while having great sustain but im concerned with the lack of stability and condi clears.
I know you dont really want too much stability since you want to proc rousing resilience but i do think Eternal Champion is better overall since there is so much CC out there you will still have decent chances to proc RR. With Scrappers and Druids plus Rev Staff 5 you will have lots of opportunities to use RR even with pulsing stability from Eternal Champion.
On condi clear you only have Brawlers recovery and bersker stance/Heal Signet. If you come across a lot of burn warriors plus mesmers you might be overwhelmed. I found having sigil of generosity on GS and purity on mace/Shield set helped against condi heavy teams.
Otherwise i like it and have been a fan of skullcrack for a long time.

He’s right. And besides you don’t want to waste your time in berserker breaking stuns. you want to lock them down with your 2 second burst skills. The great thing about headbutt is that you can stun yourself then enter berserk, which will proc rousing resilience. then you can spend your time in berserk bringing on the pain. For condi cleanse you need an answer because you don’t have cleansing ire.

Actually, for some reason if you go Berserk after using Head Butt the Taunt doesn’t seem to override the stun.

My greataxe build runs the quickness on weapon swap sigil in the greatsword.
Not sure, whether it will outperform sigil of impact in a stun based build, but it certainly is something to take a look at.

naphack.9346:

My greataxe build runs the quickness on weapon swap sigil in the greatsword.
Not sure, whether it will outperform sigil of impact in a stun based build, but it certainly is something to take a look at.

I tried that but it only will affect 100 blades as the other skills on gs are not really quickened. And it does not affect the whole channel either, which kind of sucks.

quickness sigil paired with hydromancy sigil is fun for 100 blades

For GS I like hydromancy and leech. The purpose is to pump damage, and that is an instant 2k damage from weapon swapping.

Interpret Interrupt.3824:

For GS I like hydromancy and leech. The purpose is to pump damage, and that is an instant 2k damage from weapon swapping.

I normally do use that combo, but Impact benefits from 2 major skills.

This build is very similar to Cygnus’ Indestructible Hulk build, without the Runes of the Defender (unavailable in sPvP).

I think it’s only a straight upgrade from the old Skullcracker build if you run into a lot of hard CC to proc Rousing Resilience frequently. It’s always hard to drop Strength and surrender Forceful Greatsword and Berserker’s Power. But because CC is flying around so much now (Scrappers especially), it’s a pretty safe and solid choice over vanilla Skullcracker.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNApeRnMdAVhgdhAmkCElilqADpA0ACAvn2U7rVpHE7yBA-TVCCABXcCAGTJYM7PQlyv60HgxRAIjDBAAPAgIV/ZzgAwISA+//byzjUAmpMC-w

Im enjoying this build for its defense and runes combination. Tell me what yall think.
I can either use BR or EC.

Phizeke.9536:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNApeRnMdAVhgdhAmkCElilqADpA0ACAvn2U7rVpHE7yBA-TVCCABXcCAGTJYM7PQlyv60HgxRAIjDBAAPAgIV/ZzgAwISA+//byzjUAmpMC-w

Im enjoying this build for its defense and runes combination. Tell me what yall think.
I can either use BR or EC.

For WvW I would probably go EC. Also all Berserker might be a bit too squish. Maybe some Berserker + Valk pieces?

BurrTheKing.8571:

Phizeke.9536:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNApeRnMdAVhgdhAmkCElilqADpA0ACAvn2U7rVpHE7yBA-TVCCABXcCAGTJYM7PQlyv60HgxRAIjDBAAPAgIV/ZzgAwISA+//byzjUAmpMC-w

Im enjoying this build for its defense and runes combination. Tell me what yall think.
I can either use BR or EC.

For WvW I would probably go EC. Also all Berserker might be a bit too squish. Maybe some Berserker + Valk pieces?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNApeRnMdAVhgdhAmkCElilqATpHE7yBvn2U7rFpA0ACAA-TlCCABUp8bSVcA4BAkxhAoO9BjpEEjjAwFnAgIVPIm9HCAgAcz2sNvZghO0hO0hO0u5NH6NH6NLFgZKjA-w

This is half Berserker and Valk now.

Phizeke.9536:

BurrTheKing.8571:

Phizeke.9536:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNApeRnMdAVhgdhAmkCElilqADpA0ACAvn2U7rVpHE7yBA-TVCCABXcCAGTJYM7PQlyv60HgxRAIjDBAAPAgIV/ZzgAwISA+//byzjUAmpMC-w

Im enjoying this build for its defense and runes combination. Tell me what yall think.
I can either use BR or EC.

For WvW I would probably go EC. Also all Berserker might be a bit too squish. Maybe some Berserker + Valk pieces?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vJAQNApeRnMdAVhgdhAmkCElilqATpHE7yBvn2U7rFpA0ACAA-TlCCABUp8bSVcA4BAkxhAoO9BjpEEjjAwFnAgIVPIm9HCAgAcz2sNvZghO0hO0hO0u5NH6NH6NLFgZKjA-w

This is half Berserker and Valk now.

Seems like a decent stat spread. The whole point of the build is to outlast the enemies sustain so if you go too glassy even your traits won’t let you last long enough.