Guild Wars 2

So after watching the livestream preview, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Axe Mastery trait is useless as it can’t compete with Berserker’s Power. Also note that all other weapon specific traits are Master and only Axe Mastery is Grandmaster.

Most of the Master traits of Arms for crit builds are pretty useless. The 50% increase of crit chance agaisnt stunned foes(Unsuspecting Foe) is super situational and compared to the other master traits of that line(even though they are condi based) is very weak.

So my suggestion is moving Axe Mastery from Strength to Arms and replace Unsuspecting Foe with it. Doing so will give us more options and will actually let us choose between condi builds(and condi based weapons) to crit builds(and crit based weapons) seeing that some of the minor and Grandmaster traits of Arms are crit based.
Also, Dual Wielding grandmster trait is mostly reserved for Condi builds only compared to the Furious trait(even though furious is hybrid with its condi dmg increase). BUT moving Axe Mastery from grandmaster strength to master arms will make Dual Wiedling more of a hybrid choice as it can be good for both crit AND condi builds.

Another option is replacing Deep Strikes(fury gives increased condi dmg) since having more crit chance gives mroe condi dmg? Not very build defining if you ask me.

I think it’s an interesting idea, especially in regards to the synergy with Dual Wielding. My preference would go to Deep Strike, since Unsuspecting Foe could eventually be made useful for the class (mace and hammer builds).

However, I think that your suggestion has a problem, in that you wouldn’t be able to optimize builds for both swords and axes, since Axe Mastery and Blade Master would compete in the same tier. Also, if you remove a GM trait for Strength, any idea for a substitute?

Elegie.3620:

I think it’s an interesting idea, especially in regards to the synergy with Dual Wielding. My preference would go to Deep Strike, since Unsuspecting Foe could eventually be made useful for the class (mace and hammer builds).

However, I think that your suggestion has a problem, in that you wouldn’t be able to optimize builds for both swords and axes, since Axe Mastery and Blade Master would compete in the same tier. Also, if you remove a GM trait for Strength, any idea for a substitute?

Regarding the problems that arise from my suggestion i seriously have no idea about a GM that could replace Axe Mastery in strength. Maybe put Deep Strikes in Strength and increase its condi dmg bonus? that way there will be more build options with strength line(seeing that Distracting Strike trait is also condi based). Regarding the choice between sword traits and axes traits, take note that Swords are more condi based while Axes are crit based which makes it more of a choice between which type of dmg you want to do.

Mor The Thief.9135:

Regarding the choice between sword traits and axes traits, take note that Swords are more condi based while Axes are crit based which makes it more of a choice between which type of dmg you want to do.

I’ve seen this argument before, I’m afraid it’s heavily biased towards PvE. In Player vs. Player modes, main hand sword is actually quite interesting in power builds, not as much for its damage (although Final Thrust hits hard) as for its superb utility (cripple, immobilize, mobility, leap finisher). Blade Master makes sense in both these damage/utility perspectives.

It’s probably more usable in WvW (zerg, roaming) than in PvP, but this is because the warrior is pretty much locked into shoutbow for serious PvP games. I personally like to stray from shoutbow here and there, and sometimes run a berserker warrior, often with main-hand sword – and make a very good use of all 4 skills in my rotations.

Yesterday, comboed to “one-shot” an unsuspecting necro trying to contest my close (Berserker stance, Shield #4, Mace F1, Axe #5 (12k+), Sword #2 to close and cripple the fleeing foe, Sword #3 (8k+) to down), and tagged along a thief, taking advantage of its Pistol #5 to get stealthed.

Elegie.3620

I’ve seen this argument before, I’m afraid it’s heavily biased towards PvE. In Player vs. Player modes, main hand sword is actually quite interesting in power builds, not as much for its damage (although Final Thrust hits hard) as for its superb utility (cripple, immobilize, mobility, leap finisher). Blade Master makes sense in both these damage/utility perspectives.

It’s probably more usable in WvW (zerg, roaming) than in PvP, but this is because the warrior is pretty much locked into shoutbow for serious PvP games. I personally like to stray from shoutbow here and there, and sometimes run a berserker warrior, often with main-hand sword – and make a very good use of all 4 skills in my rotations.

Yesterday, comboed to “one-shot” an unsuspecting necro trying to contest my close (Berserker stance, Shield #4, Mace F1, Axe #5 (12k+), Sword #2 to close and cripple the fleeing foe, Sword #3 (8k+) to down), and tagged along a thief, taking advantage of its Pistol #5 to get stealthed.

I didn’t say that Swords can’t be crit i only said that they are mroe condi based then crit(every weapon can be crit or condi depending on setup, only difference is how good it can be)

The chance of using both axes and swords in a build is relatively small so you can pick either sword or axe trait. If using both jsut take the trait that your main weapon is for.

Also I didnt suggest for Axe mastery to replace Blademaster but replace one of the other 2.

Axe Mastery definitely needs to get moved out of Strength Grandmaster. It will be a dead trait there.

One option would be to revert it back to Strength Master level, replacing either Body Blow or Great Fortitude. Another option would be to move it to Arms master, possibly replacing Unsuspecting Foe.

In either case, I’m not sure what should be added as the new Strength Grandmaster to replace it, but whatever trait gets put there is going to have to be good enough to compete with Berserker’s Power, or be a niche type trait that is found in builds that wouldn’t use BP.

I have to agree the Axe Mastery trait needs moved out of the Strength GM line. This skill would be more appropriately placed in a master tier in Strength, Arms or Discipline. Let’s hope it doesn’t take ANET 6-12 months to realize the problem this creates for Axe builds. Unless they are trying to encourage more players to use Greatsword.

For discipline with the current traits I believe axe mastery doesn’t fit there as much as it can in arms or strength.

After reading some of the suggestions posted here i think moving Deep Strikes(the new one which gives condi dmg on fury) moved to Strength GM and increase the amount of condi dmg it gives(500 maybe?) and move the Axe Mastery trait to Arms master instead of Deep Strikes is a nice idea. Strength will have a bit more options for condi builds(BP is useless for condi builds and distracting strike is very situational as well) while giving players a choice of making arms a condi or crit specialization.