Ok fellow warriors, I have a new challenge for us to work on. While I still enjoy using my Mace/Shield + GS build, I find it lacking in TPvP because it honestly isn’t the best “team player.” TPvP in its current state isn’t about dealing with a single target, it’s about affecting as many people as possible. Hammer’s got significantly buffed but also got shipped out with that annoying little Staggering Blow bug. This bug has been fixed but because it was there in the first place even after it was fixed and because Mace has been in the spotlight it hasn’t been discussed as much.
What Hammer brings over mace of course is AoE CC in the form of Earthshaker and Staggering Blow. Using these skills together can push someone trying to deny a capture off the point long enough for it to finish. This is MUCH more useful than what a Mace tends to do because typically chain stunning someone on the capture point is actually a hindrance.
For me a Hammer build needs 3 things, the Merciless Hammer trait, a way to frequently use Earthshaker, and the ability to sustain themselves in a team fight. So here’s 2 builds I’ve been working on:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNAS8ejkOpwBPGP4wBE0DNsK4iTBlQ9YOsj4A-TsAA1CnICSFkLITQygsBNQYRwWEA
So first of all yes, it’s basically very similar to my Skull Cracker build. The weapons and their sigils are obviously different but other than that I just took 20 points from Arms and put it in Defense. It seems like when it comes to Hammer It’s hard to not have 30 in Defense because you of course want Cleansing Ire but without the Hammer Trait the cooldowns are very lengthy. With mace you never really need the trait but with Hammer if you don’t have it that’s the difference between a 25 second Backbreaker and a 30 second one. I didn’t take Mel runes because I felt that my toughness was high enough as is. I didn’t feel like I was using Hoelbraks Might effects as well as I could though so I added in a Sigil of Battle. I tried Hydromancy as well and it’s also a viable choice because it helps to land Shield Bash/Final Thrust. Speaking of Final Thrust I would suggest focusing on using it when your target is Stunned because it can land 4-6k hits on low HP foes when it crits.
I didn’t use Mace because I feel that using with Hammer not only lowers your mobility but if your target has a lot of stability the Mace 1 chain is very slow. Sword at least gives you some non-CC related damage and Flurry can be used to restrict movement that isn’t Stun based. You can also use Earthshaker as a leap if you switch before you land.
My second build is something I really want to work but am having trouble making the traits work:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNAS8ejgOVvNPyQ4QCEkCNkLOFUCli5AOSKED0A-TsAA1CnIySllLLTWyssZNQYRw2DA
Fear Me is a fantastic skills for clearing a point, but in order to use it frequently means investing 20 points into tactics. Now you also get Leg Specialist which even after the nerf is still a good trait for both Hammer Shock and Hamstring. That 20 points though is a pretty hefty investment. I really don’t like the idea of losing Unsuspecting Foe because that’s where most of your DPS actually comes from. Hitting a Backbreaker or Final Thrust on a Stunned foe hits hard. This means only 20 points in Defense however which means losing Cleansing Ire. I try to make up for this with Soldiers Runes but with Fear Me being a 48 second CD it basically means your sources for Condi removal are Shake it Off and Mending. However, Mending is probably our weakest heal now even with its low CD but without it a Condi build can roll you.
I really want this build to work, Fear Me can be a giant help in taking a point. You can fear them out, immobilize then with Hammer Shock, then when they try to get back in you can Earthshaker/Staggering Blow. If you have good reaction time you can also use Shake it Off to remove Blind mid Earthshaker/Backbreaker which is awesome.
This would be the variant:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNAS8ejcOVvNPyQ4wBE0DNsK4Cli5AOSKED0A-TsAA1CnIySllLLTWyssZNQYRw2DA
It be fine except for its lower damage output. To use this you’ll need to build around having it on your team. So, this is the build I want to improve if at all possible. The first build has been working really well for me, Hammer is a lot more challenging to use but has a much bigger pay off.
Alright! Start discussing these builds and your own!
Old Man Burr (War), Bad Hat Ben (Engi), Manly Manny Manson (Guard)