Guild Wars 2

A weapon set that has always sparked my interest has been the S/S + LB combination. And no, I am not talking about a cheesy, overpowered condition build for a warrior.

Despite this weapon set being mostly for condition builds, I believe that this weapon setup can work for power builds as well, while adding some conditions to compliment the burst damage. I haven’t really seen any discussion of this weapon setup as a power build. It has some very powerful power attacks such as Arcing Arrow, Fan of Fire, Final Thrust and Rip.

It is pretty much inspired by the GS + LB build that I use

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/warrior/?8.0|1.5c.h1l.0.0.0|3.5c.h1i.0.0.0|5g.7i.5g.7i.5g.7i.5g.7i.5g.7i.5g.7i.0.0.0.0.0.0|2v.d1a.2s.d13.3s.d19.2s.d19.3s.e16.2v.d1a|k39.0.u29c.0.k68|2e.7|5x.6f.6c.6i.0|e

It has very high burst damage, yet it has bleeds and burns to compliment overall DPS. This build I am presenting sort of takes that idea a step further, adding torment, more bleeds, burns, poison, vulnerability, etc. So you can call it somewhat of a hybrid build.

Anyways this is the build that I came up with.

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNAT8cjkOBvtQGPMRCE0DsoKEQThf4UgKUKsjNE-jUCBofCyEFQUHAkHwZmFRjtKqIasabYKXLqWFDQIgFLAA-w

My GS/LB build goes 20/0/30/0/20, but this one goes 10/10/30/0/20. I put the 10 into arms for extra bleeds on crit. I also got vulnerability on crit for extra damage and as a cover condition for bleeds/torment. I could go for deep cuts, but I feel that with condition food, lyssa runes and the condition duration from strength, +60% extra condi duration seems good enough.

I could go the original 20/0/30/0/20 for Building Momentum (this minor trait is really good for the LB and I would miss it highly). I would also get Distracting Strikes to add another condition (confusion), however with this set I would have no interrupts except if I went Bull’s Charge, which is on a 40 second cooldown. Or just get the 5% extra damage when wielding an offhand. This setup has more power, 10% longer condition duration and extra endurance regen. However, I do not get bleed on crits, a cover condition in vulnerability, less precision and less condition damage.

I could also go 20/10/20/0/20. However I would miss the power boost from Armored Attack and the DPS boost from Spiked Armor. As well as some toughness and healing power. But I can inflict the most amount of conditions possible while having Building Momentum.

Also I’m having a tough time deciding what sigils to use. I definitely want to use the sigil of doom on my longbow because poison helps reduce healing decently and it is a good cover condition.

However for the sword/shield there are many routes I can go. On the build that I have showed I put the sigil of geomancy and sigil of air. The sigil of geomancy adds extra burst/bleeds and the sigil of air obviously adds a nice little DPS kick. I could go sigil of earth instead of sigil of air. I’ve also been contemplating Sigil of Frailty for extra vulnerability on criticals. Instead of the geomancy sigil I could go hydromancy for chill (an extra burst/different condition). Also combos well with Flurry ---> Arcing Arrow. Or sigil of energy for more endurance.

Also, I go the condition duration food to compensate for the fact that I have low condition damage. But that isn’t the only reason. It makes my cover conditions last longer, but most importantly it makes my immobilize longer. LB immobilize is almost 5 seconds, sword immobilize is 6 seconds. Inflicting loads of conditions makes it hard to remove immobilize which leaves me room to burst the opponent. I have something like +60% extra condition duration.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated ... I am definitely going to make a video using this build. I think it has the potential for some pretty interesting combos but first I want to get right before I do so. It is something about having loads of conditions that scares people and makes them panic, even though this isn’t a condition build. But still just because of shear condi application it can’t be ignored. With signet of rage, and combustive shot/savage leap I can hopefully keep up 10+ stacks of might which can make the conditions very potent at the same time. It would definitely surprise some people. A combustive shot applying burns, bleeds and vulnerability while doing direct damage is kinda scary.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNAT8cjkOBvtQGPMRCAkCsqyU4nLDqmSfwOA-jECBofCyEBBmKAKzsIasVRFRjVbDT5aR1qYASBExyI-w

Your better off with these trait changes. Dont have time to write and essay. But 10% damage to bleeding foes is better than armored attack for this specific build. Also Retal sucks. And your build should always bleed targets. Also the sword trait gives 10% crit chance which is equal to like 210 precision is probably a better way to get more crit chance than maint oil cuz you can use sharpening stones instead to give you more power. Last there is not reason to have condition duration food with your build. your build is a pure power build use the power food. Also use the sigils I put in the weapons you thank me later for that it helps you do more damage than the other ones you had.

Agree with every word Warlord said, almost. I don’t get why put 10 point in arms? that extra vitally is not that good and you will get more strength by getting armored attack.
I see 3 good options for this setup:
Max damge 0/25/25/0/20 – u get 10% on build, +3% from every boon and precent from thoungenss.
More survivabilty – 0/25/30/0/15 with Defy Pain (will be much better then spiked)
Great endurance – 0/30/25/0/15 Furious is a great trait when u have this high crit chance, and the major plus about it is its more damage coz u burst more, but also more sustain coz you could cleanse more condi.
Edit: 4th option is taking ‘Last chance’ instead. It’s meh on cond build but for burst it will assure u land Final trust.

After said all that, I love s+s/LG its what i currently play, but on real hybrid (carrion amulet). I bet that you will very fast find out that you can’t apply enough burst damage with this set and thinking well if i apply so much cond why not invest in cond damage some more?
There was a very good thread here not long ago from 1 dude using this set with celestial gear, I suggest you look it up.

I think you messed up what you were saying and know why we put 25 in arms when using swords on power builds. Auto attack bleeds twice on the sword chain, making your attacks to that target do 10% more damage. It works with Pin down too as that adds 6 stacks of bleed then use combustive shot and see 10% increase. That and 25 = 250 Precision + sword trait for 210 Precision equivalent = 460 = 22 Crit chance + 10% damage. thats huge.

I personally do not use the Applied fortitude either but that is what OP was using so I just left it there. I kinda agree that he would be better putting 25 in arms 30 in defense and 15 in discipline since that’s exactly what I run and I know its good. Or 0/25/25/0/20 I run Sword N Shield N GS though with Hoelbrak runes and leek soup. So its not like this lyssa set up which works well but it isnt as good as my set up since I dont need to waste my clears on soft CC.

I think with swords and bows on power builds you can apply plenty of burst. Swords and Bows on Condi or hybrid builds don’t have burst though so even though these weapons are capable of doing condi damage just don’t your going to run into big problems vs players who condi clear spam and have high healing and sustain.

After testing a lot of things in WvW, this is the build that I came up with.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fIAQNAT8cjkOBvtQGPMxBE0DsoKEQjifYIUKsjNE-jUCBofCyEEwUHAkHQZmFRjtKqIasabYKXLqWFDQKA9UGB-w

I’ve tried many variations, even the ones that have been suggested here but I can’t help but always going back to 20/0/30/0/20 because it truly provides the most DPS.

+200 Power from the strength tree, 5% more damage while wielding offhand, armored attack and destruction of the empowered make it very potent.

The extra bleeds on crit and vulnerability simply wasn’t worth it as in most fights it wouldn’t stack very high.

However one trait makes all the difference in the world and that is burst skills restoring endurance. It is an excellent roaming trait, capable of mitigating lots of damage in the long run, escaping and even more DPS with damage on dodge rolls.

I ditched the condition food, power and precision was simply more effective with this build. +30% condition duration is already enough as most of the warrior condition last long as it is and any more is just diminishing returns.

I still like my doom sigil on my longbow, poison is excellent for reducing healing as well as being a cover condition. Sigil of bloodlust for extra power and the sigil of geomancy is really nice for the combo I like to do.

A great combo that I like to do is

Pindown -> Arcing Arrow ---> Swap (sigil of geomancy) ----> Final Thrust

This combo alone on average does around 12K plus 9 stacks of bleed, of course depending on factors such as whether the opponent is below 50 when I use Final Thrust.

Retaliation, I have to disagree with it sucking. Especially with this build, I actually reach 410 damage ticks. For some reason, thieves love to use whirling axes against me and I just watch them instantly destroy themselves without doing anything if I have retaliation. Guardians also completely melt themselves if I stand in their symbol while they do whirling blades. Rangers with shortbows are also very susceptible to retaliation’s damage output. It is just a great source of passive damage that is hard to pass up, especially against classes such as mesmers whom are very hard to pressure.

“Retaliation, I have to disagree with it sucking” – lol great word phrase