Guild Wars 2

Hello everyone! I’m looking for a power based build in WvW zergs and the occasional Dungeon. My only requirement is using GS + SB or lb. I don’t care which, I just really enjoy the aesthetics of our bows.
Would I be better off using a bunker-ish build or a glass cannon 1500 range LB build?
For gear, I have a set of Cleric’s gear, would this be useful in a power bunker build? Or are they just not as effective as the Apothecary Builds? If not, would soldiers gear work?
I’m not sure how to distribute traits either. I assume 30 points in Marksmanship is a must. I’m not sure where to allocate my remaining points however. I really like both the Survival and Skirmishing trait lines.

Thanks for your advice everyone!

Cool! One last question: will it be account or soul bound?

Where can I play “Mad King Says?” I’ve been asking in Lions Arch and in Guild chat. I’ve only beet met with since.

That’s a bummer, having to burn an elite.

Hello! My Necro is almost level 80 and I want to run Arah with her I’m just worried about Lupi.
How do necros deal with Lupi in the third phase and his bubble? Can you do it without going 30 points in the last trait line?

I would argue the Warrior’s shield is more appealing aesthetically. I only say this because they use their shield in a more traditional sense (they actually
Block and shield bash).

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

I’ve only been having an issue with the condition mesmers that cloak every 3 seconds via deceptive evasion and constant vigor. that just overwhelm me with staff clones. They don’t kill me, but I can’t kill them either.

Broad statements like this is why Mesmers are misunderstood.
Deceptive evasion only creates a clone on dodge. Is does NOT stealth you. You even see the real Mesmer roll away! We have a maximum of 4 stealths available to us: torch 4, Mass Invisibility, Veil, and Decoy. Decoy is by far the strongest of these, because it allows us to stealth while we have the “revealed” debuff (still waiting for that to get fixed).

The BlackWater Builds Focus on throwing as many clones out as possible for you to kill them, getting harmful conditions when they die. Stealth compliments this because unskilled players will kill the clones, which makes the build even stronger.

From what I can tell (I haven’t played it), this new roaming stealth phantasm build simply has the Mesmer staying stealthed as long as possible to let phantasms (not clones) do their damage.

Deleted the part about vigor! I was thinking of the major trait that gives vigor on shatters. My bad!

They’re an extremely young race, I know, but does anyone know how long their natural life span is? This made me think after seeing Riannoc be the first Sylvari to die. It looks like to me that they won’t ever die by natural causes, so long as they don’t get killed in combat, or get attacked by a swarm of locusts.

I use alt+1,2, and 3. Just because the way may hand sit on the keyboard, my thumb rests right over it and the space bar. I use shift for my heal(It’s just enough out of the way so I don’t accidentally hit it, but easier to hit than 6). The only annoything thing is using my heal skill sometimes instead of talking in the channel, which has yet to happen while in combat.

I actually prefer the wind catcher. To me, it looks like souls fluttering around you.

I use my mouse to move, with my 2 mouse buttons logged on to my f1-4 (for f3&4, it’s just alt+mouse button 1&2). I use shift for my 6 skill and my utilities are alt+1-3

No, the Warrior profession gives things like Might (More Damage) and Fury (More Critical hits). Guardian gives Protection (you take less damage), Stability (You can’t be stunned), and Retaliation (Everytime they hit you, they get hurt).
Another class you could look into could be Engineer. You might like them because they can do a little bit of everything.

For you, I would recommend guardian. They are one of the tankiest professions we have right now.
Think of them as defense oriented Warriors!
Warriors specialize in offensive buffs and Guardians specialize in Defensive Buffs.
Guards also do a surprising amount of damage.

Have you played a thief? I have, and I am certainly not a good enough player to use the class effectively. Even when fighting them you should be able to recognize how easily they go down.

I saw that, but I’m not looking for builds, I’m just looking for a guide for someone starting at page one. One that lays down the specifics of each weapon with commonly used tricks (like leaping through smoke fields). A section addressing utility and elite skills. And a section addressing each trait line and potential synergies.
Similar to the ones in the Mesmer, Elementalist, Engineer, guardian, Warrior and Ranger forums.

Are there any basic thief guides here that simply layout weapons, traits, utilities and fun tips and tricks? I’d like to roll a thief but It seems pretty overwhelming.

I’d like to see a balance patch that addressed the unused utility skills for each profession. Every profession has an entire TYPE of skill they don’t use, with the exception of 1, usually.
For example:
Mesmer: Signets
Necromancer: Signets (Locust is the exception)
Guardian: Spirit Weapons
Engineer: Gadgets (Rocket Boots are the exception)
Elementalist: Glyphs
Warrior: Physical(?) (The category under Stomp and Bullrush)
Ranger: Shouts
Thief: Venoms

While recent patches have buffed singular skills in each category (torment on basilisk venom and rocket boots change), I would like to see buffs to the categories as a whole.

I could be wrong about some of the skills, as I do not play several classes. These are just trends that I have observed while browsing the class forums.

Anet’s goal seems to be build diversity and this would be a big step towards that.
For example, as of right now the most commonly used Mesmer utilities are Feedback, Decoy, and Blink. For Elementalists, it seems to be cantrips.

I would love to have more options for utilities. Right now, it just feels like there are utilities you are required to have and all the others are for niche circumstances and builds.

colesy.8490:

The problem is when you do group content using a bad weapon on purpose.

If anyone said they were part of a WvW guild and booted some guy for using a junk spec in a raid/gvg, nobody would bat an eyelid. If some guy in a PvP team said they booted a guy from their team for wanting to use a junk spec, nobody would bat an eyelid.

For some reason, the bads think it’s fine to run lousy specs in PvE group content just because … well I don’t even know why. It’s selfish and you’re wasting not only your own, but other peoples’ time.

Picking a “bad” weapon doesn’t equate to using a bad build. Greatsword is good for lots of things! It’s our best Aoe Weapon and it’s our only viable ranged offensive weapon for power builds. Greatswords are also effective in shatter builds.

On topic: If I were to make a legendary for my Mesmer, I’d go with Bifrost. It can find a home in every build, and in both PvE and PvP

I don’t understand why people hate on us Greatsword users. I use it because I enjoy the weapon! It has my favorite phantasm, and I like the animations with it. I also don’t like having a sword on 2 weapon sets. I like my cool downs to be refreshed upon swapping.

Sorry to derail this thread, but Luper, can you expand on that? For example, can I use sigils or purity and energy on a weapon set?

I think I realized my problem. I was accepting people ranging from 32-80, getting mostly people 32-45. I just realized last night the Explorable is listed as level 35. :/

Also! New question about protecting Hodgins from the Gravelings. What is the reason for leaving the center burrow for last?

Yes, Staff definitely has a place in all builds. It is by far my favorite weapon on the class(And probably the game). I LOVE Chaos storm and iWarlock.
I’m pretty biased towards anything defensive though!

Movement speed caps out at +25%, with the exception of swiftness, which is 33%. And Swiftness also doesn’t stack with other movement speed buffs.

Thanks for the reply! I guess I’ll go with Condition Damage Runes instead. You make a strong point about having tons of boons from the build anyway.

No, I won’t go near the perplexities. I’m running a typical Blackwater build, which a few tweaks of my own. Staff and Scepter/torch. The boon duration would be really nice for Retaliation, aegis, protection, and regeneration though.

I’m not sure how much my damage would suffer from going with boon duration though. The 2 major water runes are just temporary, until I can afford 2 runes of the traveler. :P

Condition damage or Boon Duration Runes for PU builds?

I love the idea of spamming clones and literally confusing human opponents with stealth, but I’m not sure if I should focus on boon duration( 2 major and 2 superior runes of water+ 2 superior Runes of the Monk) or condition damage runes(Undead). Thoughts?
I would like the build to be bunker-ish, so I’m leaning towards boon duration. However, all I see are people using condition damage runes.

We skip Kholer, The boss I was having trouble with was the Spider queen.

I’ve been through 6 groups today of trying to kill the Spider queen in AC. The speed run group(first group) I was with, went flawlessly. After that, the groups couldn’t even get her down to 50%. What is going wrong here?
We’re stacking as tightly as we can get, she just wipes everyone out in a few hits.

Also, why don’t people fight her around the statue like everyone used to fight her?

I’m really frustrated with this because I’ve wasted my entire Sunday with this Dungeon. Any advice you guys can give would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for the link! I was getting tired of the Artillery Story.

I’ve had to do the “mortar the risen platoon” on my Mesmer(vigil) and Ranger(Whispers), but now I’m having to track down an orb from the krait on my Necromancer(Priory). What decides which mission you have after the Pact is formed?
Also, are there any more variants? I’d like to avoid repeating stuff I’ve already seen.
Thanks!

You have the best condition MANIPULATION in the game. We have 3 condition transfers (staff 4, dagger 4, and plague signet). Corrupt boon will throw a wrench at any guardian or Blackwater Mesmer. Consume Conditions is one of the best heals in the game!
Focus 5 strips 3 boons, it doesn’t just chill!

You’re also comparing apples to oranges. Support is a guardians thing. Our “thing” is conditions and AoE pressure.

My prediction is that they’ll move it to the grandmaster tier.

They also have up to 3 condition transfers (that use their condition duration/damage). They are the master of condition manipulation.

Depends on which build they use. Necros have a lot of advantages against conditions builds, because the heal the will be using heals them for every condition on them, after clearing them. The class itself excels in condition manipulation.

Minion Master: Kill the blood fiend, perma kite the others and burn down the necro (The necro can’t remove conditions from their minions at the moment!).

If they are Condition spec I’m not really sure. I haven’t played my Necro Condition spec enough to tell you its weaknesses

Powermancer: This is a tough build because they use DS to its full extent. However, they’re usually very squishy(with a large health pool) from using a lot of zerker gear. be ready to clear cripples and roots. They will root you or cripple you, drop a well down and watch you melt. You need to get out of the wells are quickly as possible.

Your post gives me a lot of hope! Will I have to use a hammer? I do recognize it’s strengths with CC, I just don’t like using the “Blunt” weapons in video games. I never have. I can handle the warrior mace skills. I think they’re interesting! Hammer on the other hand, it just doesn’t interest me at all. It feels clunky and unresponsive.

So, is there any real point to taking healing shouts over banners at all? I do know that only 1 banner will work per group. And I’d really like to offer some support to my group(Whether it is offensive or defensive).

Thanks! That answered my question!

Hello all! I see that for Shout-Healing builds, majority of people seem to use PTV gear. Why don’t people use Cleric’s to boost the healing power since Warriors already have the highest Health pool in the game?

Your elite looks exactly like the Bounty Hunter Death From Above from SWOTR.

Your elite looks exactly like this:

I use a similar build inPvE for levelling. While I really enjoy this build (Especially since it becomes stronger with more mobs around), it isn’t viable in dungeons or PvP. There is simply too much burst in those aspects of the game for this build to be on par with the others. The October 15 patch may fix this, because they clams they are revamping the blood magic trait line. I for one am anxiously waiting to be able to play a “vampiric necro”.

I know you don’t like using long CD skills (I’m the same way), so don’t use them. Keep them in reserve and treat them like an “Uh-oh” button. Lich and Plague form are best used at full health, so if you see a wall of enemies coming, pop it and wreck them.

Generally, I pop Lich form as soon as I see a Veteran. That cool down is only 3 minutes. And well of darkness I pop if I’m rooted with 2+ mobs attacking me. Just set up some rules and situations in where you’re willing to use your cool downs. This isn’t LOTRO where your “Uh-oh” skills are on 5-15 minute Cooldowns.

I would recommend that you swap out your blood fiend with Consume Conditions. It’s arguably our best heal because it clears 100% of our conditions. You could also try using well of darkness instead of the signet when you encounter and area with a lot of Veterans. Also, start saving up for your other 3 elites. Because Lich Form is incredible. Plague is also my go-to underwater Elite. It’s 20 seconds of blind and poison while giving your toughness and Vitality a huge buff.

As for Deathshroud, it took me a while to figure out how to use it effectively. Try running a DS build once you hit level 60. That will really reinforce how useful it is. But, for you, I would recommend using 5 first. This adds a nice 3 stack torment on five enemies, more importantly, it will damage and immobilize all of them at the end of the duration. Follow this up with DS 4, because you don’t even have to be facing the enemy while this skill is draining them. If you get CC’d, pop into DS while on the ground and use the 3 skill. The fear can e activated anytime, even while your casting something else!

Thank you everyone! I’ve really been wondering this for a while now!

Something I’ve been wondering is how the caster professions are sorted out, lore-wise. Can a magic profession be learned? Does your character wake up one day and say, “I’m going to be a Mesmer for the rest of my life!”? Or are people born with their abilities?

That’s something that I’ve never thought of doing! That sounds interesting.
I changed the topic to shatter build, because I want to play a build that would confuse people, and I didn’t think a phantasm build could do that. I appreciate your build idea, and the advice!!
Also, no worries! You didn’t Mispost, I changed the topic. Haha.

Hello everyone! Really, I just need gear advice on a Shatter build. I’ve been trying to get involved in roaming in WvW, but it’s extremely unfriendly to noobs out there. I have a hodge-podge of gear at the moment with mostly Berseker that’s only from CoF, and terrible dungeon dropped trinkets. I don’t know what to go for.

My recent experience was getting killed in 2 shots by a zerker thief (No surprise there he was with 2 others too). Then, I tried to do a 1v1 with a warrior and got blind sided by an Ele and got killed before I could recover from the knockdown. I’m trying really hard to enjoy this game’s PvP, but it’s extremely difficult.

TL:DR : I’m super squishy, What gear can I use to survive more than 3 hits and not hit like a wet noodle.

I’m also using greatsword and sword/x. I can’t decide on pistol, sword, or torch (Stealth to make them lose target and condi removal).

I’m trying out the same thing! Trying to get the Cleric’s gear together now. What I’m having trouble with, is finding vitality on my trinkets, because I don’t have the Laurels to buy all ascended soldiers trinkets.

I thought about having stealth centered around it. Just for the target breaks. But, I don’t think it will work. :/ Any way’s here is what I’m currently working towards. It’s just those dang+Vitality trinkets.
http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fMQQJATRjAVB2VW+Vs2Bgli96rzITL5MMkxL24kJ-jUyAYrARggoCApPhwEo0axtIasKGM1JRUt/oIa1CBMaMA-w

Edit: Shaman’s could be used to supplement that vitality too. It’s cheaper than the Azurite stuff.

Thank you for the replies! It’s good to know that this is a similar problem for everyone. Simply jumping into games is what I have been doing, which also explains a lot. Luckily, condition manipulation isn’t a problem with my Necromancer. Stun breakers, however are. I’ll have to add some more.
As for builds, I’m using a power based build, because I wanted to stay away from the terror/burning build everyone complains about. The numbers aren’t quite as high as I was hoping they’d be, so I’ll need to do more research.

Also, how can I get new armor and weapon skins in PvP?

I’ve been playing since launch, but I’ve never really bothered with PvP (I played 4 games at the VERY beginning). I just tried a few games again and, oh, wow. It left me extremely dis-heartened.

First off, How do you get more PvP skins? I see a lot of people in cool looking armor, and I’m stuck with lame looking newby armor.

Is there anywhere I can fight people more my level? I don’t consider myself a “bad” player in PvE, but last night, everyone was steamrolling me and stun-locking me to death. I have a build I like, it’s got a decent amount of toughness and vit, balanced with more power and Prec.

Also, how do you deal with being zerged? I specifically left WvW because I hardly ever get to fight people solo, before being overwhelmed by a group. I came to PvP hoping it would be different, and to find to see how I really stood up to other players, with no luck. It’s still a 4 man blitzkrieg through everything. I would really like to do a few 1v1’s against real professions, just to see where I am. Everyone I was against tonight seemed much more skill than me, and had a lot of different armor skins. To me, that indicated they all have a lot of time invested in this.

I just want to fight others in my bunny league in a small group setting or even some 1v1.