Guild Wars 2

FGS for mobility is really useful and it has decent area control once you get to where you’re going.

I just started using Tornado with Lightning Rod and it’s fun which is all the usefulness I need.

But I think, for what they are used for compared to other elites, they could at the very least use shorter CDs.

Down with passive healing altogether I say. >:O

Neko.9021:

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-k3c;2B2-Y0A5-N-Z0;9;69TT;44;049A17ASs0;3H7W3H7W30JQ

If I had to guess.

Neko.9021:

This is what I’d run with Dagger/Focus:

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-k3c;2B2-Y0A5-N-Z0;9;69TT;44;049A17ASs0;3H7W3H7W30JQ

Thanks Neko! One question, what made you choose LS over say Arcane Shield, Mist Form, or AoE?

Right now I’m running 0/6/0/4/4 with it and I have to say it’s a pretty fun build, albeit somewhat fragile as I’m using zerker amulet. It can hit like a truck, brings some team support, and has a good range of CC. The only drawback is I can’t survive any kind of 1v2.

LoS seems really odd with Magnetic Grasp. I’ve been in situations where it will follow a slope down and still hit its intended target but have also been in situations where I’m right next to some one and get an obstructed or miss message for no obvious reason what so ever.

I didn’t think anything of it until I saw this post. Had no idea it was an actual issue;I thought I was just going crazy.

I’ve been trying a different variety of builds over the past couple weeks. I’ve found that I enjoy the dagger focus weapon set over the others but I haven’t settled into a build yet.

I’ve dabbled with lightning rod, auras, condies, and pure power; I think the lightning rod build is the most fun, especially when combined with Tornado in team fights or trying to save a downed ally BUT it seems to be missing something that I can’t quite place my finger on. Most of the builds I make do, in fact.

I’m trying not to go into s/d for condi but if it comes to that I will I suppose. I just really want to make a viable versatile d/f build before changing weapon sets. I’ve put a lot of time into that weapon set and it’s the most fun to use to me. So I’m going to give it a little more time.

On topic of the post, though, I’ve come a long way in fighting medi guards now thanks to all of your posts. So thanks for that, you all are awesome.

Fuzzion.2504:

They will make you a build that beats anything out there for a price(when i mean price i mean 200 to 500 gold)

Holy crap.

I wasn’t even aware that was a thing. I’m not sure that would even be an option for me but that’s something I wasn’t aware of. O_o

tanztante.6532:

i support you!

#riotagainstskyhammer!!!

I as well!

In fact, if I ever play on that map again (as I don’t often solo q) I may do the same thing! Suicide pact until this god awful map is removed from the game!

Fuzzion.2504:

Its not a hybrid build but it is indeed very unique.

Hybrid builds are usually 02066 or 00266 with celestial all round and lemongrass with hoelbrak runes and a pair of daggers. 02246 with cantrips and a hybrid build is alot of fun

Edit

Found a hybrid build. This is the usual hybrid DnD ele

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fFAQJAoYhcM6c23wwBf0AdAB5xqvRBlzbjB-T1BEABS8AA0S5Xf6BA4EAIoSQMV/Jm9HCAgA4n/8n/8n/sf7bf7bf7byAwMGA-w

The 02246 is actually what I’ve discovered recently with d/f and it feels very versatile and fun to play. I haven’t decided on an amulet yet, but strength runes and battle/doom sigils work for it.

I’m trying to stay away from using Celestial amulet with this one if at all possible. Right now I’m using Carrion. I’m putting up a way better fight against guardians with all those extra heals from water and EA. My only concern now are those HgH engi’s; those guys still hit like trucks and with all the condi removal I am packing it doesn’t seem to matter in some fights.

Again, my issues are boiling down to L2P issues now I think, thanks to all the awesome replies this thread has gotten.

keenlam.4753:

hi Chesire, if u dont mind running a hybrid build instead of burst build.
Try this and see those guardians melt to your fiery power: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fFAQJAodhMMqb23wmBd0AdABxwzhBNlTbjB-TJRGwAAOBAJeAAh2fYZZAA

This is not a meta build so maybe something you might be interested in trying.
This build has adequate defense against CC and conditions.
Cheers.

Thanks mate! Looks interesting.

I was actually trying to get a hybrid build to work and I think I’ve found what I’m looking for but if it doesn’t satisfy my needs I’ll definitely give yours a shot as well. Really appreciate it.

Benjamin.8237:

Medi guards can be kited really easily. I main S/F and I don’t know anything about D/D so I can’t help you there, but as long as you chill them frequently and use your blinds they aren’t too hard to beat. With Valk gear they can very easily be beaten and in berserker you just need to be more careful. Water 4,5 Air 3 and 5 are your best friends when fighting Med guards. If you play well you should be able to mitigate their damage, you’re only likely to have a hard time if they try really hard to win and LOS you while they heal up.

Thanks for the tips.

I’m actually not a huge fan of Scepter, but focus is definitely a favorite. I’m thinking I may actually have a pretty good setup now that I’m not focusing entirely into offensive trees.

I need to test against a couple other classes first, though, such as s/d thieves. So far I seem to be holding my own with it and can even survive a 1v2 for quite some time depending on the class. But if one of them is a terrormancer or something with equal amounts of CC there’s not much I can do.

Neko.9021:

A build with 4 fire AND 6 Air AND 4 earth. That’s your problem.

You’ll need a lot more in defensive trees (Arcana+Water) to be viable in PvP.

Valuable input for sure. You guys are awesome.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Back to the drawing board. I’m really wanting to stick to a d/f build but if I can’t find something viable with it in the next couple of days then I’ll just hop on the meta train and wait for the next patch day to see if anything else becomes viable.

It isn’t really that I don’t dodge. I am just not sure WHAT to dodge other than Whirling Blade.

It seems like I just bash my face against them most of the time only to watch their health refill instantly and mine drop to 10% or so; it’s a bit frustrating. I’m also trying to fix my build to where I can dodge a bit more.

But yes, sound advice nonetheless! :P

Wyrden.4713:

medi guard counters 90% of every glassy build/proffession

its like thief vs mesmer

u can still beat them if u dodge their main atks tho, and burst em down , most guards open with focus 5, switch to gs, (if gs / x /f ) , use gs2, teleport to u w their utility, and instakill u if u dont dodge that, focus 5 does pretty much dmg, so make sure u dodge that (it explodes in 2-4 s, u can check their effects to see coutdown)

I think that is a lot of my problem. Not dodging those key abilities.

I’ll have to practice some more I think. Thank you.

Gokil.2543:

In that case, what do you play?

But yeah, medi guard is the apex predator among glassy builds. D/D dominates it.

I was playing around with an Aura build. I actually really enjoy the build, I just can’t seem to beat s/d Thieves, Medi Guards, or certain hammer warrior builds with it. It does seem pretty glassy though. I thought the protection added from the aura’s would mitigate a lot of damage but those classes seem to drop my health to zero in basically one rotation.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fFAQJAodhMMKb23wxBd0ACASwANG2Lo4NpCB-TJRGwAAOBAMLDQ4BAga/BA

That’s currently what I’m playing with. I can say it rolls the floor with the new power ranger LB crap you see and that’s definitely satisfying.

I find myself having less trouble with Rangers and more trouble with Hambow Warriors and Medi Guards currently on my Ele.

Of course I’m not running the meta cele build so that’s mostly my problem I think.

Lettuce.2945:

Um, the standard d/d ele meta is a direct counter to medi guards. Especially if you run doom sigil. Not sure why you are struggling :/. Just basically pay attention to their rotations based on weapon sets. Honestly, not really complicated.

Was actually hoping it wouldn’t come to rolling with the meta build but I suppose that’s why it’s meta.

Thanks for the input as always Lettuce. ._.

How are you guys beating them? I have only done it a couple times myself but it’s usually a faceroll in their favor. I know I’m not dodging enough of their GS attacks, especially the big huge jumping leap that can be seen from across the map. But aside from that, what strategies do you guys employ?

Also, which builds are you all using with notable success?

Anyone else have a time when you finish channeling one of the buffs on this map and then go to walk away only to realize that you didn’t actually acquire it? Two or three times this has happened over the course of the day (as well as yesterday) so I’m thinking it’s just lag spikes but I just wanted to see if anyone else was noticing it as well.

I love the signet. Would run it myself if I didn’t need the condi cleanse from ER :/

I don’t see any harm in having both 8v8 and 5v5 hot join servers.

I’d like to see the spectator/autobalance exploiting fixed first though as it’s really dragging down what fun can be had in hot join to begin with.

I don’t mind Spirit Watch. I’d rather play that map ten times as to play one Skyhammer.

The sad thing is if you hit “Play Now” in hot join you will get Skyhammer 3 out of 5 times as well. Only the hot join trolls like playing on it and even then it’s most them playing each other as most everyone else just finds a different server when it comes up.

At least that’s what I see; I obviously don’t speak for everyone in hot join.

I’ve been hesitant to change out BA for anything else.

Are might stacks going to be more beneficial than the blind?

Update: The might stacks are only noticeable with my build if I use something like Fire Runes. They synergize well with the build but taking away Traveler runes loses a ton of mobility. Starting to think maybe 6 in Fire isn’t even worth it right now.

GoogleBrandon.5073:

Nothing wrong with teams I figured, but if you need to be this stressed to become good, then I’d rather stay a “casual with funky ideas” then…

My thoughts exactly.

GoogleBrandon.5073:

Am I the only one who thinks this is painful to watch?

Or is this like a thing with higher ranked PvP?

This actually turns me completely off to even thinking about being on any kind of “team” for PvP; at least on a serious competitive level. If that’s what you mean by painful, then yes it is very painful.

I’d rather be a hot join hero or deal with YoloQ issues.

I feel like you have a wet noodle as a weapon.

It’s definitely an interesting idea.

It’s a shame that A-net hasn’t put much effort into coming up with these options themselves. Working too much on Living Story I suppose.

I would almost rather the PvP team stop working on crap maps like Skyhammer and put more effort into fixing what’s been broken for two years.

I think the best damage output build would be the Fresh Air build if that’s all you’re wanting. I’m pretty sure it’s complete and utter glass though.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/elementalist/I-made-a-thing/first#post4404613

That’s a link to a variation of it I think. I’m not sure what the original is, though I’m sure someone who’s been an Ele longer than me will eventually chime in with the original version.

Or just call me an idiot; whatever works.

Zaxares.5419:

This might work. However, it could also lead to just more people ragequitting, causing a cascade effect as the losing team decide it’s not worth the time to stay as opposed to just finding another match. IMO, it’d be more efficient to incentivise people to stay on the losing team, and join early as opposed to just waiting to see which side has the better players. (See my “Random Team” bonus post I’ve made elsewhere.)

Volunteers already get the winner’s bonus, so I’m not sure it needs more buffs (although I wouldn’t object to it. I already automatically volunteer every single time it comes up).

I usually hit Random myself now. Used to I’d always go blue (favorite color) but now I just hit Random no matter what. The problem is how do you give incentive to stay in the match when the outcome is pretty apparent? It would be nice to give some sort of bonus to those that hit Random at the start and it would still leave people who want to play with friends the option to choose a team. So this is too is a good idea.

But sadly hot join is already plagued with ragequitting from the losing team, though, so I’m not sure there will be anything you can do to stop it. That’s really the main appeal of hot join to begin with is the ability to pick up or put it down whenever you want.

I think if the volunteer bonus were increased or given some sort of daily reward or even it’s own reward track, this would at least keep teams balanced number wise when someone just rage quit. As an indirect affect, I think it would cause others to want to stay in the match longer to see if they themselves could get the Volunteer bonus.

The only thing it doesn’t solve is the uneven matches of 2v1 or 3v4 but then again if someone leaves others are rewarded.

I posted this in another thread but I think it got buried in the myriad of other posts.

The idea is to remove the option to go into spectator after the player has chosen to join a specific team. The only way to join the other team would be to quit the match/server (forfeiting all points earned) go back into the browser, find the server again, and then hope that there is a spot on the winning team by the time you do all this. Even then the bonus from winning alone wouldn’t be very high at all as you have 0 contribution (or a very small amount depending on the time spent finding the same match).

I can’t see any negative effects from doing this.

The next thing would be reward Volunteers more. Rarely do I ever see people volunteer to join the losing team even though you get the win either way. So why not make a Volunteer reward track or something? Maybe even give a special title for Volunteering X amount of times? Possibly a daily achievement for volunteering? Hell, even a bigger increase than 25 pvp exp would be great.

Thoughts?

I have to admit I have a lot of trouble beating Engi’s myself. I’m not sure which are harder to beat, HgH or Turret, but they can both destroy you if given the chance. HgH seems to hit like a truck even though they’re mostly condition based and Turret Engi’s just have a ton of CC.

Still, they can be beaten. I’ve beaten both a couple times now, and just recently beat a Turret Engi in a solo que match. (video posted in the Ele forums) So I can’t say they’re impossible to beat but you can’t just faceroll them either.

I think the main issue is that these classes are becoming more balanced while others are still subpar as far as traits and build variety go.

tanztante.6532:

Chesire.9043:

I made a lot of mistakes. I fought off point, stuck around in fights I shouldn’t have, and a few other things I think. Overall, I think I could be a better team player with practice.

agree

but it’s interesting how you won a lot of those teamfights with a D/F condi ele, since it’s mainly a 1v1 build

I’m guessing that’s just the way of YoloQ. Could’ve been just sheer dumb luck or other teams members just didn’t know how to deal with it; maybe a combination of both.

One thing I’ve noticed while playing the build, though, is that it brings pretty decent team support to fights. Air 4 takes ranged classes out of the fight for a few seconds, and along with Earth 4/5 you are able to secure a lot of stomps unless you’re just being focused by more than one person. Then you have the chills, immobs, and a couple interrupts as well.

Staff or even bunker is probably way better for more serious play though. I’m just not experienced enough with Ele or tournaments yet to play effectively that way. Plus I still have a lot of bad habits from hot join play.

Remove going into spectator after choosing a team in Hot Join and you more or less fix team switching/stacking. The only way to get back on winning team is to remember which server you were on and then get your score back up if there’s even room on that team once you’ve left and rejoined.

Imo it’s the best solution as there is no reason at all to go back into spectator once you’ve joined a match. You can easily scope someone else next round OR whisper them if you’re curious about their build. Even if they don’t answer you, you had the chance to spec them before joining a team.

I can’t see any negative impact from doing this. Then rewards can be adjusted. I honestly think those that volunteer to go to the losing team should be rewarded more than 25 little pvp experience. At least then you get the win plus a nice chunk from being a good sport and going to help the losing side.

You definitely play Staff ele better than I did when I tried it. I didn’t even play zerker. But I love the staff on Ele.

Thanks for the video.

After playing hot join for a little while today I got pretty sick of the autobalance and figured if I was going to either be out numbered or get autobalanced I may as well test my build in a tournament. So I did my very first YoloQ (legit solo que this time) on Ele today.

I made a lot of mistakes. I fought off point, stuck around in fights I shouldn’t have, and a few other things I think. Overall, I think I could be a better team player with practice.

Anyway, here are the highlights of the match (only cut out the running around and point capping) with an hilarious ending. Hope you guys enjoy it!

This map is another reason I won’t do tournaments right now.

At least being a hot join hero I can just lolquit the match and go instantly into another one that isn’t completely full of suck.

Lettuce.2945:

Cool vid but this is hot join, not yoloQ.

Thanks and yes. Corrected it <3

Not exactly sure why I put YoloQ instead of Hot Join.

Made a video of one of my better matches in hot join and the video editing is subpar at best. This is my first video in.. well.. Years, so the quality of gameplay and editing is probably going to burn some retinas.

If you can give me some advice on editing (such as why the video doesn’t fit the player, for starters), that is mainly what I’m looking for. I’m also having trouble with Shadowplay in that it doesn’t record in-game sound (hence the music) but I am going to play with drivers today and see if that helps.

I’m really curious where people find their music and how they make intro’s as this may be something I want to get into when I get better at playing Ele. Any thoughts/tips/advice/insight towards this is greatly appreciated.

GoogleBrandon.5073:

Chesire.9043:

Honestly I think overall burst in general needs fine tuning. Fresh Air ele’s, Backstab Thieves, and Rapid Fire Rangers all need their bursts toned down. They may just be cheese builds that aren’t viable for tournament play but they ruin other aspects of PvP and turns away a lot of potential players.

For the love of God, hell no…

I see too many “full bunker” teams… Granted, it is a way of playing, and I am fine with that, but I am not fine with reducing the burst, thus giving these teams a free ticket out of jail

Not just that, but burst classes no matter which one, requires input and coordination from your whole team – immobilize, stuns etc, all these things will ensure you land a burst, which means you have to take all these into mind when thinking about bursting someone down…

Also, with this in mind, glass classes have a strange position in the game already – they either rely on invulns or escapability to survive, means giving up the point – why would you even think about nerfing the only thing they are good for?

I understand this, and in a tPvP I can see how it’s effective. But I’m talking more of lower tier PvP. Bunker builds are near pointless and glass builds require no team coordination and can have players at 25% HP before their target even realizes they’ve been engaged.

I’m sure it sounds kittened, but every day I see people griping about players queuing in tPvP with no idea of what they’re even suppose to do. Some of this is likely just someone seeing what the difference between tPvP and hotjoin is; but isn’t it also possible that they are players looking for a different style of small scale pvp where they aren’t instantly melted as soon as they step foot inside a circle?

I’m not saying nerf burst into the ground so that bunkers are the end all be all; that would be kittened. I’m just saying it that such high burst does leave an impact on potential pvp players just starting out. If it doesn’t turn them away from that aspect of the game it either makes them a worse player ( because they think that’s how they are suppose to play) or in rare cases makes them want to go the harder route and find ways to better themselves and their playstyle to both counter those builds and help an organized team.

TL;DR – I’m not saying all burst needs nerfing into the ground, but it does have a negative impact on pvp outside of tournaments. That’s just my average player, regular pvper, opinion. Nothing more.

Sube Dai.8496:

Play spvp. Hotjoin is meant for ppl waiting in queue.

That isn’t really a solution because tournies suffer their own annoyances that have yet to be resolved. Being autobalanced by team hoppers only to get into a tPvP match with 4v5 and getting smashed there doesn’t sound appealing.

Turret Engi’s wreck teams in YoloQ. Just one well played turret engi will win a match for his team because your average yolo player just can’t handle them. A ton of players run zerker for the cheese builds and that’s just free points for a Turret Engi. Get more than one on a single team and it’s gg.

Couple my previous statements with the fact that most people are running cheese builds and/or zerker amulet and I will call that graph pretty spot on. If more Mesmers utilized portal they could be above Warriors.

I think Rangers and Thieves should switch places though, and maybe even put Thieves just under where Mesmer is located. Power Rangers are nothing but cheese. They can’t get out when pressured/focused and will get eaten alive by condies. Thieves can at least reset a fight or disengage to go to another contested point. Good ones, if they don’t kill you in their first attempt, will do this. Bad ones will stick around, even if they can kill you, and will fight for that one kill while every point around them is being flipped.

As a returning player, coming from Necro to Ele, I can say that I feel about right on that scale as well. But I also have a biased opinion that Ele is rather kitten right now due to our elites being garbage. We have Tornado for knocking people around.. but you can be immobed for days while using it, especially by a turret engi which takes me back to my original paragraph.

Honestly I think overall burst in general needs fine tuning. Fresh Air ele’s, Backstab Thieves, and Rapid Fire Rangers all need their bursts toned down. They may just be cheese builds that aren’t viable for tournament play but they ruin other aspects of PvP and turns away a lot of potential players.

10-20 minute tournie ques aren’t going to get any better if tournaments are all you balance. Lower and Middle tier needs some attention as well because these are your stepping stones into PvP to begin with as well as into tournaments.

Cheese builds that you see constantly being run in the lower tiers ruin those tiers and turn away many potential PvPers of higher end pvp.

TL;DR – You build a house at the foundation, not the roof. Less cheese, more balance for lower tiers = more players less queue times in higher tiers.

I don’t play tournies, but even as a hot join regular I just wanted to clarify again..

Putting toothpicks under my toe nails and kicking a wall sounds more enjoyable than playing on Skyhammer again.

I’m curious.. would a staff ele hybrid (power/condi) build be viable? Mainly for sPvP and WvW, not any kind of serious tPvP or anything like that. Casual PvE stuff.

Looking at skills, permanent Burning is possible and staff hits like a truck but it’s skills are insanely slow. I’m sure this type of role would be better suited for d/d but since I really enjoy staff I thought I would ask here.

I thought of using something like 4/2/6/0/2 for auras on signet use with Written in Stone, but maybe signets for utilities isn’t the way to go. Maybe going more into Arcane and getting evasive arcana might be better.

Am I just wasting time you guys think? Is staff still only good for bunker/zerker?

I’m tinkering with a Signet staff build right now for sPvP (though not tPvP) and WvW but I haven’t gotten all the kinks ironed out I don’t think.

I’m a really horribad player so it’s taking a while but I’ll link it here when I get some video footage uploaded so it’s easier to see how it works. That and I could use some tips on my gameplay.

The only reason I keep it on my bar is summon in a big fight to prepare for escaping. Summon, rush in, use #5 for the free AE damage, then drop it. If the brown stuff hits the fan, then I just pick up the other one (assuming an ally didn’t) and get the eff out of dodge.

Usually allies won’t even use it though, and it’s understandable as to why.

Just tested it. It isn’t affected by swiftness.

Edit: Just for the sake of testing, #3 doesn’t seem affected by it either, though the range on it is a lot longer than #4.

I wouldn’t think so. Even if you replaced it with a Cantrip and traited for might, you’re looking at losing a stun break/blind/fire shield with a longer CD skill that does about the same thing.

I use it as well. Thought if you wanted more damage you could take Glyph of Storms or the lesser elemental glyph, or even one of the other signets; though I personally run staff and would rather just have the extra stun break and movement speed.

I’m not an expert though, this is just the decisions I made when I picked out my utility skills.

Hotjoin doesn’t want this broken kitten map either.. Just saying.

I always either spectate or leave the game I’m in when this map comes into rotation.

Subbed. Thanks for the video. Love the music.

Is it ok to PM you about tips sometime? I’m actually quite new to Ele, having mained necro for a year before taking an extended break.