First off, regardless of what variation you’re running a Static Discharge build is NOT user friendly. It is an advanced build because of how squishy you are with limited defense.
I just had a look at the marauder build and i’m not a fan of the grenades. Is my build just not viable? If so, is there some variation of it or am i kinda stuck with the marauder build? I recently just got all of my beserker gear from WvW, so that kinda throws a wrench into things.
Anytime you say something like “I just don’t like to use _” followed by “is my build good anyways” the answer is usually no. There’s a reason we’re all tired of grenade kit. It’s really good almost regardless of what build you use.
Still, with that said you can run other builds, HGH is hot at the moment. Any weapon setup (P/P, P/S, Rifle) with Elixirs H, any, any, Elixir Gun, Elixir X is a pretty noob friendly and effective build. Pairing Alchemy/Inventions with Firearms or Explosives is a very defensive training wheels type build where not much can go wrong.
My issue with theives is they put everything i have on cooldown and i’m not sure how to react. I don’t think i have a way to get out of that, even elixir s goes on cooldown. When it finally comes off, i’m usually dead or close to it.
Any stun locks you out of your skills and makes it look like they are on cooldown. However you always are able to use your stun break (if it’s not already on cooldown of course). Even Basilisk venom which “turns you to stone” allows you to break out of it.
I’m honestly dying inside because you said guardians are an even fight haha, i feel so bad. Thats the class that makes me feel like i have the worst healing in the game, if i do manage to get them low (doesn’t happen often), they go right back up to full and block everything i throw at them.
Remember that was my particular build, play style, and experience. One Engineer could never have problems with Mesmers and another may rarely even be able to hit them. It’s experience mostly with contributions from your build. Learn what their different blocks mean (heal, focus, mace all have duration blocking) and keep poison on as much as possible. Remember there’s no shame in learning what build another profession has and then avoiding them for the rest of the match if it’s a hard counter to yours.
I think those builds that i picked don’t have many conditions to apply? I’m honestly not sure
Not only is Static Discharge a pretty advanced level build but you’re right it doesn’t apply meaningful conditions.
What i usually try to do is net shot (never lands) so i overcharge and then try to magnet then prybar. All while blowing my toolbelt skills on cooldown. This is like the ideal opener but its very rare i get to do that. Part of me wants to keep my distance to avoid as much as possible but my hardest hitting skills (blunderbuss/prybar) require me to be close in and if that happens i’m usually dead pretty fast to the telegraphs
Don’t start with Net Shot. 1) Terrain can make it miss more often than is necessary. 2) Many professions have automatic triggering traits or skills that are off of cooldown when you fight them. This means your first attack will trigger any of those “incoming condition” or “taking damage” traits. Additionally Guardians will have block up which will negate Net Shot.
Overcharged Shot > Magnet > Pry Bar is a good combo.
Your big hitting skills (you forgot Jump Shot) are indeed best in close range but that doesn’t mean you stay in close range to use them. Use the combos like Magnet > Pry Bar and Overcharged Shot > Jump Shot to make sure they land while you are in minimal danger.
I think one of my big problems was combos. Someone tell me if im wrong, but i didn’t use any. I just swapped out the elixir x for the motar kit and i’ve started to lay a field before i engage or if i try to back up i put down the frost field thingy. I feel like i’m doing better but it’s tough to gague.
Solo combos in PvP is a pretty advanced tactic, I would just use your skills normally and practice the more general PvP strategies and awareness until you feel more comfortable.
Another big problem i discovered is once i get someone on the ground, then what? I have a very hard time securing kills. I try the toss elixir s to stealth, but usually the class still gets away and back to his team (engineers are no problem).
This is another general tactic I didn’t mention but I’m glad you brought it up. This depends wholly on what profession you downed and the immediate environment. If you are being attacked by someone else you likely won’t have a chance to stomp unless you use elixir S. If someone tries to revive them use CC. If they have Stability then just put as much poison (slower healing = slower revive) and damage as you can to not only make it harder to revive but damage the reviver and sometimes even down them.
Each Profession also has general guidelines of how to treat them when they are downed, notably based on the #2 skill of their downed bar. Downed state management tips are something pretty widely available outside of the Engi specific forum.
I’m starting to get that feeling that its an advanced build, only reason i’m sticking with it is cause for some reason i like it, that’s kinda why i was asking if it’s good or not. If it wasn’t a good build, of course i’d like to switch off of it.
What’s the benefit of the grenade kit? I dropped my elixir X for mortar kit thinking that would supplement the grenade kit because in my mind it was only used for combos (I could be wrong here).
I’m not quite sure if it’s been helping, or my past arenas i’ve just been playing against people who are just as bad as me, but switching to the mortar seems to help. I’m not sure how it helps, but i just feel like it does haha. I try to drop the mortar 3 (freeze field thingy), maybe having my enemy slower makes a noticeable difference for me.
You mention poison and healing, is there a connection? Like do higher poison stacks mean slower healing, or were you only talking about killing the guy reviving as fast as possible?
Lastly, the light field on the mortar. I could use an explanation of how that works. I watched some videos of people dropping it on a downed player, so i basically just copied that. I know it gives blindness but i’m not quite sure on the mechanics.
If i have the field on a down player and he tries to hit me, will he miss his first attack or will every attack miss as long as the field is up? Also, what about an enemy shooting in at me, will his attacks miss?
Thanks guys, i know i’m a pain in the kitten but this helps me soo much.
Edit I’m stupid, says it right there on the poison description that it reduces healing effectiveness
