Guild Wars 2

Take your time and play with the character builder to decide what you want to play.
For PvE + WvW staff with focus on power (berserker) is usually very solid. In WvW a bit defensive might be good but not to much.
When you are through a dungen and left. You start all over if you want to do it again. Just create or join a new party.

Hmm if the points are the same for elite als basic traits and utilities and you can leave out base traits taking elite first. Then a reset and redistripution would be a good solution. Making new characters to get elite faster is a bit ridiculous.

Aww… insta 5k burn. Cleanse immidiate or die. For me such condi burst is way to much it should build up slower. Condis are not burst XD.
but yes it works …

I think a grinding aspect with hero points will only hit players with many 80 toons.
The casual player that uses one character 80% of the time won´t realy feel missing hero points. Maybe he has to do some more challenges if he is pvp focused.
And if someone has 8+ characters wanting all elite specs completed it might be anoying but its actualy good not to throw elites out like candy …

I would change the rune.
Then it depends to which damage you lean.

Maybe such a route helps leeching your oponent.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vFAQJAoYhcMouhdOwxB8RMIAIU3lVjAFOM/mVE-T1xHABCcCAIb/hlU+5meg5UCCwDAIR1fCAgAsz6MAO6RP6RP6RbnHdnHdn7sQAlHDA-w

I would use other sigils in the cleric build. Intelligence comes nice and energy or healing fits too.

Rune of the witch:

(1) +25 Condition Damage
(2) 25% chance when stuck to steal life (25s CD)
(3) +50 Condition Damage
(4) +10% Condition Duration
(5) +100 Condition Damage
(6) +25% Movement speed, +20% aura duration

What if conjure would work the following way:

When you call a conjure, you loose the ele swaping and gain the conjure on F5 (replace if one is already up). You now swap between the conjure and the current element till the conjure is droped (no charges). When droped the recharge starts. Of course you stay in your current element there is no on swap while using a conjure.
I would like that.

Or take a brute route.
Loose teh ability to swap to untraited elements. Permanantly gain the passive minor traits of untraited elements.

While its hard to kill the ele, kiting works. As already said dodge or immidiatly cleanse the fire burns. One of my favs is to hit my cleansing flame at the moment ring followed by breath, so he burns. Then i stay at range circling him, being ready for his jump. I play S/F ele and have obsidian flesh, magnetic wave blinds and the air knockdown for his attacks. Timed this leads to a bad ele die and a good is like a stalemate because he can disengage and heal. Somtimes i get them with FSG. This fights are usually quite long and the winner is who brings his friend first.

would be a plain advantage to have 2 Attunements per weapon. My suggestion to have 1 attuenemnt per weapon set is more balanced. the swap time reduction makes up for the loss of two element sets.

And yes templates would be great. Only usable when in a “Home Zone” but one klick and the trais + utilities are changed. And one for Armor/weapon if you have it in your back.

well i am not a fan of on thy fly tools/trait/weapon changes ;-). This should be done only in safe zones.

I would be a fan of a trait, that gives weapon swap instead of elemental swap. The swap triggers ele swap effects and is on a 5-6s CD. So its a tradeoff. 3 elemets against weapon swap and a shorter swap CD.
Of couse variations are possible like you dedicate a traited element to a weapon set and loose untraited element swap. This would be gorgeous. Trait 2 elements, link each to a weapon set and have a reduced swap timer between these two.

Where is the Problem ? ;-).

Challenging content is good. Working for a legendary is too. I prefer the quest type and dislike the grind type. But as long as it does not give a power advantage, and even 5% is one, i and also most other that can´t or dislike grinding/high challenging content, won´t care and will enjoy other parts.
If power gets hidden behind such a barrier than it realy starts to cost players.
So get your skin, get your swapable stats an enjoy while other are happy in PvP or jumping puzzles or … All in ascended.

I hate levling up and grinding. Which means i need to do the same content 100 times to get the best equipement). I have no Problem to do a storyline, hard dungeon, or raid that even need 2-3 hours to do it with a team. But if i am forced to do the same raid multiple times it´s grind and not what i want to do. I also have no problem not having legendary. But also casual players should have full ascended for the best stats in a reasonable timeframe (maybe 3 month). Casual is below 10h a week more about 5h.

Me to. This build does not win evrything. But its quite fun against thiefs and rangers and there are a lot out in WvW ;-). It depends stong how the oponent is built but it works. Took out a gurdaian and a ranger in a row, the ranger came to late shooting in my back trying to hinder the finisher but obsidan flesh and then he was next :-).
The warrior was smarter … He did see me in earth. Moved backwards away. I swaped air for swiftness and the usual bolt, blind opener …. What a mistake. Jumped on me 2,3k, 2k, 5k, 7k about 2seconds to down me XD. Just recognised he poped automatic criticals but i reacted to slow ….

So now i want some opinons too :-)

I want to try this with tempest (shouts) instead of arcane.
Now i struggle to decide the runeset.

Traveler: This one was the smothest for playing and building. It fits a the build with 10% condi and 15% boon duration well and the 25% movement makes life easier or i have to constantly overload for running around with speed … But it looses a lot condi damage.

Scavenger: Great for condi power and the drain suits so good …..

Nightmare: It has 15% condi duration which fits all the conditions. The fear can be fun.

Or something else ?

merge maybe

(1) +25 Condition Damage
(2) 25% chance when stuck to steal life (25s CD)
(3) +50 Condition Damage
(4) +10% Condition Duration
(5) +100 Condition Damage
(6) When you receive an aura, you remove a condition (cooldown 5 seconds)

This loks like one great condi rune.

But any version is great. the apothecary looks best fiting tempest but healing is often meh … It would be a rune not feeling good. I guess soldiers would win over it.

Better :-).

Superior rune of the witch:

1.) +25 condition damage
2.) +10%condition duration
3.) +50 condition damage
4.) + 20% Aura duration
5.) +100 condition damage
6.) Auras aplied to you remove a condition.

Good one fitting Tempest:

Superior rune of the apothecary:

1.) +25 healing power
2.) +35 condition damage
3.) +50 healing power
4.) + 65 condition damage
5.) +100 healing power
6.) Auras you apply remove a condition.

Another great one:

Superior rune of the warlock:

1.) +25 condition damage
2.) 25% chance when stuck to steal life (25s CD)
3.) +50 condition damage
4.) +20% Aura duration
5.) +100 condition damage
6.) +25% Movement speed, +10% condition duration

No doupt i woul love having FSG on a swap button. And also the flexibility to choose which i want to load.
The key is to put the conjure in the weapon swap and not drop it. But even when kits are better, having the conjure in the rotation on an aditional swap will make ele significant stronger.
I would put my FSG in the weapon swap and pull off the mobility when needed and this would be huge.

Suggestion:
When you summon a conjure it goes to you weapon swap as long as you don´t switch element. If you do it goes on CD. No charges or weapon droped. Conjurer trait reduced CD of conjuerd weapon skills and conjures by 20%.

In this version i find it to powerful.
I would keep the conjure as long as you don´t swap element. So you conjure a fire weapon and it disolves on changing element but stays as weapon swap without charges as long as you keep the element. This version is less powerful, but having the whole conjure set on demand within ele rotation is to much.
I would merge the FSG and the flame axe. Autoatack from axe, fire ring on FSG5, Leap on FSG4.

I expect a short update next tuesday in a pre HoT patch but i don´t expect to get all information befor HoT. Of course i would like the details inkluding runes and sigil changes but i think we have to be patient.

BlackBeard.2873:

Fix scepter as many have pointed out: decrease flamestrike’s cast time, decrease dragon’s tooth cast time but keep the delay on drop (so it can be offensive anti-melee counter-pressure when dropped on self). Make shatterstone do something. Make water autos actually hit their targets, and decrease the cast/after cast on earth and air autos to be more fluid.

Finally, make FGS have a 60s ICD. It is just a mobility tool, and a 90-120s CD allows burst ele to have the necessary map mobility to compete as a roamer.

+1
This is basically what is needed to build scepter ele which includes burst.

The version i run in WvW with cheaper food + oil. I have prickly pear pies in my backpack when i want to go more serious. Bit its maybe fun if someone sees a S/F ele with precision food, adapts for fresh air and dies.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vFAQJArdnMIC9Mg1NAOOA8RgBBALCAhyi4EE2BJxaT2EPDA-TFSFABuoqib7PAwJAQF1K+QPwTK/ySJYyPAgAAIAc0de0de0dWIgyTAA-w

Extremly hard for zerker builds which was the intension of building it. I usually destroy zerker. Especially pewpew rangers.
Gets usually squished by condi necros. Hard to win against condi ranger and condi mesmer.

Greetings

Wolf

Condi mesmer is a pain and condi necro a nenesis. But most power builds are a good match. I testet a lot what third spec line suits best and it settled with arcane. +condies, elemental contingency, elemental source. Arcane brilliance is excelent 20s 3/4cast, critical damage, condi, blast, ferocity + triggers leech.
Imagine what a thief does when he strikes me in earth…
I somtimes fake afk when one is lurking XD.

He strikes, 2,8k armor stone heart contingency pops protection.
I fite back 1s after his chain.
Magnetic wave, cleansing flame, arcane brilliance, leech from passive, + leech from heal, trigger: burn, bleed, blind, torment, generosity.
Swap fire /traited!
Thief is fadt and good or dead.

New utilities not needed, but i would love the conjure as elite like suggested.
I would keep the 15 uses and conjure trait. Fire aura will trigger on each swap to the conjure.

Hi
I play condi scepter. But burn is only a part. You do a lot bleed from earth auto. Fastest kill for me was a thief in about 5s. You combine Seper Burst, burn, bleed, torment from sigil, cripple as cover with blinds and earth tankiness + FSG. It works if it suits your playstyle. Its F/E/x spec can be built with any utilities. I always run cleansing flame. Its one if the killers. I run it in rabid+dire trinkets and a mux if rabid/rampager wespons+armor with scavenger rune. F/E/Ar + traited arcane brilliance and shield.
Its not a dedicated burn build, but can kill wirh condies.

Hmm i think hoelbrak is realy good for WvW. But it depends how you combine it.
Hoelbrak + Pyronancers Puissance + Strength Sigil + Lemmongrass makes a solid WvW setup. Pack is a good stat setup and helps in a group but i would prefer hoelbrak for a power build.

Something like that:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vFAQFAWhcMovhlNwzB8RMQAYRBIAsAmdwLIIITyOQJA-TFiFABDcBAKU9nkUeUlSQjUiBwDA4MdArs/QAAEgduzAwRP6RP6RPa7cnHdnHdnlBgZMA-w

arcane brilliance is great ;-). You focus on damage, not fighting over a minute. Test scepter a bit and think about the build i posted. It´s not the easiest build to handle but its also not the pure zerker and a fun allrounder.

Staff is hard to kill other players fast, because they move out of your area attacks. You have to pin them or loose. Staff is better in a team setup. On the other side fireball is a superior autoatack.
I only loose against a staff ele playing stupid like last time when i doged out of the WvW camp just before fliping it and the ele was in it the second he went down … The gurard spawn killed me …
Its a mater or taste. I started with staff, because i like range and healing support. But it did´t feel good enough and i got a bit bored. Switched to scepter soon and try to master it since then. Also i don´t regret taking ele as first character and stick to it.
I dislike being forced into meele so i don´t use dagger, but i have a good number of point blank attacks. Fights are more close combat then range.

Greetings

Wolf

I use scepter/focus and the staff is only as backup if needed. 900 range is still OK and scepter hits stationary targets very hard.

Staff fire 4, dodge and arcane shield help a lot. Always move if it´s a tough fight.
I play staff only ocasionaly but especially fire4 saved me a lot.
Second take some soldiers equipment till you can play ele fine enough. I prefer valk armor and captains trinkets + zerker staff). If you need the armor to survive take knights staff.
My personal favorite is traited arcane utility setup. It has good damage and blasts.

Suggestet PvE 80 setup. Small changes like tempest defence and replacing glyphs is possible but the glyph of storms is very good in PvE. If this goes to WvW use lemmongrass food. Also tempest defence, lighning flash and FSG instead of glyphs.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vFAQFAWnMIC9MgtMAONA0RgBCALKABgFgMJDBlgaNkGGDA-TFyDwAKuAAQV+BwE0hHAgHdAIUCKb/hXq/EAABgduzjuzjmMA6bB-w

I play 99% with my ele and stick to it learning to play it as good as possible. I put all in it not multiple toons. So at one time i can aford and it benefits me i might by it. Currently it would be an all in and i propably won´t do it. But maybe sPvP.

So imagine it costs 1G would you considder it?

Well i know the price is extreme. Thats because of the low availability. So please don´t consider that. The sigil is also available in sPvP!

Hi ele fans.

I wonder if this sigil is good enough. So i want to hear opinions.

First its important for what spec: (Yes this is quite unusual spec).
No water! Its F/E/Ar (or planed tempest instead Ar).
Weapon set is S/F
Condi based. Scepter sigil is torment.
Runset is currently scavenger. (Nightmare, soldiers, radiance or Traveler depending on tempest is possible).

So condi removal is usualy weak. I normaly run cleansing flame on the toolbar.

The sigil seems to fit, but its a 9s cooldown and it competes with other possible options like doom, earth, energy, blood.

Would it be considered at about the same level or as a subpar gimik?

Greetings

Wolf

PS: I like this spec, even it might be considered out of meta. It wins me more duels that i loose after learning to handle it only condi necros and mesmers are extreamly bad matchups …

The question is then is a classic staff ele good in raids? So play tempest PvP/WvW and normal zerk ele in raids? If staff ele is kicked out by say reaper or engi then ele gets the short stick there.

Dragon thooth cast time is to long for its low hit rate. But i like the ground target. Have still to get used to it and not fire and forget …
Fire auto nedds a 1s chanel.

Air auto needs a bit buff. I would add a condition on the last hit of the channel like 2s confusion.

Earth auto: A bit faster flight speed and the last hit being poison not bleed would be great. (or up bleed duration to 8s.)

Rock barrier: 1/2 cast time.

Dust devil: instant cast.

Shatterstone: Increase radius.

Not to dificuld and large changes but would make scepter gameples much smother and thus be a buff.

Agree too. Did say that immidiately after seeign the changes. Hit it in water not arcane….
The only other change i don´t agree is blinding ashes. It might be anoying but its a mayor defence of most fire builds that don´t run water d/d. The might removed was right.

Yes its close. Some things are open.

Traits:
Latent stamina is in the wrong place. Suggestion: Should trigger on shouts or auras.
Earthen proxy is weak. Suggestion: a flat 20% boon duration that adds to WH if you go for boons.
Speedi conduit feels like a placeholder. I would add base speed or even give flat 33% and not bother with another swiftness boon that makes button mashing more anoying.

Overloads:
Water overload suffers from 5sec wait and also 20sec CD hardest. Don´t know how to make that useful outside of water camping healer specs.

Shouts:

20% CD reduction is burning under the nails.
Flash freeze should be instant. (Maybe even shok/aftershok)
Condi removal on wash the pain away pulses would be great.
Rebound is still a weak elite. Either push healing or reduce CD significant.

WH: We don´t know what will happen to heat sync. If that shares all excep quickness wh is in a good spot.

Yes the protection duration of eath overload was huge but it didn´t feel OP.

I am with supreme. It i close to work fine. Water overload is the only one with problems.
I see a bit push in shouts needed (instant flash freeze/20% reduction and cleanse on wash the pain away) not overloads. I did not use WH much so i can´t tell. It felt slow and underperforming compared to focus.

Well i was tinking not to answer because the suggestions just cry for OP´ness.

The overloads are in a good shape now exept water and water suffers most from ele game mechanics and i can live with it being not usable in PvP.

Air overload: Good use at start of a fight. Especially strong with fresh air.
Fire: Very situational. Strong in packed fights if you are eiter unatended or have some guard.
Earth: strong tactical overlaod and support mid or end of a fight.
Water: Poor due to 5s wait and lockout. I see it only useful if you go for healing support mostly camping water. You won´t start a fight with like you can benefit from air.

A note: With current speedy conduit you can run around in permaswiftness swaping and overloading and swaping immidiateley … such button mashing just when running is awful. Make it fixed movement speed an evry tempest will be happy :-).

Thats right i tend to go down fast when 3+ target me. I don´t expect something else but i have options like obsidian flesh. And i wrote never stay in water long. Just 1-2 casts. Wateroverload is in a bad place due to game mechanic. Guess only PvE or maybe WvW zerg.

I have no problems being targeted. My buddy kills if unatended :-).
Sometimes i open a fight with air overload. During a fight i tend to use earth overlaod once. Fire only very situational. (unatended and packed fight e.g. WvW camp clearing). Water no real use due to 5s wait time. I don´t camp water its a 1s through as air usually is too.

Well never overload anything other then earth in a tough teamfight unless you need the stunbreak (which is usually not available due to swaping). Overloads are in a nice spot for tactical use but trying to push them out when ready is often a bad move.
Ah and i guess bringing a guardian buddy might be very strong :-).

I run arcane brilliance and arcane shield traited in WvW. Especially brilliance with its short casting time combined with a lifedraining runeset is great. It totally fits my build that has a lot of on crit effects too, blast my fire field and gives ferocity + a condition.
Its often a realy brutal turnaround when i duel, fall below 50% and fire brilliance at short range.
Arcane briliance might leave the toolbar with tempest eiter for wash the pain away or aether renewal when i redesign my build without arcane. But for now its the best heal for me.
Shield is a stunbreaker that usually secures me the next cast and explodes. I eiter use it at start of a fight going between oponents for a blast more or keep it for escape to pull off FSG.

had the same experience as nearlight playing S/F.
My main problems in building were lack of speed (no air) and condi removal (no water).

As a result i was left with the following options to build a shout tempest:

1.) You must take air or water with tempest.
2.) Cleansing flame or aether renewal on toolbar + traveler rune.
3.) Air signet + soldier rune.

I don´t like the limits :-). Of course you can say i don´t need 25% speed but when i tried this it felt unplayable.

A weapon swap insead of ele swaps would have been a completly diffrent ele. The swap time should be about 5sec. Many will enjoy that.
I would even go further:

You choose tempest. As result you have to pick the same element twice as traits. Thats your element. You can´t pick the same traits twice but you have double picks.
You have weapon swap on 5s CD.
That feels like it might work. Thoug it feels strange.

I suggested that for tempest. Eiher a weapon swap instead of elemental swaping. So you coose your element and use two weapons. Or the following trait:
Dormant elements:
You loose the ability to swap untraited elements.
Gain the passive traits from untraited elements. (Or just a CD on weapon skills)
Example:
You trait air, earth,tempest.
So you loose fire + water but permanently gain 150 power, 10% damage against burning, soothing mist and the 15% outgoing heal.