Guild Wars 2

Standard keyboard. Bargain 3 button browser mouse.

Left click – select target
Right click- select target + auto attack
Browser wheel(depress) – heal skill

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 – coordinating weapon/kit skills
Q, E, R, S, T – F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 Toolbelt skills
Left Shift – furthest left kit/skill/utility
Z – middle kit/skill/utility
C – furthest right kit/skill/utility
X – elite skill
F6 – coordinating elite toolbelt skill

Left TAB – target nearest enemy
~ – target nearest ally

Left ALT – drop kit

I use this binding setup across the board, and construct builds around it. Easiest access from left to right. It seems very clustered and jammed up, but once you get used to it, piano gets easier.

I play rabid type p/p condi scrapper in wvw with great results. Less of a reaper problem than issues with decent mesmer. Reaps just play them at range ftw.

I do. Can’t speak for anyone else.

The key is binding your most used things close to movement keys so you are able to manipulate your fingers to keep moving, and activate skills/utilities/toolbelt. Noone has ever said that engi doesn’t have a high skill cap, and every semi-decent engi slogging through the game has invested time into that character to get familiar with unique playstyle and personal keybinding layout.

Oh, forgot, I also changed A and D to strafe, did away with turn. I use my mouse to turn.

And I use number line, default 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, for attacks/skills in-kit.

Q, E, R, T for toolbelt skills

SHIFT, Z, C for kit/utility swaps

TAB target nearest enemy

~ target nearest ally

X elite skill

F5 kept this for elite toolbelt

I use standard browsing mouse, right click select target and auto attack, left for simply select target. I use browser wheel as a mouse 3 for heal skill.

These are my secondary command buttons, but I use as primary. Left most of the original command buttons in use as well, just in case I do get mixed up (more for when I first changed my bindings).

This may feel cramped at first, but I found that trying to jam everything onto gaming mouse, and maintain control of my camera how I wanted resulted in me sometimes having problems aiming where I wasn’t looking. Solved this by jamming it all into a small space on my keyboard. The difference is that my keyboard is stationary, and once I got used to tightening my finger strokes, the small area layout is highly effective. I am able to get and stay about 2 skill activations ahead of current-skill, this allows for some very calculated and time dependent finisher combos that are necessity to play engi in pvp. Hope it helps

Sirbeaumerdier.3740:

basz.6129:

Same posters, same QQ about being “stuck” in low divisions. Welcome to your skill caps. Sorry the math isn’t holding your hand with easily exploitable work-arounds. You are in the division you are in, not progressing, because you JUST AREN’T THAT GOOD. How do you think those above you got better and progressed? Took their lumps, lost games, invested their time/energy into improving their gameplay.

It is not your right to get legendary status, or gear. Either do what you need to get better, or get out. Stop whining about the same old kitten. The entire forum is swamped with the same 8 people complaining, again and again. Some of us are actually trying to read up on mechanics and strategy here, you know—doing what we must to improve.

Just to disclaim: I am t4-5 ruby depending on wins/losses during that session. I have had several 10 game + streaks. I have also had to ‘carry’ or eat pip losses. Take advantage of getting stomped, and try to learn something.

Your undeserved sense of entitlement is nauseating.

Is it me or every time you communicate it’s utterly aggressive and seeking to belittle?

I have the same rank you do and my experience is very different. I can definitely see a problem with how rating works and MM is using it and how some will have it harder or easier because of the system all other variables being equal. Getting success is no reason to be blind.

It probably seems that way because of your guilty conscience. If what I say doesn’t apply, let if fly. Obviously I have hit the nail on the head, repeatedly, as I have taken my smoke breaks to read and reply to some of the QQ posts in pvp forum. You’re in every. single. one.

Every one. Same complaint. Feeding these asinine posts with responses in agreement. If you spent 1/10 the time playing with intent to get better, that you do as a forum warrior, this “problem” wouldn’t exist. If you are almost out of ruby to diamond, but also having problems being stuck in emerald/sapphire, are you playing multiple accounts? If so, is it because you think somehow you will be a more effective player, under a different name? Are you aware that swapping accounts is a pretty tell-tale sign of exploiters and gold sellers? That what this is really about, attack anet and the system because they are blocking your business?

If you aren’t stuck in emerald/sapph, and are in ruby/almost diamond, what exactly is the problem? Why did you say you were stuck in lower divisions in a downward spiral due to the MMR targeting special-special-you, if you in fact are not? Were you lying then, or are you lying now?

Find something legitimate to talk about, or QQ quietly in mom’s basement to yourself. Your logic is as awful as your play, and now that we all know you lie, everything you say has even less validity than it did.

I love how every QQ post seems to come from people struggling to get past emerald/sapphire. Maybe, the new MMR is working perfectly, and it’s cases of operator error. Time to interpret the tea leaves, and accept that you have reached your skill cap. Take the lumps, improve, and either start winning matches, or try again next season.

It is not your right to ding legendary. Earn it, or stop complaining it’s beyond your skill level.

All of that would be very interesting if you weren’t simply describing standard procedure. If they respond within the first or second inquiry/polite request/helpful advice/kitten fondling, it is generally with a heartfelt “kitten off!” What say you then, my zen-like humorless friend?

With a taste of a poison paradise…… bernie would be proud of you tryhards standing up for the handicapable. Losing isn’t fun, and when a team mate is clearly responsible, yet continuing their detrimental behavior, they need to know.

There is a reason anet sustains unranked pvp.

You do not have to even acknowledge this person exists. /block and that anonymous little figurine will blink out of your life forever.

Stop pretending ‘you have this friends, and he got called names this one time…’ everyone knows this is you.

You want to talk mechanics? 1v1 matches? Even postulate limits in the MMR algorithm? I am down af to read that post. Take the bullying QQ, and your soapbox to LiveJournal already. Kthxbai

Sirbeaumerdier.3740:

basz.6129:

Sirbeaumerdier.3740:

basz.6129:

Sirbeaumerdier.3740:

basz.6129:

D’awwwwwww, right in the feels! Peeveepee is a place for player conflict, and conflict resolution. As wiser men than me once said, If you can’t take the heat, get the kitten out of ranked you filthy casual! If you QQ over getting called names, uninstall and log onto your safeplace. Oh! I hope anyone bringing their warrior into ranked, that doesn’t know what they are doing, gets Lou Gherig’s disease. Goes double for thieves, eles, engi’s, necro, mes, guardian, and ranger. Lel, those troll posts tho

And apparently a great place to miss the point others are putting forth but I guess at least you are good at pvp…

Plox tell me moar about this elusive point that I, and not you poor sir, have missed. Then tell me moar about how I’m good at pvp, I think you were really onto something with that train of thought.

For reals tho ladydude, this isn’t preschool in a blue state. If you don’t like ‘fighting’ other people whom will inevitably get a leettle salty, the fantasy world where teamwork and camraderie prevail is right through the portal to Lion’s Arch.

It’s not a matter of getting a thicker skin but a matter of just no minimizing the behavior anymore you would for someone racist or sexist. Of course nobody is going to die and ppl can just walk away but that is beside the point you just don’t do it and you don’t encourage or minimize it.

Well, you win. No sane person argues with that kind of intangible answer. Gg lemming

Intangible? Interesting and a little scary…

Intangible. Or if you prefer, intentionally-excessively broad. OP trolololol’s at well, your expense, in regards to the deliciousness of all the tears IN-GAME. That is, in a video game, a virtual world, not real or relatable to real life issues, some might say intangible…… I digress, and your jump from people calling eachother names behind the security of anonymity, to racism and sexism, is absurd.

Fact is, if words, only words, from people you don’t know, have such a lasting and potentially negative impact on your fragile psyche; perhaps you ought to consider a buffered institution. Not mmo pvp. In the real, tangible world, often the victims of sexism, racism, actual unbased hatred are incapable of /blocking those administering said hate. Here, in the fantasy world, if you don’t like what someone says, you can literally excise them from your existence forever with the click of a button.

The clear, vast, unwavering distance between the topic at hand, and your self assumed soapbox is universes. Thus rendering said soapbox completely intangible. You have already fallen on your kitten. Remains to be seen if you are even aware of that yet.

Sirbeaumerdier.3740:

basz.6129:

Sirbeaumerdier.3740:

basz.6129:

D’awwwwwww, right in the feels! Peeveepee is a place for player conflict, and conflict resolution. As wiser men than me once said, If you can’t take the heat, get the kitten out of ranked you filthy casual! If you QQ over getting called names, uninstall and log onto your safeplace. Oh! I hope anyone bringing their warrior into ranked, that doesn’t know what they are doing, gets Lou Gherig’s disease. Goes double for thieves, eles, engi’s, necro, mes, guardian, and ranger. Lel, those troll posts tho

And apparently a great place to miss the point others are putting forth but I guess at least you are good at pvp…

Plox tell me moar about this elusive point that I, and not you poor sir, have missed. Then tell me moar about how I’m good at pvp, I think you were really onto something with that train of thought.

For reals tho ladydude, this isn’t preschool in a blue state. If you don’t like ‘fighting’ other people whom will inevitably get a leettle salty, the fantasy world where teamwork and camraderie prevail is right through the portal to Lion’s Arch.

It’s not a matter of getting a thicker skin but a matter of just no minimizing the behavior anymore you would for someone racist or sexist. Of course nobody is going to die and ppl can just walk away but that is beside the point you just don’t do it and you don’t encourage or minimize it.

Well, you win. No sane person argues with that kind of intangible answer. Gg lemming

Sirbeaumerdier.3740:

basz.6129:

D’awwwwwww, right in the feels! Peeveepee is a place for player conflict, and conflict resolution. As wiser men than me once said, If you can’t take the heat, get the kitten out of ranked you filthy casual! If you QQ over getting called names, uninstall and log onto your safeplace. Oh! I hope anyone bringing their warrior into ranked, that doesn’t know what they are doing, gets Lou Gherig’s disease. Goes double for thieves, eles, engi’s, necro, mes, guardian, and ranger. Lel, those troll posts tho

And apparently a great place to miss the point others are putting forth but I guess at least you are good at pvp…

Plox tell me moar about this elusive point that I, and not you poor sir, have missed. Then tell me moar about how I’m good at pvp, I think you were really onto something with that train of thought.

For reals tho ladydude, this isn’t preschool in a blue state. If you don’t like ‘fighting’ other people whom will inevitably get a leettle salty, the fantasy world where teamwork and camraderie prevail is right through the portal to Lion’s Arch.

D’awwwwwww, right in the feels! Peeveepee is a place for player conflict, and conflict resolution. As wiser men than me once said, If you can’t take the heat, get the kitten out of ranked you filthy casual! If you QQ over getting called names, uninstall and log onto your safeplace. Oh! I hope anyone bringing their warrior into ranked, that doesn’t know what they are doing, gets Lou Gherig’s disease. Goes double for thieves, eles, engi’s, necro, mes, guardian, and ranger. Lel, those troll posts tho

1, 4. This should always be the primary strategy. When executed well, and with teammates that are able to win a fight, this strategy is eeeeeeasy. That being said, puglyfe+reaper syndrome can often mean losing the team fight at mid. Any half decent player should be watching for this eventuality, and be ready to execute an exit strategy from mid-fight to peel away to far.

This should be done BEFORE teammates at mid are totally wiped. If they are going down, one player sticking around for those last few seconds is just wasting a respawn. Not saying to bail in first 5 seconds, but watch team health bars, and time it so you can slip away while enemies are stomping your pugs.

This is not the job for a necro, bunker ele, or warrior. Whoever peels needs to be able to do so fast and ideally without being seen. Thief or engi is best. Ranger, dh, or mes right behind with soft cc allowing for quick escapes/peels, or effective disengagement utilities like mes has.

“Playing the sides” is often not a good long term strategy. If your team lost at mid they will lose on side nodes too. Capping far is a divide and conquer tactic. Forces their team to extend their coverage, and increasing odds of winning a node fight. The goal should be though, in my opinion, to split them and win back the mid/home cap advantage. Trying to sustainably hold far without leaving someone there is not smart. It’s additional travel time, and you spend 1/3 of that time fairly exposed. If you are spending time, or god forbid fighting off node, you are not only not helping, directly hurting your team.

1v1 ranger/druid is toast. Problem is, in real pvp scenario, druid ranger is usually not alone. If they are alone you have already been pinged and either thief, necro, or dh is on the way.

If you play bulwark, give blast gyro a whirl. You will be pleasantly surprised against most necro, and all the bandwagon condi reapers.

I did. My pugs were so lost. I started trying to defend. Once I realized I wasn’t going to be able to take 5 necro by myself, and my 4 pugs seemed content to ignore offense and jump into the meat grinder time and again, I went offense. I got two breakers, took them through to about half hp on second gate. The necro ball, while slow, had been able to facilitate their original wave of breakers all the way through with no resets. Scrapper is fast, and has several utilities/toolbelt skills that can get the npc’s moving, I had already wasted a good 4 minutes in the beginning trying to break up their push. I ran out of time.

Not complaining about pugs either. I made the choice to soloQ in sapphire, I knew what I could likely get for teammates-saw the kitten on the ground, knew it was kitten, stepped in it anyways.

My concern is that the 5 necro were not grouped. If a 5/5 necro comp is this viable, why on earth is the MMR algorithm sticking 5 randoms of the same class together? Yea the strategy was indicative of some planning, but not sophisticated enough for me to really think they queue spammed individually to get in the same group. I have seen this tactic in other games, but if it is the case, it was the first instance for me in gw2. I am alluding to a whole new uinverse of balance breaking queue tactics that would severely cripple the integrity of ranked games during league seasons. Much like last season and the 2 division difference exploit that made league progression laughably simple for those willing to take advantage. I would rather anet get out in front of a potential time bomb such as this, before it explodes. No?

To disclaim: I am also not QQ for a necro nerf. I think the reaper is as powerful as it should be, with appropriate speed limitations making 1v1 a challenging, but very winnable fight. This is very reliant on match making to NOT stack 5 of them together though.

It was stronghold. Pls l2read. Only in this game mode would it be powerful as they were able to trundle along as a 5 man blob surrounded by minions. Made dbs or doorbreakers for you obvious pvp pros, impossible to target because of *see original post. Thanks for your valued input, pugs

Edit* not aimed @ you silverkey

So found myself in a public against anot her enemy pug. Somehow, somehow the math at a net deemed it appropriate to match a thief, scrapper, druid, necro (power), dh, against 5 necro. Idk if this is the organized solo queue in action, but thet were not confused about their strategy. Stronghold so they traveled as a ball; 2 condi reaps, 2 minion masters, 1 power reaper. Impossible to target dbs due to two groups of minions. If we got close, and by we I mean me because my pugs melted, it was at the expense of at least 1/2 hp because the constant aoe proximity triggered condi application. If I could come out the other side, it was slowed and generally bleeding and/or poisoned 6+ stacks. With minions nipping at my already critical hp, the power reaper mopped up with auto attack in moments.

I know it has become standard to face 2 or 3 necro per game, it can be rough, but the games can be won. There was literally nothing that could be done against this group, and that is not fair or fun. I get troll groups exist, but this should not be a viable composition. Give them a weakness, or address whatever in MMR algorithm is allowing this to happen.

No joke, try blast gyro. Works great

I find hammer dps still lacking in wvw, though the playstyle is fun and similar to spvp atm. I am running a p/p flame scrapper these days with some very effective outcomes. I feel I can much more reliably engage multiple opponents with condi over direct damage, simply because I can apply my rotation, and move on to the next target. Keeping up with cleanses can get time consuming if you are trying to focus down the last 20% of a target and his necro buddy finally catches up to the fight.

I know my build basically makes direct damage negligible, and can only assume from trying many builds, that most people do the same. I also know classes like ele can spam cleanse for days, so I also rely heavily on alchemy trait line with hgh to boost my condi burst and lend some sustained to pistol auto attack. Auto also keeps bleed stacks applied which boosts crit/condi ticks and helps force people to put cleanses on CD.

This bring said, I play a tweaked version of hammer meta in spvp, and I definitely see it being potentially viable in wvw. Possibly stacking marauder stats will lend enough vit for something to work.

There are better alternatives, anyways.

A build that loses pvp/wvw 1v1 fights, and can’t clear pve content in a reasonable amount of time alone. None of this describes scrapper. If anything, the old zerker bade build was boring. Active for optimal dps, but stupidly repetitive and boring. Literally tap one key as fast and as often as possible while double tapping 4 other buttons at clearly displayed intervals. Scrapper is always innovating a way into the fight, all while dishing viable(finally) direct damage, scrambling for those cleanses, and getting back out the other side to come back for another pass. Put any half decent necro out there and scrapper survivability plummets fast without quick thinking and careful cleanse timing.

If you are playing such a high skill cap class in the name of fashion wars… I can’t even right now.

Eh, try the pally hgh build, and sub blast gyro for slick shoes. It’s fun and I think exponentially more effective. Hey, I want gyro’s to be a thing too, a full gyro set up tho… not enough reward for the risk. I do enjoy encountering them on enemy team, however.

Try ingrish when you come to our forum and troll

Please paint me the composition scenario in which actually playing any of what you described (except not camping FT) is viable or fun? Gz on discovering scrapper-meat-shield meta build. Be sure to carry the legendary hammer while you play this in 5/5 pve guild premade stronghold, against pug… and lose

Lel… this has to be a troll. Noone who seriously plays engi is this self satisfied, or would try to gloat about pve damage. Comrade, go home, you’re obviously drunk.

The engi could be better. The diatribe you have regurgitated all over this post is in regards to engi lack of cleanse isn’t news. Unfortunately cleanses are a l2p issue you have to pick and choose what you cleanse, when. The ‘fix’ was supposed to be cleanse gyro. That’s all there is to say on the topic.

Sorry you can’t spam cleanse like a bunker ele. Notice how ele can’t make one mistake in dps rotation or they have to start all over. Our blocks deal damage and apply vulnerability. Scrapper is versatile, and packs a punch. Condi classes can be beat. Better tactic is rotate or double up on them ftw.

Keep at it, the frustration subsides as you get more comfortable with engi weirdness.

I mean, you said it yourself: clearly not a priority to anet. If the people creating and serving a community with intent to turn a profit don’t care, and flagrantly delete entire portions of underwater game play, why do you care? What exactly are you fighting underwater?

P.s. rifle with TK, rifle turret, battering ran with static discharge kicker. Anything underwater just melted excluding 2 champion roamer in bloodied coast. Shark and the kuo toa, or lizard man, whatever gw2 calls them.

Hoelbrak goes nicely if you are using AA, though the two do not stack, they work well together. It’s like a tip of the hat to rune of durability. Glassy rune, with a teeny little bit of defense sprinkled on the back end.

Strength I use against teams heavy on elementalist, or warrior, where the dd boost actually helps compensate against meat shields.

I have played around a bit with mara amulet with melandru rune, it isn’t bad at all either.

I often switch out sigil of force for blood, especially if I switch to strength rune. Smoothe 20% dd boost for some faces.

Truly, I am amazed, and borderline ashamed to say, holy OP blast gyro! Like, I swear I have tried this thing in several different scenarios before, and as bad as I want it to work it just hasn’t. Now I may have my unranked blinders on atm, but I have used it in some 30+ games since last night, and it freaking works! Yes you have to be somewhat careful about timing the homing dart throw, but in other news water is wet. Engi is timing. And blast gyro is the kittenbang SNAPdizzle. For the moment, and imo.

Hit the nail on the head with neverwinter. Whole game is a cash grab. Worst offender of p2w mentality out there.

Rapid regen + adaptive armor.

DG your advice should be a sticky on engi forum.

OP, your build options a little clunky. I am assuming first toon, and that you are leveling the old fashioned way. Also great ideas when playing engi. Through the pve learning process you will develop a personal style of play you prefer. This is another huge factor in determining stats and build. I play a hammer build in pvp, but I have a p/p back up in case I notice specific compositions. I play a ‘dead’ static discharge build in almost all pve, and lots of wvw zerg as well. It is because I enjoy it, not because it’s ‘the best’. I can switch my commander’s stats hammer in and out for my berserker rifle for a little extra tank and some in the face melee action. Play what you like, you have the choice by choosing to play engi. What’s awesome is you won’t be jammed into a ‘meta’ unless you start raiding (viper’s and sinister’s gear – bomb condi) or getting into ranked pvp (paladin hammer – currently). Use all the funky stuff engi has but noone ever seems to try. Some is hilariously fun, alot is face-to-brick wall frustrating, but we need engi learning the intricacies and sharing what they find, as OP has. Just my two cents, great posts.

It’s all based on math, we all know this. The complaining OP is complaining about is just part of mmorpg pvp. It is the same in every game.

Imho, gw2 is exceptionally balanced in comparison to games in the same genre. Whenever I get mad at gw2 pvp, I just log into neverwinter online, queue for one game, and remember I am thankful for gw2. Pvp has metas. Stop whining about the whining and either adapt and overcome, roll a meta toon, or uninstall.

It’s exhausting to scroll through pages of this kitten in search of any legit discussions of pvp.

I realize you were seeking ‘non scrapper’ builds, but I have been playing a p/p condi scrapper that seems to do work, and is very viable. It shines the most in stronghold games, for my play style at least.

P/p with sigil of geomancy and sigil of torment.

Rabid or wanderer’s amulet.

Rune of the undead

Firearms 3, 3, 1
Alchemy 2, 2, 3
Scrapper 1, 3, 3

Run HT, EG, rocket boots, elixir b, sneak gyro.

Fast burn application with plenty of cover condi’s. Just have to time your rotation well and you can burst down almost anyone. Enjoy!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vdAQFASlUUhSuYNVwxLQ7FLsFFdwP8J/YcMG/I4IeiBAA-TRSBABDt/w96AMTJIWKFwTDxVK7e4CBAwDEgS1f2MMAEgI4dXmpRERESBknyI-e

Ran this solo through entire HoT story, including mordremoth. Use it in open world for everything, works great. Static discharge with hammer kickers. You melt enemies. Use dodges and double shield if you bite off more than you can chew. Should be no problem 1v1 a chanpion.

Dawdler.8521:

UltraTown.5683:

Haha well “magic glasses” have nothing to do with being able to determine an opponents skill level with the class/build that they are playing. I am simply saying that a competent player on a solid dueling build should be able to beat a scrapper using a gyro focused build. Whether it takes 10 seconds or 10 minutes is not really relevant since there are many other factors to include (hp pool, toughness, dodges, stealth, etc.).

A competent player on a solid dueling build should be able to beat an engineer with any build. Going scrapper doesnt really change that no matter how many gyros you strap under your belt. They have never been considered the better duelist/roamer in WvW afaik. In fact, gyros have made the scrapper far more popular in WvW than the engineer ever was.

Your logic is lacking though, since you are still beating players in your video. Obviously none of them where good players? How about a video where you are fighting really good chronomancers, tempests, berserkers, reapers and maybe even one good engineer that doesnt try to kill you with a flamethrower (lol!).

Happily brought p/p vanilla engi into sapphire ranked games with great results. I definitely run mara hammer now, but p/p is viable with teammates.

Made it to the point where reaper started taking you and the two DH on a stroll around far node 3v1. When I saw you deal damage, it was pitiful. Support was nil, you were basically being carried. Sub elixir s with cleanse gyro for your mates at least.

Uncheck the option of not running through characters/objects, you can stand inside enemy players and hit the AA. No it’s not meta, but if you go glassy hammer, it’s not the worst option for when hammer skills on cd. Thinking stronghold offense maybe.

Leave it the way it is, combine with cleanse gyro, increase CD of cleanse pulse. Defense gyro, boon. Minds blown.

Same old post. They ain’t taking anything back to the drawing board, kids. Adapt and overcome, or re-roll.

Rune of durability gone = mara scrapper nerfed to the ground. Just fyi.

Second, definitely just a lazy play issue, that scrapper was trying so hard, and still wasn’t terribly accurate or fluid in rotation execution. Just frantic healing. Don’t worry pew pew, we are getting the bat hard

David.5974:

Rezzet.3614:

David.5974:

santenal.1054:

Weaponswap cooldown on the engineer? No thanks, I would instead advocate for more kits and making kits usable without having to trait for them (grenade kit explosion radius).

Same here. More kits is best idea which I ever see here.

alrite a Rifle Kit would do i guess

Hehe xD i will welcome this too.. But i think that without cd swap this will be much OP. Could you imagine combo of hammer 5+3 and rifle 5? Other players (classes) want nerf scrapper to the bone and you want bring him nuke button i like your idea much, but i don’t see that it can be real.

Direct damage, sure rifle with hammer. But imagine dropping p/p condi rotation then switching to hammer for the multiple interrupts and hard cc, PLUS direct damage. So OP.

Now that we can wield a melee primary weap, I totally agree we should be given weapon swap. Just like ranger with LB/GS using traps, access to melee and ranged, with choice of melee or ranged skills/utilities. My agreement being said, hammer p/p engi is too op to fathom. It would be more game breaking than recent dd cele ele meta.

Elixir s? You want skills with auto stun break and invlun? Where are you currently finding a use for this in-game? For pvp, sneak gyro and EG do everything that elixir s does, equivalent or better, on top of having multitudes of other applications, that elixir s does. Only time elixir s is useful is in pvp, and only on the auto proc in alchemy. Otherwise it is a wasted utility/elixir slot.

Eh. Disagree. Since latest patch, I have had some seriously heavy teammates.

Bombs are actually pretty effective for condi builds in pve. They can be used in concert with p/p, or hammer condi set ups nicely.

They don’t quite do it in pvp, for me at least. Pvp gets too frantic and fast paced. The moment delay after setting bombs is plenty of time for experienced pvp players to dodge or block. Yes you can cover a node in bombs, but to me, a bomb engi seems like a kiting bunker’s wet dream. This is my opinion in regard to conquest pvp.

Stronghold is another animal altogether. With the tight, back and forth tracking needed to both defend, and to attack enemy offensive npc’s, bombs could work great. The real issue is when it gets congested at bottlenecks or turns, hard cc combined with the multitude of aoe builds running around could bring forth the same issue of effect-delays. Marauder amulet, rune of durability, sigil of air, sigil of blood/energy/force. Hammer, HT, bomb kit, bulwark gyro, blast/cleanse gyro, sneak gyro. Firearms 1, 1, 1, inventions 2, 1, 2, scrapper 3, 2, 2. Designed for escorting breakers. Blast gyro has ‘OK’ damage, if it tracks, and hits, and doesn’t get detroyed while it traverses blades of grass. More importantly, the toolbelt procs aoe super speed. You can substitute cleanse gyro if ream has multiple necro, but you do sacrifice that op toolbelt which is awesome for getting your breakers across the map. Bulwark gyro does its thing keeping you and your npc’s alive under fire. Reflect missues with toolbelt. The secondary use of running gyro is for the lightning fields created when you overload as a result of final salvo. On enemies: damage + daze. The daze also applies 5 stacks of vulnerability, so when you follow up with rocket charge, you ideally wind up applying 20 stacks of vulnerability. Bursts may ensue. On allies, specifically breakers: the fields are a source of super speed which again, is invaluable when moving your breakers between doors. Especially when you haste, then stealth. I feel it would be highly effective.

WvW, same problem as spvp. Maybe against npc’s, just won’t hit often enough or fast enough against enemy players.

Hit casters first. Drop super elixir, acid bomb, rocket charge, right on top of all 5 npc, at the end of a dps rotation all but lord will be down. Sometimes one caster is alive, but just target over and burst down. Lord solo is cake. Just like you would kite any veteran or elite npc.

The only struggle is if a bunker ele shows up, you can’t out dps their heals.

It definitely can, and it definitely does. I can also stack light aura as I rip into enemies by dropping kit and immediately rocket boosting right on top of them. You don’t have to believe it. In fact, I prefer you think I’m wrong, then I don’t ever have to worry about you using it against me.

Current mara hammer meta is essentially a bunker build with the capability of buffing up and dishing pretty decent bursts with short cooldowns. As long as you are using poison to negate heals, and your plethora of retaliation/light aura, you can’t help but manage to kill someone. Buff retaliation, then intentionally step into DH maw trap. Boom, you just killed someone.

If you plan to take rifle into wvw, I would suggest full on zerk. I would also go full static discharge dps. Rifle with HT, TK, rifle turret, battering ram. Can also take utility goggles for stunbreak, and if you have a target, proc toolbelt right before you open up your rotation for maximum burst. Mortar or sneak gyro for elite.

Firearms 2, 2, 3
Tools 3, 3, 3
Explosives 1, 3, 3

Sub scrapper 1, 3, 3 for tankier build

This is an advanced build pre HoT. Now it’s borderline suicidal if you don’t know the build and pvp with engi alot. It’s also a blast in zerg, exceptionally effective against bunkere ele if timed right, you can solo eotm bosses.

Throw in knight’s/traveler’s hammer, couple knight’s ascended rings, switch firearms to 1, 1, 1 or 2, 1, 1. This seems to work better in my experience, and I solo roam alot.

Gl, hit me up if you have questions.

+1.

I am not a fan of getting caught in a gravity well, but I also don’t see is as quite the issue dragon maw can be, especially in the hands of experienced players. That being said, if we could get a little bolder aoe-circle when approaching, could be enough warning to apply appropriate retaliation and regen.

There is nothing quite as satisfying as bombing an overzealous DH with their own rotation.

Gravity well can be countered with paying attention, and timi ng stun breaks. Doesn’t do the nuke level damage like maw either, imo.