Guild Wars 2

Cam Ron.4170:

Anchoku.8142:

Axe auto-attack will see a 10% damage buff that may equate to 3-6% overall but axe is kind of a support weapon in that it applies vulnerability. Minions or groups without sufficient vuln application see a good damage increase because of it but axe is strictly single-target.

In contrast, the next shorter range weapon, dagger, does a lot of direct damage while the next longer range weapon, scepter, does a lot of condition damage. Axe is a group support weapon that multiplies damage for everyone.

Still, I run axe a lot mostly for the channel and the movement flexibility a little bit of range provides over dagger. Dagger’s short range means I have to constantly chase, and more often face-tank, moving targets or risk dps on missed attacks.

Actually, axe auto-attack isn’t getting a damage buff, that’s the axe #2 ghastly claws that is getting 10% damage buff. However, since the attack animation is becoming more “fluid” I bet the auto sees a bit of dps increase as well.

Right now I use axe for solo roaming because I do a lot of damage damage in death-shroud, and I heard the 10% damage increase while wielding an axe (master trait in spite) works for lifeblast in death-shroud. If it wasn’t for this trait working with DS I’d use the dagger simply for damage. After the patch both weapons get improved, but the dagger gets a bigger boost IMO. Really considering going dagger once patchhits but not sure.

This touches on alot of the reasons I chose Axe over Dagger, 10% extra lifeblast damage, kiting potential and #2 tracking on stealth make the weapon feel very useful. Any impromptu teamfighting and the weapon set really shines with all the vuln being thrown around and boon removal.

I’m debating if with the upcoming patch something like this specifically for small group roaming would be good. Axe/Focus traits for faster boon removal, shroud cooldown condi removal and stability traits for survivability and shroud stomps/rez’s. Melandru runes and Lemongrass for -65% condi duration to help with all the condi Plague pulls in.

I feel like I’d lose way too much damage though, 20% less crit chance and no Deathly Perception.

I’ve been having some success with running just a straight axe/foci zerker DS 60206 build but it feels incredibly lacking against condi setups and warrior hammer builds. Anything past 1v1 and I seem to get creamed, but admittedly I’m running zerks and should just expect that.

Is this just a L2P issue or am I trying to put a square peg in a round hole?

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=V10;3kHFF0A4ZJkJ0;9;4T-9-T17B;15;313BIcW5U;1t_MTt_MTo-kKcFP7;2V1-60B1G2LZR_-a0Ps0V;9;9;9;9;9;9;0VAk3B

Sarcasm aside the minion names blocking out the sun thing in tpvp right now IS getting old fast. I haven’t seen like anything but MM’s all day lol.

ellesee.8297:

because the blood tree is not that good.

Figured.

Been trying this trait lately on a D/D power build and so far I’ve been loving it. Is it mostly not used because of the wasted minors and healing power?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fQQQNAoYWjMaN7RbGb87JgZGZrN0jex154DFD-jUyAYLioRyPIZJI0nol9KiGblsIasKbM9LRUtxvIa1SBMqyI-w

Build I’ve been running, iffy on the signets at times, the power from Spites passive is nice and I love Undeath but Plague Signet grabbing condis from nearby allies can be… frustrating. Been swapping it out for Well of Power sometimes with mixed results.

Dredlord.8076:

I like the build and ran a similar setup in wvw for a bit

I found I was squishy and what helped the most was slotting terror (shame to have that much condi damage and not use it) and spectral wall

take spectral wall instead of the well

use rare pizza and runes of the traveller, 40% condi dur > 100 power you get less might dur, instead some boon dur but at least it applies to your fury protection and retaliation instead of just might. 25% speed from the runes is must have in wvw.

80% fear dur will help alot with the low vit and toughness as will the protection on wall

Huge burst with bleed stack > terror > axe 2

The whole gimmick of this when I came up with it was the constant might uptime, without that the build has mediocre damage with no defense to show for it. Dropping the 20% Corruption recharge and 60% Might duration puts me down to like, 12 sec(?) Might. For any good fight that’s gonna have me down to 1900 power 1100 condi damage pretty early in.

As far as condi duration, I’m already sitting at 93% on scepter bleeds, which is somewhere around 10 seconds. If I really wanted to drag out some more bleed uptime I’d get myself a Giver scepter and be at 103%. The 25% speed boost is something that is annoying admittedly, I’ve taken to just running Signet of the Locust over Epidemic when I’m solo roaming and needing to get around fast. Otherwise in a zerg you should be able to manage to get in some of the group swiftness.

As much as I get what you’re saying this is a power build with decent bleeds for sustained pressure, not a condi build with axe burst. If I had wanted to go that route I’d just take my Terrormancer build, swap some Carrion gear in and be there a heck of a lot easier.

Some small changes to the sigils and equipment. http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fQQQRAnY7YjMap7Vaub87JEpCYD0jdpWAxoHEjxkMA-jkCBIMFRjmCIaUFK0kIA5PFRjtKcas1hBRVjIqWZDz4rIa1yA4vGA-w

Nay of the Ether.8913:

If it were me running it, just as a personal preference I’d want to run well of corruption rather than suffering. yes it does less damage, but you can flip boons. Also spiteful spirit rarely is beneficial because unless you’re really getting pounded on, it runs out long before you ever get hit (and if you’re getting pounded that hard in DS they could care less about your measly 3 seconds of retaliation). Spiteful removal is invaluable in wvw, especially if you manage to tag plenty of people, you have near constant condi removal. On your axe set, don’t use sigil of earth, since 1: you already have it on your offhand, it will share the cd, and 2, your axe one would most likely share a cd with it too. Use geomancy rune instead for bleeds on swap. (your axe one and 2nd dagger offhand earth one will prob share a cd too but that’s negligible imo)

Other than those little things I noticed, your stats all look good and the build looks solid. Again, the well thing is just a personal preference. You’ll prob get along just fine with WoS. You’re gonna be squishy as hell though, so good luck with the ganker warrior and thieves.

I’ve been swapping between all the wells actually, Suffering provides good aoe damage for flipping camps or PvE content. Corruption is great for zerg fighting, changing not only your conditions but allies. Power has been nice anytime I need a stunbreaker, good for thieves particularly. Haven’t messed with Darkness come to think of it… hmm.

Spiteful Removal is what I’ve been swapping to specifically for zerging, but Spiteful Spirit is great for solo roams since you want to swap into DS early into the fight for the Fury.

Actually the earth sigil isn’t an issue because 1 I changed the Axe to a Battle, and 2 the dagger is the same one for both sets.

My biggest issue is how squishy it is, but I don’t want to sacrifice the damage to make up for it honestly. Unless I’m roaming with someone or in a zerg I’m gonna need that damage, cause there really is no mobility to speak of in this set if I can’t burst em down I surely ain’t getting away.

Updated with more information.

Xavi.6591:

I’m not sure I would use rampager’s in wvw either. GC thief will down you in 2-3 hits.

Same as he would on my power spec I suppose. It’s definitely a squishy build to be sure, You’d have to manage everything properly to live past that burst.

Elvahaduken.3609:

hello, is this for wvw/pve/pvp?

WvW primarily, would work in PvE though I’d imagine. Wouldn’t touch the Rampager’s gear in PvP period though.

Everything for this looks fantastic I just can’t shake the feeling I’m forgetting something.

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=V-0;3kHVB0G4RIkJ0;9;4TT9;047A16A3;6LJG1KZF4qOrTvG6S10FMc6JYTcbycHVMWRXW2bZh41uVIF310;517V-17V;9;9;9;9;2F0;1V5s5R

Edited 9/14: http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fQQQRAnY7YjMap7Vaub87JEpCYD0jdpWAxoHEjxkMA-jkCBIMFRjmCIaUFK0kIA5PFRjtKcas1hBRVjIqWZDz4rIa1yA4vGA-w

I’m mostly iffy about some of the trait choices and whether or not it has enough defense, 21k HP with 2200 Armor isn’t exactly outstanding.

EDIT: Just filling this in a bit after fielding some questions from guildies and others.

The build is based around opening with stacking on your crit proc chance condis with scepter/dagger, then BiP into Deathly Swarm and swap to Axe and bursting with Ghastly Claws.

BiP as a utility should be fairly obvious, WoS is mainly a panic button skill for theives/warriors to get protection and put down some direct damage on top of you, could sub it for WoP. Epidemic I’m iffy on tbh, been swapping between it and Signet of Locust.

and as someone on Reddit pointed out, there are two crit chance sigils on the axe/dagger set. Mainly what you want from that set is the flame proc during Ghastly Claws burst, but if that doesn’t proc the bleeding procs are always nice. I’ve been debating dropping one of those for a battle but with the ridiculous uptime of BiP with I don’t feel the need to try and stack more honestly.

Using Battle sigil with Earth and Agony on scepter now.

Nike.2631:

Just mentioned this earlier .

I was mulling over what I’d like to see for Necro Pistol/Pistol. The idea is the main hand is a conditionmancer theme. The off-hand has some possibilities for bunkers by creating minons. Paired up they should just smoothly mesh .

1. Withering Shot (normal shot with necromantic colors/FX) – 60% chance to randomly apply a condition: crippled (4 seconds), torment (4 seconds), vulnerability (4 seconds), or Weakness (4 seconds).
2. Hateful Ammo – Extra lifeforce gain based on number of conditions on necromancer. On crit transfers 1 condition from necromancer to target.
3. Black Penny (inducted shot) – +3% critical chance and critical damage per unique condition on target.
4. Bloodshot – inflicts 3 stack of bleeding (5 seconds). On critical summons a jagged horror at target’s location.
5. Final warning (shoots fired into the air) – PBAoE fear

The related trait would be something like~

Boneslinger (Spite Master): Your pistol skill cooldowns are reduced by 20% and your pistol critical chance is increased by 3%

Out of all the weapon ideas popping up lately this one still strikes me as the best one I’ve heard. It even sounds like it would mesh will with existing triats and gear (I’m imagining a Rampager’s setup with Terror and Death Nova).

It even matches with some small bits from Sea of Sorrows if I remember right. I swear there was a bit towards the end where the more powerful undead had pistol shots that had a black corruption effect to them.

Would you pick certain utilities for certain maps? ie Swapping in Spectral Grasp for Spirit Watch to pull orb runners back.

Is there any way you guys can give us the skulls that make up most of these as a dye channel? The fact they don’t match my Adam or Deathwish at all is starting to bug me.

Either implement it or whitelist the original, don’t be a stick in the mud Anet.