New builds theory-crafting

[tanithryudo]

Old builds
Optimal Build suggestions


Guardian: (Zerk/Sin legs/rings?)
Lazy BurnDmg
(Forum suggestions: ZerkerDmg)

Engineer: (Rings?)
Rifle PistolShield

Ranger:
Silverwastes Dry Top

Elementalist: (zerk wand, knight focus)
Tequatl General

Mesmer: (Assassin rings, Rampager staff)
GS/General DryTop/SW

Thief:
Ninja

Warrior:
Full Sup Centaur rune set + warhorn trait will still let you maintain perma swiftness from just the horn.

Comments

[cashew]

Sharkmaw doable with just half damage. If you jump right, you don't even take damage at all.

I put rifle recharge reduction on engineer because the rifle still is a good burn trigger. Also, cc plus knockback, very useful. And I'm pretty sure the rifle 5 is an explosion, so more vulnerability, yay. Rifle is also the longest range weapon an engineer can get, unless using mortar rounds, which are pretty meh compared to the more useful supply crate. Mortar kit is only useful in group events where the fields can be used, and even then, it's probably more melee distance anyway. Point is, engineer is pretty much stuck in mid-to-melee range.

When running pistol/shield, I put shield recharge on, because shield. And throwing. Yay! Yes, I'm shallow like that.

Have not run staff on mes. Staff seems kind of pointless on mes, since you can't focus burning and good luck trying to maintain any stacks of condi on enemies. GS + S/F seems to be the way to go. But, maybe should try it out in personal missions to see if GS is still as good as it was before. I put lotsa reflect on Mesmer due to using her to farm Teq. Also used mantra condition removal, because 3 instan-condi-removal is very useful.

P.S. Besides Guard and Mez, are there any other classes that benefit from using a focus? There's so many cool focus skins that I wanna be able to use them all. :p

[tanithryudo]

Yeah, Sharkmaw turned out to be not really an issue. Even without fall damage traits, it's doable by landing on a lower ledge sticking out slightly on the left, and then jumping down to the water after that.

Engi:

Still conflicted about running rifle vs pistol/shield on my engi. Longer range isn't really a plus anymore, since everything else is mid/close range, and with traits the best damage is done pretty much in melee range. I have celestial armor / rabid trinkets on my engi, so I do get decent condi damage from pistol skills.

Also, I have a very pretty shield skin and it's not like my guardian or warrior will ever use shield. I dunno, maybe when HoT comes out and shield turns out to be a better choice for mesmer or revenant, I'll switch them to shield and switch engi to rifle.

Mesmer:

I thought I heard from somewhere that base staff damage scales pretty good with power (or maybe that was for necro? I forget). But I guess I should rename Staff/Util to Drytop/SW build. Mainly cuz I'm stuck taking the Chaos spec for the fall damage trait even though the rest of that line is pretty underwhelming.

Also, the condi skills on staff will help with modrem mobs like husks which are extra-resistant against direct damage anyways. And the extra mobility is good for disengaging from fights, which comes up a lot in those zones.

Still, I've not tested the staff build so this is all theory-crafting.

For general PvE, I'd still go with GS and the Illusion spec line. And for tagging mobs in mass fights I'd be relying on mantra of pain/sword+focus most of the time anyways.

Focus:

I hear dagger/focus and scepter/focus is meta for elementalists in dungeon/fractals. I don't have the patience to learn the might stacking rotation for s/f, or whatever the deal is with d/f though.

[cashew]

Engi:

Rifle good for jumping puzzles. If you're talking about range vs. damage, rifle still out performs pistol via rifle 3. Very powerful attack. Plus, rifle has better recharge than pistol/shield. Pistol, on the other hand, is very good at bleeding, which can serve as a proc for other conditions.

Personally, I prefer the pistol/shield, but damage wise, it's less powerful. I definitely notice that I kill faster when running rifle (even if I use plenty kits, since kits are mostly better for en-mass damage, whereas weapon is more economical and faster in 1v1). The only time pistol out performs rifle is when I had piercing bullets, but that's no longer a trait. *sadface*

Mesmer:

The other reason I'm resistant to staff usage is because I can't find a good staff skin. Honestly, none of the staff skins appeal to me. *sadpandaface again*

Focus:
Huh. If scepter/focus is a viable weapon, I'm totally gonna put the ele on toy scepter and bell focus skins. XD Yeah, mostly shallow thoughts when it comes to these things. But that's a while off.

P.S. Please respond to my journal entry. *pokepokepoke*