Curse

The Sovereign · Aug 05, 2008, 09:44 PM // 21:44

I have several questions in regards to the Ritualist build. (I've read the new player guide sticky). First of all, if I wanted to create a MB, would it be better to be a Necromancer primary, or a ritualist primary? From the sounds of it, Necro seems superior. And what of this spirit spammer type I keep hearing so much about? What happened that caused it to become so "weak," as some believe. What is the best thing Ritualists have to offer, from the offensive-side of things (I have a monk already, I'm not interested in a healing type) - that is to say, what is the best offensive PVE build and why? What would be the best secondary to go with?

PS: I'm not familiar with many of the short forms used on these forums

xSifox · Aug 05, 2008, 10:44 PM // 22:44

Well for an MB, a Rit would be great if you add in Spirit's Gift, Explosive Growth, and Boon of Creation. It's good energy management, + health, + damage too.

A necro, will give Soul Reaping, doing the same purpose as two of the skills I mentioned up there.

So, 3 extra skills as a Rit, which are quite helpful, and 1 attribute, for Necro. You decide

The other questions, I can't fully help since I'm not that leet of a Rit, but yeah. There's your MB question.

Bowstring Badass · Aug 05, 2008, 10:49 PM // 22:49

Last time I checked Soul Reaping doesn't give health or extra damage.

xSifox · Aug 05, 2008, 10:54 PM // 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowstring Badass

Last time I checked Soul Reaping doesn't give health or extra damage.

Sorry, I ment only the energy one :P

but I'm just saying, if having an extra skill is a hassle for you, go with Necro. If it isn't, then go with Rit, and save a few attribute points for something else.

Bowstring Badass · Aug 05, 2008, 10:58 PM // 22:58

Seeing how he would spec into those areas any way no lost attribs. If you do run a MB run a hero with death nova.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3039479

Check that thread out. It has builds and ideas for minion bombing.

xSifox · Aug 05, 2008, 11:02 PM // 23:02

True. Well, anyways a Necro will have Soul Reaping attribute, giving you great energy.

A Rit, you get Spawning Power, providing you the energy, health, and damage with the 3 skills mentioned.

So... they're both pretty balanced. Rits have energy + health + damage, but losing 3 skill slots, while Necros have their primary attributes give them energy per death surrounding them.

Genius Was Revrac · Aug 06, 2008, 12:11 AM // 00:11

As far as offensive builds are concerned these are some of my favorite. I do use max PVE skills which i include and i will offer a few suggestions on alternates. All builds run 16 Chan 12 Mark 3 Spawning
1.Splinter Weapon
2.Volley
3.Spirit Rift
4.U move like a Dwarf
5.Nightmare Weapon
6.Triple shot
7.Pain Inverter
8.Offering of Spirit(e)
This build has no rez obviously as i use rez scrolls in pve but u can remove a pve skill for rez if u like. This build is an all around damage build that can unleash a 280-320 burst to 4targets at the same time via Spirit Rift first followed by Splinter Volley. Individual targets that not group up for AoE bursts can be knocked down by U move like a dwarf and spiked with Nightmare Triple. Pain Inverter is an around useful skill for taking out bosses or any target using AoE damage. Some Options if u do not have the PVE skills are Ancestors Rage for even More AoE damage or Spirit's like Bloodsong or Favorable Winds so u do not sacrifice health using OoS. For a pure Aoe Burst build include I am the Strongest,Spirit Rift, Ancestors Rage, Splinter/Volley. Oh last thing....many ppl wonder why i use OoS....its called Energy management duh. Also +5e bow+ zealous bowstring is needed as this build sucks energy even with OoS. Regardless i think u will find that the damage output is ridiculous and its really fun to watch the numbers fly.

Bargamer · Aug 06, 2008, 02:31 AM // 02:31

I've answered this kind of question before in the linked thread. Having played both classes, and both kinds of Minion Bombers, here's my take:

Necro-mains (and Soul Reaping) gain energy upon deaths of non-Spirit stuff, 3 times every 15 seconds. Therefore, if things are not dying, they're not getting enough energy. Additionally, not everything that dies (that's not a Spirit,) gives you Energy. And Necros need lots of Energy to power their rather expensive, powerful spells. More so, when they have to stop and cast minion-heals. They are always teetering on the edge of disaster, because if they're constantly blowing up their minions to do damage, at the end of battle, when everything is dead already, they're left with fewer minions compared to their max, and little Energy. Necro-main BOMBERS usually take along the more expensive, more "durable" Shambling Horrors, and complement them with Fiends and/or Golems, which need heals. Usually, your average Necros are Minion MASTERS, who are all Fiends, all the time, for the superior DPS. They have ONE strategy, and they do it extremely well. Switching strategies mid-battle usually range from difficult to impossible. Necros are riskier and 1-dimensional, but more powerful. Necro-main MMs are very common, and with the introduction of the Minion Cap, Necros can no longer make upwards of 30+ minions, which makes it difficult nowadays to tell the good ones from the bad ones in your average PUG.

Ritualist-mains gain energy through creation, whether it's directly through Boon of Creation, or indirectly through Jagged Bones. Every time something is created, they get that Boon Energy, a critical difference in tempo from the Necro. The relevant Ritualist Enchantments last a long time, and even longer with a Enchanting Mod on their Staff. Yes, they can be stripped. Ritualists have to take cheap Necro spells, but they use them quite well. Ritualists have a lower Minion Cap, which they use to their advantage sometimes to force minions to die, and thus explode. At the end of battle, Ritualists are still fresh for the fight. They employ multiple strategies, and do them respectably well. But at the same time, switching strategies is key to the Ritualist concept. Ritualists are a safer bet and multi-dimensional, but slightly less powerful than the Necro. Ritualist/Necro MBs are quite rare, and you can usually tell the good ones from the bad ones strictly by skill bar. Those with access to Nightfall and EOTN skills are good and even more rare, those with only Factions skills are bad, but usually competent.

Spirit Spammers are Ritualists who compensate for the low HP and weakness to the Burning condition of their Spirits by re-casting their Spirits very rapidly, sometimes even before they die of other things. You can only have one spirit of a certain type up at a time, with the newer one replacing the old. However, you can have as many different spirits as you can keep up with. These Spirits have different effects, depending on the spell. Some do damage, and some are support or healing or Prot-like.

The "best" offensive PVE build for the Ritualist, as well as secondary Professions, depends entirely on personal taste. Some people like Channeling, some people enjoy Spirit Spamming, and some people like Minion Bombing. Your build might say what you do, but how well you do it is part of the game's design.

In conclusion, a bad player with an expert build is still a bad player. An expert player with a bad build can make the best of things, but he'll want to swap out skills in town. A good player with a good build that best fits their play style is the best of both worlds. Whether you go Necromancer or Ritualist for your bombing is up to you, but there are many resources you can use for both.

upier · Aug 06, 2008, 06:23 AM // 06:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowstring Badass

Last time I checked Soul Reaping doesn't give health or extra damage.

And all that damage and healing is nearby.
Might as well go necro, with monk secondary and spam [heal party] and crap like [Deathly Swarm] and you'll get a better effect.
Or you could actually go with some good skills.

This is the most important thing:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbobusa

Plus the necro is secondary free allowing you to bring more utility.

Tek · Aug 06, 2008, 07:52 AM // 07:52

Like Bargamer said, it all depends on personal taste. If you're not interested in restoration, you can always do Direct Damage through Channeling and buff party with Weapon Spells. The best damage combo I've seen from a Rit--aside from Splinter Barrage--is echoing Spirit Rift. Even with the 2 second cast time, if you position yourself in the backline with the nukers, you can still get off quite a few Rifts and spike for a shit load of damage. Check my forum "My Ritualist" for some of the builds that I use.