Curse

Hackforth · Jul 01, 2010, 04:46 PM // 16:46

Hi

To be clear from the start, I am posting about two separate builds. I would really appreciate advice and insight on either or both of them. I have been playing around and not getting any ideas on where to take either build or concept.

I've been struggling, like most people it seems, to find a good working build for my Dervish. I have been doing fine and at the Gate of Pain, but I just dont know how much I contribute compared to other characters.

I only have Nightfall atm, but I am seriously considering buying the other chapters because it will open up some significantly useful skills.

A build I have been running for the moment has been

Heart of Fury
Mystic Vigor
Wild Blow
Victorious Sweep
Chilling Victory
Eternal Aura
Avatar or Balthazar/Grenth
Conviction

I am considering Throwing out one of my skills for Sand Shards for some extra DPS. Thinking Mystic Vigor if I am going to be using Grenth. Or where else could I take this? Generally my skills seem to be available quickly enough without me needing Zealous Renewal. Still on the whole it is a very generic bleh character without any really strength or role.

The second build I've just started experimenting with using Heart of the Holy Flame, Sand Shards, Aura of Thorns & Mystic sandstorm. The First thee all have an enchantment time of 30seconds, which is great because it allows you to have the skills ready before you enter a battle with full energy, then Mystic Sandstorm effectively causes bleeding, 19 damage per second, burning and 90 earth damage. Is there any potential in this concept which is really workable?

The Hardest part seems to be positioning yourself for maximum effect, and often you only hit about three enemies with the effects, in which case spamming attacks with your Scythe would be just as effective

Thanks in advance

PS I see a lot of people using this format to represent build:

OgChwyE8FzVzF01MZP44mMI
OgCikyrMBgBddBKD+dtexeNTC

How do you read this? Thanks again

raddish · Jul 01, 2010, 06:05 PM // 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hackforth

PS I see a lot of people using this format to represent build:

OgChwyE8FzVzF01MZP44mMI
OgCikyrMBgBddBKD+dtexeNTC

How do you read this?

Copy it, put it into the skill template on GW and it will show the attributes+skills your using

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hackforth

Is there any potential in this concept which is really workable?

I've seen it been used before in general PvE, and as a PvP spike. Both worked, and with some improvements, I could see this working well in PvE, if you took some tank skills, for example, ran in, got a mob to ball onto you, used Mystic Sandstorm and then got your heroes+henchies to run in and clean up

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hackforth

I am considering Throwing out one of my skills for Sand Shards for some extra DPS. Thinking Mystic Vigor if I am going to be using Grenth. Or where else could I take this?

I'd drop conviction or Mystic Vigor, assuming your backline has enough healing+protection to keep you alive without it. I'd try and avoid dropping eternal aura because of its unique ability to recharge your Avatar, unless you dont want the Avatar on all the time.

Hope I helped answer some questions.

Desert Rose · Jul 01, 2010, 06:27 PM // 18:27

Armor bonus from skills only stack up to 25, so if you use Avatar or Balthazar and Conviction you'll only get the +40 armor from AoB.

If you use Aura of holy Might (Factions) or other skills that increase your damage per hit (i.e. Order of Pain (Necro), Strength of Honor (Monk), etc.) you should use Eremite's Attack and Mystic Sweep as your main attack skills; both will increase your attack rate so much that they would be better than any other attack skill even if they wouldn't give any +damage at all.

Mystic Vigor - instead of using a skill that heals yourself often a skill that reduces the damage you take in the first place or a skill deals damage (dead monster deal no damage anymore) is more useful.

Mystic Sandstorm - You can use Pious Renewal and some fast recharging enchantments and remove everything with Mysitc Sandstorm; Pious Renewal will give its boni for every enchantment removed in this way. Sadly, a similar build was used heavily during the Nightfall Preview weekend and ANet nerfed this build quite hard so it's only good against low level foes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hackforth

PS I see a lot of people using this format to represent build:

OgChwyE8FzVzF01MZP44mMI
OgCikyrMBgBddBKD+dtexeNTC

How do you read this? Thanks again

http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Special:PvXDecode
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/p...97#post4771597

Hackforth · Jul 01, 2010, 08:30 PM // 20:30

Thank you both! Thats useful to know!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert Rose

Armor bonus from skills only stack up to 25, so if you use Avatar or Balthazar and Conviction you'll only get the +40 armor from AoB....you should use Eremite's Attack and Mystic Sweep as your main attack skills; both will increase your attack rate so much that they would be better than any other attack skill even if they wouldn't give any +damage at all.

Thanks! I did not actually know that about the armor, just revised the wiki page and looks like I skipped over that last time! And I've only notice now that unlike Victorious Sweep, for example, that those skills have activation times. I always assumed all attack skills work at the rate of your attacks!

@ Desert Rose: Do you think the Mystic Sandstorm build got nerfed on the whole? Or only one using Pious Renewal? I've only recently started playing again and I remember this kind of thing use to be far more effective with the dervish when Nightfall was released. I feel a bit confused between your comment on the nerfing and Raddish's remark that it could work effectively.

At the moment if I think about the role of this character it is to inflict conditions and stay alive. So I am using AoB + Armor of Sanctity to stay alive (and inflict weakness) While using the sandstorm mix mentioned in my opening post to keep inflicting conditions and earth damage. Eternal Aura give me a nice recharge on my skills and some extra area damage. I have one slot free which currently has Heart of Fury in it. Not sure if that is better than Emerites attack or some other skill for this purpose, since atm I have no attack skills.

With regards to my First build I've swapped skills in accordance with advice and he looks something like this now

Sand Shards
Heart of Fury
Mystic Sweep
Emerites Attack
Chilling Victory
Eternal Aura
Conviction
Avatar of Lyssa

Keep renewing the 1st two enchantments and hack away. Lyssa should give nice damage bonus as well

Thanks so much! this has already helped a lot!

Bobby2 · Jul 01, 2010, 09:24 PM // 21:24

You'd want to max out on Mysticism and Scythe Mastery, leaving Earth Prayer damage quite lacklustre ---> ditch Sand Shards, I'd say Conviction as well but meh.

Instead, look to Wind Prayers; Attacker's Insight in particular as it's already very effective at low spec, should help immensely with Chilling Spam.

Sand Shards ----> Attacker's Insight
Heart of Fury
Mystic Sweep
Emerites Attack
Chilling Victory
Eternal Aura
Conviction ----> Whirlwind Attack? idk
Avatar of Lyssa