Curse

SkekSister · Aug 21, 2008, 10:06 AM // 10:06

I’ve recently started playing the game through again in hard mode, but have been unsure quite what sort of build is most effective to run with.

Now I realise different missions have different requirements, and different team builds likewise but as an all purpose build I have been using the following setup.

[build prof=D/W][avatar of melandru][eternal aura][conviction][heart of fury][wild blow][distracting blow][zealous sweep][faithful intervention][/build]

Using a zealous max scythe.

My thinking with this setup is that although I lack a great deal of damage skills, I can fairly well manage my energy, am condition immune have some IAS and can interrupt and break stances with the two warrior skills. Also the FI is handy for when the monk takes his eye off the ball and my health dips a bit too low. I’m still playing with points n rune setup but it’s mostly going into mysticism and Scythe mastery.

What do you folks think of my setup? I know it’s probably not very original but I’m not claming it is … It appears to work alright, but I am sure there is room for improvement.

Comments, crits, advice all appreciated. Just to restate it, this build is for HM PvE, missions and vanquishing.

Cheers

daze · Aug 21, 2008, 10:09 AM // 10:09

Mainly when playing through HM, DPS takes a backseat to utility. Dervs are great for spamming conditions which does its damage, but it also helps your party members wipe out enemies as well.

and since you are already using [[avatar of melandru] there is no reason not to add [wearying strike]
as stated in other threads [avatar of melandru] + [wearying strike] = spamming deep wound with no side effect. not too shabby
then you may want some extra defense so naturally [armor of sanctity] is a great choice due to the spammage of conditions
since you already like [[faithful intervention] and you probably like [[heart of fury] you really should add [mystic regeneration] which should be part of any enchantment- heavy build

here is what i would use
[avatar of melandru][eternal aura][faithful intervention][armor of sanctity][heart of fury][mystic regeneration][wearying strike][finish him]

obsidian ectoplasm · Aug 21, 2008, 10:32 AM // 10:32

If your monks are players and are good ofcourse you shouldent really need any self heal

GourangaPizza · Aug 21, 2008, 10:39 AM // 10:39

There are already tons of threads on this subject but nevertheless I'm going to regurgitate some of the stuff discussed.

[Mystic Regeneration] is a waste of slot. The hero/hench does a great job in healing. What you need is [Aura of Holy Might] + [Attacker's Insight] for [Chilling Victory] loveliness.

[Wounding Strike] is norm but not a necessity. Try [Avatar of Lyssa] + [Radiant Scythe] for huge damage spike.

daze · Aug 21, 2008, 10:50 AM // 10:50

normally when you have a good team with 2 strong monks you can do fine in hard mode. But since it is Hard mode, taking a little pressure off of the monks is never a bad thing. That way you can give monks the opportunity to focus their attention/energy towards the rest of the players. Since monk heroes suck bawls when it comes to energy management anyways.
[[avatar of lyssa] is a fun build to bring, it gives you the option of going very enchantment heavy
like [avatar of lyssa][faithful intervention][mystic regeneration][eternal aura][staggering force][aura of holy might][radiant scythe][mystic sweep]

But if you dont like mystic regeneration, you are welcome to swap it out with basically any skill you deem is better. that is the good thing about derv, the skills have lots of synergies

Cebe · Aug 21, 2008, 10:57 AM // 10:57

If you want to take the pressure off your monks in Hard Mode:

[Ebon Dust Aura]

or

[Avatar of Melandru] + [Draw Conditions]

Hard Mode casters can be sorted out by targetting a Mesmer hero on one and having it cast Arcane Conundrum with a stack load of interrupts.

Hard Mode physicals are what really pump out the pressure in hard mode. EDA Blind-Spam sorts out the men from the boys here.

The key thing is to change your build depending on where you're fighting. For example...it's pointless going Avatar of Melandru in an area which lacks conditions...

Quote:

Originally Posted by GourangaPizza

The hero/hench does a great job in healing. What you need is [Aura of Holy Might] + [Attacker's Insight] for [Chilling Victory] loveliness.

I'm going to /sign this. Wounding Strike + Chilling Victory + Splinter Weapon (cast by a hero) is amazing, but does greatly benefit from Attacker's Insight in order to power it.

Clearly also Aura of Holy Might makes EDA useless - just something to bear in mind.

daze · Aug 21, 2008, 11:00 AM // 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

[Avatar of Melandru] + [Draw Conditions]

ooh very nice, so obvious of a choice and i cant believe i didnt think about it earlier. I have to use that. this inspires me to try to make a whole build based around self causing conditions + [[avatar of melandru]. time to research

Zidane Ortef · Aug 21, 2008, 12:27 PM // 12:27

If I ran a derv i would do this i think

[build prof=Dervish/Warrior box desc="Scythe Master 12+1+1{br}Mysticism 12+1{br}Zealous Scythe of Fortitude"][Wounding Strike][Wild Blow][Eremite's Attack][Asuran Scan][Aura of Holy Might][Optional][Zealous Renewal][Faithful Intervention][/build]

Optional Slot: [Heart of Fury]or[Drunken Master]

Something along that lines [Asuran Scan]+[Aura of Holy Might]=3digit numbers i run a W/D with Warriors Endurance with those two skills and its godly.

This is my Warriors build:

[build prof=Warrior/Dervish Template Code="OQoiExpMFUwc1cZU8WO6ZXoKCA" box desc="Strength 12+1+1{br}Scythe Master 12"][Wild Blow][Mystic Sweep][Eremite's Attack][Protector's Strike][Asuran Scan][Aura of Holy Might][Warrior's Endurance][Drunken Master][/build]

xakia · Aug 21, 2008, 03:36 PM // 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zidane Ortef

If I ran a derv i would do this i think

[build prof=Dervish/Warrior box desc="Scythe Master 12+1+1{br}Mysticism 12+1{br}Zealous Scythe of Fortitude"][Wounding Strike][Wild Blow][Eremite's Attack][Asuran Scan][Aura of Holy Might][Optional][Zealous Renewal][Faithful Intervention][/build]

Optional Slot: [Heart of Fury]or[Drunken Master]

Something along that lines [Asuran Scan]+[Aura of Holy Might]=3digit numbers i run a W/D with Warriors Endurance with those two skills and its godly.

This is my Warriors build:

[build prof=Warrior/Dervish Template Code="OQoiExpMFUwc1cZU8WO6ZXoKCA" box desc="Strength 12+1+1{br}Scythe Master 12"][Wild Blow][Mystic Sweep][Eremite's Attack][Protector's Strike][Asuran Scan][Aura of Holy Might][Warrior's Endurance][Drunken Master][/build]

For a Derv, you could always use zealous Vow as well and it wouldn't hurt to replace Protector's Strike with Crippling Sweep if you're assigned to watch your Monk's backs when something gets through.

-Lotus- · Aug 21, 2008, 04:47 PM // 16:47

Okie, first off. no offense, but those of you that havent played a dervish off of istan please stop trying to give advise. Its really obvious that you dont know what you're talking about and your making yourselves look stupid.

anyways

the builds I use in HM:
[Wounding;OgGikysMBgBdlTGDeVIDKuJAAA]
[Melandru;OgijEOpMLTBYNXQXyX9gygqiJXA]
[Lyssa;OgGikysMFUwc1cNTGf1DKDKuBA](more normal mode i guess)

the main problems with your builds:
-You lack [Aura of Holy Might]. this skill by itself can easily double your damage even at a low rank.
-It has been mentioned that you are missing [Wearying strike]. this is the skill that makes melandru worth the energy cost.
-Conviction makes you spread into three attributes. as a dervish, you barely ever need to look outside of scythe mastery and mysticism.
-I would rather have a rez or a ridiculous PvE skill than faithful intervention.

other than that its pretty good.

Snow Bunny · Aug 21, 2008, 04:52 PM // 16:52

If this is PvE only...

[avatar of melandru][aura of holy might][eternal aura][asuran scan][wearying strike][heart of fury][attacker's insight][optional]

I promise you that you'll do enough damage with this.

SkekSister · Aug 21, 2008, 07:03 PM // 19:03

Cool thanks for all the good advice people. I'll test out a few of these tonight and see which best suits me.

Despite owning all the GW campaigns I have not touched Factions or EotN yet so I can't try some of the suggestions, sadly lackin AoHM right now, but I'll get working on that over the coming bank holiday weekend.