Curse

Aggamemnon · Dec 17, 2006, 11:48 AM // 11:48

Profession: Dervish/Warrior

Name: Grenth's Claw

Type: Alliance Battles, Random Arena.

Category: Damage and Enchant/Stance removal

Attributes:
Mysticism - 15 (11 + Superior and +1 helm)
Wind Prayers - 8 (+1 rune)
Earth Prayers - 6 (+1 rune)
Scythe Mastery - 12 (11 +1 rune)

1. Avatar Of Grenth {Elite} Mysticism
2. Wild Blow
3. Protectors Strike
4. Aura Of Thorns - 1/4 C 12 R
5. Vital Boon - 1 C 8 R
6. Pious Restoration - 1/4 C 4 R
7. Faithful Intervention - 1 C 15 R
8. Res Signet/run skill (AB) OR Twin Moon Sweep.

Weapon of choice is the bonus item Soulbreaker or a pvp Scythe with +30 Health and Armour Penetration mods.

Summary:
Basic Idea is for you to use Grenths form plus the two warrior attack skills to keep removing both stances, and enchantments from multiple targets, with protectors strike (same as my warrior) you can effectively "double strike", the upside as a dervish is you can sweep groups and the bonus is added, removing upwards of 3 stances and 6 enchants.

Use Faithful Intervention before entering combat, save grenths for when you have trouble with monks/spellcasters/other warriors.
Use Vital Boon as you rush in, then aura of thorns to cripple your target/s, quickly remove with pious restoration (or twin moon) to cover with bleed. Also use pious to clear upto two hexes, as long as faithful intervention is active, great against SS and such, even if backfired, vital boon will buffer.
With the Dervish's main skill constantly giving back energy + health you have a lot of survivability in arena, and with the multi target stripping effect a lot of utility in AB.

Notes & Concerns:
Firstly, as with any enchant Dervish, if you have a team monk, be sure to pay more attention to your enchant combo, so as not to waste/remove beneficial enchantments in tricky situations.
You can have problems versus a Av of Dwayna CoP spammer, or multiple Dervs, as you trigger their removal chant, this can also help to ruin there combos, but generally you are able to outlast them.
Mesmer, Drain enchantment then Shatter Enchantments, could be troublesome if cast at the right time, but with the high recharge, wouldn't put much stress on the build.
The main weakness of the build is energy denial and blackout/diversion, since I am not a warrior, I rely on skills to fight, mainly the casting and recasting of my enchantmentss, and use of my attack skills to trigger my grenths form special.
Blindness can be tricky as my only offensive spell is for conditions not damage. Again in a team game this wouldn't matter, as our monk typically would have mend/remove condition.

Credit: Myself for the build, testing, and working out the kinks to get the best effect from Grenths. Pretty sure this is a new Derv build, as I came up with it on the first open event.
Big Thanks to my Guild, esp. Illuminus, and Schleicher (eddo) who are my reliable partners in AB and Team fights.
Another thanks to the people over at Kai for throwing some arguments etc at my build (none of em hit on it though

)

Thanks, Agga.

necrosfeelyaks · Dec 20, 2006, 12:53 AM // 00:53

your build is uniqe.. mainly because it really isnt all that applicable because it dosent have much dmging attacks or an IAS or speed boost. The most useful avatar forms (grenth and Mealndrus) benefit from IAS and speed boost. Grenth is great for removing enchants, but a common skill to use instead of protectors is mystic sweep because of its quick swing time and dmg with enchantments actually linked to att ur using. As for Wild blow.. its used all over the place on dervs. I would never use your variation of the build, but nice try.

ogami_ito · Dec 20, 2006, 04:05 AM // 04:05

I agree that Mystic Sweep is better than Protector's Strike. Same thing really but Mystic Sweep adds damage and Protector's does not.

Pious Restoration is good. But that 5 energy might kill you in the end when you need to heal-up quick.

The above poster said IAS is important in AoG builds. I don't think it is any more important in an AoG build than any other build, as it is attack skills that trigger disenchants, not attacks.

I like Aura of Thorns. But I would consider it a skill that could be subbed out for a speed-increasing skill.

I DO NOT LIKE Faithfull Intervention. Its a lazy skill. Good to have an extra enchant. But basically its for people who do not like to micro-manage their enchants. But micro-managing enchants is a big part of the skill of being a Derv. I would definitely increase Earth Prayers to 8 and use Mystic REgen here...because Mystic Regen is just the best skill Dervs how and no derv should leave home without it.

Vital boom is good. But if you have Mystic Regen and Pious Restoration, Vital can be subbed out for Heart of Fury...you IAS. That's a more aggressive build desicion and should only be used if you have close-by monk support

Lets really look at what you are

Riotgear · Dec 20, 2006, 04:36 AM // 04:36

Consider swapping Harrier's Grasp or Crippling Sweep in for Aura of Thorns? Sweep lets you keep it up indefinitely, Harrier's resists condition removal and provides more fuel for mystic sweep.

furbat · Dec 20, 2006, 05:02 AM // 05:02

drop either wind or earth.

Don't run Aura of thorns unless you plan on running mystic regen. Its really just fuel for that spell. I don't like it at all.

You also arent making any real use of mysticism. Try running imbue health or pious haste. Don't worry too much about IAS, with scythe IAS imo is not as important as a couple of activation attacks especially since you arent trying to quickly unload big attacks.

IAS is overrated when you are running Mystic and protectors in a build imo.

Aggamemnon · Dec 21, 2006, 02:09 AM // 02:09

Well the build is for AB, not really solo work, at the time of creation, protectors was the best choice, and it does add comparable damage with no enchants if chasing a target, it also swings faster than Mystic.
I've since tested with mystic sweep, and twin moon to enable a triple strike.
The high mysticism is for the form, and faithful.

I would NEVER lose pious, as it's a straight out Hex management beast.
The reason for the skills is the low energy cost, everything beside my form is 5 energy. I've considered Watchful, and had already though about the micro-ing the enchants, but the combo works.
I didn't need a run boost, as like I said, it's for AB, I take advantage of the given speed skill from Attack shrines, and our Guilds (at the time) paragon party run buffer. I wouldn't get much return for switching out wind, as it's already really low, with a vital boon, pious restoration that's 200 health back and removes 2 hexes.

Each enchant pays for itself, so no, the 5 energy for pious isn't a factor.
Thanks for the input, if I wanted a cookie cutter, I would of used one

Skill usefullness is not based on personal opinion either furbat.

Aura of thorns is a total utility skill, it cripples everyone in my area, giving our monk time to move, or me a chance to move out of a sticky situation and I quickly cover it with bleed. The Build is designed to break Enchants and Stances, not as a primary damage/aoe spam dealer.

Yellow Flash · Dec 23, 2006, 01:09 AM // 01:09

i saw some 1 with that build on AB it prety will

Thom Bangalter · Dec 23, 2006, 04:15 AM // 04:15

That's basically just a poorly put together grenth build. Emerite's attack is pretty hot.