Curse

Xion Air · Dec 18, 2009, 12:38 AM // 00:38

The Lyssa’s Armor tank utilizes Mantra of Earth and Stone Striker to provide continuous damage reduction of 44% and an energy gain of +2 each time you're hit by an enemy. Elemental Lord boosts Earth Magic up to level 17 to make Stoneflesh Aura reduce damage done to you by 35. Finally, use Lyssa's Aura when you're in need of energy. Lyssa's Aura only has a 30 second recharge time, and is also reapplied when you use a spell on an enemy. There are 3 optional spots for you to put in whatever you wish.

Attributes:

Earth Magic 12+3+1
Inspiration Magic 11
Energy Storage 6

Skills:

Stoneflesh Aura
Stone Striker
Mantra of Earth
Lyssa's Aura/Energy Boon or any other Elite skill you like
-optional-
-optional-
-optional-
Elemental Lord (Aura of Restoration is decent enough if you don't have this skill)

Skills Template: (If someone could please tell me how to make a skillbar in picture form with the skills details when you move your mouse over them - it would be greatly appreciated ^_^)

OgVDMbysRfVbVGAtMAAAAAAugA

Equipment:

Weapon – earth staff with 20% enchants mod and 20 energy
Armor – max armor with Geomancer Insignia’s on all pieces (+20 armor against earth damage)

Usage:

Maintain Elemental Lord for +1 to your elemental attributes and for small heals throughout battle (can be maintained at rank 1 in the kurzick/luxon title track with a 20% enchants mod)
Maintain Stone Striker and Mantra of Earth for energy and constant 44% damage reduction
Maintain Stoneflesh Aura for 35 damage reduction - very important
Use Lyssa's Aura or Energy Boon if you need more energy OR any other Elite skill you prefer

Counters:

Interrupts
Degeneration/Conditions
Enchant Removal
Stance Removal (for Mantra of Earth)
Skills that disable and/or increase recharge times

If anyone else can think of any other possible counters please let me know.

Notes:

This build is for General PvE, though you can substitute some skills for Fort Aspenwood (Elemental Lord will not be available, but Aura of Restoration can be substituted in this instance)

\\\ Edit ///

I have adjusted the skills and removed Kinetic Armor (as the casting time takes too long and is quite frustrating to maintain), as well as Stone Daggers (as mentioned, an epic fail, useful to maintain Lyssa's Aura and Kinetic Armor, yes, but horrible damage output, and you have to attack enemies constantly to keep them up) and Lyssa's Aura is now only recommended for someone that needs reliable energy support for spamming spells on the enemy.

I've also added Elemental Lord, as it not only provides +1 to your elemental attributes, but gives a small health bonus when using spells, and is greater than Aura of Restoration. You could add in Glyph of Elemental Power to increase your Earth Magic attribute to 19 for even more damage output and reduction, your choice.

I experimented with many fire spells also, but it just didn't seem to work out as well, so this really is for an Earth Elementalist.

If anyone has any suggestions to improve on these skills, it would be greatly appreciated ^_^

Possible Extra Skills:

Unsteady Ground/Churning Earth - Great knockdown + AoE (Area of Effect) damage. If you're with a ritualist team mate, having the ritualist's Earthbind spirit ensures knockdowns to be atleast 3 seconds long, and Wanderlust helps with additional knockdowns.

Arcane Echo - Awesome for echo'ing elites for extra damage output or even ward spells for greater coverage against foes, this is great in Fort Aspenwood, especially on the kurzick side when going for amber!

Ward against Foes (or any other ward you like) - You can Arcane Echo this to make 2-3 wards, covering a large area to slow your opponents down for a very long time

Energy Boon [Elite] - Nice health regeneration and energy bonus.

Lyssa's Aura [Elite] - If you're spamming spells on enemies, this is probably the best energy efficient elite skill to use (even though you'll get plenty from mantra of earth), as it will give +4 energy regeneration, for as long as you keep casting those awesome spells on them ^_^

Glyph of Energy [Elite] - Reduces the energy cost of 1 spell and gives immunity to exhaustion for that 1 spell. Consider combining this with skills like Dragon's Stomp or Earthquake for more knockdowns.

Glyph of Elemental Power - Combined with elemental lord, you could have 19 Earth Magic! Or 18 Earth Magic in Fort Aspenwood.

Braxton619 · Dec 18, 2009, 02:32 AM // 02:32

2/10

Pointless build when you can use Obsidian Flesh to cancel out spells

Use this build instead:
http://pvx.wikia.com/wiki/Build:E/Me_Obby_Flesh_Tank

Buns United · Dec 18, 2009, 02:42 AM // 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xion Air

Spamming Stone Daggers is an epic fail.

Pretty much sums it up, Stone Daggers does very mediocre damage which is also reduced by armor. If that's all the offense you're going to bring to the party why bother really?

About your optional skill ideas (although you'd think anything would improve this build, I still beg to differ);

Armor of Earth does not stack with Kinetic Armor. The armor cap is +24 unless from a single source. (example: Conviction will not stack with "Stand Your Ground!", both would give +24 armor so you already hit the cap with either. "Save Yourselves!" for example will increase the party's armor by +100 as the skill states. But any further armor increase would have no effect.)

Next optional; Stoneflesh Aura. Again, this skill only adds to survivability and is actually more effective than Stone Striker + Mantra of Earth combined. Then again, why would you focus on survivability? You should be focussing on damage, utility or healing when in a party.

Last optional(?); Sliver Armor. If you're in a party how are you going to make sure foes target you? There's no aggro-control in Guildwars (or very limited atleast), so unless you're planning to solo-farm (in which case you're the only target, thus this skill shines) leave this skill alone.

Quote:

Especially with the 3 way necro build.

Explain, there's currently 2 meta builds as the one you described. Sabway and Discordway. I don't see this adding anything to either as your only focus is survivability. Not to mention both those necro builds include minions who are already providing your party with plenty of defense. And ofcourse the chance you'll be getting targetted becomes slim with more allies around.

If you have so much trouble figuring out how builds actually work (ugh! I hate to say this!) just pick a better one from PvX and learn how the game works by playing, before you go on a theorycrafting-spree.

To sum it up; do not run a build that only benefits yourself and not the team.

AtomicMew · Dec 18, 2009, 02:42 AM // 02:42

No. 0/10

I don't know what format you made this for, but it has no place anywhere in PvE or PvP.

Uriel_Wolfblood · Dec 18, 2009, 02:46 AM // 02:46

/agree. Props for trying to develope something unique though. I always like to see people trying out new things. But unless this build just feels better and works better for you, (or the nerf OF -_-) then the obsidion tank is the way to go IMO. It's always been my main farming build anyways.

Thanks for trying something new mate, keep up the work.

Winterclaw · Dec 18, 2009, 04:47 AM // 04:47

Armor buffs don't stack so having AoE and KA is kinda useless.

Just spamming stone daggers you'd get 10 energy from elemental attunement and more if you used any other earth skills. Also since LA and KA reapply on cast, they'll usually be on top making them easier to strip

Calvar Draveir · Jan 16, 2010, 09:06 AM // 09:06

People really shouldn't bother making new tanking/farming builds. Everything that is good has already been made. Just learn to use what people already use, and learn to use it well.

saitou · Jan 16, 2010, 04:30 PM // 16:30

Thanks for posting a new idea even if it's not that great. I can't stand the "just go to PvX" philosophy, why would you play guild wars if you aren't going to experiment on your own with skills?

Anyway I just have a question about Lyssa's Aura... If you are using it once for a quick energy boost (i.e. say it doesn't get renewed and only lasts 10 seconds) then won't it only give you 12 extra energy? 1 pip is 1 energy per 3 seconds, so +4 over 10 seconds is 12, i think. When you subtract the 5 energy it takes to cast Lyssa's Aura that's only 7 energy.

Not saying you should make your build around your elite, but if you want to use LA you'll want to get a lot more use out of it.

Calvar Draveir · Jan 16, 2010, 06:22 PM // 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by saitou

Thanks for posting a new idea even if it's not that great. I can't stand the "just go to PvX" philosophy, why would you play guild wars if you aren't going to experiment on your own with skills?

Anyway I just have a question about Lyssa's Aura... If you are using it once for a quick energy boost (i.e. say it doesn't get renewed and only lasts 10 seconds) then won't it only give you 12 extra energy? 1 pip is 1 energy per 3 seconds, so +4 over 10 seconds is 12, i think. When you subtract the 5 energy it takes to cast Lyssa's Aura that's only 7 energy.

Not saying you should make your build around your elite, but if you want to use LA you'll want to get a lot more use out of it.

I do promote creativity, but in this game, all the optimal builds have been found, and anything else is inneficient. Once some of the big skills get nerfed, however... then we can innovate our butts off. :P

saitou · Jan 16, 2010, 10:59 PM // 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvar Draveir

I do promote creativity, but in this game, all the optimal builds have been found, and anything else is inneficient. Once some of the big skills get nerfed, however... then we can innovate our butts off. :P

I think you need to work on your promotion skills, lol. Even if you're right there are no more optimal builds to be found, inefficient doesn't mean ineffective. It's fun to try and use different skills and combine them on your own. I'm not arguing this build is effective, lol, just pushing a different philosophy.

Page Down Warhammer · Jan 21, 2010, 03:41 AM // 03:41

I often try a variation of this, but in PVP. Warriors just can't stand the fact that an ele can go blow to blow with them and survive. Obsidian Flame + Stone daggers kills most everything except defy pain tanks.
And Why bother with Lyssa's aura? Between the +1 energy from Aura of Restoration and +2 energy everytime you are hit (From mantra of earth) you should have no energy problems.

FA build: Kinetic armor, stone daggers, Stoneflesh aura (Only when being targeted by more than one foe or facing major Degen), obsidian flame, Aura of restoration, Energy blast (For armor ignoring damage vs. juggs), Glyph of Restoration, and optional elite (Generall I go with shockwave or something damage wise, unsteady ground and the such

Grape Bird · Feb 06, 2010, 06:19 PM // 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Page Down Warhammer

I often try a variation of this, but in PVP. Warriors just can't stand the fact that an ele can go blow to blow with them and survive. Obsidian Flame + Stone daggers kills most everything except defy pain tanks.
And Why bother with Lyssa's aura? Between the +1 energy from Aura of Restoration and +2 energy everytime you are hit (From mantra of earth) you should have no energy problems.

FA build: Kinetic armor, stone daggers, Stoneflesh aura (Only when being targeted by more than one foe or facing major Degen), obsidian flame, Aura of restoration, Energy blast (For armor ignoring damage vs. juggs), Glyph of Restoration, and optional elite (Generall I go with shockwave or something damage wise, unsteady ground and the such

Oh, my. Perhaps this is why Kurzick always wins.

Marverick · Feb 06, 2010, 08:19 PM // 20:19

Why not just use Ether Renewal... shitload of healing and energy = win.

And then you can bring some actually useful damage spells. EBSoH + Lava Font + Churning Earth+ tons of damage buffs = win.

And lol at ele tanks in PvP. I love my concussion shot.

MasterSasori · Feb 07, 2010, 02:32 AM // 02:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marverick

Why not just use Ether Renewal... shitload of healing and energy = win.

And then you can bring some actually useful damage spells. EBSoH + Lava Font + Churning Earth+ tons of damage buffs = win.

And lol at ele tanks in PvP. I love my concussion shot.

Errr not Lava Font. I'm sure there is better damage skills. Earth has some nice ones like Eruption.

And Concussion shot? Plzzzzzz. It's always been about distracting shot.

Xion Air · Feb 23, 2010, 12:54 PM // 12:54

Thanks everyone for your input ^_^ you bring up some really good points. I don't know why I'm so thirsty for energy regen/points but yes Churning Earth sounds like a great idea. I agree with the comment 'this is why kurzick always wins' XD I use this in Fort Aspenwood and people get really ticked off lol! I literally take no damage, I get tons of energy and I just grab the amber while throwing up wards that slow the enemies down by 50% lol!

I think a different elite is a great idea. Any ideas on more elites that would do well?

A couple weeks back I was thinking a lot about my ritualist's skill 'Earthbind' which, if foes are knocked down, are knocked down for a further 3 seconds. If a ritualist had some way of maintaining Wanderlust (doesn't last long from the high health loss per hit) and Earthbind, combined with an ele with this build, and the ele using 'Churning Earth', you could annihilate foes by constantly knocking them down and having big EoE damage =D just a thought anyway. More ideas very welcome ^_^ keep them coming

_Nihilist_ · Feb 23, 2010, 01:52 PM // 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xion Air

A couple weeks back I was thinking a lot about my ritualist's skill 'Earthbind' which, if foes are knocked down, are knocked down for a further 3 seconds.

If an enemy is knocked down, they are knocked down for 3 seconds, not a further 3 seconds. That would be a 5sec KD = imba.

Regular KD = 2sec
KD under the effects of Earthbind = 3sec

Also, enemies that cannot normally be KD'd (Jotun, Giants, etc.) act as though they are KD'd when a KD skill is used on them and they are within range of Earthbind

MasterSasori · Feb 23, 2010, 07:16 PM // 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xion Air

A couple weeks back I was thinking a lot about my ritualist's skill 'Earthbind' which, if foes are knocked down, are knocked down for a further 3 seconds.

Not a further 3 seconds or that would just be broken.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xion Air

If a ritualist had some way of maintaining Wanderlust (doesn't last long from the high health loss per hit) and Earthbind, combined with an ele with this build, and the ele using 'Churning Earth', you could annihilate foes by constantly knocking them down and having big EoE damage =D just a thought anyway. More ideas very welcome ^_^ keep them coming

Wanderlust is fine if it isn't damaged. Just hide it under other spirits. Not sure if there are any good skills that will lengthen the life/help with recharge faster with Wanderlust.