Curse

QuixotesGhost · Jun 21, 2005, 04:10 AM // 04:10

I just finished the game and have decided to take my character to PvP. I've only been playing for a couple weeks so I'd thought I ask the guys here for some advice getting him to the top of his game. Here's what I'm running in PvP now:

Attributes:

Swordsmanship: 11+2
Tactics:8+1
Domination Magic: 11

Equipment:

Gladiator Armor, 1st weapon set Sword + Shield, 2nd weapon set Sword+Chakram for energy boost when I need it.

Skills:

1: Ressurection Signet
2: Charge! {Elite Skill}
3: Sever Artery
4: Gash
5: Hamstring
6: Hex Breaker
7: Empathy
8: Blackout

He's been doing pretty well at Lion's Arch Arena, but gathering from other posts in this forum that ain't much of an accomplishment. I'm using him as a caster bumrusher right now, hit charge, warrior dehabilitation hexes bounce off hex braker, then hamstring and blackout to render them helpless. Use Empathy if I gotta slug it out with enemy warriors. So how could I improve this guy, you think?

Slade xTekno · Jun 21, 2005, 07:33 AM // 07:33

Hmm...

Have you heard of the Blackout/Dwarven shutdown build? It seems to go along with what you'er trying to do.

ElderAtronach · Jun 21, 2005, 08:20 AM // 08:20

Wait wait, you're using empathy as a caster killer? *scratches head*

I don't see why people insist on using Domination though. Illusion has some very good spells such as Migraine and Fragility (since you're a conditions swordsman anyway). Pack Migraine and savage slash for some really fun times with casters. Elementalists especially will LOVE you. The difference between a 2 s. lighting orb and a 4 s. lightning orb is dramatic. Also... why hex breaker when inspired hex is so much better: costs 5 energy, 1 s. cast time, AND you gain energy? Plus you steal their hex spell for 20 seconds, which is kinda funny.

How about this:

Swordsman 8 + whatever
Illusion 11
Inspiration 11

1. Res signet
2. Migraine (E)
3. Sever Artery
4. Savage Slash
5. a.) Hamstring or b.) Gash
6. Inspired Hex
7. a.) Fragility or b.) Imagined Burden
8. Mantra of Persistence (as your stance)

Ditch the shield altogether and use the chakram for extra energy. Personally I think option b. would be better. Put up Mantra as the match begins, find your target and put Migraine and Imagined Burden on him. With Mantra up, all your hexes last about 80% longer, and thus helps you a lot in energy management since your hexes costs 10 or 15 mana. You'll have no trouble catching them when they have Burden on, and interrupting with savage slash becomes a lot easier when all their spells take twice as long to cast.

Mercury Angel · Jun 21, 2005, 08:35 AM // 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElderAtronach

Also... why hex breaker

Quote:

Hex Breaker
Description: For 60-156 seconds, the next time you are the target of a hex, that hex fails, the caster takes 10-39 damage, and Hex Breaker ends.
Energy Cost: 5
Activation Time: None.
Recharge Time: 5 Seconds.
Linked Attribute: Domination Magic. Increases duration and damage dealt.

5 cost, you can use it prior to the battle, and it's reuseable rapidly. Inspired hex has a 20 second downtime. Also, sometimes once a hex is on you, you won't get it off so easily. Backfire for example. And when not being hexed, you have a long-lasting stance to use with your sword with 15% damage while in a stance.

As for the rest, I won't bother commenting as I don't like playing as a warrior, and do so as little as possible. Just wanted to point out the perks of hex breaker.

ElderAtronach · Jun 21, 2005, 08:49 AM // 08:49

Hmm, the skill listing on GWG lists Hex Breaker as costing 10 mana. Well in that case, it would be better than inspired hex most of the time, but not for my build above which uses mantra of persistence as its stance

QuixotesGhost · Jun 21, 2005, 01:05 PM // 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury Angel

5 cost, you can use it prior to the battle, and it's reuseable rapidly. Inspired hex has a 20 second downtime. Also, sometimes once a hex is on you, you won't get it off so easily. Backfire for example. And when not being hexed, you have a long-lasting stance to use with your sword with 15% damage while in a stance.

That is a very, very good point. Time to look for a + damage stance sword.

Quote:

Wait wait, you're using empathy as a caster killer? *scratches head*

Nah, re-read my post. Empathy is just there when I have to take on enemy warriors. I already got the 11 dom, and it's sparing one slot to really gank a common class in the areas I PvP in right now.

Quote:

Also... why hex breaker when inspired hex is so much better: costs 5 energy, 1 s. cast time, AND you gain energy? Plus you steal their hex spell for 20 seconds, which is kinda funny.

I never realised Inspired Hex was so cheap, it's definatly something to experiment with. As are the rest of your suggestions. Once I get some more of the skills you mention I might try it out.

Quote:

Hmm, the skill listing on GWG lists Hex Breaker as costing 10 mana. Well in that case, it would be better than inspired hex most of the time, but not for my build above which uses mantra of persistence as its stance

That listing is either outdated or wrong, it's only 5 energy in-game.

Rey Lentless · Jun 21, 2005, 05:13 PM // 17:13

Hex Breaker is superior. It's an instant cast, does damage, and only costs 5, with 5 sec cooldown. The only issue would be that it is a stance, so that would prevent some of the nicer warrior stances available. Stealing a hex that most likely will be too low level to bother with isn't an advantage, it just gives you a worthless spell on your bar for 20 secs. The biggest bane of warriors are hex/condition snares. Using a mesmer secondary as a warrior gives you an ability to pretty much prevent disabling from hexes. Don't waste it with some crappy skill like inspired hex.

QuixotesGhost · Jun 21, 2005, 07:45 PM // 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rey Lentless

The biggest bane of warriors are hex/condition snares.

This raises a good question. Currently I'm carrying a Chakram with "Quick Recovery from Blind" in my 2nd weapon slot. Does "Quick Recovery from Crippled" exist as an item property? And is it possible to get both "Quick Recovery from Blind" and "Quick Recovery from Crippled" on a single item?

funkenstein · Jun 22, 2005, 03:09 AM // 03:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuixotesGhost

This raises a good question. Currently I'm carrying a Chakram with "Quick Recovery from Blind" in my 2nd weapon slot. Does "Quick Recovery from Crippled" exist as an item property? And is it possible to get both "Quick Recovery from Blind" and "Quick Recovery from Crippled" on a single item?

Yes, it does exist. As for having both at once, I don't think that's possible.