Curse

Yukito Kunisaki · Dec 14, 2005, 05:12 PM // 17:12

From my old [OLD] axe build that used to work on enemies till they got smart and ran like babies, I've formulated a new sword build that might farm quite well... It's also more efficient in that I won't need the likes of a weapon elite and instead get a monstrous healing elite... [b000yah ya monkeys!]

12+1+3 Swordsmanship
8+1 Tactics
10 Curses

For Great Justice!
Sever Artery
Gash
Bonetti's Defense
Victory is Mine! {E}
Plague Touch
Enfeebling Blood
Suffering

In order to get adrenaline quickly, I had to use FGJ instead of the old Cyclone Axe... [why go sword damnit!] Well, I want to so

Before, when life was crazy and you were allowed to bop on stupid enemies who liked dying to Mark of Pain, the axe would be fine. But now that enemies die slower, I use sword as a faster form of dps dmg. That and sword can drop conditions faster than an axe can. Thanks to using low adrenaline count skills.

The lack of Strength isn't really an issue since the Bleeding from sword can pretty much be spammed to multiple targets combined with Suffering, Gash, and Enfeebling Blood, Victory is Mine! should REALLY help more than my previous Dismember/Axe Rake combination.

DPS-wise, this build's ability to degen a mob should hopefully be near, though sub-par, to the old Executioner build.

Why not Spiteful Spirit? Well, As far as that's concerned, I'd rather have the spike heal that is ViM since I reduce damage instead of heal it away, that's what's called being efficient.

Yes, this is the PvE cursed duelist [if the skills didn't tip you off by now...

]

For PvP Cursed Duelist, I've come up with this...

DPS monster, lacking spike, but still a threat...

12+1+3 Swordsmanship
12+1 Strength
3 Curses

Seeking Blade
Hamstring
Sever Artery
Gash
Final Thrust
Victory is Mine! {E}
Plague Touch
Rend Enchantments

Wtf? No frenzy or sprint! bah! Well, I was looking at what would help my synergy. A snare helps my ViM! Whereas a speed buff doesn't. With half my skillbar geared toward dumping conditions, 1 of which can kill you if left unchecked [yay death by bleeding], ViM! can keep my energy really high. What's all that energy going to be used for? Seeking Blade and Hamstring, what else? ^_^ It's efficient to bring a snare OR speed skill, not both... Since a sword can afford to do it, why not? ^_^

Final Thrust is underestimated as a spike skill now that I look at it. It's a single skill that with the help of Gash, can do damage on par with the Eviscerate + Exe. Strike combo. But sadly, Gash needs Sever, so the spike requires 3 skills, conditional, vs. the Axe's highly efficient 2 skill unconditional combo. But at least my damage isn't compromised, my strategy from before however is...

Weaknesses? Well, since so much of the build is geared toward conditions, with Final Thrust being the spike, a Draw/Restore Conditions or Martyr build will obviously be a problem. This is a dps build instead of a sudden spike build. Hexes that reduce your damage output such as Faintheartedness will REALLY cut you down. Though they don't hurt the spike builds that much. [an axe just needs 2 hits] DPS reducers are your worst enemy which your monk will have to deal with accordingly.

For conditions, I think Plague will do the trick. Bring a res sig if you're confident in your monk's capabilities instead...

One thing is certain, not bringing Frenzy and Sprint really has me wondering, is there another way?...

Yukito Kunisaki · Dec 16, 2005, 06:07 PM // 18:07

Here's a less stance based dps condition build, but uses Virulence instead.

Some of the skills are inspired by the Frigid Fencer from the site's W/E guides...

12+1+3 Swordsmanship
8+1 Strength
10 Death Magic

Seeking Blade
Sever Artery
Gash
Pure Strike
Berserker Stance
Sprint
Plague Touch
Virulence {E}

More lower energy based skills to help offset energy management troubles. I imagine some people might want to chuck Seeking Blade for Final Thrust or Galrath Slash, which is fine, but having 2 attack skills that can't be avoided and add +XX dmg to your attack is always nice to have.

No Frenzy style spike though, but 5 conditions for 5e. is always good to dump...

Vexed Arcanist · Dec 16, 2005, 06:28 PM // 18:28

The Virulence version is stronger in 4v4. Unless you have trapper buddies in Teams the previous version is weak. ViM ain't that great for a single target's conditions.

tigernz · Dec 16, 2005, 08:43 PM // 20:43

I used something similar in 4v4, but had Hamstring to initiate the condition for Virulence. That freed up sprint, sever & gash slots for Galrath & Final Thrust and I also had a res sig.

Main problem I found with the build was the complete lack of healing. With points in Death I went with Soul Feast, but found it much too unreliable. In a team with a monk though, the build worked really well.

glossu · Jan 10, 2006, 03:28 AM // 03:28

Do you use Glad's when you run the PvE set-up or do you still rock out on Platemail?