Curse

Viriato · Sep 27, 2006, 03:25 PM // 15:25

I came up with this one in AB, and found it to be scary effective in other forms of PVP as well. Well, maybe not scary, but certainly one hell of a headache for casters who cross his path.

Strength 3
Swordsmanship 12
Tactics 11
Beast Mastery 12

Hamstring
Shove {E}
Bestial Mauling
Sever Artery
Wild Blow
Comfort Animal
Charm Animal
Resurrection Signet

Equipment: A Duelist's Helm, a sword with a Barbed hilt, stoneskin gauntlets and a Tactics-based shield. Can't see why you wouldn't use any kind of armor, but this build is energy taxing, so I reccomend as many glads pieces as possible.

Runes: Superior Swordsmanship, Superior Vigor, Superior Absorption, Minor Strength, Minor Tactics.

Modus Operandi: Pick your fleshy. As soon as you estabilish contact, Hamstring him. If he enters a stance, use Wild Blow. By the time you've used either of those skills, your pet is probably already there. Use Shove and Bestial Mauling in quick sucession, and voilà, the fleshy is dazed for 17 seconds. He'll probably try to let loose some spells, only to have them rudely interrupted by either you or your pet. He'll then likely try to run, only to remember he's been hamstrung, at which point you can merrily wail away at him for extra damage while he tries to escape and your pet bites his ankle. Sever Artery ensures he'll have something to remember you by in case he escapes or one of his friends comes to the rescue. Besides being a stance-breaker and sure hitter against blocking or evading foes, Wild Blow is your only serious damage dealer, so time it correctly. Your pet is essential to this build, so do remember to use Comfort Animal.
Oh, and if you're in AB, switch Comfort Animal with Gash for some extra hurting.

Pros: It's hell against casters, as even if you get blinded, your pet will keep interrupting all but the fastest spells, and before the fleshy realizes it, you can both see and hit him again. Good against Rangers, too, generally speaking. Avoid Warriors and Assassins, though with practice you can also be dangerous to them under the right circumstances. Just don't go solo gung-ho on them, and don't try to be a hero and dive head-first into the fray. You'll be killed. This build is an excellent harrasment if you pick your fights and time your attack correctly.

Cons: Controlling a pet can be a pain; if you switch targets, he's likely to keep biting and scratching the other, leaving you alone. Also, at times it can be difficult to coordinate Bestial Mauling when your foe is knocked down, even with the added time of Stoneskin Gauntlets. Practice makes perfect. As if that weren't enough, your pet can also get in the way, pretty much ruining your day. This build also lacks any and all forms of self-healing, so you depend on your monks and really, really shouldn't overextend.

Any (constructive) comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Edited: For runes and clarity

Oren The Destroyer · Sep 27, 2006, 03:36 PM // 15:36

First off, it seems a tad energy intensive, maybe put in a zealous mod instead of a bleeding one. Second, boon/prot would render this build useless, IMO, because of CoP, guardian, kiting skills, etc. Against a competent monk (in AB), he'll just kite to his team and they'll finish you off. It'd be nice to see what runes you're using also.

Judge

Pick Me · Sep 27, 2006, 03:45 PM // 15:45

You may find some ritualists will not be as weak as other squishies.

Vengeful Was Khanhei (e) is a spell that will be cast by the time you get to melee range. Each attack that you and your pet does, causes you and your pet to lose health and give the ritualst health back.

Without running skills, Ritualists sometimes do have enough time to cast binding rituals, which may not be good for you.

The one thing I don't like about your build is lack of healing. I'm not sure how good it is vs a Cripple Shot Ranger, or a Touch Ranger. But you said it was good vs a Good Ranger though.

Not bad otherwise.

Viriato · Sep 27, 2006, 04:14 PM // 16:14

Oren The Destroyer: It *is* energy-intensive, but it can be worked around even without a zealous mod. Not a bad idea, though.
I have faced boonprots, and killed them.
Also, if I'm attacking alone and I haven't hamstrung anybody, naturally I won't let myself be kited towards a team of enemies.
Edited the post for runes.
Pick Me: True about the Rits, when they're not using spells.
About Rangers, I didn't say it was good against a "good" ranger (whatever that means), only that it was good against rangers too, by which I mean generally. Edited post for clarity...

**Marty Silverblade** · Sep 28, 2006, 12:34 AM // 00:34

Looks like I might actually bring my pet back to PvE... just back generally... except for those times I have a strange urge to play... IWAY...

Anyway, I really want to try this, it's a relief after that last wammo build I read that has mending, healing hands and other crap. It's a shame I haven't really done much of factions.

Carth` · Sep 28, 2006, 04:48 AM // 04:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oren The Destroyer

Second, boon/prot would render this build useless, IMO, because of CoP, guardian, kiting skills, etc. Against a competent monk (in AB), he'll just kite to his team and they'll finish you off. It'd be nice to see what runes you're using also.

I find a very good monk on the other team makes most builds useless. My SB/RI build that kills most people in 4 seconds can handle most monks, but a good boon/prot with CoP and it's useless. My bunny thumper can kill most monks, but a good boon/prot can make it a waste of time for me. My best success against boon/prots is with a shock warrior or a good anti-caster mesmer, or maybe edenial. Coincidentally when I play my monk these are the only things that are ever effective against me. Oh and the occasional assassin that manages to get his chain off while I'm still lying on the floor, but I don't play one of those so don't know much about it.

But I'm still learning...

Flashy · Sep 28, 2006, 07:15 AM // 07:15

I play Monk/Assassin... and to be honest this build isn't a problem for me...

I just return(its a spell it can still be interupted but with my experience its not likely) myself out of it and use BL on Dazed...

But you really need alot of energy to keep up the combo and you need selfhealing...

With 3 Strenght and 12 Swordsmanship I really doubt the damage that you will be dealing, must be lower then your pet actually... and easy to heal...

Another thing, there's no non-spel interuption... except for Shove but you need to combo that with bestial mauling...

jesh · Sep 28, 2006, 08:13 AM // 08:13

Um.. distracting blow? Any ranger interrupt?

Viriato · Oct 01, 2006, 06:17 PM // 18:17

This buid has its flaws, like any other. Trying to come up with builds, strategies or hypotheses to counter it doesn't really invalidate anything. I have played it extensively in many PvP scenarios and found it to be effective when properly used and with an adequate expertise at using it, which only comes with practice. Like Carth, I'm also still learning, and constructive advice to improve this build is certainly appreciated.
Flashy: I deal more damage than my pet; not that it matters, as he is an integral part of the strategy and his damage also counts. Also, the idea is not to let said damage be healed by the attacked person, as he ideally won't be able to cast spells.