Curse

Optimizer · Jul 29, 2006, 06:49 PM // 18:49

Hi. Long time reader, first time poster. Anyway, I've noticed a few weeks ago that Dragon Slash is good elite skill to use in conjunction with Sun & Moon Slash and For Great Justice!. After trying it myself, I've grown to like it and have dumped Sever Artery->Gash->Galrath->Final Thrust attack line with it. I have developed a damage dealing build based around Dragon Slash and adrenaline with my PvE W/Mo which I refer to as The Adrenabuild and I'd like to see what you all think of it.

Weapons: Furious hilts would be ideal, but I don't have any. I've been alternating between one sword with +15% damage over 50% health and +14% damage under 50% health.

Armor: I don't think a particular armor set is more useful than the others as long as it's the highest possible AL and a max strength-based shield. I personally use a full Wyvern set, with a Superior Absorption Rune on my chest piece.

Attributes:
Swordsmanship: 12 +2 +1 (helm.) = 15
Strength: 11 +1 = 12
Tactics: 6 +1 = 7

Skills:
1) Tiger Stance (Strength)
2) For Great Justice! (None)
3) Standing Slash (Swordsmanship)
4) Dragon Slash {E} (Swordsmanship)
5) Sun & Moon Slash (Swordsmanship)
6) Watch Yourself! (Tactics)
7) Distracting Blow (none)
8) Ressurection Signet (none)

Strategy:
Step 1: Find a foe, attack, and use Tiger Stance
Step 2: Continue attacking until the adrenaline is built up for Dragon Slash (meaning Standing Slash and Sun & Moon Slash are also charged). This should occur a bit after Tiger Stance ends, IIRC.
Step 3: Hit For Great Justice! and start spamming Dragon Slash (+40 damage and 5 adrenaline) -> Sun and Moon Slash (2 hits) until Tiger Stance is recharged.
Step 4: Once Tiger Stance is recharged and FGJ is still going, hit Dragon Slash to fully charge Standing Slash and use the following sequence Standing Slash -> Sun and Moon Slash -> Dragon Slash. Standing Slash gives 20 more damage while in a stance in addition to +20 if it hits and you should be able to hit it 2-3 times before the 9 seconds of Tiger Stance runs out.
Step 5: If FGJ runs out, finish the combo and return to Step 1 as FGJ recharges. Using Watch Yourself! to help out any allies and yourself is also a good idea.

If you notice, that's half my skill bar devoted to adrenaline skills. Alas, I use swords. Anyway, I have found some weaknesses with the build though and maybe you have some suggestions for improvment.

-This build does very little for defense. There's Watch Yourself! but it takes away from the adrenaline. I wonder if Dolyak Signet would be better, though being slow for 18 seconds will ruin my effectiveness if an enemy starts to flee or I need to move to another enemy.

-Conditions (specifically blind) and hexes are a great way to stop me in battle. I wonder if getting rid of Distracting Blow for Smite Hex (just dumping 3 att. points into smite, it's more for getting rid of a hex and dealing a little extra damage) or I Will Survive! would be that much of an improvement that dropping Watch Yourself! or Distracting Blow would be worth it?

-Building up adrenaline. Would adding To The Limit! in place of Distracting Blow or replacing Tigers Stance with Berzerker's Stance be more effective? I suppose if I do the latter, I'll need an different attack skill than Standing Slash.

-Finishing. This build really just pours on the damage, but there isn't any spike. This is no problem, but I wanted to point it out. I've noticed that attacking like I've described along with a warrior with the Gash/Final Thrust spike is absolutely lethal for the enemy.

-Runes: I know the answer to this already. Getting superior swordsmanship and superior vigor runes would allow me to deal more damage.

I'll continue to play around with what I have, but I'd figure I'd ask. Thank you for any response.

Altrex · Jul 30, 2006, 07:49 PM // 19:49

Wow I've been looking for a full factions only skillset for a warrior and you sir may have just won me over. That looks great for damage and I think would work rather well for putting pressure on an enemy.

Yanman.be · Jul 30, 2006, 07:53 PM // 19:53

Sever and gash + sun and moon + dragon slash is indeed great pressure. I prefer it over FGJ and WY.

Optimizer · Jul 31, 2006, 09:23 PM // 21:23

I really liked using Sever Artery and Gash early on (and, of course, when they were workable). I wouldn't replace FGJ, that's what keeps the adrenaline flowing. But if replace Distracting Blow and Standing Slash with those two, I will still have my armor buff and I'm limiting the number of adrenaline based attacks. I'll give it a shot next time, thanks.