Curse

Optimizer · Feb 11, 2007, 04:05 PM // 16:05

It's been about 5 months or so since I played GW for a variety of reasons. Recently, I just got Nightfall because I wanted to have fun playing a game online and discovered that I still had my old PVE Adrenabuild! from Factions. I was amazed it wasn't completely neutered from what little I've played of Nightfall so far. So I figure I should share what I have.

TYPE: Damage dealing swordsman

ATTRIBUTES:
Strength: 11 +1 = 12
Swordsmanship: 12 +1 (helmet) +2 (rune) = 15
Tactics: 6 +1 = 7
(The rest you can do as you like)

SKILLS:
1. Berserker Stance (Strength). - I used to swear by Tiger's Stance for this one; but this at 12 strength gives you 10 seconds of +33% attacking speed AND +50% adrenaline/strike. Tiger's Stance just gives you the speed upgrade for 9 seconds. Yes, you can't use skills during this stance and yes Berserker takes 10 sec. longer to reload, but that's OK.

2. Sever Artery (Swordsmanship) - Cheap, only 4 adrenaline, and something I like to do early to really compound damage to fleshy foes. This can be replaced by Seeking Blade as an interrupt or some other energy attack. Yes, adding Gash would make this lethal, but that's not what I'm trying to do...

3. Sun and Moon Slash (Swordsmanship) - 2 unblockable hits for 8 adrenaline, it will be used in our loop.

4. Dragon's Slash (Swordsmanship - ELITE) - 10 adrenaline, +40 damage with 15 in Swords AND 5 strikes of adrenaline. Boss.

5. Watch Yourself! (Tactics) - The one skill I really couldn't find a good replacement for extra D in the build. Very useful, but it can be a hinderance to the attack. Sometimes it's necessary if you and your party is getting pounded, though.

6. For Great Justice! (none) - The shout that makes this all work! 20 seconds of +50% adrenaline. I'll explain in a moment.

7. I Will Survive! (Strength) - If hit by a condition, this skill gives some good healing (or reduced sapping of health) for 10 seconds. Can be replaced by another healing skill.

8. Resurection Signet (None) - Because you always bring this in PVE, IMO.

Strategy:

OK, you all played The Warriors for the PS2? No? Well, this build works like the fighting in the game. As you attack an enemy, your rage meter builds up and once you activate it; you can drop some hurting bombs to wreck some heads. This is basically the philosophy behind this build:

1. Target the enemy and pound it with Berserker Stance until it ends.
2. THEN Throw on For Great Justice! We can always throw it on before Berserker Stance, but then we only get 10-12 (if we break the stance early) seconds of craziness when 20 would do us better. By this time, assuming you keep hitting, you should either be close to 8 adrenaline or above it. If I'm above it, I like using Sever Artery to give my fleshy foe 25 seconds of bleeding and just attack 1 or 2 more times to get back to 8.
3. Sun and Moon Slash and the two hits it gives will yield enough adrenaline to push us to full so we can begin our pain-dealing loop.
4. As soon as you get 10 adrenaline hit DRAGON SLASH! POW! Then hit Sun and Moon Slash! Back up to 10 and then hit Dragon Slash again! POW! Repeat until FGJ ends and/or you're out of adrenaline. You will be putting a lot of damage on your opponent. If you used Sever Artery earlier, that extra loss of a second or two is more than made up in increased damage in my opinion. It would even out-last FGJ if you time it right so the pain can continue just as Berserker Stance.
5. Once Berserker Stance has recharged (and it should be), you can begin again.

The other skills are used as complementary skills for varying PVE uses. Interrupts are good, defense for your team is good, ressurection skills are important, and I will Survive helps dealing with those nasty conditions a little bit in the middle of a fight.

Like I said, it's been a long time since I played but some time in Nightfall tells me this build still has the same effect of dropping pain on enemies. But I'd like to hear what you think. Clearly a sword with a furious mod would help greatly, but this works pretty well with a non-furious mod. What have I not considered, how can it be considered? I don't know much about the new Warrior skills in Nightfall, so I wonder how they can help this build out. Thank you in advance of your criticism and comments.

-.- · Feb 11, 2007, 06:01 PM // 18:01

What the hell! You have Sever artery but no Gash?!

Elthanor · Feb 11, 2007, 08:34 PM // 20:34

With Dragon Slash, you will have enough adren. Take out...

Berserker->Flail
I Will Survive->Gash
Watch yourself->Healing Sig

Build->DS Pressure