Curse

Syncrose · Dec 31, 2006, 07:28 AM // 07:28

I recently just started this game and i am playing a monk as my main, i really enjoy this class, but in certain situations i feel like i get over powered, take for instance in some battles i get hexed and i am the main target for the other team, the hex reduces my casting time so im slowed/slow casting time and after that i just drop like a sack of potatoes. Also in many situations i can avoid being the main target, but for the main i am the main target and just get lit up and day extremely quickly. i was wondering if anyone has some information about builds/tactics/skills i should use or do. PvP is not fun when everyone just drops me and my team gets mad. Please help

Div · Dec 31, 2006, 07:43 AM // 07:43

If you have another monk as support, then use it. If not, learn to kite away from the other team. No matter what build you run or how good you are, you'll be overwhelmed at some point. Always ask for support or try to avoid getting targeted too much. It also helps to explain which format of PvP you're doing (TA, RA, HA, GvG, etc)

-.- · Dec 31, 2006, 07:50 AM // 07:50

And what build you are using.

dgb · Dec 31, 2006, 08:25 AM // 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syncrose

I recently just started this game and i am playing a monk as my main, i really enjoy this class, but in certain situations i feel like i get over powered, take for instance in some battles i get hexed and i am the main target for the other team, the hex reduces my casting time so im slowed/slow casting time and after that i just drop like a sack of potatoes. Also in many situations i can avoid being the main target, but for the main i am the main target and just get lit up and day extremely quickly. i was wondering if anyone has some information about builds/tactics/skills i should use or do. PvP is not fun when everyone just drops me and my team gets mad. Please help

WALLOFTEXT

And the usual junk, where are you playing, what builds are you running etc.

carbajac · Dec 31, 2006, 10:52 AM // 10:52

Um, some tips? Well, try to memorize or at least be familiar with hexes that are cast on you; know their sound effects and their icons. Then you can get an idea about what to do about them. Like in your case, if the Mesmer casts Migraine or Arcane Conundrum on you, know that he's just waiting for you to cast so he can interrupt you.

Don't stand there and try to outheal the damage the warrior is laying on you.

If the ranger is parked on you throwing interrupts left and right, watch him and cast after he's shot an arrow or just get behind a wall.

A lot of your monk's self-defense doesn't come from your skill bar. Play a Mesmer, see what it's like and lay in on a monk and see how he/she responds to your hexes. Watch a guild battle, see what those monks do.

Here's a link to a thread on monking in pvp (from the Gladiator's Arena forum):
Monking

Age · Dec 31, 2006, 11:32 AM // 11:32

Most players who started off Monking in PvP started thiers careers in PvE as in PvP it can be overwhelming(sp).When dealing with conditions and hexs as well as spike or pressure damage coming at you.I did start Monking in Pvp in the Halls of Heros back then ToPK now HA I did this in beta and it was a whole lot different.We were just haveing fun for the most part.
This is my suggestion and that is to make a Monk in PvE preferably Prophecies as you learn slow and get skill quests.When you finally feel you have a grap on it you can then tranfer it to RA and play there for awhile anyway you can take my suggestion as you will be the no 1 target on any team.Monking in GW is one of the most challengeing professions.

Syncrose · Dec 31, 2006, 10:23 PM // 22:23

Well as for builds, i went straight healing/divine, im not sure if its good for pvp, but i was thinking it couldnt be to bad considering being a monk your main job is healing, and i enjoy healing and figured i'd be a huge asset in pvp for my team, but im not use when i die first, and to be fully honest the way i try and survive is by purely spamming heals, and every now and then shatter hex/remove hex, i am a mesmer second. And i feel by the time i get enough energy to shatter hex or get off the casting time of remove hex by that time im dead. If anyone suggests another build please let me know.

Age · Jan 01, 2007, 01:32 AM // 01:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syncrose

Well as for builds, i went straight healing/divine, im not sure if its good for pvp, but i was thinking it couldnt be to bad considering being a monk your main job is healing, and i enjoy healing and figured i'd be a huge asset in pvp for my team, but im not use when i die first, and to be fully honest the way i try and survive is by purely spamming heals, and every now and then shatter hex/remove hex, i am a mesmer second. And i feel by the time i get enough energy to shatter hex or get off the casting time of remove hex by that time im dead. If anyone suggests another build please let me know.

when it come to hexs being a /Mes you best skills are inspired hex or revealed hex(Factions) anyway you just don't go with Devine and Healing it is more of a combo of different skill if you look at the sticky at the top by Markertt you will find all sorts of information on PvPing as Monk.the one thing that Monks do in PvP is protect with some hex removal.Blessed Light is a good skill for this as well as conditions.There are lots of builds it depends on where you are PvPing but like I said before to get your basic training in PvE and don't spam heals to much.

dgb · Jan 01, 2007, 02:06 AM // 02:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syncrose

Well as for builds, i went straight healing/divine, im not sure if its good for pvp, but i was thinking it couldnt be to bad considering being a monk your main job is healing, and i enjoy healing and figured i'd be a huge asset in pvp for my team, but im not use when i die first, and to be fully honest the way i try and survive is by purely spamming heals, and every now and then shatter hex/remove hex, i am a mesmer second. And i feel by the time i get enough energy to shatter hex or get off the casting time of remove hex by that time im dead. If anyone suggests another build please let me know.

The healing line utterly sucks. You want a 9 spec healing for gift of health and that's all in random arenas. Learn to love protection, it's a better line. For random arenas I usually run something like this.

[skill]Zealous Benediction[/skill][skill]Gift of Health[/skill][skill]Spirit Bond[/skill][skill]Shield of Absorption[/skill][skill]Reversal of Fortune[/skill][skill]Holy Veil[/skill][skill]Dismiss Condition[/skill][skill]Hex Breaker[/skill]

Something like 14 Prot, 9 Heal, ~4dom, the rest in divine (should be ~10/11). You don't want to be using heals to heal people, they should just be top ups. Protection is far more efficient and for the most it's extremely hard to just beat through, whereas a heal monk you can just outdamage it's healing rate and it dies.

Syncrose · Jan 02, 2007, 06:09 PM // 18:09

Yah i never really got truley familiar with protection spec, a quick question is those protection skills, how are they used for instance are some considered a buff where you cast it on the person and it stays for a certain period of time, or are they needed in repitition. But i do use skills that get rid of hexes and conditions. But its hard to keep people up. My guess is that protection would be a much better choice. I appreciate the information

olly123 · Jan 02, 2007, 08:03 PM // 20:03

well with protection spells, is u see some one under attack so i eather, depending on whats attacking him/ what thay r using to attack him, cast RoF/GoH/SoA/SB/PS, if its a foe goign to take over 100 dam i cast PS, if its over 10%, i cast SB, if its a lot of foes il llcast SB and SoA, to toatly limit daamage, if its a one of move ( such as fireball/ metor) id use RoF/GoH, and if thay r below 50%hp id use ZB. with conditions and hexes i know its nice to remove them all, but ur not a suppermonk ,no one is. so oly remove what u can, try and remove criple/blind fomr wars/pars/derv/rangers/sins and dazzed form any casters, hexs is a first come unless, its me then its me first, and as i use veil, is on me at start, till i see if the other team use hexs at all, then its off me for the +1 regain back.

hope it helps

olly123 · Jan 02, 2007, 08:03 PM // 20:03

bump sorry :P

Age · Jan 02, 2007, 10:24 PM // 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgb

The healing line utterly sucks. You want a 9 spec healing for gift of health and that's all in random arenas. Learn to love protection, it's a better line. For random arenas I usually run something like this.

[skill]Zealous Benediction[/skill][skill]Gift of Health[/skill][skill]Spirit Bond[/skill][skill]Shield of Absorption[/skill][skill]Reversal of Fortune[/skill][skill]Holy Veil[/skill][skill]Dismiss Condition[/skill][skill]Hex Breaker[/skill]

Something like 14 Prot, 9 Heal, ~4dom, the rest in divine (should be ~10/11). You don't want to be using heals to heal people, they should just be top ups. Protection is far more efficient and for the most it's extremely hard to just beat through, whereas a heal monk you can just outdamage it's healing rate and it dies.

This build is good but to complex for someone new to Monking it would be nice if there was the old Mo/E premade around but it is still on the wiki.

dgb · Jan 03, 2007, 09:22 AM // 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Age

This build is good but to complex for someone new to Monking it would be nice if there was the old Mo/E premade around but it is still on the wiki.

Rubbish, there is absolutely no point playing pure healing builds, they don't teach you anything about monking. You just point at someone and red bars go up, blue bars go down. When your blue bars go down far enough people die.

There's nothing complex about protection at all intrinsically, it's just when you compare it to the 20 skills in healing that all do exactly the same thing it looks complex.

As for the build I listed and how to use it.

[skill]Zealous Benediction[/skill][skill]Gift of Health[/skill]

These two are both top up skills. Essentially some damage is going to leak through your prots, the worse you are at monking hte more leaks through. Gift of Health is incredibly attribute point per heal per energy efficient, that's why it's in. It works well at 9 spec and it's negative is irrelevant. Zealous Benediction is the big heal, it's a bigger top up and it's for yourself. The energy bonus on it is nice, but not something to be relied upon. Never wait to heal someone who needs it for them to drop below 50%, you'll lose people that way.

Next up is your three 1/4 second cast skills. I'll deal with them individually.

[skill]Spirit Bond[/skill]

This is your big protection and it's your expensive one as well. It's obvious enough how it works, this is your prot to use when you know someone is going to come under extended pressure. If there's for instance a hammer warrior running around with the chain Backbreaker->Crushing->Mighty->Hammer Bash and you see it coming to you, you want SB on yourself. You will almost certainly get three processes out of it which will keep you alive.

[skill]Shield of Absorption[/skill]

This thing takes a while to get going so you want to use it when somethings getting hammered. It's not a throw-away skill in that if you chuck it around randomly it will hardly process for any reduction. Drop it in to a guy getting heavily focused and it will quickly work it's way up to ~30 damage absorbtion.

[skill]Reversal of Fortune[/skill]

This is your maintenance skill and your default. If I'm not sure what to use 9/10 I go RoF. It breaks extremely quickly, so don't expect it to last, but it will deal with a bit of damage in time to let you make decisions etc. Also if you see something flying around such as a one off damage packet, this is great to use. I used to love air eles, I'd see the Lightning Orb in mid-air and RoF the guy it was about to hit entirely wiping out the damage from it.

[skill]Dismiss Condition[/skill][skill]Holy Veil[/skill]

Your to removal skills, they do what they say on the can basically. Holy Veil has an extra dimension in that I allways enchant myself with it before a game. If someone drops a hex on me it's a free removal, otherwise I drop it myself. If I have a particularly annoying hexer on me I'll sometimes leave it up permanently, but given the next skill I wouldn't recomend that.

[skill]Hex Breaker[/skill]

Keep it up generally when playing teams with any hexes, it's nice, it will keep a lot off of you. The damage is meh, you only want the spec for the duration. It's not really critical but you mentioned you were struggling with hexes so I put it in.

The three protection spells should be your most used spells, but if you're new to monking they won't be as plenty of damage will get through, long run you should be aiming to be able to work with a utility elite instead of a top-up, such as divert hexes or something. In an RA situation, there's usually only two real damage dealers as the third and fourth guy are either monks or suck. Aim to work out who are the damage dealers and use your protection spells on their targets. Don't stare at the party-list, that tells you way to late when to use protection, your best bet is to watch it in game. If a warrior is chasing someone prot them. If an ele is raising it's hands towards someone then prot them etc. When people are damaged, top them up with GoH or ZB, but overall you should try to prevent the damage rather than top it up.

bungusmaximus · Jan 03, 2007, 10:46 AM // 10:46

A little >slightly offtopic< question, i see no res on that bar, arent monks suppused to res when someone dies? whats common in PvP monk bars? res or no res?

LightningHell · Jan 03, 2007, 10:52 AM // 10:52

Monks do not resurrect. Ever.

Let the Elementalists do that job.

When a Monk wastes time to resurrect, that's time that can be used to save other allies.

bungusmaximus · Jan 03, 2007, 10:58 AM // 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningHell

Monks do not resurrect. Ever.

Let the Elementalists do that job.

When a Monk wastes time to resurrect, that's time that can be used to save other allies.

I kinda figured that out yes, but players keep bashing me for not bringing res. maybe I should find some more decent ppl to play with then the average ZOMG RES ME NOOB MONK types. kinda hard tho, thxz for the heads up anyway.
Quite funny that I use the EXACTLY same monk bar as stated above for my own monk :P ZB must really own...

zling · Jan 03, 2007, 11:42 AM // 11:42

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it yet but if you're having trouble with a lot of hexes on you bring a nice little skill called CoP(contemplation of purity) with you. it isnt a spell and thus unaffected by daze, migraine, arcane connundrum, etc and as a prot monk you can have plenty of enchantments on yourself to remove a lot of hexes simultaniously. this works especially well with holy veil as you get 2 hexes removed by stripping it with CoP

dgb · Jan 03, 2007, 11:54 AM // 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by bungusmaximus

I kinda figured that out yes, but players keep bashing me for not bringing res.

Tell them to suck less at Guild Wars IMO. Then flame them some more when they whisper-rage you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bungusmaximus

Quite funny that I use the EXACTLY same monk bar as stated above for my own monk :P ZB must really own...

ZB isn't actually particularly good, it just works very well in some situations where damage is highly controlled and utility is not as valuable. It's certainly not something I like in GVG, but it's extremely powerful in RA situations.

bungusmaximus · Jan 03, 2007, 12:01 PM // 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgb

Tell them to suck less at Guild Wars IMO. Then flame them some more when they whisper-rage you.

ZB isn't actually particularly good, it just works very well in some situations where damage is highly controlled and utility is not as valuable. It's certainly not something I like in GVG, but it's extremely powerful in RA situations.

The only PvP i do is with 4 player teams (TA, AB), in a party with more then one monk it's indeed kinda risky to take.