Curse

Buns United · Apr 28, 2010, 05:56 PM // 17:56

Elementalist/Mesmer

Attributes
Water Magic: 12+1+1
Energy Storage: 9+1
Domination Magic: 9

Shard Storm
Freezing Gust
Blurred Vision
Phychic Distraction [E]
(optional*)
(optional**)
Glyph of Lesser Energy
Resurrection Signet

*Wastrel's Demise for a quick cover hex, Rust if you want to PD every single Resurrection Signet out there.
**Additional energy management such as Aura of Restoration, Water Attunement or Glowing Ice.

Assassin/Warrior

Attributes
Critical Strikes:12+1+1
Dagger Mastery: 12+1
Hammer Mastery: 3

Jagged Strike or Black Mantis Thrust
Fox Fangs
Death Blossom
Exhausting Assault
Critical Eye
Seeping Wound [E]
Hammer Bash (or Yeti Smash if you feel lucky.)
Resurrection Signet

Enjoy!

RhanoctJocosa · Apr 29, 2010, 03:41 AM // 03:41

@animate: not gonna bother

@karla: in the 1-2 matches/25 where it's actually a challenge yes they do kite. i've shutdown so many good warriors when i'm playing crip just because monks don't respond to I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!I'm suffering from the crippled condition!

But i'm definitely not saying draw should be used to clean up condis, i use it on blinds, weakness and cripples only (and with crip it depends on what else is happening.. if my hammer war is crippled but just got off its dev ham obviously you don't bother)

urania · Apr 29, 2010, 07:13 AM // 07:13

I was being a tad sarctastic, but there's still a great deal of truth in that - 80-90% of RAers do not kite, but rather just tank everything. Preferably in their staff/wand sets, ofcourse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby2

When you play RA, do you kite?

Rangers use MendTouch on others in RA?

I kite, but I make up for far less than 1% of all RAers.

They do once you yell at them for not using it when needed!

(You do that in a team that has a shot at 25 wins, that is.)

Jade Zephyr · Apr 29, 2010, 06:57 PM // 18:57

Discussing the monk's job in Guild Wars PvP nowadays it just a waste of time.
It appears that the game has developed to the point where even the better player completely ignore the common basics of building a monk bar, or how to play it.
The Mo/W stance tank is an incredibly overpowered (when you add in armor) and boring template and pushing red bars up (at all costs) is the best way to win in RA. It has become a requirement for succesful monking in RA, but at the same time, though, feeds an incredibly unhealthy RA meta with countless overpowered gimmicks, with no real counters.

The fact that most people seem to be under the impression that removing hexes (and using 2 skill slots to this) is key, but completely ignoring conditions like weakness, blind or cripped is just flawed logic too.

RhanoctJocosa · Apr 30, 2010, 01:11 AM // 01:11

^ i don't think anyone said that. dual hex remove is vital, and keeping melee (and sometimes casters) clean of ugly condis is important too. however many monks choose to not bring condi remove in RA and can still complete full runs. personally i like having draw. ~_~

Faye Aeris · May 02, 2010, 06:56 PM // 18:56

For those bored with playing the typical BB or SW builds for spiking, here's a little something I came up with:

Build: OAej0NesIPVsNmxVhJ8TgTQBAA

Channeling 12 + 1 + 3
Deadly Arts 12
Dagger Mastery 3

Grasping was Kuurong
Nightmare Weapon
Renewing Surge
Falling Spider
Vampiric Assault
Impale
Dash
Resurrection Signet

Equips: PkpxFP/FzkqYoyJ90coyJDLtoyJtVXoyJDrboyJDLA
Vampiric Dagger of Fortitude (15^50)
Full Herald's Insignia
Full Runes of Vitae

Precast Kuurong. Use Nightmare Weapon before spiking. Use Renewing Surge as energy management or to augment the spike. Switch to daggers to drop the item, use Falling Spiker, Vampiric Assault, and Impale to spike. Catch kiters with Dash.

Might not be the highest damage build out there, but it gets the job done. A nice benefit is that the spike goes right through most prots such as Reversal of Fortune, Life Sheath, or Spirit Bond. Also, it's very fun to play.

Technical Stuff:

Armor Ignoring Damage:
79 - Kuurong
159 - Nightmare Weapon
104 - Renewing Surge
19 - Falling Spider
68 - Vampiric Assault
100 - Deep Wound (Impale)
32 - Poison (Assuming 4 second spikes)
9 - Vampiric Weapon (3 hits)
Total: 525

Damage Affected by Armor:
85 - Impale

muhahaha · May 03, 2010, 01:34 AM // 01:34

Fun ele for when I'm bored of monking:

E/p

12+1+1 air
3+1 energy storage
12 spear

Lightning spear, shields of all sorts
40/40 air wand + offhand
40/20/20 air staff
+30/-2 wand + offhand

Bsurge
Shell shock
Conjure Lightning
Barbed spear
Maiming Spear
Chest Thumper
Air attunement
Res sig

Basically, play blindbot every ~5s or so, and spear autoattack with spammable condi during recharge. Works ridiculously well IMO.

TheGuildWarsPenguin · May 03, 2010, 01:34 AM // 01:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faye Aeris

A nice benefit is that the spike goes right through most prots such as Reversal of Fortune, Life Sheath, or Spirit Bond.

Actually, RoF and LS convert life-stealing too, contrary to what you said.

Sankt Hallvard · May 03, 2010, 01:44 AM // 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by muhahaha

Basically, play blindbot every ~5s or so, and spear autoattack with spammable condi during recharge. Works ridiculously well IMO.

Looks original and good, but when you run into a necro(and they are common) the fun's over.

Kosar The Cruel · May 03, 2010, 02:00 AM // 02:00

Main Dervish build I use in RA, It's an original Kosar. So, any constructive criticism is welcome.

Skills:
1. Victorious Sweep (dmg + small self-heal)
2. Lyssa's Assault (dmg + energy return)
3. Crippling Sweep/Victory (I prefer Sweep b/c you'll usually always have enchants on)
4. Wounding Strike (use this to cover Cripple + spam on all targets if possible)
5. Mystic Regeneration (use when necessary)
6. Armor of Sanctity (use on balled up foes for PBAoE weakness + dmg reduction)
7. Faithful Intervention (move behind an object when casting if possible to avoid rupts)
8. Resurrection Signet

Attirbutes:
Mysticism: 12 (10 + 1 +1)
Scythe Mastery: 12 (11 + 1)
Earth Prayers: 11 (10 + 1)

Gear:
-Zealous Scythe
-Defensive Set
-Runes of your choice (either +armor or +energy)
-Highest Sup. Health rune possible

Usage
Find your target (aim for squishies), use 3 -> 4 -> 1+2
Use regen when needed and kite when under pressure
Switch targets often and spam Crippling + WS + Armor of Sanctity

And again, Any constructive criticism is welcome!

bungusmaximus · May 03, 2010, 09:48 AM // 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by muhahaha

Fun ele for when I'm bored of monking:

E/p

12+1+1 air
3+1 energy storage
12 spear

Lightning spear, shields of all sorts
40/40 air wand + offhand
40/20/20 air staff
+30/-2 wand + offhand

Bsurge
Shell shock
Conjure Lightning
Barbed spear
Maiming Spear
Chest Thumper
Air attunement
Res sig

Basically, play blindbot every ~5s or so, and spear autoattack with spammable condi during recharge. Works ridiculously well IMO.

Didn't I meet you in AB once? i sen this type of bsurge there but he also had d-throw ><. Byebye dev hammer GRRRR.

DigitalFear · May 04, 2010, 02:45 PM // 14:45

Not sure if it's been done already(probably is but meh)

Me/E

FC 8+1+1
Inspiration:10+1
Air:12

Bsurge
Enervating Charge
Lightning Bolt
Shell Shock
Pdrain
Ether Feast
Air Attunement
Res

Basically an uninterruptible Bsurge(0.47 sec cast).

40/40 set
high set
40/20/20 staff if you feel you need it
defensive set.

bhavv · May 04, 2010, 11:49 PM // 23:49

I just started playing again after a long break and were just trying to get at least 10 wins again, but failing miserably vs all the mesmers and necros. I were trying WoH, PnH, Glimmer, SoD, SoR, and nothing would work and I would just get owned everytime I faced a team with multiple mesmers and necros

.

Then I ran Healers Covenant with Contemplation of Purity, got a great team with lots of damage, and managed 25 wins o.O. Most of the teams we faced were really good, but my team was better ^^.

(I have to spam print screen to take screenshots because most of them come out as solid black for some reason

)

I swapped out D Kiss from my usual bar to Healing Touch to keep myself alive, and I managed to outheal most pressure. Stuff like VoR / Backfire was easily wiped off using Contemplation. Healing party members was a pain without D Kiss, but I managed somehow.

Healing breeze actually works really well on this bar as it only costs 7 energy, and kept me alive really well against any warrior or sin from simply kiting with it on, although without D Kiss healing party members is really difficult, but everyone will be ganking on the monk anyway, so I were having to keep Healing breeze and vig spirit up on myself all the time while spamming Patient Sprit + Dismiss Condition on my team mates along with healing breeze whenever I could afford it, and using healing touch and contemplation to heal myself.

I run 12 + 1 + 1 DF, 11 + 1 Healing and 6 + 1 Prot because healing from DF is unaffected by healers covenant.

A few teams had heavy E denial, and one mesmer was using Ether Lord / Ether Phantom and stuck my energy on 0, but healers covenant was a great help against this as I could heal once my energy was back up to just 2.

Faye Aeris · May 07, 2010, 08:40 PM // 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGuildWarsPenguin

Actually, RoF and LS convert life-stealing too, contrary to what you said.

Sorry, I should have made myself clear. Nightmare weapon reduces your dagger damage to 0. When you hit, it is converted into 2 packets of damage. The 0 damage comes first, thereby 'using up' LS/RoF, then you steal the life. Hence, the build hits through prots.

Sethellington · May 08, 2010, 07:33 PM // 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

I just started playing again after a long break and were just trying to get at least 10 wins again, but failing miserably vs all the mesmers and necros. I were trying WoH, PnH, Glimmer, SoD, SoR, and nothing would work and I would just get owned everytime I faced a team with multiple mesmers and necros

.

Then I ran Healers Covenant with Contemplation of Purity, got a great team with lots of damage, and managed 25 wins o.O. Most of the teams we faced were really good, but my team was better ^^.

(I have to spam print screen to take screenshots because most of them come out as solid black for some reason

)

I swapped out D Kiss from my usual bar to Healing Touch to keep myself alive, and I managed to outheal most pressure. Stuff like VoR / Backfire was easily wiped off using Contemplation. Healing party members was a pain without D Kiss, but I managed somehow.

Healing breeze actually works really well on this bar as it only costs 7 energy, and kept me alive really well against any warrior or sin from simply kiting with it on, although without D Kiss healing party members is really difficult, but everyone will be ganking on the monk anyway, so I were having to keep Healing breeze and vig spirit up on myself all the time while spamming Patient Sprit + Dismiss Condition on my team mates along with healing breeze whenever I could afford it, and using healing touch and contemplation to heal myself.

I run 12 + 1 + 1 DF, 11 + 1 Healing and 6 + 1 Prot because healing from DF is unaffected by healers covenant.

A few teams had heavy E denial, and one mesmer was using Ether Lord / Ether Phantom and stuck my energy on 0, but healers covenant was a great help against this as I could heal once my energy was back up to just 2.

This actually looks really intersting to me. I'll definitely be trying this one out when I reinstall GW in ~2 weeks. My big question is - why Spotless Mind? Is there something I'm missing in the functionality? From what I see you're removing one hex after 5 seconds (at 7 prot it only lasts 8 seconds). 12 Recharge with a delay in actual removal. Cure hex has a 12 second recharge with a 75 heal (after HC) with a slightly longer cast time. If it's pure hex removal you need, why not use Remove Hex (8rc) or Deny Hexes (multiple hexes)?

Sankt Hallvard · May 08, 2010, 09:03 PM // 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sethellington

This actually looks really intersting to me. I'll definitely be trying this one out when I reinstall GW in ~2 weeks. My big question is - why Spotless Mind? Is there something I'm missing in the functionality? From what I see you're removing one hex after 5 seconds (at 7 prot it only lasts 8 seconds). 12 Recharge with a delay in actual removal. Cure hex has a 12 second recharge with a 75 heal (after HC) with a slightly longer cast time. If it's pure hex removal you need, why not use Remove Hex (8rc) or Deny Hexes (multiple hexes)?

Yes, there is something you're missing. Spotless is in healing prayers giving it a 12 sec duration and by that removing 2 hexes. Though you have a point since it's still below the 3 hex breakpoint even with a 20% enchant mod. I guess he still prefers it over your alternatives because:

Cure removes only 1 hex and is slightly reduced in heal output anyway.
Remove hex isn't affected by HC.
Deny hexes isn't affected by HC and is only fueled by cop.

Other problems I see with the bar: no stance/utility, draw over dismiss, probably not enough red bar power if you get shut down even for small amounts of time as you're required to spam.

Windf0rce · May 08, 2010, 10:41 PM // 22:41

Another problem with Cure is that it is a 1 second cast tied to Healing Prayers... which can easily get you powerblocked.

muhahaha · May 09, 2010, 04:02 AM // 04:02

Cure hex with a 40/40 is a sexy powerheal/side hex removal though, but I've found monking in RA to be more a game of rock-paper-scissors more than anything.

Basically, 3 things you can get rolled with in RA:

Physical DPS
Hexes
Conditions/Pressure

And there are bars well suited to handle each one:

Physicals: Mo/W WoH with like 7/8 tactic shield, Mo/A with Return +Dark Escape, ZB with hard and small prots.
Hexes: PnH or cure+veil+spotless (Yes, old TA monk build lol...)
Conditions/Pressure: Draw/Touch, Life Sheath, HC monk.

It has been extremely frustrating to monk in RA.
My current bar is a hybrid hex and condition removal bar with just Return/Bonettis as defense, since I think physical is the least threatening out of the 3 (considering the massive amount of necros out there)

Sethellington · May 09, 2010, 08:27 AM // 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sankt Hallvard

Yes, there is something you're missing. Spotless is in healing prayers giving it a 12 sec duration and by that removing 2 hexes. Though you have a point since it's still below the 3 hex breakpoint even with a 20% enchant mod.

Oohh, my bad. Just assumed it'd be prot - don't know why... The 1/4 cast is nice, but if you're gonna get pblock'd they'll be able to get you on healing touch/vs/hb anyway. And I'd never run this build without going /W /A or taking Guardian or something similar. Things I'd consider changing:

HB: not because I think it's a noob Wammo skill, I'm well aware that it produces a massive heal over time when you're being pressured rather than spiked. I mean, with a 20% ench weapon it gives almost 300hp. But still, if you see SW on you and suddenly need spike prot, you have none.

HT: I understand the want for a self heal but I think there's enough in the bar for a spike heal. Since you should always have HC on with VS covering, then self cast Patient Spirit, then CoP. This is 3 enchants, each of which lost provides 75 health. So with HC, VS and PS: Using CoP Removes 3 conditions, 3 hexes, heals for 225 HP (3x75 from CoP) + 102 HP from patient spirit. Since both are 1/4 casts anyway, it should take the same sort of time as HT anyway. Thoughts?

Zuranthium · May 09, 2010, 10:55 PM // 22:55

Heal = 12+1+2
Divine = 10+1
Tactics = 8
Protection = 2

Bonetti's Defense
Word of Healing
Patient Spirit
Vigorous Spirit
Draw Conditions
Spotless Mind
Contemplation of Purity
Dolyak Signet

For RA this is probably the best you can do (without taking syncing into consideration, in which case you'd of course have a FF Necro and not need draw condi). It really, really pains me to say that a Monk with Dolyak Signet is the best build out there. But it is. No energy cost and unremovable makes Dolyak superior to Balanced Stance for RA.

As for the rest of the build, I picked Spotless Mind and Contemplation of Purity because 1/4 casts are pretty much a necessity. Can't depend on 1 second cast removals.