Euclid.2517

Because many pug don't give aegis/stab well, as long as cannot even maintain 10 stacks above might as well, which make power overwhelming useless.

Also these days pug are just bad, since most veteran instanced content player like you don't play anymore, since there is almost no update in this game. I once saw a team where there is a core necro, doing less damage than alac, yet all of them have title. I guess you are one of the fractal **elitists** who rarely pug these days (based on your style of history reply), and underestimate how bad pug are.

And it is truly annoying when you see pug saying lf condi FB only, as even our static scourge can do 32k+ on dark Ai, and we are even skipping breaking bar for every odd occurence. While most pug Cfb cannot do more than 24k target dps....

[https://dps.report/RdtB-20210222-205917_ai](https://dps.report/RdtB-20210222-205917_ai)

Holo has bell to reset burst, A.E.D. to skip mechanics, and range possibility through grenade, more tanky, etc. Yeah, maybe equal when you can consistently hit a boss like golem, like Gorseval etc. But is it fair to be just equal? Given all these shortcomings? So why should I play Pweaver in raid when there is a build that is almost equally strong, and with a lot of better things?

> @"Nephalem.8921" said:

> > @"Euclid.2517" said:

> > You are talking about PVE. I will talk about instanced content mainly.

> >

> > > @"KelyNeli.4516" said:

> > > I have read a ton of comments and information on the internet and it seems like the class is OVERNERFED horribly and that Arenanet has some stupid vendetta against this fun to play profession, why?

> >

> > Sure, it is overnerfed given it is the most squishy class, and isn't the best choice for most things, but not garbage at all.

> > Power weaver is an ok build in raid **(tho holosmith is strictly better, with more CC, higher burst damage, range ability, more tanky, also potential to bring "pinpoint distribution" for group buff).** It is a strong build for CA, which has huge hitbox.

> > It is a strong build in fractal, **if you have a organized static group**.

> >

>

> It is not only a strong build in a fractal static. you just need support in the form of alac, quickness and might. You can also play masters fortitude which puts you at 14k hp.

> Statics play it without a healer, why should it struggle in your standard hfb pug. Pugs just dont use everything it brings like conjure share but its still very good.

> Holo brings pinpoint on exactly 1 boss and holo is taken for the vuln there anyways.

> Holo is not strictly better. both builds are quite equal on a lot of bosses and both builds struggle vs pChrono stack. Holos more bursty nature can also be bad when phase times dont align or during splits. just slight buffs would put it above holo easily. Like normalizing fgs cd to reasonable levels or buffing fresh air slightly with maybe buffing twin strikes. fresh air weaver has high cc aswell.

You are talking about PVE. I will talk about instanced content mainly.

> @"KelyNeli.4516" said:

> I have read a ton of comments and information on the internet and it seems like the class is OVERNERFED horribly and that Arenanet has some stupid vendetta against this fun to play profession, why?

Sure, it is overnerfed given it is the most squishy class, and isn't the best choice for most things, but not garbage at all.

Power weaver is an ok build in raid **(tho holosmith is strictly better, with more CC, higher burst damage, range ability, more tanky, also potential to bring "pinpoint distribution" for group buff).** It is a strong build for CA, which has huge hitbox.

It is a strong build in fractal, **if you have a organized static group**.

Condition weaver is a much stronger build than power weaver, in the sense that it is more tanky(through earth trait), higher burst damage (first golem number), also higher sustained damage. It can really compete with classes like condition renegade, condition mirage(except Largos) if you know how to play it. **But beating them may be hard if skill levels are same, and they bring more group utility than you.** For fractal, it is pretty good on several bosses (those that doesn't phase too much).

Heal tempest is an strong heal build. Most groups that fail boneskinner should consider bringing a heal tempest instead of HB. Strong 10 man heal, might bot, group projectile control. Sadly, the whole ele class has no group offensive boon, no quickness, no alacrity etc.

Power tempest is an ok build.. Well, not so great. Only place I find it useable is CA and Samarog and Slothasor, and Nightmare fractal cms. But you can give some group might and boon extension.

Condition tempest. I just don't like this class at all. Slow condition ramp up. Multiple overloads feel awkward.

It definitely deserves some love from Anet, but again, it is not garbage at all. Still usable.

Right now, Tornado has 150 seconds cd in PVE.

Conjure Fiery Greatsword has 180 seconds cd in PVE.

For tornado, even PVP version has 90 seconds cd. (Which were 60 seconds earlier but nerfed) Why should it have 150 seconds in PVE? It is a nice defensive skill when under massive pressure in open world. But right now its cd is too long to be useful.

I will not talk more about FGS as tons of people has mentioned it over and over again.

Also a side question.. Anyone can tell me what is the use of "Conjure Flame Axe"? Rarely see any people use it.

> @"FrownyClown.8402" said:

> Design philosophy of each profession. If you want every profession to have the same strengths and weaknesses you might as well have 1 profession in the game. Guardian is a better boon support. Simple as that.

Hey buddy I am not asking for same strengths and weaknesses. I am just saying some traits and utility are so underwhelming and unfair.

It's a bit frustrating when I list data and concrete example, people just respond "simple as that" without any further explanation.

And you have to admit that elementalist is the least seen class in end game PVE right now.

> @"Sarlan.7682" said:

> Guardian: strong in pve, wvw zerging and PvP, good enough for roaming

> Warri: good in pve, decent to trash in pvp, has its place in wvw zerging

> Ele: strong in pve, best Support in pvp and strong Support/dps in wvw

> Rev: strong in all game types

> Necro: not so great in pve, strong teamfighter in pvp and strong zerg dps, gets outclassed in Roaming If you dont run bunker core

> Engi: good in pve, s+ Tier in pvp, strong Support/dps Option in zergs good at Roaming

> Thief: good pve dps, good roamer in pvp Games, ultra busted in wvw roaming/ganking rather weak in zergs (still playable as dps though)

> Mesmer: strong in pve, kinda okish in pvp, strong zerg Support with massive boon rips/CC

> Ranger: strong in pve, strong PvP sidenoder, noobfriendly roaming pick and has a niche role as immob spam dps in zergs though not 100% needed

>

> Tbh rn every class is atleast viable everywhere. Take the crying with a grain of Salt.

> @"Sarlan.7682" said:

> Guardian: strong in pve, wvw zerging and PvP, good enough for roaming

> Warri: good in pve, decent to trash in pvp, has its place in wvw zerging

> Ele: strong in pve, best Support in pvp and strong Support/dps in wvw

> Rev: strong in all game types

> Necro: not so great in pve, strong teamfighter in pvp and strong zerg dps, gets outclassed in Roaming If you dont run bunker core

> Engi: good in pve, s+ Tier in pvp, strong Support/dps Option in zergs good at Roaming

> Thief: good pve dps, good roamer in pvp Games, ultra busted in wvw roaming/ganking rather weak in zergs (still playable as dps though)

> Mesmer: strong in pve, kinda okish in pvp, strong zerg Support with massive boon rips/CC

> Ranger: strong in pve, strong PvP sidenoder, noobfriendly roaming pick and has a niche role as immob spam dps in zergs though not 100% needed

>

> Tbh rn every class is atleast viable everywhere. Take the crying with a grain of Salt.

If elementalist is strong in PVE, why I rarely see one in raid/fractal? So far I have **not seen anyone else** playing 100cm using condition weaver except myself. Most people are just using condition firebrand/Mirage/Soulbeast.

**Power weaver** is ok but reward/risk ratio is very low unless you play with people you know. You have close to 0 self boon and very dependent on quickness/alacrity. Even so, holosmith is better for higher burst (in raid scenario) and sustain, which I really enjoy.

**Heal tempest** lacks group stability/resistance/quickness. A firebrand can provide every boon except alacrity.

Every other class is compensated for having low HP. Theif has stealth/evade, Guardian has a lot of aegis/block, Mesmer has block/evade/stealth. Elementalist has close to zero block /stealth and also being the light armor.

(Look at Arcane shield utility skill, which has 40 seconds cd while "shield of wrath" from guardian has 35 seconds cd and being a blast and weapon skill)

Necro is strong in PVE for most people, except "speedrun team" like LuckyNoobs/Snowcrows. Heal scourge can carry a team, and reaper has very good self-boon and burst and self-sustain. Which I also really enjoy.

Another balance concern about stability.

"Stand Your Ground!" has 30cd (24 if traited),

10 man break stun,

5 stacks of 6 sec stability, 5 sec retaliation.

But Armor of earth has **50cd**,

**user only**,

10 stacks of 6 sec stability, 6 second protection.

I am really confused about how balance in guild wars 2 works. Why can a skill has **lower cd, way way more targets, but almost same effect?** Is it because no one in balance team play elementalist in PVE and almost all are playing guardian/necromancer? (That's what I heard from a Arenanet guild player in game)

> @"AliamRationem.5172" said:

> > @"RyanThomas.4182" said:

> > Currently Persisting Flames gives a 1% bonus to direct damage. Should it also give a bonus to condition damage? I've been playing open world Sword/X condi weaver and I'm trying to figure out which fire grandmaster is most useful.

> >

> > • Persisting flames makes fire fields last longer which is great for getting more leap finishers, which gives more fire auras, which can be transmuted if you're using focus. You can also blast them for might, which is useful.

> > • Pyromancer's Puissance seems like it was meant for supporting teammates. The explosion isn't worth all the might you lose, imo

> > • Blinding ashes doesn't seem great in pve. Enemies dangerous enough to kill you tend to have break bars anyway, and I'd rather rely on active defenses like dodging.

> >

> > So should Persisting Flames give a bonus to condi damage as well, to make it useful to condi builds, or am I overlooking something about the other fire grandmasters that would make it a great choice for open world condi weaver?

>

> I suspect they didn't do this because they were tunnel visioning raid dps. The intent was to boost power damage because condi outperformed it. Why have a condi grandmaster trait for offense? Totally unnecessary!

Why shouldn't they? Because of last patch condition weaver has 700 less benchmark damage while being most complicated rotation in game. I think they tuned down "Primordial Stance" and "Searing Slash" so that condi weaver won't become stronger due to "Persisting flame", but **numerically condi weaver is weaker than before**.

Talking about PVE right now.

# 1. Fury source

Right now the major source of group fury from heal tempest is "Zephyr's Boon" from air traitline or "Rebound!".

But as a healer, it feels weird to take air traitline just for fury/proc air more. Air is a all about getting more "ferocity" and damage traitline after all.

# 2. Group Stability and other boon

And this class still has little group stability. Only group stability is from "Rock solid" from earth traitline, **which only lasts 2 seconds** and **cannot trigger when overload**. And the super low duration means you have to attune to earth **almost exactly when an CC is coming**. But that may disrupt your pace, unlike "SYG" which can be pressed at anytime you want.

I think one way to fix this is to **add stability to "eye of the storm"**. Also it **feels very unfair** because "stand your ground" has **only 30 seconds cd** (24 if traited), giving **10 man** 5 stacks of stability and retaliation and break stun, while "eye of the storm" has **40seconds cd** and giving no stability at all, **only 5 man** unless traited.

**Is it really balanced?** Why healbrand can have access to all boons except alacrity, while this heal spec have **no aegis/resistance/quickness/little group stability?**

Don't get me wrong. I play healbrand too and a lot more and really like the spec. But by playing both spec I can really feel how underwhelming heal tempest is.

# Some side notes

What is the purpose of "Earthen Blast" from earth traitline? It does minimal damage (like ~400 at level 80) and cannot critical hit. It just feels so useless.

"Sunspot" cannot critical hit too and does little damage (~400), but at least you can buff it with "Burning rage" and you get "fire aura".

Hi new to mesmer. What does core mesmer offer that E spec don't?

I find out that mirage has exactly same shatter skills as core mesmer.

Any trade off?

Thanks.

I noticed that there is a action lockdown when you pick up bundle, and you cannot move for a while after you pick it up. **(Even more so when your ping is high, you just get locked down for like a total second or more)**

This is really troublesome when you do "Light up the darkness" achievement (when your ping is higher than 200). You have a lot of things chasing/pulling you and you get locked down when picking up orbs.

I really appreciate how smooth it is to pick up "supplies" in wvw. You can still move while you picking it up

> @"Khalisto.5780" said:

> You just need to do any action with your character any 90 secs or so to not get kicked

But it seems that guy literally not moving the whole game...

Ok I am kidding with bots thing. At least try using an algorithm to play instead of afking all the game please, bots players.

Friends tell me as long as you are not offline, you will get reward, regardless of afk since beginning or not.

It is funny that one gets "Desertion" for DC, yet gets reward just like others when afking all the game.

I am wondering why all the bots try so hard devising algorithms pretending to play the game, while they can get reward by just afking.

Duplicated posting. delete this

I don't know if it is against the forum rule if I post ID. But in ranked game today, one teammate afk since 0:0 to the end.

Yet he is not kicked from the game. And in the end we get rank points deduction?????

Do afker gets reward this way?

And why our rank points reduced???

Pls delete

> @"Mini Crinny.6190" said:

> I mean, Lesser lava font did more damage than Lava font, since anet can't buff lava font, just delete lesser lava font :trollface:

That is true =) So hilarious that a "lesser" does more damage than the normal version

> In this balance iteration, we're looking at the elementalist's grandmaster Fire traits. Persisting Flames is expected to push into more of a damage-over-time role, while Pyromancer's Puissance is getting a few changes focused toward group support and burst damage. With these changes, we are looking to also slightly reduce burning damage output in order to keep overall damage from going significantly higher in raid rotations.

[https://youtube.com/watch?v=vT1OBvueRSU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT1OBvueRSU)

It turns out with the power buff and condi nerf, the condi weaver has 0.6k lower dps on golem.

Question: why would Anet nerf a class that is nearly non-existent in raid? You see power weaver often (less so comparing to DH, Holo, Soulbeast of course), but you rarely see a condition weaver. All it got is some decent dps, yet meta team **would prefer firebrand** because their damage is not much lower while providing more utility like **aegis**, group condition cleanse with f2, resistance from f3 etc.

A quick review of what has been happening to this class last two patches:

1. Obsidian skin acts like "Renewed justice" yet providing no boon etc. It also cannot break stun. Don't tell me that is a utility and OS is a weapon skill. Look at **Shield of Wrath** and **Arcane shield**. Former has shorter cd and also a **blast finisher**.

2. Updraft acts weirdly **without even a mention in patch note**.

3. "Lesser lava skin" removed **without even a mention in patch note**. Also no more fury from blasting fire field.

I can keep going on, but you get the spirit.

Basically condi weaver gains nothing and only loses in this patch. Lower dps, removed "lesser lava skin", no more fury from blast fire field **(you certainly won't take air to get fury)**.

Besides, the new 10% modifier is truly non-creative.

If things like this keep going on, it is very likely I will not buy the next Expansion.

2 flame uprising + 1 ring of fore = 9 stacks in one loop.

The moment you starting the new loop, the old stack begins dropping.

> Persisting Flames: This trait no longer grants fury when using a blast finisher with a fire combo field. Instead, this trait will now grant the elementalist an additional 1% damage for 15 seconds for each target struck with a fire field. This effect stacks up to 10 times.

Just tested on golem. If you use the power weaver "bolt to the heart" variant ([https://snowcrows.com/raids/builds/elementalist/weaver/power/](https://snowcrows.com/raids/builds/elementalist/weaver/power/)), I cannot maintain 10 stacks **even on a standing still golem**, only getting 9 stack.

The "symbolic Avenger" from guardian: Gain one stack of 15 seconds every time your symbol hits, each stack 2%, Max 5 stacks.

Can we make it like this? :) I never have any issue getting max 5 stacks on my guardian.

> @"AliamRationem.5172" said:

> Weird, isn't it? It's like somebody who doesn't know anything about elementalist and only plays raids came up with this nonsense.

It also don't make sense for raid situation :'( Since tempest already give **10-man** 25 stacks of might easily without this change.

> Pyromancer's Puissance is getting a few changes focused toward group support and burst damage.

> Pyromancer's Puissance: In addition to granting might for each ability used while in fire attunement, this trait will now trigger Flame Expulsion when leaving fire attunement or finishing a fire overload.

> Flame Expulsion: After a brief delay, the elementalist releases a fiery explosion at their location that removes up to 10 stacks of might from them. Allies are granted might for 15 seconds based on the amount of might that was removed, while the damage of the explosion is increased by 10% per stack removed.

So I just tested.. The Flame Expulsion won't apply might to elementalist itself.

But now I am confused. Do "group support" tempest lacks might output? I don't think so. It easily gives 25 stack of might.

Overload fire gives 20 stack might, with various blast and trait. Also **heat sync** is one of the best group might skill in game. (Surprised, since elementalist usually get worst thing in game)

If you truly want to make support elementalist better, give more **group stability** access, instead of the stability from earth trait, which is super short and only one stack. And I am not asking for **quickness** or **alacrity** here.

I logged in and find out the lesser lava font is removed, however **it is not mentioned** in the official balance patch.

> Persisting Flames: This trait no longer grants fury when using a blast finisher with a fire combo field. Instead, this trait will now grant the elementalist an additional 1% damage for 15 seconds for each target struck with a fire field. This effect stacks up to 10 times.

Is this intended? If so the old version is much better.. We lost a fury source and the ability to resurrect ourself when downed, which happens a lot to this class.

> @"Nephalem.8921" said:

> > @"Euclid.2517" said:

> > Power weaver is not bursty. It is intended to have better sustained dps. Soulbeast/DH/Holo is intended to be bursty.

>

> You dont play fractals do you? Weaver constantly outbursts slb in there if he knows how to play.

I play fotm cm everyday and clear raid weekly as weaver main.

Sure, in fractal if you pre-cast everything: lightning hammer, meteor shower, lightning storm, glyph of elemental power, arcane power, Conjured greatsword; and get **One wolf pack** stance share, you can outburst soulbeast.

You see how **contrived** this is? That's why power weaver only is meta in fractal, and your teammate need to coordinate with you.

In raid, you cannot do these things.

Also don't know why you are so offensive by coming up and say "you dont play fractal do you".

> @"Nephalem.8921" said:

>

> You might have missed the part where power weaver gets another 10% mod. This would actually give players a reason to even touch that in raids. Should end in 38-40k golem dps but so should be on par with holo and dh on actual encounters since weaver is also really bursty.

Power weaver is not bursty. It is intended to have better sustained dps. Soulbeast/DH/Holo is intended to be bursty.