ZeroSkitzo.5403

Make sure your build is optimized. @"AliamRationem.5172" has a great open world post and keeps it updated (he even responded above :))

Also, as you even noted, practice practice practice. You have less than a day experience on weaver and weaver isn’t a class you just “pick up”. I used to suck hard with it and could never get it until I committed to it. Learn each attunement and what they’re meant for (generally speaking: fire is damage, water is healing, air is damage/utility, earth is defense/utility plus amazing dual skill with fire).

Overall - just keep at it as it’s one of the most rewarding classes to learn (coming from someone who’s played them all across all content)!

Engi is great in all game modes and very fun/versatile! I main it in all content (pvp, wvw, fractals, raids) and top dps/near top always.

> @"TaurusZA.5493" said:

> Thank you everyone for the many helpful responses. I think I probably need to change my mindset and start with a other class, so am currently levelling up another character (guardian) to 80 to use condi firebrand to do this fractal. I still can't master the condi berserker and applaud those who can - the advice "get good" or "change class" is probably right!

That’s the spirit! Good luck!

I’ve played all 9 professions and kept swapping between them until I hit engineer and now exclusively play engi in open world/meta events, pvp, wvw, and fractals/raids.

Wvw: mentioned above but holo for roaming (or flamethrower scrapper for memes and plenty others), flamethrower/bomb scrapper for Zerg dps or support scrapper for Zerg.

Open world/meta: holo or scrapper. Holo more engaging, scrapper for laziness.

Pvp: plenty of builds here, again holo or scrapper mainly.

Fractals/raids: power holo for most but also decent condi holo (although a lot more effort than say a CFB). I play cholo for CM100 then power for rest. I also have legendary armor so very easy to swap stats/runes.

All in all, guardian has the most meta and flexible builds but since you mentioned engi, figured I’d comment on that since I main it. Most builds can be picked from metabattle, snow crows or discretize and tweaked as you want.

Good luck!

> @"Wolfb.7025" said:

> Condi warrior is good, yesterday I had a good one, pulling out more than the average dps.

>

> If you're true to your class get good at it, I also consider myself a holosmith one trick pony, condi holo is a hard rotation but I learned to do it and now I'm even competing against the meta classes on cm100 just ebcause I do love my class.

Second this and everything else said above. Condi warrior works in CM100 and people love those that can swap/go BS for CM99 after. There’s also plenty of LFG starting at CM99.

Side note - I also exclusively play holo and although cholo requires 3x more effort than CFB (almost didn’t bother with cholo bc of this), holo for life!

Problem with condi is most/every fractal (besides CM100) are short burst fights to phase the fight faster. CFB is the exception and can top dps in any CM or T4 daily.

Also, I run holo exclusively in CMs (condi for 100 of course) and have 0 issues. Typically top dps or come in after CFB with a fractal X title. I also rarely run BS even in pugs although is preferred on swap after CM100.

Sounds like it may be a get gud response if whatever class you play isn’t accepted. As long as you can do decent dps in the tier you’re in, you should be golden.

You should try both out in the pvp lobby. That said, I would say holo has more viability across all game modes (fractals and raids particularly) as a dps spec. Both are great in pvp but holo holds the cake there too.

However, scrapper flamethrower build can do great with lots of barrier for survivability so just depends on what you like.

Holo takes more “skill” via heat maintenance and is more fun to play and what I main. But when I want to be lazy in world meta events/farming, I go flamethrower scrapper

> @"TricksteR.1392" said:

> > @"Armen.1483" said:

> > I picked guardian, as it is eaier to play and has many builds to adapt, however soulbeast is my 2nd recommendation for dps. Soulbeast is very strong in CM fractals but it is also maybe the most difficult class to master there if you are not in organizded groups imo. Soulbeast can do an insane damage if everything is perfect (fast cc, stab where needed, setup for reflects, etc..), but in any pug where people forget cc is a thing, any rookie condi firebrand will outdps easily a soulbeast with no effort. Another thing is if you are not playng a power signet share firebrand, soulbeast with stance share and spirit is more valuable as a team member. In healless runs tho, firebrand is a must have in a group.

> > Apart from fractals both have very strong builds, but I'd argue that guardian and especially firebrand has very solid solo builds with quickness group support capabilities. Soloing champions is easy with any class, I'd suggest something like mesmer or necro for that, but those two are very bad in fractals (mesmer op in raids and strikes tho). And for open world firebrand is a love too, especially when you can buff urself with quickness while farming mats without interrupting it. For strikes both are good, for raids, guardian is more versitile again (have meta builds for more wings), but both will do.

>

> For some reason I can't into the whole guardian gimmick

> I don't find the gameplay fun nor interesting, and despite being versatile I don't see myself enjoying the class

> I'm torn between ranger (soulbeast) and engineer (holosmith), both of them look and probably feel extremely fun to play, flashy and effective

If you want fun, flashy and effective - holo all the way. I’ve played all nine classes and elites in all game modes and finally picked a main with holo. Engi was my second to last class picked up and I kept bouncing between classes before it. Now I main holo in pvp, wvw, fractals and raids. Super fun, doesn’t get boring, holo mode is flashy and can always go scrapper (minus raids/fracts) if you want something slower pace/change of scenery. Soulbeast isn’t bad but when you lost the ability to pet swap in combat, that was icing on the cake for me.

I love your enthusiasm for engineer but I have to say that power scrapper (bomb kit or flamethrower) does big deeps in Zerg v Zerg. I always top dps charts when I run my scrapper so please stop with this misconception. I also have plenty of guildies that play support scrapper and both roles are meta in our wvw Zerg comps.

Note I favor holo much more and main holo in sPVP and roaming so you’re right there but most people know this. So please stop with saying engi bad in zergs when I would say it’s meta, or at least off meta in most groups (power or support).

Hi All - I know most every visual effect disappears when entering holo mode but wasn’t sure if Conflux does as well - anyone know the answer?

Guardian hands down best, well rounded and is main support (heal brand) in fractals.

On a side note, you have 3 of 3 light classes so you can always rotate your light ascended armor across the classes assuming you go same damage type on each (e.g power)

> @"Xruptor.3965" said:

> Thanks for the responses, it gives me something to think about. I've narrowed it down Necro and possibly me returning back to Engi. It's a bit discouraging reading that Mesmer is underperforming according to quite a number of people. Since I've come back it just doesn't play the same. I used to enjoy it quite a bit. Necro though I'm afraid people are going to hit me with the noob stick as it's a very popular class and extremely saturated in the population. Since it's very beginner friendly. So that's something also I have to think about.

Just play all three for a bit and see which sticks. Anything works casually but if you want the class that is “most” meta in end-game content, engi I think has most diversity there as necro simply lacks end game group pve “viability”

> @"otto.5684" said:

> Engineer:

> OW PvE great

> Group PvE great

> SPvP great

> WvW not sure but it is at least okay

>

> Necro:

> OW PvE great

> Group PvE meh

> SPvP great

> WvW great

>

> Mesmer:

> OW PvE great

> Group PvE decent

> SPvP bad

> WvW I think it is still good for roaming

>

> If you are looking for top performance, engi is better. Also, engi has been consistently good, so that is not likely to change. Necro, as always not good in group PvE, but good in everything else. Mesmer is the weakest of the three currently, but it is still pretty solid in PvE.

>

Great summary without needing to go into details of elite specs. Regarding engi and wvw - it’s great there too. Zerg usually dps or heal scrapper and roam is scrapper or holo

Along with what others said above, I would unlock gliding in HoT then go to POF and do that content first. You’ll unlock mounts as you go and the hero points are easier to solo. If you are sold on going in order, at least do the first POF story mission to get your raptor to make it faster to run through HOT. You bought both expacs so mine as well enjoy the best part of POF (mounts) as long as you can!

Edit: there are still plenty of HOT hero point trains going but you need gliding at a minimum to keep up with the train.

Holo is more fun than scrapper imo so I would stick to it. I’m sure you’ve checked meta battle but this build is great and doesn’t use a kit: https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Holosmith_-_Protection_Sword/Shield

The page also gives usage and various variants you can try skills and trait wise. It also uses marauder which I would recommend if you can get it. If not, valk definitely hurts your dps but it gives the survivability as you already know.

> @"Hannelore.8153" said:

> Clicking the ground doesn't cancel target, only deselect it. It remains the valid target for any skills for 1-2sec. Its like this because otherwise stealth skills would stop your queued skills from casting just because the enemy disappeared.

>

> Presumably you're trying to use a leap skill to get away from an enemy, which isn't what they're meant for. Escaping from enemies is better using ground-targetted skills like teleports, or anything with a directional targetting. If you must use a player-targetted skill without lag or queueing to affect it, select an ally player, NPC, yellow mob or some kind of object instead.

>

> You can also stop the leap from being queued by using some cancel skill before it, like a heal skill (#6).

Here I was just thinking I thought I deselected when I just need to give it 1-2 seconds. Helpful info

Stick to core engi till you fully unlock scrapper. Why handicap yourself with a barely unlocked elite spec?

You need a full tree of traits minimum to make any sort of comparison.

> @"Antycypator.9874" said:

> > @"ZeroSkitzo.5403" said:

> > > @"Antycypator.9874" said:

> > > http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PeABw6x7lVwmYasIGKWeTZvUA-zRRYBKOfNgYSQK4QaTQEhEoCFiiHA-e

> > >

> > > Check this.

> > > Boons, condi cleanse, barrier, melee/ranged, break stun, blocks, CCs, damage reduction, increased movement speed, 95% critical hit chance (with Fury) and you won't harm yourself by overheating.

> > > It's literally everything.

> > > Rifle is a terrible weapon. Sword at least grant you some quickness and it has better damage and cleave.

> > >

> > >

> >

> > Looks good but I think you should run iron blooded over HGH as you don’t use any elixirs. I assume it was an accident :)

>

> I prefer more boon duration and shorter CD on TRAITs, especially in longer fights (like champions) or at camps in Drizzlewood. But it's my personal choice.

Ah my bad - you take for trait elixirs, hidden flask and emergency elixir.

> @"Antycypator.9874" said:

> http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PeABw6x7lVwmYasIGKWeTZvUA-zRRYBKOfNgYSQK4QaTQEhEoCFiiHA-e

>

> Check this.

> Boons, condi cleanse, barrier, melee/ranged, break stun, blocks, CCs, damage reduction, increased movement speed, 95% critical hit chance (with Fury) and you won't harm yourself by overheating.

> It's literally everything.

> Rifle is a terrible weapon. Sword at least grant you some quickness and it has better damage and cleave.

>

>

Looks good but I think you should run iron blooded over HGH as you don’t use any elixirs. I assume it was an accident :)

> @"Dawdler.8521" said:

> There are 41 timezones in the world. Saying "night time" doesnt actually mean anything.

Makes sense. I’m CST. I noticed it also affects open world maps so no clue what’s going on. Will just have to deal with it probably

Hi All - I’ve been having very bad ping in wvw the past few nights but have never lagged before in queued maps at night nor do I lag during the day. I’m on Ethernet so no issues with internet connection so wanted to see if there’s anything else I can do or hope it sorts itself out eventually.

Again - never have ever had any issues in wvw at night and it’s perfectly fine during the day which I know population lower but why I mentioned never had issues at night/in queued maps before.

Thanks!

> @"Lynx.9058" said:

> I'll try that, didnt know there was an option for it in settings.

>

To be clear, it’s instant cast so feels more fluid but since you lose the green target, most other professions and people usually use fast with ground targeting (I think that’s its name, it’s the middle of the three options)

> @"AliamRationem.5172" said:

> > @"Zhaid Zhem.6508" said:

> > It was about Nylarx.9671's post.

> > But you won't go very far in pvp if you're already stuck at the very first cc.

>

> I agree. I am really liking having a stunbreak again (surprised?)! And on a reasonable cooldown! ToF disgusts me, frankly. I refuse to use it with that cooldown! I feel the same way about 300s passives. Just get rid of them if you don't want us to use them! Don't just make them useless with super long cooldowns. Such lazy design.

>

> On air signet, aside from the stunbreak, the blind + invuln with instant application feels pretty good, too. I am finding this build has a very nice feel to it. It's a little glassy on paper with only vitality for passive defense stats, but I do get some toughness from mirage rune and the blinds, weakness, cleansing, barrier, and healing seem effective in allowing me to survive while playing aggressively (because you sort of have no choice with a melee-locked build that has low mobility!). The pressure with CC and cover condi feels pretty good, too.

>

> You'll see in this video I get tagged pretty heavily by the ranger early on, but from there I'm able to effectively counter-pressure while using evasion, blinds, CC and invuln to avoid taking any damage. I actually manage to take my opponent down while recovering nearly to full health in the process!

>

Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress! I actually saw the YT vid first from notifications and was going to comment but checked here first. I was having good sustain too without a stun break but I’ll give this a go. Fire signet gives such nice burst but always willing to try something different. Vallun also posted a hybrid fireweaver build but different play style for sure.

> @"AliamRationem.5172" said:

> > @"ZeroSkitzo.5403" said:

> > > @"AliamRationem.5172" said:

> > > > @"ZeroSkitzo.5403" said:

> > > > Glad to see someone so committed to fire weaver. Mind posting your wvw and sPVP (unless same as your 7/7 vid) builds? I’m sure they’re very similar but that’s what I main. Also, nice duels on your YT!

> > >

> > > Thanks! As with the fractal video, I'm not suggesting this is going to be meta. In fact, I expect that it works better in duels than it does in actual games played against players of this caliber. But so what? I like what I like! I've been experimenting with this setup since the patch was announced. The idea is to add some cover condi to (hopefully!) get a little more life out of my burn stacks.

> > >

> > > http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PGgAw2lZweYXMJmJOyXZvaA-zZoOjIlAZqAc7A

> > >

> >

> > As long as you’re having fun, that’s what matters! What about wvw? Would you still run carrion and mirage rune?

>

> It's been a bit since I did any WvW and I am strictly a roamer, so I don't recommend this for zerg play. But I favor a combination of Trailblazer and Dire for WvW like I do in open world. I would probably either run Mirage rune like I do in PvP or Balthazar rune like I do in PvE. But sometimes I like to take speed runes for WvW, since so many of the builds I come across as a roamer have high mobility and like to kite.

Just wanted to stop by and say THANK You! Finally have a fireweaver build I’m having success with in both ranked pvp and roaming wvw! Always loved the theme of sword weaver but could never make it work. So glad you posted this and have been providing updates throughout. Cheers!

> @"steki.1478" said:

> Btw, does weaver's prowess stack with condi duration to 100% or it can overcap it? Aka do you need 80% duration from gear/traits or you can go 100% regardless?

I don’t believe you can overcap condi duration so it would be a waste to go over 80% in pve. Note for pvp/wvw, it’s only 7% condi duration so you need to get to 93% in concept making more trailblazer gear worth it.