Mikau.6920

I'm using the viper variant on T4 and I'm liking it (RIP gold to build up). Sadly, there is no easy way to acquire a Grieving set now. Even after they add the insignias/inscriptions, the trinkets will be hard to obtain still. Does anyone knows how much DPS is lost compared to Grieving?

I just need to learn to use the tome of justice more often and drop it before killing something. What is strange is that some foes doesn't reset the tome of justice on kill (from radiance).

I got too bored with DH, but I still have a power set with infusions if I want to swap at least. But I believe that FB has more DPS than DH.

Considering they don't want to be as used to be...

I just want a 1200 or a 900 range on auto that can hit at least 3 targets (no cone). Can even keep the rate of fire and damage (the poorly DPS). Maybe add some type of effect (allies or on enemies) if the DPS is poor.

Now the auto is just useless, have a melee range but with very poor DPS. No reason to use the auto anymore (before was used as lootstick or at WvW, but now is useless in both).

I have a full zealot set for my Guardian. It is gathering dust on my bank since the release of the zealot (that I made to test it out).

I also have a full zealot Ele that I use on WvW. This one actually works.

I believe that Menders (POWER/HEALING/vitality/precision) would work out better. But they need to release on PvE/WvW first.

They could add it in the weaker skills and no one uses. Like Hallowed Ground, Signet of Mercy or Merciful Intervation.

Now that I played a lot with Firebrand, I feel more comfortable to talk and discuss on what not work/is underperforming on the spec.

**TL;DR:**

* Reduce the cast time of mantras and add some effect when preparing them;

* Increase the AoE range of mantras to 180 to be more reliable to hit allies;

* Weighty Terms trait seems weak, but it could be because the mantras are not there yet;

* Stoic Demeanor trait is really weak and should have changes or a rework;

* Even with changes to mantras in general, the Mantra of Truth would still be uninteresting to use. Maybe add more conditions?

The main problem I can see in the spec are the mantras cast: it has too much cast time and unlike the Mesmer it does not have an effect after preparing. What really punishes you for using all mantra stacks is the cast time and not the cooldown. I believe that ~1.75 sec of cast time would still be very long, but not insane like now (almost 3 seconds of cast time). Also, like the Mesmer mantras, it should have some effect when preparing them. Maybe even the mesmer ones should have a cast time reduction (I can't say much because I don't play Mesmer as much).

Other great problem of the mantras are the range. It is too dificult to apply the mantras effects on allies, even with the radius bonus from PoF launch. They should have a AoE of 180 radius at least (the same of an untrated symbol). It would still be small but you could hit allies in a more reliable way.

The Weighty Terms trait (reduce the charge cooldown and inflict 1.5 sec of immo on last charge, 10 sec CD) feels very weak. But it can be because the mantras are weak, not the trait itself. So after the mantras become more viable by them own, we should analyze again.

The Stoic Demeanor trait is a REALLY weak trait (apply 3 sec of slow when disabling or applying immo, 5 sec CD). I see not reason to take this take this trait on PvP, WvW or PvE. Compared to other GM traits it doesn't bring any real utility. Maybe add another effect like chill or something else? This trait is really out of place.

Even with the Mantra changes, the Mantra of Truth doesn't appears to be interesting. Maybe add other conditions to its effects? It doesn't bring enough to occupy a utility slot.

> @Archivist.8109 said:

> I'm not a prideful person, and I consider myself an honest one, so I'll just say it: I have NO idea what a lot of this means, lmao. I'm sure it'll make more sense as I level more, but as of now, a lot of terminology is gibberish to me. I really do appreciate the replies though!

Do you mean stat combinations? In caps are main stats:

Grieving = POWER/CONDITION/precision/ferocity

Carrion = CONDITION/power/vitality

Sinister = CONDITION/power/precision

Viper = POWER/CONDITION/precision/expertise

For example, this is the build I run in open world:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQNAnfbn0ABtChNDBGBDEEhF/BzKAUBqT7X0O6INLJUhyQA-jRiAQBwY/hPp+jNVCCSleJ4IAII9BA4EAAtHAw1UGAA-e

I don't use food on open world, only on Fractals and WvW. But you could use a cheap one.

For open world you can use a carrion/sinister(viper) mix.

Try condi guardian, if you like, then you'll like Firebrand.

In gameplay wise, the Axe is ok ish, matras are really bad and the class mechanic (tomes) is ok. I have a lot of fun playing Firebrand, since I already liked condi Guard before. But they still need to make mantras more usable.

If you have plan to use a power build, you should go Dragon Hunter instead. Healer's Retributuion that would make Firebrand somewhat interesting as Power build got a 20 second cooldown and is still bugged (doesn't work on Mantra of Solace Charges). Even if they fix the bug the trait won't be interesting to use as power because of the high cooldown.

Hey. I want to build up a Scourge for WvW (zergs) is a Shaman/Apothecary mix good? Or should I focus on a selfish set, like Trailblazer?

I'm not sure how good barrier is, it lasts too short. Does it actually bring enough support? Does healing power actually matters?

All I want is 1200 range on skill 1 that can hit to up 3 targets. Maybe something similar to Ele Fireball (staff skill 1 on fire) but with less damage, but able to heal up to 3 nearby allies around the target (around 100 pet hit / 200 with descent healing power).

Now Staff is a melee weapon. To have a 1200 range would be good for Core Guard and FB as well, even if does a lot less damage than DH longbow.

Guys, the problem is not the nerf itself, we all knew it would happen. The problem is the way they did it, they should nerf/change Ashes of the Just and Quickfire to keep solo DPS not so much behind group DPS.

I'm somewhat ok with the Legendary Lore, but there should be some compensation on solo DPS and a nerf to group DPS to keep things more balanced. Group DPS can be higher, but solo DPS shouldn't be so lower. Now solo DPS is about 70% of group DPS (30% less), it should be at least 85% (only 15% less).

> @abullenfla.9632 said:

> Haven't tested it myself since the nerf but 26k seems rather low. Are you by any chance comparing the 48k of a prenerf setup with mesmer clones to actually proc ashes of the just and quickfire with a postnerf setup without mesmer clones. A full group added something like 15k damage and since quickfire is the same and ashes of the just from tome 5 went down to 2 stacks from 3 but those 2 stacks are 20 percent stronger so tome 5 should end up only being 20% weaker and quickfire is still the same so the added bonus from being in a 5 man group should still be atleast 10k dps.

The Ashes of the Just is now only 1 stack, before was 2 (traited).

The only real problem for me is the high discrepancy of DPS compared to solo and group. They could nerf Quickfire and Tome of Justice 5 but for compensation buff other skills. The Firebrand could still have a higher DPS on a group, but not so low DPS solo. That's the main problem that I see with the class.

The problem for me is that Firebrand now is very high dependent of a group to be able to DPS - Quickfire and Tome of Justice 5.

They could change its mechanics a bit so it become more self suficient to DPS. Like nerf/change Quickfire and Tome of Justice 5, but for compensation buff other skills a bit, so you don't get so much discrepancy when solo compared to on group.

The class on PvE is main DPS, the support it brings doesn't even comes close to what Chrono/Berserker/Druid bring.

Thanks!!!!

Does these take the Firebrand Condition damage and duration or take the affected player condi damage and duration?

They need to increase the cone range to at least 450 and the radius to 180 to be at least viable. Now is just impossible to hit any ally and the offensive ones aren't interesting to use.

Also, have too much cast time. The cast time should be at least the same as Mesmer ones and with some type of effect when preparing. The Mantra related trait is very weak and the Stoic Demeanor is useless (I believe they had some intent to use in combination with the mantra trait).

There is no both option :/

Dragon Hunter:

* If fully speced to damage it have a lot AoE burst, kills everything just by pressing a few buttons;

* On WvW I like to play LB burning on back. Power builds are viable as well (not so with FB);

* It has a descent ranged option, unlike Firebrand (Scepter is a mid range weapon).

Firebrand:

* I always loved playing as Condi Guard, just after they allowed to Burning stack - Cond Guard was awful compared to now, the Permeating Wrath wasn't merged with the 3 hits to burn trait and I still liked playing;

* Unlike DH, FB has access to support, so on WvW you can play both as burning and support;

* Have more DPS on PvE than DH.

I'll still be playing with both specs, just playing a little more with FB now because its new. I still want to make a Burning Block DH for WvW :P

Did someone test it yet? How many burning stacks, duration and range on the 6th bonus?

Hey, I wonder if this build is good for Fractals, I want to know because there is a lot of gold needed to make the set:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQNAnfbnsADdBjNDBGBDEEhF/BLLJUhyQ7V0O6I1KAUBqTA-jlhAQBQU9Hbu/oEEanAAAqPAAPBAQq8jUA8sGA-w

With this build I have "only" 97% of burn duration. Should I always have 100% burn duration?

Comparing with this build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vVAQNAnfbnsADdBjNDBGBDEEhF/BzKAUBqTZJhKUGavi2RHpA-j1hAQBQU9iqpiCAeCAAUXAIV+FtTAoFwm7PKBJFAPrBA-w

I swaped the sigil of bursting for sigil of malice and a few Vipers for Sinister. Does 3% less burn actually matters? According the editor, I'll have 423 per second with burning on the first build (sigil of bursting) and the second one 413 (sigil of malice). That's 97% of the damage compared to the first one! Does that means in the end both of builds does the same DPS?

The positive about the first build (sigil of bursting) is it has more burst (even if only 3%) compared to the second one.

-edit-

Is Signet of Wrath better than Mantra of Flame? I'm already using Mantra of Solace and Mantra of Potence because they are mandatory for the build, but I hate mantras.

I'm using a Shaman/Apothecary mix for WvW and I'm having a lot of fun. Stats like power/precision/ferocity doesn't really bring much, so I decided to focus mainly on cond, toughness, vitality and healing power. I'm getting 80% of burn duration (without Radiance).

If you plan to play open world it can fit as well, but in group content, you should focus only on offensive stats, like full sinister or grieving (not sure which one suits better for Firebrand).

* Loremaster (Firebrand) + Battle Presence (Virtues) traits doesn't wotk toghether;

* Zealot's Fire (Torch 4 throw) doesn't goes towards my target, often on a random direction (before PoF it didn't have this problem);

* Healer's Retribution (Radiance) doesn't work when using the Mantra of Solace charges, only when preparing the mantra;

* Protector's Impact (Honor) and Liberator's Vow (Firebrand) doesn't work when preparing the Mantra of Solace, only when using its charges;

* Indomitable Courage doesn't break out stuns when using with Tome of Courage;

* Symbol of Vengeance (Axe) doesn't pulse the damage properly. Only the first hit does the intend damage the consecutive hits of the symbol does about 33% of the damage.

Yeah. After PoF it become broken. Now it goes anywhere but my target.

This seems to be a bug. Did you post on the bug section?

Not only on WvW, but on PvE as well. Power builds are useless compared to Condi.