Boosted 80 item question.

[beeftotem.4137]

Hello

 

So I have 2 toons that I boosted and am working on unlocking their elite specs right now, one in hots and the other in pof. On both toons I have got a ton of exotic pieces but even if it is a piece that has the right stats that I'm looking for they all seem to be downgrades. I'm just curious is the armor that comes with a boosted toon basically bis until you start getting ascended gear?

[LaGranse.8652]

It has lvl 80 exotic amount of stats. Usually it is fast replaced with lvl 80 exotic armor with a stat distribution more tailored for your build.

[Garkus.2183]

All level 80 exotics with the right stats are bis slot till ascended,i can't see how you can get a lvl 80 exotic that's a downgrade from what you have unless the runes are different and in that case no loss,but i'm thinking the exotics you are getting are lvl 78-79 as that's quite common

[Aaralyna.3104]

The booster items (exotic with mediocre stat choice) are easily replaced by either karma exotic items (npc in Orr with core tyria stats of choice) or trading post (costs a few gold). Optionally you can leave out accessories and get these (ascended versions) from Living World Season 3 maps, and backitem same thing from either HoT/PoF/Living World 3/4. Weapons, look at specialisation weapons (exotic for free, you only need to unlock specific spec with matching weapon). If you have high lvl crafting you could also craft ascended items or obtain them in one of the other various ways in game. Ascended items are not necessary to play the game (higher level fractals aside due to the Agony Resistance system).

 

Note: some stats are only obtainable in HoT or PoF maps (like Viper), and thus you need to craft items.

[beeftotem.4137]

O ok. So exotic boots from hots with berserker stats have the same amount of stats as another pair of exotic boots from pof with berserker stats?

 

So right now unless I'm going after ascended gear, every berserker gear piece is basically a transmog?

 

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

If they are both the same level (such as L80), and have the same stats.

You can read more about stats, gear, and all things GW2 in the Wiki (link above).

 

Welcome to Tyria, and good luck.

[beeftotem.4137]

Ok, this feels rather strange.

 

Thanks for the clarification on this everyone.

[Danikat.8537]

Equipment in GW2 is relatively simple compared to many other games. The only things which affect the strength of a piece are the tier (text colour) and the level requirement. So all level 80 exotics are equally powerful, no matter where they came from. (And the same goes for any other tier/level - level 80 ascended equipment you can craft is identical to ones from raids or world bosses for example.)

 

What does make a difference is the stat combination on the equipment. Each piece will boost 1-4 stats (and some boost all of them, but with a smaller bonus to each stat than the more specialised ones) and it's important to pick ones which are appropriate for your build and playstyle. A character using high tier/level equipment could actually be weaker than one with a lower tier but appropriate stats (for example if you picked Condition damage as your main stat but then don't have skills which cause conditions).

 

The only way I could see for exotics you're finding to be directly weaker than the ones you've already got is if they're lacking upgrade components (runes on armour, sigils on weapons and jewels on trinkets) since the level 80 boost items come fully upgraded. Other than that it might just be that they have different stats.

[beeftotem.4137]

> @"Danikat.8537" said:

> Equipment in GW2 is relatively simple compared to many other games. The only things which affect the strength of a piece are the tier (text colour) and the level requirement. So all level 80 exotics are equally powerful, no matter where they came from. (And the same goes for any other tier/level - level 80 ascended equipment you can craft is identical to ones from raids or world bosses for example.)

>

> What does make a difference is the stat combination on the equipment. Each piece will boost 1-4 stats (and some boost all of them, but with a smaller bonus to each stat than the more specialised ones) and it's important to pick ones which are appropriate for your build and playstyle. A character using high tier/level equipment could actually be weaker than one with a lower tier but appropriate stats (for example if you picked Condition damage as your main stat but then don't have skills which cause conditions).

>

> The only way I could see for exotics you're finding to be directly weaker than the ones you've already got is if they're lacking upgrade components (runes on armour, sigils on weapons and jewels on trinkets) since the level 80 boost items come fully upgraded. Other than that it might just be that they have different stats.

>

 

This is what i find strange. Ive come here from wow and to me getting a max level toon with "bis" gear equipped (obv spec based) just seems against what mmorpgs are. It also feels strange that with out ascended gear, my character will basically be the same a month from now as it is now.

 

But maybe this is what i need to get the garbage of wow out of my brain. :)

 

[Danikat.8537]

> @"beeftotem.4137" said:

> > @"Danikat.8537" said:

> > Equipment in GW2 is relatively simple compared to many other games. The only things which affect the strength of a piece are the tier (text colour) and the level requirement. So all level 80 exotics are equally powerful, no matter where they came from. (And the same goes for any other tier/level - level 80 ascended equipment you can craft is identical to ones from raids or world bosses for example.)

> >

> > What does make a difference is the stat combination on the equipment. Each piece will boost 1-4 stats (and some boost all of them, but with a smaller bonus to each stat than the more specialised ones) and it's important to pick ones which are appropriate for your build and playstyle. A character using high tier/level equipment could actually be weaker than one with a lower tier but appropriate stats (for example if you picked Condition damage as your main stat but then don't have skills which cause conditions).

> >

> > The only way I could see for exotics you're finding to be directly weaker than the ones you've already got is if they're lacking upgrade components (runes on armour, sigils on weapons and jewels on trinkets) since the level 80 boost items come fully upgraded. Other than that it might just be that they have different stats.

> >

>

> This is what i find strange. Ive come here from wow and to me getting a max level toon with "bis" gear equipped (obv spec based) just seems against what mmorpgs are. It also feels strange that with out ascended gear, my character will basically be the same a month from now as it is now.

>

> But maybe this is what i need to get the garbage of wow out of my brain. :)

>

 

It is a big adjustment if you're used to other games. I've never played WoW but I know a lot of people who came from WoW to GW2 struggled with it.

 

The main thing to bear in mind is that although equipment is helpful it's never going to be the deciding factor in a battle. What's more important is knowing your profession and your skills and how to use them effectively. There is a huge difference between a newly boosted character being played by a new player and a level 80 in full exotics being played by an experienced player, it's just not a numerical difference in their stats. But that requires a whole new mindset - you don't need to focus on finding better gear as much, but you also can't put off difficult content until you've got better gear and it becomes easy because that won't happen, instead you need to work out how to beat it using the tools you've got (and remember that includes asking other players for help).

 

I won't say one is better than the other, but I definitely prefer GW2's approach because I think it gives me more freedom to focus on what I want to do instead of spending most my time chasing gear so I'm able to complete the stuff I want to do.

[ProtoGunner.4953]

> @"beeftotem.4137" said:

> > @"Danikat.8537" said:

> > Equipment in GW2 is relatively simple compared to many other games. The only things which affect the strength of a piece are the tier (text colour) and the level requirement. So all level 80 exotics are equally powerful, no matter where they came from. (And the same goes for any other tier/level - level 80 ascended equipment you can craft is identical to ones from raids or world bosses for example.)

> >

> > What does make a difference is the stat combination on the equipment. Each piece will boost 1-4 stats (and some boost all of them, but with a smaller bonus to each stat than the more specialised ones) and it's important to pick ones which are appropriate for your build and playstyle. A character using high tier/level equipment could actually be weaker than one with a lower tier but appropriate stats (for example if you picked Condition damage as your main stat but then don't have skills which cause conditions).

> >

> > The only way I could see for exotics you're finding to be directly weaker than the ones you've already got is if they're lacking upgrade components (runes on armour, sigils on weapons and jewels on trinkets) since the level 80 boost items come fully upgraded. Other than that it might just be that they have different stats.

> >

>

> This is what i find strange. Ive come here from wow and to me getting a max level toon with "bis" gear equipped (obv spec based) just seems against what mmorpgs are. It also feels strange that with out ascended gear, my character will basically be the same a month from now as it is now.

>

> But maybe this is what i need to get the garbage of wow out of my brain. :)

>

 

The idea behind this is that more casual players can find their way into the game. Also it is annyoing after some time that you're bis item which you worked for so long is now trash after a new expansion.

 

I know this very well. I played WoW and other MMOs quite extensively until a couple of years ago. Sometimes I like to get new stuff ofc. but in GW2 the idea is that you don't have to work for long to get 'to the good stuff'. My 2 year old characters in full ascended/legendary gear is still ready to be played in the newest raid. And since there is no sub fee there is no incentive that players still pay to stay online and gear up/attune to new raids. Of course this leads to dwindling playerbase sometimes. There are always two sides.

[Randulf.7614]

Ascended is also only for top tier fractals and possibly raids. It has little extra effect on the rest of the gane due to the miniscule stat jump.

 

Exotic is effective bis for the majority even if not the actual bis

[beeftotem.4137]

> @"ProtoGunner.4953" said:

> > @"beeftotem.4137" said:

> > > @"Danikat.8537" said:

> > > Equipment in GW2 is relatively simple compared to many other games. The only things which affect the strength of a piece are the tier (text colour) and the level requirement. So all level 80 exotics are equally powerful, no matter where they came from. (And the same goes for any other tier/level - level 80 ascended equipment you can craft is identical to ones from raids or world bosses for example.)

> > >

> > > What does make a difference is the stat combination on the equipment. Each piece will boost 1-4 stats (and some boost all of them, but with a smaller bonus to each stat than the more specialised ones) and it's important to pick ones which are appropriate for your build and playstyle. A character using high tier/level equipment could actually be weaker than one with a lower tier but appropriate stats (for example if you picked Condition damage as your main stat but then don't have skills which cause conditions).

> > >

> > > The only way I could see for exotics you're finding to be directly weaker than the ones you've already got is if they're lacking upgrade components (runes on armour, sigils on weapons and jewels on trinkets) since the level 80 boost items come fully upgraded. Other than that it might just be that they have different stats.

> > >

> >

> > This is what i find strange. Ive come here from wow and to me getting a max level toon with "bis" gear equipped (obv spec based) just seems against what mmorpgs are. It also feels strange that with out ascended gear, my character will basically be the same a month from now as it is now.

> >

> > But maybe this is what i need to get the garbage of wow out of my brain. :)

> >

>

> The idea behind this is that more casual players can find their way into the game. Also it is annyoing after some time that you're bis item which you worked for so long is now trash after a new expansion.

>

> I know this very well. I played WoW and other MMOs quite extensively until a couple of years ago. Sometimes I like to get new stuff ofc. but in GW2 the idea is that you don't have to work for long to get 'to the good stuff'. My 2 year old characters in full ascended/legendary gear is still ready to be played in the newest raid. And since there is no sub fee there is no incentive that players still pay to stay online and gear up/attune to new raids. Of course this leads to dwindling playerbase sometimes. There are always two sides.

 

I don't really mind it, it was just off putting. I figured you would be put in at best rare gear so that you had something to go after while doing story and events.

 

As a new player to guildwars but a long time mmo player i can see both advantages and disadvantages to the system though.

[Cyanchiv.2583]

> @"beeftotem.4137" said:

> > @"ProtoGunner.4953" said:

> > > @"beeftotem.4137" said:

> > > > @"Danikat.8537" said:

> > > > Equipment in GW2 is relatively simple compared to many other games. The only things which affect the strength of a piece are the tier (text colour) and the level requirement. So all level 80 exotics are equally powerful, no matter where they came from. (And the same goes for any other tier/level - level 80 ascended equipment you can craft is identical to ones from raids or world bosses for example.)

> > > >

> > > > What does make a difference is the stat combination on the equipment. Each piece will boost 1-4 stats (and some boost all of them, but with a smaller bonus to each stat than the more specialised ones) and it's important to pick ones which are appropriate for your build and playstyle. A character using high tier/level equipment could actually be weaker than one with a lower tier but appropriate stats (for example if you picked Condition damage as your main stat but then don't have skills which cause conditions).

> > > >

> > > > The only way I could see for exotics you're finding to be directly weaker than the ones you've already got is if they're lacking upgrade components (runes on armour, sigils on weapons and jewels on trinkets) since the level 80 boost items come fully upgraded. Other than that it might just be that they have different stats.

> > > >

> > >

> > > This is what i find strange. Ive come here from wow and to me getting a max level toon with "bis" gear equipped (obv spec based) just seems against what mmorpgs are. It also feels strange that with out ascended gear, my character will basically be the same a month from now as it is now.

> > >

> > > But maybe this is what i need to get the garbage of wow out of my brain. :)

> > >

> >

> > The idea behind this is that more casual players can find their way into the game. Also it is annyoing after some time that you're bis item which you worked for so long is now trash after a new expansion.

> >

> > I know this very well. I played WoW and other MMOs quite extensively until a couple of years ago. Sometimes I like to get new stuff ofc. but in GW2 the idea is that you don't have to work for long to get 'to the good stuff'. My 2 year old characters in full ascended/legendary gear is still ready to be played in the newest raid. And since there is no sub fee there is no incentive that players still pay to stay online and gear up/attune to new raids. Of course this leads to dwindling playerbase sometimes. There are always two sides.

>

> I don't really mind it, it was just off putting. I figured you would be put in at best rare gear so that you had something to go after while doing story and events.

>

> As a new player to guildwars but a long time mmo player i can see both advantages and disadvantages to the system though.

 

I wouldn't have suggested boosting your first character, as a new player to Guildwars. The leveling process does a good job of teaching the player basic mechanics of the game that you will use in all game modes, such as dodging. However as you stated you've been in HoT and PoD and didn't talk about dying frequently it sounds like you are managing just fine. (So many people post that they boosted to 80, have the best gear, but can't get past the pocket raptors.)

 

As far as progression in the game it sounds like you are used to doing a gear grind, or always trying to get the next armor set with bigger numbers. In GW2 the main focuses could be reaching the highest tiers in fractals, completing raids, collecting legendaries. You could join in meta events on many maps, or try to collect a multitude of rare skins to decorate your character how you want.

 

I always found it fairly comforting that if I take a break from the game that when I come back I won't be severely disadvantaged by trying to catch up to the next best gear.

[joneirikb.7506]

Just to comment on something else.

 

The Exotic 80 gear you get with the level 80 boost is "Soldier" gear/stats (at least for the classes I've tried it on or heard about). Which is on the whole pretty tanky, and decent to learn with (Stats: Power+, Toughness, Vitality).

 

As the game uses a mostly action combat system, as you play and learn the class better, and especially learn to use active defenses and positioning to negate more and more damage, most players move over to different stat sets, usually to Berserker (Glasscannon, Power+, Precision, Ferocity), or at least start mixing stats between the two.

 

And as you start learning the class better, many will try and experiment with other play-styles, and build ideas, which often require different stats again. So even if you get Exotic 80 gear given from the start, many players will still expand and get/try many different stat-sets and combinations of such.

 

This doesn't apply to everyone, some people are happy to stay in their survival based Soldier armor, others grab Berserk (Zerk) and never look back etc. It also depends somewhat upon what you want to do in the game, WvW for example uses a lot of weird stat combinations in various amounts, where even stat sets like Ministrel (complete bunker: Vitality, Healing Power, Toughness, Boon Duration) is meta on some classes.

[beeftotem.4137]

> @"Cyanchiv.2583" said:

> > @"beeftotem.4137" said:

> > > @"ProtoGunner.4953" said:

> > > > @"beeftotem.4137" said:

> > > > > @"Danikat.8537" said:

> > > > > Equipment in GW2 is relatively simple compared to many other games. The only things which affect the strength of a piece are the tier (text colour) and the level requirement. So all level 80 exotics are equally powerful, no matter where they came from. (And the same goes for any other tier/level - level 80 ascended equipment you can craft is identical to ones from raids or world bosses for example.)

> > > > >

> > > > > What does make a difference is the stat combination on the equipment. Each piece will boost 1-4 stats (and some boost all of them, but with a smaller bonus to each stat than the more specialised ones) and it's important to pick ones which are appropriate for your build and playstyle. A character using high tier/level equipment could actually be weaker than one with a lower tier but appropriate stats (for example if you picked Condition damage as your main stat but then don't have skills which cause conditions).

> > > > >

> > > > > The only way I could see for exotics you're finding to be directly weaker than the ones you've already got is if they're lacking upgrade components (runes on armour, sigils on weapons and jewels on trinkets) since the level 80 boost items come fully upgraded. Other than that it might just be that they have different stats.

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > This is what i find strange. Ive come here from wow and to me getting a max level toon with "bis" gear equipped (obv spec based) just seems against what mmorpgs are. It also feels strange that with out ascended gear, my character will basically be the same a month from now as it is now.

> > > >

> > > > But maybe this is what i need to get the garbage of wow out of my brain. :)

> > > >

> > >

> > > The idea behind this is that more casual players can find their way into the game. Also it is annyoing after some time that you're bis item which you worked for so long is now trash after a new expansion.

> > >

> > > I know this very well. I played WoW and other MMOs quite extensively until a couple of years ago. Sometimes I like to get new stuff ofc. but in GW2 the idea is that you don't have to work for long to get 'to the good stuff'. My 2 year old characters in full ascended/legendary gear is still ready to be played in the newest raid. And since there is no sub fee there is no incentive that players still pay to stay online and gear up/attune to new raids. Of course this leads to dwindling playerbase sometimes. There are always two sides.

> >

> > I don't really mind it, it was just off putting. I figured you would be put in at best rare gear so that you had something to go after while doing story and events.

> >

> > As a new player to guildwars but a long time mmo player i can see both advantages and disadvantages to the system though.

>

> I wouldn't have suggested boosting your first character, as a new player to Guildwars. The leveling process does a good job of teaching the player basic mechanics of the game that you will use in all game modes, such as dodging. However as you stated you've been in HoT and PoD and didn't talk about dying frequently it sounds like you are managing just fine. (So many people post that they boosted to 80, have the best gear, but can't get past the pocket raptors.)

>

> As far as progression in the game it sounds like you are used to doing a gear grind, or always trying to get the next armor set with bigger numbers. In GW2 the main focuses could be reaching the highest tiers in fractals, completing raids, collecting legendaries. You could join in meta events on many maps, or try to collect a multitude of rare skins to decorate your character how you want.

>

> I always found it fairly comforting that if I take a break from the game that when I come back I won't be severely disadvantaged by trying to catch up to the next best gear.

 

O yeah, f the raptors lol. I did die a ton, but because of my experience with mmos and honestly any game with dodge mechanics( witcher 3 and monster hunter world to be specific) I don't die near as often now lol.

 

My biggest issue right now is what to do next I guess. Right now what i have been doing is story/hps, then when the story moves into a new map I stop the story and do the map completion, then continue on with the story. After I get pof done Ill probably go back to hots and do that story and get hps to unlock firebrand/map completion. This is where ill hit a wall though, i have no idea what to do after that out side of map completion in the core zones.

 

I know everything that i can do is just a matter of actually doing it lol. I think raids are off the table because my pc is one step up from a potato, but i think i would be able to do fractals/dungeons.

 

Are dungeons worth doing on an 80 toon outside of just seeing the dungeons?

[joneirikb.7506]

> @"beeftotem.4137" said:

>

> Are dungeons worth doing on an 80 toon outside of just seeing the dungeons?

 

Generally most people prefer Fractals over Dungeons, beyond the "just to see them".

[Turkeyspit.3965]

> @"beeftotem.4137" said:

>

> As a new player to guildwars but a long time mmo player i can see both advantages and disadvantages to the system though.

 

That is because GW2 isn't an MMO on a gear treadmill like many other MMOs. I have never stepped foot into a raid, but my gear has the exact same stats as the gear worn by the top raiders clearing the hardest content. Even LEGENDARY gear is not a stat upgrade over ascended - it just has better particle effects / skin, and you have the ability to change the stat combinations on it at will using a drop down menu. But performance wise, it's the same.

 

You will be surprised to know also that end game gear is all crafted by players. You can get armor and weapons via drops, but they are rather rare until you get to top difficulty content. This is in stark contrast to many MMOs where gear upgrades drop off bosses, and the harder tier bosses drop better gear.

 

It is a startling change, but one many players, myself included, find very refreshing. RNG exists in the game, for sure, but nowhere near to the same level as what you would find in other games, and GW2 isn't as focused on gear progression from a stats perspective.