entropy3

So this has been around for as long as I can remember playing the guardian, and I've always thought it was a bug, but ANet hasn't even touched it.

When you have Blind Exposure traited (3 stacks of vuln on blind) and use Leap of Faith (greatsword 3), each mob is given 3 stacks of vuln per mob hit. So if you hit 5 mobs, each will get 15 stacks of vuln. No other blinding skill works like this (they give 3 stacks to each mob, no matter the number hit), so I assumed it was a bug.

So my question is: is this a bug? If so, why do you think ANet hasn't fixed it/when do you think they will?

So lets discuss this rather ninja addition in the latest patch...

First, the info. The Super Adventure Box (SAB) is in Rata Sum and is rumored to be a "Mega 5-Man Scaling Difficulty Jumping Puzzle". In other words, the jumping puzzle equivalent of Fractals. It is ran by Moto (probably named after Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Zelda and Mario). There are new weapon skins associated with this, as seen here http://www.reddit.co...il_fools_joke/ . These also seem to be inspired by Zelda. You can view these skins in the Heart of the Mists weapons locker.

Now how do you use it? Well, you have to have a "Continue Coin", which gives you 5 lives in the box. These can be obtained in the end chest of other jumping puzzles, but they are not a guaranteed drop. These are obtainable now, even though the box isn't working yet.

Now why is it here, and why isn't it working yet? Some think it could be an April Fools joke, or only be available on April Fools day. I disagree with both stances because 1: they have put WAY too much effort into this for it to be a joke, and 2: the fact that you need to do jumping puzzles, which take time, and that they haven't announced anything about it, probably means that they wont just do it for a day. Then you also have all the achievements they've added for it, and all this adds up to make this seem like something that's here to stay and will take a while.

Now what will be in it? To be honest, I don't know. All I know is that it will have different difficulty levels and is rumored to require 5 people.

Thats all I know about it... if anyone has any further knowledge feel free to add. And get on those jumping puzzles! I've already got 3 Continue Coins!

Hey has anyone else noticed that the spear autoattack nearly always misses after the last patch?

Like I cannot get it to hit even on stationary non-hostile targets.

Hey everyone,

So I'd just like opinions on which offhand works best with axe main. This is mainly with respect to dungeons. Just looking at all the choices, I'd say they are all pretty situational:

Axe/MACE: for extra dps and some added control
Axe/SHIELD: for the 3 sec block for when you need invincibility
Axe/WARHORN: for some aid when kiting and for added group support through 10s vigor
Axe/AXE: for dps and superb adrenaline generation.

So is the answer just to have all of them available for different fights? Or is there truely one that is above the rest?

EDIT: I didn't include /SWORD because come on, its based around condition damage.

Hello everybody,

In this post I will describe a group comp for dungeon running that I believe is very effective, versatile, and capable of both good offence and defense. While I understand this is my personal opinion, I think that this is the Ideal group comp for dungeons, especially if the dungeon is completely unknown to all party members as it has the tools to handle many of the current dungeon mechanics. That all being said, if you have any constructive feedback please let me know! Well then, lets get on with it!

Summary
1. Main Builds
2. Alternate Builds
3. Pros and Cons
4. Situation Handling
5. Closing Remarks

BUILDS

In this section I will describe the builds that make up the composition. As a rule of thumb, some utilities, weapons, and elites are optional and should be changed based on the situation you find yourself in.

1. Axe/Warhorn and Rifle Power Warrior
Traits and Utilities: http://www.gw2db.com...|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Weapons:
- Axe/Warhorn
- Rifle

Equipment:
- Knights Armor w/ 6x Runes of the Pack
- Valkyrie Weapons
- Knights Trinkets

Main Role: Single Target Damage

General Idea: Hard-hitting spike class. Goes for marked target until it's dead, then moves on to the next one. Recommended to be the marker of targets due to role. If needed, Rifle provides some ranged options and is traited to pierce targets for at least some form of multi-target dps. High toughness, low vitality makes vulnerable to conditions, which is why Mending and Signet of Stamina are recommended. When off CD, Use Warhorn 5 often to upkeep the group vigor (Very Important!)

2. Symbol Support Guardian
Traits and Utilities: http://www.gw2db.com...|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Weapons:
- 2H Hammer OR Mace/Shield
- Staff

Equipment:
- Soldiers Armor w/ 3x Water and 3x Monk Runes
- Clerics Weapons (Or the AC Pre/Vit/Healing Weapons)
- Clerics Trinkets

Main Role: Melee Support and Healing

General Idea: Melee Support Class. Use 2H Hammer for spammable protection and smaller healing and control, or Mace/Shield for larger healing, group protection and reflection. Staff provides larger range and some aoe, but is mostly brought for Staff 4. Use this whenever you can to heal and increase group DPS through might stacks. with +40% boon duration, each might stack will last around 11 seconds. If range is necessary, I recommend Mace/Shield and Scepter.

3. Glamour Support Mesmer
Traits and Utilities: http://www.gw2db.com...|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Weapons:
- Greatsword
- Staff

Equipment:
- Rampagers Armor w/ any DPS based rune (6x Pack works)
- Soldiers weapons
- Knights trinkets

Main Role: General Support and Medium DPS

General Idea: General Ranged support. Feedback, Null Field, and Illusion of Life are life savers and are all traited. If you pick someone up using IoL, make sure they run to safety and don't continue fighting, unless it is obvious they can kill something. Generally keep an eye out for Ranged attackers, Mass conditions on your party, and downed party members and use your utilities accordingly. Drop Chaos Storm on party members that have aggro (default on the melee players). Use it defensively by default. Your job is to provide what DPS you can while using the mesmers unique support smartly. Also, for spiking down a target at the start of a fight, coordinate time warp so all players are affected.

4. S/D Might Stacking Elementalist
Traits and Utilities: http://www.gw2db.com...|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Weapons:
- Scepter/Dagger

Equipment:
- Soldiers Armor w/ 3x Water and 3x Monk Runes
- Clerics Weapons
- Clerics Trinkets

Main Role: Offensive Support

General Idea: Buffing yourself and allies with might through use of fire fields and blast finishers. Increases overall group DPS as well as providing other useful long lasting buffs through attunement swapping. The general combo for max might stacks is: Ring of Fire -> Dragon Tooth -> Pheonix -> Arcane Wave -> EARTH -> Earthquake -> Churning Earth -> Dodge (Evasive Arcana). Once that combo is finished, Swap through to water and maybe air to use your heals and blinds, then continue to perform the above combo while dealing damage to give out continuous might buffs.

5. Staff Support Elementalist
Traits and Utilities: http://www.gw2db.com...|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Weapons:
- Staff

Equipment:
- Soldiers Armor w/ 3x Water and 3x Monk Runes
- Clerics Weapons
- Clerics Trinkets

Main Role: Group Healing and AoE Damage

General Idea: Healing your group through water attunement and blast finishers, then dealing large AoE damage via fire and earth attunement. When your group needs healed or conditions wiped, use Healing Rain followed by Geyser, then immediately place an Eruption within the healing rain for the blast finisher, followed by arcane wave and a dodge. Switch between attunements (usually mainly in fire) to provide AoE damage, buffs and CC/slow enemies.

ALTERNATE BUILDS

1. Venom Share Theif
Traits and Utilities: http://www.gw2db.com...78|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Weapons:
- Shortbow
- Sword/Pistol

Equipment:
- Soldiers Armor w/ 6x Runes of Lyssa
- Knights Weapons
- Knights Trinkets

Main Role: Debuffing Conditions Support

General Idea: Debuffs and controls the enemy through use of venoms. Before aggroing a tough group or even a boss, stack the group up and apply all your venoms. The spread of weakness and vulnerability lower their damage and increase yours, and immobilize and stone gives your group free time to focus on damage and make for easy aoe placement. Runes of Lyssa give unique buffs that work well with the short CD heal and elite. Basically use your venoms on CD and nearby party members.

Replaces:
1. Symbol Support Guardian - If you're warrior isn't having trouble staying alive.
2. Glamour Support Mesmer - If ranged mobs aren't prevalent and you just want more damage.
3. Others not recommended to switch out.

Recommend more replacements, but please provide all the information I provide above. (i.e. link to build, weapon, armor, main role, use, and replacement info)

PROS AND CONS

Pros:
- Extreme Spiking Capability
- High Group DPS
- High Dodging availability (via vigor, traits, and utilities)
- Multiple sources of reflection (via Mesmer and Guardian)
- Good at destroying objects
- Portal available for various purposes
- Many sources of both Defensive and Offensive boons and healing
- Multiple indirect sources of damaging conditions
- Distractions via clones and elementals

Cons:
- No full condition builds so somewhat weaker against heavily armored enemies
- If you have any other cons let me know and I'll add them if they make sense

SITUATION HANDLING

Spiking:

1. Get max (25) might stacks using the S/D ele's fire field and blast finishers, the guardians mighty blow (blast finisher), and the staff eles eruption and a dodge. This should last around 30s and will give your entire group an extra 875 power and condition damage. The guardian can also use Staff 4 for more might after the first stacks wear off and the S/D ele will be giving more might out over the course of the fight.

2. Call a target.

3. Once all players are set up and starting to attack, the mesmer should cast Time Warp to hit as many players as possible. Communication helps here. With the might and Time Warp, its pretty safe to say that the group's dps is near doubled.

General Boss Fighting:

The group comp is a mix of offence and defense, but leaning towards offence. All classes have good DPS ability and at least high/medium power. That being said, while there is good defense via protection, regen, condition removal, reflection, and healing, the best defense is player awareness and always being able to dodge during a boss fight. Were talking like Giganticus Lupicus type fights. That being said, all classes have some way to get vigor or have some form of extra endurance regen. The warrior fills in the gap with a 10s AoE vigor on warhorn. While its not like perma-vigor on everyone, there is enough to boost dodging availability significantly in hard fights. Other than that, the tactics really depend on the specific boss fight.

CLOSING REMARKS

This group comp is intended for advanced dungeon play. I by no means believe it is the end-all-be-all of groups and any group comp can work based upon the skills of the player and coordination of the group. I believe, however, that this group is ideal for dungeon play because it gives the players all the tools they need to be prepared for any situation and allow their skills to shine through. The idea is versatility, both within each build and as a group. Each build has things that can be swapped out depending on the situation (for example, both elementalists utilities are completely interchangeable), while other things may be set in stone (like the warrior's weapon choices) because the build is built around those things. This provides each player with some choices to promote smart play and versatility.

Please tell me what you think, good or bad, below, but please try to be constructive.

Thanks for reading!