[edit] Purpose

This is simply a personal archive of what I find personally useful/find interesting/would like to play with.

[edit] Trade Contracts

[edit] Trade Contract Checklist

Rally the Princes [2 awarded]

Requirements:

• Moddok Crevice (mission)

Obtained From:

• Kuwame in Wehhan Terraces

Interception

Requirements:

• For Your Ears Only

Obtained From:

• Commander Tamnod in Dzagonur Bastion

Population Control

Requirements:

• Interception

Obtained From:

• Prince Ahmtur the Mighty in the Citadel of Dzagon (Wilderness of Bahdza)

Guard Rescue

Requirements:

• Population Control

Obtained From:

• Prince Ahmtur the Mighty in the Citadel of Dzagon (Wilderness of Bahdza)

Extinction

Requirements:

• Guard Rescue

Obtained From:

• Lieutenant Murunda in Dzagonur Bastion

A Sound of Ancient Horns

Requirements:

• Dasha Vestibule (Mission) or Dzagonur Bastion (Mission)

Obtained From:

• Lieutenant Murunda in Dzagonur Bastion

Destroy the Harpies

Requirements:

• Dasha Vestibule (Mission) or Dzagonur Bastion (Mission)

Obtained From:

• Lieutenant Murunda in Dzagonur Bastion

The Hanging Gardener

Requirements:

• none

Obtained From:

• Gardener Pohsin in Vehtendi Valley

Scorched Earth

Requirements:

• Goren

Obtained From:

• Prince Bokka the Magnificent in the Resplendent Makuun

Worst. Performance. Ever.

Requirements:

• Norgu

Obtained From:

• Prince Bokka the Magnificent in the Resplendent Makuun

The Show Must Go On

Requirements:

• Norgu
• Worst. Performance. Ever.

Obtained From:

• Prince Bokka the Magnificent in the Resplendent Makuun

Summertime for Bokka

Requirements:

• Norgu
• The Show Must Go On

Obtained From:

• Prince Bokka the Magnificent in the Resplendent Makuun

Valley of the Rifts

Requirements:

• Goren
• Scorched Earth

Obtained From:

• Prince Bokka the Magnificent in the Resplendent Makuun

In Defense of Theatre [Difficulty: Master]

Requirements:

• Goren
• Valley of the Rifts

Obtained From:

• Royal Finance Minister Oloda in Honur Hill

Botanical Research

Requirements:

• Tahlkora [unless Abaddon's Gate mission is complete]
• Garden of Seborhin

Obtained From:

• Librarian Kahnu in the Halls of Chokhin

Plague of Frogs

Requirements:

• Tahlkora [unless Abaddon's Gate mission is complete]
• Garden of Seborhin

Obtained From:

• Horticulturist Hinon in Garden of Seborhin

Which Way Did He Go?

Requirements:

• Tahlkora [unless Abaddon's Gate mission is complete]
• Garden of Seborhin

Obtained From:

• Horticulturist Hinon in Garden of Seborhin

Gift Of The Djinn [2 awarded]

Requirements:

• Dasha Vestibule (Mission)

Obtained From:

• Library Envoy Chukeht in Mihanu Township

Data Mining

Requirements:

• Master of Whispers

Obtained From:

• Belgun the Quarry Master in the Vehjin Mines [[Map]]

To The Rescue

Requirements:

• Master of Whispers
• Data Mining

Obtained From:

• Belgun the Quarry Master in the Vehjin Mines [[Map]]

Coffer of Joko

Requirements:

• Master of Whispers
• To The Rescue

Obtained From:

• Belgun the Quarry Master in the Vehjin Mines [[Map]]

Puzzling Parchment

Requirements:

• Tahlkora
• Coffer of Joko
• Garden of Seborhin

Obtained From:

• Belgun the Quarry Master in the Vehjin Mines [[Map]]

Garden Chores

Requirements:

• Tahlkora
• Puzzling Parchment
• Garden of Seborhin

Obtained From:

• Hedge Wizard Mabai in the Garden of Seborhin [Harbinger of Nightfall location]

One Man's Dream

Requirements:

• Tahlkora
• Garden Chores
• Garden of Seborhin

Obtained From:

• Hedge Wizard Mabai in the Garden of Seborhin [Harbinger of Nightfall location]

Protect The Learned

Requirements:

• The Madness of Prophecy
• The Search for Enlightenment
• Garden of Seborhin

Obtained From:

• Kachok in Halls of Chokhin

[edit] Individual Builds

These builds have been archived due to the impending build wipe. I neither created nor laid out any of these builds.

[edit] A/E Green Farmer [PvE]

This build utilizes the elite Shadow Arts skill Shadow Form and the earth magic skill Sliver Armor to quickly take down bosses that are accompanied by medium/large mobs to efficiently farm their green items.

[edit] Attributes and skills

Assassin / Elementalist	Attribute Rank
Shadow Arts	12 + 1 + 3
Earth Magic	12
Air Magic	3

Shadow Form

Glyph of Elemental Power

Sliver Armor

Shock

Aftershock

Death's Charge

Dark Escape

Dash

[edit] Equipment

• Energy armor (i.e. Radiant or Shrouded Armor)
• +5 energy, enchanting 20% weapon.
• Galigord's Stone Staff is a recommended Staff, but any weapon with a max of Enchanting upgrade can be used, and it is preferred as when close combat enemies start to run away, a staff attack will bring them back, something that a totem axe can't do.
• A Totem Axe along with the Earth Scroll from Collector Ohtah is a good combination which will give more energy than a staff.

[edit] Usage

• Run to the boss using the speed buffs.
• When you are just out of aggro, activate Shadow Form and use Death's Charge to teleport in. Usually aggroing before teleporting in makes enemies clump together, giving Sliver Armor less of a chance to target the boss.
• Activate Glyph of Elemental Power, then Sliver Armor. Make sure you are closer to the boss than anything else, or you will not kill it!
• Use Shock then Aftershock to speed up killing.
• When the boss has died, activate Shadow Form and use the speed buffs to run away to safety. You can use Shadow Form again since Morale Boosts recharges all skills.

[edit] Counters

• Shadow Form doesn't protect against signets, touch skills and Point Blank Area of Effect damage.

• When Sliver Armor deals only half damage to bosses will also end your run.

[edit] Variants

• When fighting Warrior bosses such as Sunreach Warmaker, it helps to use Rust so that his Healing Signet takes 3 times as long to cast. To do this, though, you will be required to take one or two points off of Shadow Arts and put them into Water Magic.
• Shock, Teinai's Wind, Aftershock, Rust, Teinai's Crystals, Crystal Wave, Obsidian Flame and Shadow Refuge may be switched out for other skills, depending on what you are farming.
• Shock can be switched for other knockdown spells such as Dragon's Stomp for a bit more damage.
• For people who don't have Prophecies skills unlocked, remember that you can always unlock them in PvP and then buy them at the trainers in Lion's Arch or your Guild Hall, if you have bought a skill trainer that is and assuming that you have a Guild Hall.
• Caltrops can be useful against bosses who attempt to flee when heavily damaged.
• Feigned Neutrality is useful against groups which have mobs with touch skills, Signets, and AoE skills and that may penetrate Shadow Form.
• Exchange Dash for Deadly Paradox for a quicker Shadow Form recharge.
• Exchange Dash with Shadow of Haste to warp back if necessary and retry the process.

[edit] Notes

• This build was originally posted at GuildWars Guru and GWOnline.
• Sometimes the skill Sliver Armor may start hitting other enemies instead of the boss.
• Ranger bosses often cannot be killed because of their elemental resistance.

[edit] List of soloable bosses

Total Number of Soloable Bosses: 107

• Please add info of the level of difficulty for each boss (Very Easy, Easy, Medium, Hard and Very Hard) also add the location where the boss is, for easier preview.

[edit] Prophecies

2 Current Bosses

• Crystal Desert
  • Prophet's Path:
    • Kepkhet Marrowfeast - Medium Use the following skill combo to take Kepkhet down: Glyph of Elemental Power, Shadow Form, Death's Charge, Sliver Armor, Obsidian Flame, Teinai's Crystals, Crystal Wave. Bring an interrupt such as Shock, Dragon's Stomp, and Gale to prevent Kepkhet from activating Mark of Protection. Furthermore, when you use Death's Charge to get to Kepkhet, be sure to bring Feigned Neutrality or Shadow Refuge as there are trappers in and around the vicinity of Kepkhet. If Sliver Armor targets another thing, you will die as one of the nearby necromancers will use Well of the Profane.

• Southern Shiverpeaks
  • Grenth's Footprint:
    • Morgriff Shadestone - Easy

[edit] Factions

47 Current Bosses

• Kaineng City
  • Bukdek Byway:
    • Wing, Three Blade - Medium (This may prove difficult because of the high HP of the boss, lack of mobs and a Rt healing him)
  • Wajjun Bazaar:
    • Lian, Dragon's Petal - Easy/Medium (Switch out Dash for Feigned Neutrality. Use Dark Escape to run past the first and second group of Knights. Stop before you aggro Lian and make sure you aggro the second group of Knights. Cast Shadow Form then Death's Charge to her. Immediately cast Feigned Neutrality. Wait for her to cast Double Dragon. Glyph ,Sliver, Shock, then Aftershock.)
    • Sun, the Quivering - Hard/Very Hard (Mobs may appear from the roofs, making the run almost impossible)
  • The Undercity:
    • Chan the Dragon's Blood - Easy/Very Easy (The run is easy if you have Feigned and just use aftershock on him once and then use feigned to heal because of the signets)
    • Mina Shatter Storm - Easy/Very Easy (The run is easy if you have Feigned and just use aftershock on her once and then use feigned to heal because of the signets)
    • Chung, the Attuned - Medium (The run is easy if you have Feigned and just use aftershock on him once and then use feigned to heal because of the signets)
    • Baubao Wavewrath - Medium (The run is easy if you have Feigned and just use aftershock on him once and then use feigned to heal because of the signets)
  • Shenzun Tunnels:
    • Cho, Spirit Empath - Easy/Medium (Bring Feigned Neutrality instead of Dash, come from Nahpui Quarter!!! Cast Feigned Neutrality last, chance monks will heal him, if so run and rezone, the fastest route is to run towards Nahpui Quarter (just a few feet west from Cho) . It will make the run a lot easier and shorter.)
  • Xaquang Skyway:
    • Ghial the Bone Dancer - Easy/very Easy (Feigned Neutrality is NOT a neccessity for the run. Beware of the mesmers for they will disrupt your sliver armor TIP: All mesmers interrupt at once, so consider bringing a "scapegoat" spell with a long activation time, such as Dragon Stomp or Obsidian Flame.)
    • Shreader Sharptongue - Very Easy/Easy (Exchange Shock or Aftershock with Shadow Refuge and aggro as many groups as possible for most damage)
    • Ziinfaun Lifeforce - Easy/Medium (Hit Ziinfaun with your weapon to interrupt Ethereal Light)
    • Orosen, Tranquil Acolyte - Hard/Very Hard (When he starts charging for you, use Shadow Form. Run past him just close enough to aggro the group before the next bridge. Death's charge back to him, and Sliver armor.)
  • Sunjiang District (Explorable): (only after the mission)
    • Warrior's Construct - Medium (Pretty hard to get to him)
    • Monk's Construct - Easy/Medium Let the first group go near the boss.
    • Necromancer's Construct - Medium You might encounter problems with keeping sliver armor focused
    • Mesmer's Construct - same as Necromancer's construct. Slightly easier (shorter) run, though.
    • Elemental's Construct - [[He uses Lightning Touch. Consider bringing Feigned Neutrality instead of dash.
  • Raisu Palace:
    • Star Ancient Koosun - Medium/Hard (Depends on conditions of run to the boss, can be done at 60% dp however)
    • Untouched Ancient Ky - Medium
  • Pongmei Valley
    • Xuekao, the Deceptive- Easy/Medium (Be sure to let the Knight Brotherhood kill the Am Fah before you approach the boss, as how the Knights will attack the surrounding Am Fah making for a quick kill with 1-3 possible attackers) ~ The dagger that he drops is really really nice for Assassins using the Vigor Build where you use enchants every 30 sec.
• Echovald Forest
  • Ferndale:
    • Warden of Saprophytes - Hard (Warden of the Trunks must be removed first, resurrection portal nearby to keep going at it, possible at 60% dp.)
  • Melandru's Hope:
    • Chkkr Locust Lord - Medium/Hard (The most difficult part is to maintain Sliver Armor on the boss)
    • Chkkr Thousand Tail - Hard/Very Hard (Really hard to keep going unless you have a backup for Sliver Armor, as it'll run out to quickly)
  • Morostav Trail:
    • Falaharn Mistwarden - Easy/Medium (Bring Shadow of Haste should the attempt to kill fail and you must retreat).
    • Sunreach Warmaker - Easy/Medium (Bring Shadow of Haste and Rust and if you feel the need, Feigned Neutrality too. Go in first without the boss in your mind, make Falaharn Mistwarden appear. Warp back using a stance. Go in again and aggro every mob, pull Sunreach with staff and cast glyph then sliver then rust, he will go down quickly.)
    • Strongroot Tanglebranch - Medium/Hard (Go around the other way and aggro the nearby kirin and dragon moss and use Rust and Caltrops to subdue him and spam Obsidian Flame to kill him.)
    • Kyril Oathwarden - Medium/Hard (Hard to make sliver armor target kyril; take feigned neutrality to survive traps.)
    • Ritualist's Construct - Easy/Medium (Very few mobs surrounding him, making it harder to kill. Replacing run skills or Shock & Aftershock with Obsidian Flame & Crystal Wave/Teinai's Wave can help overcome this obstacle.)
  • The Eternal Grove (Explorable): (only after the mission)
    • The Scar Eater - Very Easy/Easy (Also a fairly easy boss to practice on, you must follow the 1st group that comes near the shrine, when you get near the boss aggro it and jump near the boss, also a good idea can be to change shock and aftershock for gale and Obsidian Flame)
    • Jayne Forestlight - Easy/Medium (Advisable to bring Shadow of Haste, Watch out for warriors, as they can KD with "None Shall Pass!". If not killed at first attempt, warp back with any stance and retry)
    • Wiseroot Shatterstone - Medium (Silver armor does not tend to stay on him,or will target lately,must aggro both mobs before him and his mob to fully kill)
    • The Time Eater - Easy/Medium (Add skills for more damage because very few mobs are surrounding him.Time for his interruption signet!!!!!)
    • Bramble Everthorn - Easy/Medium (need to aggro 1-2 warden or plant groups to bypass his regen)
  • Mourning Veil Falls:
    • Darkroot Entrop - Easy (Make sure to add some skills to cripple or knockdown, such as Caltrops, as he tends to run at about half health)
    • Milefaun Mindflayer - Easy/Medium (Aggro another group of wardens near, may attract Rt wardens which increase difficulty)
    • Foalcrest Darkwish - Easy/Medium (Aggro the nearby group of Mantises and die yourself; he will make Bone Fiends which give you just enough damage for Sliver Armor.)
    • Xisni Dream Haunt - Easy/Medium (AddTeinai's Crystals, Crystal Wave and Obsidian Flame. Use Shadow of Haste for multiple tries.)
    • Rahse Windcatcher - Easy/Medium (Same build as with Xisni. Walk to pick up the Warden group, hit Glyph of Ele Power, turn around, hit Shadow Form outside his aggro and shadow step. If the wardens follow, he should be dead)

• Jade Sea
  • Boreas Seabed (Explorable):
    • Sskai, Dragon's Birth - Medium (This may prove difficult because of the high HP of the boss and lack of mobs surrounding him)
  • Gyala Hatchery (Explorable):
    • Reefclaw Ragebound - Medium
  • Maishang Hills:
    • Sessk, Woe Spreader - Very Easy (Best for practice, sometimes hard to target)
    • Sarss, Stormscale - Medium (bring along obsidian flame to spam)
  • Silent Surf:
    • Kenrii Sea Sorrow
    • Assassin's Construct - Easy/Medium (Switch Shock for Stone Daggers and Death's Charge for Obsidian Flame, after you cast Sliver just use stone daggers 2-3 times, then Aftershock, then Obsidian Flame)
  • Rhea's Crater:
    • Onis for Ungues of the Oni - Easy/Medium (The hardest part is getting there, once there it's easy to kill them two/three at a time, just watch out for the Outcast Deathhands, as they WILL end your run!)
  • Mount Qinkai
    • Tomton Spiriteater Very Easy (Bring obsidian Flame with you and aggro all the yetis near)
  • Archipelagos:
    • Ssyn Coiled Grasp - Easy/Medium (Switch out Shock for Obsidian Flame and try to not aggro group next to the bridge.)
    • Ssuns, Blessed of Dwayna - Medium/Hard

[edit] Nightfall

57 Current Bosses

• Kourna
  • Sunward Marches:(Consider getting the +1 earth magic blessing from the Melandru's shrine outside Dajkah Inlet. Although it is not necessary.)
    • Mahto Sharptooth - Very Easy/Easy "The run is sometimes a bit tough." (Despite the temptation, do not aggro the ntouka, spam obsidian flame & shock aftershock combo on him)
    • Birneh Skybringer - Very Easy/Easy (Lots of mobs for Sliver Armor to work)
    • Dabineh Deathbringer - Medium (Switch out shock for Feigned Neutrality. Exit Venta Cemetery. Head south hugging the wall. As you get close enough to target him, check for the number of Tusked Howlers nearby. If there are 2 then rezone. If there are 3 then count the number of Crested Ntouka Bird. If there are 3 or 4 then you are in good shape to beat him. Before you aggro Deathbringer, aggro the Howlers and cast Shadow Form. Next aggro Deathbringer. Glyph then Sliver, before he gets to you, cast Feigned Neutrality. Using his Intimidating Aura, you will lose Feigned Neutrality but Sliver Armor will do its job before he can remove another enchantment.)
    • Eshim Mindclouder - Very Easy (Short walk so it is like the Nightfall variant of Sessk, Woe Spreader Consider bringing dancing daggers to spam instead of dash, you will kill much faster)
  • Marga Coast:
    • Chor the Bladed - Very Easy/Easy (Just aggro the group of Mirage Ibogas near him and try not to be interrupted while casting shadow form. Cast Sliver Armor when he uses Frenzy)
    • Lunto Sharpfoot - Medium/Hard (You must pull him towards the mirage ilbogas and then usually only 1 of his monks will come and then its easy. but you want to be beside the monk when you activate sliver so when he uses shadowmeld sliver armor is still targeting him. then it will be Easy/Medium)
    • Bosun Mohrti - Medium/Hard (Aggro the insects nearby and Frigid skales and snare with Caltrops.)
    • Bubahl Icehands - Medium (Aggro nearby insects, snare with Caltrops, and heal with Feigned Neutrality)
    • Chidehkir, Light of the Blind - Easy/Medium (Aggro nearby Kournan patrol)
    • Neoli the Contagious - Hard/Very Hard (Clear out Kuskale lashers first with sliver armour, this may take quite a few runs, high dp.)
  • The Floodplain of Mahnkelon:
    • Zelnehlun Fastfoot - Very Easy/Easy (He is dead in 4 seconds if Sliver Armor targets him)
    • Terob Roundback - Very Easy/Easy
    • Admiral Kaya - Easy/Medium (Wait for the hekets to get near, sometimes there are 2 monks which increases difficulty)
    • Jerneh Nightbringer - Medium/Hard (Bring Feigned Neutrality and use immediately after Sliver Armor to keep health up from Vile Touch)
    • Robah Hardback - Medium/Hard (Bring Feigned Neutrality to survive surrounding mob's vile touch)
    • Buhon Icelord - Medium/Hard
  • Arkjok Ward:
    • Onwan, Lord of the Ntouka - Medium (Leave from command post and follow river into lake),(bring fiegned nurality as a cover over slither armor and shadow form)
    • Modti Darkflower - Easy/Medium (Killing him is Very Easy, but the run is a bit heavy)
    • Lieutenant Kayin - Very Easy (Just aggro one other group, and he goes down in roughly 10 seconds)
    • Eshau Longspear - Easy/Medium (You need to aggro the group of Mandragors behind him. Rezone if that party has a Mandragor Imp in it.)
    • Captain Chichor - Easy/Medium (Approach the small base from the north, and wait for him to patrol outwards.)
  • Dejarin Estate:
    • Major Jeahr - Medium (Approach from Camp Hojanu)
    • Podaltur the Angry - Easy (body blocking during the run to him may be a hassle due to the large amount of hekets on the way)
  • Barbarous Shore:
    • Lieutenant Shagu: - Medium (You must aggro nearby enemies. If you do this, and silver armor keep targeting him, he will be down in few seconds.)
  • Bahdok Caverns:
    • Wandalz the Angry - Medium/Hard (The hardest part about this boss is getting to him. You need to learn the hiding spots on the map, as the spawns in this particular area are quite massive to be running around by yourself. You'll want to keep the original build intact, and use speed buffs across the bridge. Once across, glyph, death's charge, and sliver armor, he goes down rather quick. Throw a shock and aftershock in there to see it go a little faster.)
  • Jahai Bluffs:
    • To Be Added...
  • Turai's Procession:
    • Korr, Living Flame - Medium/Hard (Don't lure the nearby water djinn, Sliver armor will target them instead)
    • Chiossen, Soothing Breeze - Medium/Hard (The Rampaging Ntouka make this hard, use Feigned Neutrality as the Rampaging Ntouka run towards you and it will strip Feign Neutrality instead of Sliver Armor or even worse, Shadow Form. Aggro the nearby hekets to the north of Chiossen's group. Pack Obsidian Flame and Aftershock to speed up the killing.)

• Vabbi
  • Resplendent Makuun
    • Kormab, Burning Heart - Very Easy/Easy (bring Shadow of Haste instead of dash, Obsidian Flame and Teinai's Crystals instead of Shock and Aftershock. The hardest part is geting there: to behemoths, use Shadow Form and run towards them, while a little bit after their patrol point use Shadow of Haste. Run back, they run like hell, so they will follow. When form is about to end use Dark Escape to warp to a safe place, where they can't get to you. While near the boss use Shadow of Haste for multiple attempts if necessary, it should be dead in the first attempt, if not in the second.)
  • Wilderness of Bahdza:
    • Eshekibeh Longneck - Very Easy/Easy
  • Forum Highlands:
    • Grabthar the Overbearing - Medium (Bring Rust and aggro nearest Skree group)
    • Korshek the Immolated - Easy (Make sure to hit the nearby Whispers Informant for some easy Lightbringer points)
    • Commander Sadi-Belai - Medium/Hard (Aggro Skree group nearest to his group. Shock + Lift Enchantment AFTER he puts Shielding Hands on. Bring Obsidian Flame. Spam as needed)
    • Churahm, Spirit Warrior - Easy/Medium (You may have to use this build to kill some Ethers, which will make the run easier. Another method is to simply shadow step down to the area he is contained in using Deaths Charge. Simply run away after he is dead, by running around the Ethers and up on the ledge again.)
  • The Mirror of Lyss
    • Yammiron, Ether Lord - Medium (Switch Dark Escape with Obsidian Flame to spam)
    • Riktund the Vicious - Medium (aggro the beetles as well, he may kite when close to death, bring along Obs. Flame)
  • Holdings of Chokhin:
    • Banor Greenbranch - Easy/Medium (Bring Lift Enchantment to remove Shield of Regeneration instead of aftershock or deaths charge, need to aggro nearby Beetles)
    • Setikor Fireflower - Easy/Medium (Just switch Dash and Dark Escape for Shadow Refuge and Feigned Neutrality)
    • Tenezel the Quick - Very Easy/Easy (Aggro very nearby Rock/Rain Beetles)
    • Hanchor Trueblade - Easy/Medium (Bring and spam Obsidian Flame when needed. Nearby Skree Griffin can make it troublesome but still easy)
  • Yatendi Canyons:
    • Lieutenant Vanahk - Easy/Medium (Very easy but sliver armor tends to go off to another person.)
  • The Hidden City of Ahdashim
    • Shakor Firespear - Easy/Medium (Surrounding mobs should be aggroed.)
    • Yammirvu, Ether Guardian - Medium/Hard (May have to kill the dimond djinn first, but nearby resurection portal helps. If pulling another group, be sure to shadow form to pull them, or suffer from degen.)
    • Leilon, Tranquil Water - Easy/Medium (Dark escape is reccomended when Death's Charging in.)

• The Desolation
  • Crystal Overlook
    • To Be Added...
  • Joko's Domain
    • To Be Added...
  • Poisoned Outcrops
    • Fondalz the Spiteful - Hard/Very Hard (Extra groups are not easy to pull together, but you can launch one attack on the boss and his group, flee, and repeat. Deadly Paradox may be useful.)
  • The Alkali Pan
    • To Be Added...
  • The Ruptured Heart
    • Rual, Stealer of Hope - Medium (exchange Dash for Shadow of Haste, Shock for Feigned Neutrality or Shadow Refuge and Aftershock for Obsidian Flame. Use Death's Charge from the top of the hill)
    • Tureksin the Delegator - Medium/Hard (Shadow of Haste instead of Dash in case he isn't the first target of Sliver Armor, Shadow Refuge instead of Shock and Obsidian Flame. Aggro nearby group of margonites and undead.)
  • The Shattered Ravines
    • Dunshek the Purifier - Medium (Pull a second group for a very easy kill.)
  • The Sulfurous Wastes
    • Vahlen the Silent - Easy/Medium (bring Shadow of Haste, you might not get it at first, bring high damage spells, and you might consider in taking Glyph of Concentration. Watch out for Signet of Judgment.)

• Realm of Torment - (Lightbringer title in this area will alter effectiveness.)
  • Nightfallen Jahai
    • Chimor the Lightblooded - Medium (Nice pair of daggers if you don't have a +Energy/+Enchantment Staff)
    • Onslaught of Terror - Easy (Need to aggro at least one other group, elementalists and mesmers can interrupt/slow, bring Feigned Neutrality)
  • Domain of Pain
    • Fahralon the Zealous - Easy/Medium (Before entering battle, try using Dark Escape to minimize the damage taken from AoE and Dreadful Pain.)
  • Domain of Fear
    • Shrieker of Dread - Hard (you'll need to aggro several (ideally 3) patrols to take him down; wait for them to converge). Also watch out for the Death Nova when killed.
    • Storm of Anguish - Medium (Difficult to get to, try to slip between the two first mobs, lure another mob for easy kill)
  • Depths of Madness
    • Reaper of Agony - Medium (Time your run when he has moved near the two groups of Margonites)
    • Ravager of Dreams - Very Hard (Approach from the north, and pull 2-3 groups along with the boss group, 4+ Lightbringer rank reccomended.)
    • Topo the Protector - Hard/Very Hard (Aggro once, run, and wait for him to fully summon his army, (about a minute), then shadow form in for a rather easy kill, due to the surronding groups of graven monoliths.)
    • Master of Misery - Hard/Very Hard (Pull together groups, beware of scythe attacks and death novas, armor of earth, obsidian flame, feigned neutrality all are good to have.)
    • Consort of Ruin - Hard/Very Hard (Pull groups, and make sure it targets him and it will be easy, minions and blades of torment make this tough.)

[edit] See also

• Video: Youtube Video
• Video: YouTube
• Video: Videoclip killing 22 bosses using solo green farmer build
• Video: Another A/E YouTube video
• Video: Sunreach Warmaker/Falaharn Mistwarden tutorial

[edit] A/Me Fever Outbreak [PvE, AB]

The Fever Outbreak assassin is built for dealing with a large amount of targets. Likewise, it excels in a PvE and AB environment where the sheer amount of players and NPCs usually make Sins underpowered to deal with all the targets, so the Fever Outbreak assassin attempts to solve this by the use of the Mesmer elite Fevered Dreams to spread four potent conditions amid a large area of targets, while also hitting the primary target very hard. Likewise, it can also solo cap shrines, which sins also have problems doing in a speedy manner. The initial build is aimed at teams with a dedicated healer. If you do not have one, variants exist to cope.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Assassin / Mesmer	Attribute Rank
Dagger Mastery	12 + 1 + 2
Critical Strikes	12 + 1
Illusion Magic	3

Fevered Dreams

Black Mantis Thrust

Black Lotus Strike

Black Spider Strike

Twisting Fangs

Optional

Optional

Optional

• To fill in the Optional slots, look in the Variants section for many different uses for this build.
• If you don't have a dedicated healer, drop Critical Strikes down to 10 and put 8 points in Shadow Arts.

[edit] Equipment

• Armor: Radiant Armor with Runes of Attunement.
• Weapons: Poisonous PvP Dagger of Fortitude with a 15% Modifier vs Hexed opponents. It is suggested however you bring along a Cripple, Deepwound, and Zealous Dagger set as well, using them as the situations call for it.

[edit] Usage

• Select a target, hopefully one in the center of a large collection of foes. The area radius of Fevered Dreams is extremely large, so you can even pick an outlining foe and still possibly affect everyone. Now, hex your target with Fevered Dreams. Hit them with Black Mantis Thrust to slow them down, followed with Black Lotus Strike to give you energy for Black Spider Strike and Twisting Fangs. Everyone in the area should now be crippled, bleeding, poisoned, and suffering from a deep wound.
• Note, this build is very flexible in relation to combo attack order. You can fire off all three of your attacks at any time except Twisting Fangs, which HAS to follow an Off-Hand attack.

[edit] Counters

• Hex removal before the combo can be carried out. However, Fevered Dreams only has a 10 second recharge.
• General other standard anti-melee counters can pose problems.

[edit] Variants

• If you wish to have a consistent tanking ability in PvE, add in Critical Eye and Critical Defenses. You can even further drop Black Lotus Strike, put 8 + 1 points in Shadow Art by lowering Dagger Mastery to 10 and add in Way of Perfection. The energy gain from Critical Eye should cover you. If you decide you don't need crippling, you can always replace Black Mantis Thrust for something else of use to you, such as Blinding Powder, which can be shot off after your first off-hand attack without disrupting Twisting Fangs.
• For Optional: Movement skills to close upon your target, such as Dash, Dark Escape, Shadow of Haste or Shadow Walk which will allow you to automatically teleport back after fulfilling your combo if you bring a secondary stance, like Deadly Paradox which will cut down the recharge on a healing spell, such as Feigned Neutrality.
• For Optional: Defensive skills, such as Signet of Malice which will clear you of conditions given the sheer many of them you'll spread around. Or Blinding Powder which can act in a defensive capacity with Fevered Dreams, blinding everyone in the area for 10 seconds with a 20 second recharge, which is considerably useful. Heart of Shadow, Feigned Neutrality, and Shadow Refuge will heal you.
• For Optional: Offensive skills, for even more of an edge in killing your target. Interruptions such as Disrupting Dagger or Web of Disruption which will also count as a cover hex or all around hex so you can carry out your combo might be useful. Expunge Enchantments is even possible to deal with generally unkillable 'Mystic Regeneration' tanks which are common in AB.
• If blocking foes become a problem consider using Way of the Fox to hit with all of the combo (at 5 shadow arts your next 3 attacks are unblockable and at 8 the next 4).

[edit] Fever Outbreak PvE

Fevered Dreams

Black Mantis Thrust

Black Spider Strike

Twisting Fangs

Signet of Malice

Critical Eye

Critical Defenses

Way of Perfection

[edit] Notes

• This build is incredibly useful when used in conjunction with other builds that utilize dangerous conditions, specifically burning, daze, and blind. Teamed up with a Temple Strike sin for example and a barrage ranger or dervish that will 'hit' everyone while dazed, you can wipe out mobs very quickly if planned correctly.

[edit] A/any Critical Fox [PvE, AB, PvE hero]

This PvE build is built around the Assassin's primary attribute, Critical Strikes. Using Way of the Assassin and Critical Eye to raise your chance of a critical hit to about a 77% chance per hit, and Critical Defenses for a near-permanent 75% chance to block, nearly every hit you land will net you +4 energy. Using a skill chain of unblockable attack skills, you can be sure to consistently get your damage through.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Assassin / Any	Attribute Rank
Critical Strikes	12 + 1
Dagger Mastery	11 + 1 + 2
Shadow Arts	6 + 1

Shroud of Distress

Golden Fox Strike

Fox Fangs

Nine Tail Strike

Way of the Assassin

Critical Defenses

Shadow Refuge

optional

• Your optional slot is quite flexible, but there are a few especially good options, most of which will be based on your setting (PvE or AB).

• Resurrection Signet is obviously an important choice in PvE, but near-useless in AB.
• Way of Perfection is useful as a long-term heal, and can serve to keep Way of the Assassin active (the downside is the short duration and small heals at lower levels of Shadow Arts).
• Critical Eye will grant a huge boost to energy-management, not to mention the sizable extra Critical Hit chance.
• Siphon Speed is a huge boon in AB especially, allowing you to chase down other Assassins and force one-on-one fights (which is an optimal situation for this build in many cases).
• Expunge Enchantments is a very useful enchantment removal skill, which will serve well in AB (though not so useful in PvE). Especially deadly against Elementalist Tanking builds and 55 Monks.

• If survival is an issue, you can go A/D and switch Shadow Arts for Earth Prayers (see Variants, below). The A/D variant loses a bit of the original build's flexibility, but more then makes up for it in pure staying power.

[edit] Equipment

• Nightstalker's Armor is recommended.
• Daggers with an "of Enchanting" mod is best, and preferably a "+15% while enchanted" or "+15% while in a stance" mod. Daggers of Xuekao may be the best green daggers for this build.
• The build's defense is high enough that you'll be able to afford the HP loss from adding Superior runes to the build. A Superior Daggery Mastery can increase both your damage output and your critical hit chance by a small amount. You should always be careful with having too many high-end runes on a single build though, as the health loss might outweigh the offensive boosts.

[edit] Usage

• The build centers around keeping three key skills up at all times: Shroud of Distress, Critical Defenses, and Way of the Assassin. In the heat of battle, you'll need to remember to check your status bar often, and make sure to keep all your skills up as much as possible.
• When first initiating battle, activate Shroud of Distress as you charge. Right before you engage, activate Critical Defenses (make sure not to activate this skill too soon, or you run the risk of not getting a critical hit fast enough to recharge it). Once you engage, activate Way of the Assassin. Be careful when first starting this all, as you will lose a pretty sizable chunk of energy. Once you get a few hits in, your energy should recharge quite quickly.
• Make sure to use your attack chain often, as it will deal a large amount of consistent, unblockable damage thanks to your high critical chance. Keep an eye on your status at all times. When anything starts to run out, make sure to re-activate it right away. Pay special attention to Critical Defenses in particular. When your target dies, make sure to switch to a new target as quickly as possible to keep Critical Defenses up.
• Shroud of Distress serves two major purposes here; keeping Way of the Assassin active, thanks to its long duration, and also granting you a very sizable amount of evasion when your health gets low. At seven Shadow Arts, it should last for 44 seconds (not counting any bonus from Daggers of Enchanting). This should be more then enough to last the duration of the battle, and the recharge time is one second longer, in case you need to re-activate. With your Enchanting Daggers, you can easily keep it up constantly.
• Keep in mind that you have an increased chance of a critical hit when attacking lower-level monsters (this increased chance is more easily noticeable when attacking creatures around level 10 or below). Target a nearby spirit or a weaker monster if you're in desperate need of a critical hit (Ritualist Spirits are normally easy to find in AB).
• When facing foes with Enchantment removal, keep in mind that Critical Defenses will almost always be the first to go, regardless of the order you activate your enchantments. This is because whenever you land a critical hit, Critical Defenses will re-apply itself, thus moving back to the top of the list. If you know that you're going to be losing an enchantment, it's probably a bad idea to get yourself in a fight with another melee character.

[edit] Counters

• There are a few counters, but most of them are too narrow to consider a real threat. Your main worry is Enchantment removal and the Blind condition. When Blinded, your best bet is to get out of combat. Without a critical hit, you'll lose Critical Defenses and be easy prey for most attacks. Enchantment removal can also get rid of Critical Defenses, but this can normally be fixed by killing whoever is wielding the enchantment removal.

[edit] Variants

• For superior self-healing and defense, consider going A/D and switching all of your points from Shadow Arts into Earth Prayers. This will allow you to use Vital Boon and Mystic Regeneration (replacing Shadow Refuge and Shroud of Distress). The large Block chance granted by Critical Defenses, in addition to the +9 Health regeneration provided by Mystic Regeneration (at 8 Earth Prayers and with all three enchantments active), should serve to keep you alive for a much greater amount of time and especially against other melee classes (don't forget the +72 maximum health bonus you'll gain from Vital Boon). Your attribute points should be re-ordered, like so:

Attributes and Skills
Critical Strikes	11 + 2
Dagger Mastery	11 + 1 + 2
Earth Prayers	8

This variant works much better against melee foes than casters, and the quick recharge times on the Dervish enchantments means you don't suffer nearly as much against foes with enchantment removal, as it's not a big deal to simply re-cast one of your cheaper enchantments to keep Way of the Assassin active.

With this setup, you can add yet another good choice for your optional slot; Pious Restoration, which grants you a quick and simple way to deal with Hex skills. Make sure to activate Vital Boon just before though, so you can take full advantage of the large health gain when you remove it. This also reduces the risk of removing Critical Defenses by mistake.

• If a Dervish secondary isn't what you're looking for, Assassin's Shadow Arts attribute has plenty of tricks to boost your survival even higher. Drop your Critical Strikes attribute down to 11 and add a Major Rune of Critical Strikes (11 + 2), and drop Dagger Mastery down to 10, keeping the current rune and headgear setup (10 + 1 + 2). This will allow you to boost your Shadow Arts attribute all the way up to 10.

You'll need to switch out Shroud of Distress for Way of Perfection, and switch Shadow Refuge for Critical Eye. With your Shadow Arts all the way up at 11 (10 plus the minor rune), Way of Perfection lasts 28 seconds out of the 30 second recharge, and grants a 32-health heal every time you land a critical hit. With Critical Eye as well, you'll gain tons of energy, and everything up and running grants you a massive critical hit chance, which will keep health and energy topped off during nearly any fight. The optional slot can be anything, but preferably you'll want to bring either a resurrection skill (when in a party), Shadow Refuge as an out-of-battle self-heal (just in case), or even Sharpen Daggers to add bleeding to the attack chain. If enemy casters are a problem, you can bring Disrupting Stab or Disrupting Dagger, both of which are nice, easy interrupts skills (D. Stab can also help to start your attack chain, while D. Dagger won't mess up the chain if used halfway through).

• In some cases where the unblockable chain isn't needed, good options as a replacement attack chain are attack chains like Golden Phoenix Strike, Horns of the Ox, and Falling Spider, or maybe a chain with Jagged Strike, Wild Strike, and Death Blossom for faster damage. Using Golden Phoenix Strike will also allow you to use just itself and a Dual Attack, thus leaving you an extra skill slot as well.

• If Blinding skills are a common occurrence, skills from other professions, such as Remedy Signet (Paragon), Antidote Signet (Ranger), Mending Touch (Monk), and Sight Beyond Sight (Ritualist) are easy to add to the build with no investment into other attributes.

• Going A/E will allow you to replace a skill (preferably Shroud of Distress) with Conjure Flame/Frost/Lightning, which will not only enable Way of the Assassin (thanks to the fact that they're Enchantments with a long duration), but grant an additional +1...17 damage per attack. This of course will require a slight investment into the Fire/Water/Air Magic attribute, and your Daggers will need the corresponding Elemental damage modifier (Fiery/Icy/Shocking).

[edit] Templates

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: AHMS3+Zj8cALzMMtXceA6yAA

Below is the skills template for the A/D Variant:

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: AnOS3Our4UmZYav4M7dAKeBA

[edit] A/any Death Blossom [PvE]

This is a build designed for fun, as well as PvE damage dealing. It uses degeneration and area-of-effect attacks to take down foes while making use of the Assassin's unique ability to Shadow Step to move in and out of combat.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Assassin / Any	Attribute Rank
Dagger Mastery	11 + 1 + 2
Critical Strikes	11 + 2
Shadow Arts	8 + 1

Jagged Strike

Wild Strike

Death Blossom

Moebius Strike

Shadow Refuge

Death's Charge

Return

Generic resurrect

• Users with Nightfall should replace Return with Death's Retreat for added healing.

• As this is a PvE build, Rebirth would be a good way to fill the 8th slot but non-Monk secondaries can use the Resurrection Signet just fine.

[edit] Equipment

• Nightstalker's Armor for extra protection.
• Any Daggers would work, but since Assassins tend to be fragile, consider:
  • Extra Armor, with daggers of Defense or of Shelter
  • Extra Health, with daggers of Fortitude
• For extra damage, you can use Vampiric or Sundering daggers. I prefer Sundering because I don't like to deal with the pip of health degen, which can get worrisome.
• The best Vigor rune you can afford, a Rune of Major Dagger Mastery, a Rune of Major Critical Strikes, a Rune of Minor Shadow Arts and any other rune you like. I use Vitae.

[edit] Usage

This is a fairly easy build to use. Early on, identify a party member who will likely be staying away from melee (like a Ranger). Remember his location on your party window, since he's going to be the one you shadow step back to when things get nasty.

Let your warriors charge in first, since they're good at it and it makes them happy. It also helps keep the heat off your much more fragile self.

If possible, position yourself so that Death Blossom's AoE will hit several foes. When you can, use Moebius Strike to hit a target with Death Blossom several times.

Keep pressure off your monks by using Shadow Refuge whenever your health begins to get low. You can also use Death's Charge on a healthy foe for an emergency burst of healing.

You are not a tank. Don't be afraid to Return to the back line, heal yourself, and pop right back into combat. Not only does this help keep you alive, but it helps take the pressure off your monks. With practice, you can be a fully self-sufficient damage dealer: use this to your advantage, because if the Monk has to choose between healing you and the tank, he will likely choose the tank.

If you want to be a little more creative and save Death's Charge for when you need healing, you can wait for a Warrior to engage, then use Return on him to enter melee. This lets you save Death's Charge for when you need a quick heal, or for more critical targets.

[edit] Counters

Blindness and spike damage can really hurt this build. A target using a defensive Stance such as Shield Stance can make your attacks hard to chain. Also, keep a watchful eye out for enemies who like to use spells that punish melee attackers.

[edit] E/Me UW Tank [PvE]

This build is born to farm the Underworld with a SS necromancer. It represents a good alternative to the 55hp Invincible Monk because of the better protection against spells, the better supply of energy and the better defense against interruptions. This build uses Stone Striker to convert damage received into Earth Damage, which trigger Mantra of Earth to further reduce the damage and gain large amounts of energy. Kinetic Armor is kept up using Aura of Restoration.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Elementalist / Mesmer	Attribute Rank
Energy Storage	6 + 2
Earth Magic	12 + 1 + 2
Inspiration Magic	7
Illusion Magic	9

Kinetic Armor

Stoneflesh Aura

Stone Striker

Mantra of Earth

Obsidian Flesh

Sympathetic Visage

Ancestor's Visage

Aura of Restoration

[edit] Equipment

• Geomancer armor to further reduce the damage received.
• Galigord's Stone Staff is perfect (any other staff with a perfect modifier of enchanting will be ok).

[edit] Usage

• Cast and keep up Kinetic Armor, Stoneflesh Aura, Stone Striker and Mantra of Earth.
• Use Aura of Restoration to heal from life stealing or degeneration and to keep Kinetic Armor up.
• Cast Obsidian Flesh when you see any Dying Nightmares to prevent enchantments stealing.
• Cast first Sympathetic Visage and then Ancestor's Visage alternatively every 10 sec (when the activated skill is half recharged) to steal adrenaline and energy from adjacent mobs and to prevent interruptions.
• Obsidian Flesh is also to be used against Terrorweb Dryders.

Be careful, before activating Obsidian Flesh a second time you have a gap of 6 sec. during which you are not protected against their spells.

[edit] Counters

• It is possible for Lingering Curse to remove all of these enchantments and cause the InvinciTank to have a squishy nature and be wiped out instantly. The only monsters that use Lingering Curse are Keeper of Souls, which spawn only if you take the Unwanted Guests quest.

[edit] N/Mo Aataxe/Grasping Darkness Farmer [PvE]

This build is meant to solo farm the Bladed Aatxe in the Underworld for ectos and to solo the Grasping Darkness for gold drops and other rare items.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Necromancer / Monk	Attribute Rank
Blood Magic	12 + 1 + 3
Death Magic	0+3
Curses	0+3
Soul Reaping	0+3
Healing Prayers	10
Protection Prayers	8

Protective Spirit

Vigorous Spirit

Spoil Victor

Healing Breeze

Plague Touch

Essence Bond

Balthazar's Spirit

Mending

• Consider replacing Vigorous Spirit with Suffering so that you can use it as a cover hex and be able to solo the Smite Crawlers.

[edit] Equipment

• Use cheap radiant armor, or cheap armor that gives you extra energy, and 5 superior runes to bring your health down to 105.
• Use a sword, or axe with a 20% enchantment mod (this is critical, because vigorous spirit's effect will activate slower with a wand, scythe etc.)
• The -50 HP grim cesta is also needed for this.

[edit] Usage

Fighting an Aatxe.

• Enter the Underworld
• Aggro the Bladed Aatxe group on the left, or right, and run in the opposite direction to the opposite corner.
• The Bladed Aatxe group should not follow you, but if there was a Dying Nightmare near the Bladed Aatxe group then it should have followed you, cast vigorous spirit and wait for the Dying Nightmare to remove it with Rend Enchantments, now use Protective Spirit and wand the Dying Nightmare to death.
• Stand in a safe spot, and cast all of your maintained enchantments. You should have at least 25 energy after the enchantments before you begin to aggro the Bladed Aatxe group.
• Cast Vigorous Spirit before you aggro the group of Bladed Aatxe, now use Protective Spirit, target a Bladed Aatxe and use Spoil Victor
• Begin attacking the Bladed Aatxe with your sword or axe. Health gained from Vigorous Spirit should be enough for a group of 2 Bladed Aatxe.
• Maintain Protective Spirit and Vigorous Spirit while fighting the group. If you have health problems, and your health stays steady at half full, use Healing Breeze.
• Apply Spoil Victor to your target(s) when it recharges. Most of the time 1 cast of Spoil Victor will fully kill a Bladed Aatxe or a Grasping Darkness, but if not recast it.
• Repeat steps 2-9 for the second Bladed Aatxe group.
  • Kill the Bladed Aatxe groups on the right and left, be sure to also include the lone Bladed Aatxe that walks around to both groups frequently (you can kill the middle group, but if there is a nightmare spawn and you run, the entire group will follow you).
• Take the quest after the Bladed Aatxe on the right and left are killed.
• Use steps 2-9 for the Grasping Darkness
• If dazed use Plague Touch on a Grasping Darkness.
  • Usually the health gained from Vigorous Spirit is enough without Healing Breeze to maintain stably high health against a group of 3 or 4 Grasping Darkness.
• Continue on through the chamber with in the direction of the Smite Crawlers and you will find more Bladed Aatxe and Grasping Darkness to farm.
  • Be sure not to aggro more than 2-4 groups at a time.

Path for aggroing.

[edit] Counters

• Rend Enchantments from a Dying Nightmare that you did not take action upon when the Dying Nightmare spawned.
• Interrupt.

[edit] Variants

• Live Vicariously can replace Vigorous Spirit so that your main way of healing can't be interrupted. Note that Live Vicariously provides less hp than Vigorous Spirit.

[edit] Notes

• This build cannot solo the Smite Crawlers (unless a variant is used). Or Coldfire Nights.

[edit] N/any BiP [PvE]

The BiP necromancer (also known as a battery) is a powerful source of energy for the party using the skill Blood is Power. The core of the build involves using BiP on party members, getting healed (or self-healing) and doing the same over and over.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Necromancer / Any	Attribute Rank
Blood Magic	12 + 1 + 3
Soul Reaping	10 + 1
Death Magic	8 + 1

Blood is Power

Blood Renewal

Well of Blood

Consume Corpse

Well of Suffering

Blood Ritual

Jaundiced Gaze

Resurrection Signet

[edit] Equipment

• Scar Pattern Armor is recommended for energy. Adding Superior Runes to reduce health is an option.
• Any staff (or wand and focus item combination) that provides +5 Energy and fast recharge and cast time for Blood Magic is optimal. An item which reduces health or one that lengthens enchantments (for Blood Renewal and BiP) can help also.

[edit] Usage

• Keep Blood Renewal on at all times.
• Use Blood is Power on any party member you wish to give Energy to.
• Use Blood Ritual as a cheaper and long-lasting alternative to Blood is Power (as your Energy permits).
• A good Battery never waits for people to call their Energy. Instead, the bipper should have a plan:
  • Before a fight, the bipper should provide energy to "setup" party members (such as trappers, bonders or ritualists)
  • During a fight, the bipper should bip the healers, then other casters, then frontline attackers in that order of priority.
• Use wells as Energy and circumstances permit.
• Use Consume Corpse for energy, healing and/or corpse denial.
• Having as little maximum health as possible allows the bipper to be extremely effective in doing his/her job, however, this should only be done if the bipper is very good at staying alive. Dying does not really harm the bipper, but having to do without the bipper in the middle of an intense fight is not a good thing for the other party members.

[edit] Variants

The only essential skills of the build are BiP and Blood Renewal. Therefore an endless number of variants (and combinations with other tasks) can be imagined usually at the expense of the attribute points in Death Magic. Some popular alternatives are:

• Choose Order of Pain to increase the physical damage dealing.
• Choosing a monk secondary and using Heal Area for self-healing or spamming Heal Party to help with the healing and self heal and also using Protective Spirit to account for the lack of health if you decide to go with lower HP.
• Choosing an elementalist secondary and using wards to protect the backline of the party.
• Replace Resurrection Signet with a hard rez when situations/secondary professions permit.

[edit] Templates

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: AUNAxFaqcHzBXIGdRnsvCAA

[edit] N/any Minion Master [PvE, Hero, AB, CM]

There are many version of the Minion Master, however, this version unlike many does not use Healing Prayers line, removing any restriction on secondary class. This version is ideal for Sorrow's Furnace farming, Alliance Battles or PvE.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Necromancer / Any	Attribute Rank
Death Magic	12 + 1 + 3
Soul Reaping	12 + 1
Blood Magic	3 + 1

Animate Flesh Golem

Animate Bone Fiend

Animate Shambling Horror

Blood of the Master

Optional

Taste of Death

Dark Bond

Generic resurrect

[edit] Equipment

• Minion Master's Armor or Cabalist's Armor.
• Bloodstained Boots
• Any 20/20 Bone Staff, Ghial's Staff, Woe Spreader or The Nightbringer

[edit] Usage

When starting out in a new area or low on minions:

• Use Rotting Flesh on fleshy foes, preferably on large groups to spread the Disease condition. This is incredibly effective when used in PvE.
• Create a Flesh Golem with the first dead body to start off.
• Create other minions depending on your Energy pool.

Once you have a few minions:

• Create other minions, again, depending on remaining Energy.
• Use Blood of the Master to keep your minions alive.
• When without a monk on your team it is perfectly viable to use Taste of Death to keep yourself alive so long as you have Minions to feed off of.
• When idle, spam Blood of the Master on your minion army and use Taste of Death on a Flesh golem to regain the health lost. Don't forget that it is usually easier to kill off an old Flesh Golem for a new one instead of repeatedly healing one.

This build can happily stay alive by sacrificing a minion with Taste of Death while other minions kill foes, while disease from Rotting Flesh degenerates most foes in PvE when low on minions.

[edit] Variants

• For the optional slot:
  • Deathly Swarm can be used for AoE damage.
  • Take Rotting Flesh to spread degeneration. (NOTE: not recommended against human foes)
  • Use Infuse Condition for the transfer of conditions to your minions.
• Aura of the Lich can be used in place of Animate Flesh Golem to allow more spamming of Blood of the Master, although not advisable when anticipating health degeneration effects. This also makes Blood Renewal useful for self-healing if a higher level Blood Magic is used.
• Skills such as Putrid Explosion, Deathly Swarm and Bitter Chill can be added to give the Minion Master some direct damage skills that are linked to Death Magic.
• You can bring Death Nova to make one last final use of a minion that's near death.
• For more self healing Animate Vampiric Horror can be used in place of Animate Bone Fiend. This allows a more meat-shield like role of the minion master protecting the back line casters. If making this switch, it is a good idea to cast Animate Bone Horror more often due to the recharge time of Animate Vampiric Horror and to refresh your minions. Also great way to gain a positive health gained to sacrificed ratio if enough are summoned.
• Bring Verata's Aura to reclaim your minions if you die, or possibly to steal minions from monsters who create them. Not many monsters can, however, and the ones that can do not create them nearly as fast as the average Minion Master Necromancer. As such, Verata's Gaze may be a better choice for stealing minions.
• Infuse Condition in combination with Dark Bond is useful in scenarios where you are being targeted instead of your minions.
• Skills such as Putrid Explosion will exploit your corpses rendering them useless to a Minion Master. Instead of using Animate Bone Fiend and Dark Bond, try Fetid Ground and Deathly Swarm for damage when you need to kill enemies quickly without minions.
• You can use Animate Shambling Horror instead of Animate Bone Horror if you have Guild Wars Nightfall. The differences between a Shambling Horror and a Bone Horror, except for the 'skin', include a different attack range from Bone Minions and Vampiric Horrors, and the fact that when a Shambling Horror dies they will immediatly turn into a Jagged Horror, which will cause bleeding with its attacks. Those using Shambling Horror will find a longer recharge time in return for this fact, so faster-recharging summons are advised.
• Signet of Lost Souls may be an energy management option.
• Verata's Gaze and Verata's Aura Make excellent AB variant over the Resurrect skills because they allow the Minion Master to steal the enemy minions (Mostly other Flesh Golems or with aura all of the enemy minions). WARNING: Once Verata's Aura is used, especially with re-controlling your army MAINTAIN IT!

[edit] Notes

• Death of minions or foes creates a 13 energy gain which is usually more than enough to create new minions.

[edit] Template

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: A0MANFbsMFUBQjHqBmoICAA

[edit] See Also

• General minion mastery guide

[edit] P/W Party Support [PvE, Hero]

This support Paragon together with the two healer henchman can cover all the defensive needs of the Nightfall campaign. The core of this build can also be used as basis for a PvP motivation Paragon/Warrior.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Paragon / Warrior	Attribute Rank
Motivation	12 + 1 + 2
Leadership	8 + 2
Spear Mastery	8 + 1
Tactics	7

Signet of Synergy

Mending Refrain

Song of Restoration

Ballad of Restoration

Aria of Zeal

"Watch Yourself!"

"Shields Up!"

Signet of Return

[edit] Equipment

You should focus on defense with your gear, since energy is easily managed by staying close to your team.

Armor:

• Insignias: Centurion's insignia on all armor pieces.
• Runes: Major Motivation, Major Leadership, Minor Spear Mastery, Vigor (highest possible), and Vitae.

Weapon:

• Use a spear grip of Defense.
• Use the inscription "I have the power!" for +5 Energy.
• Use whichever spearhead will support your skills best -- Furious will allow you to keep "Watch Yourself!" ready to use relatively well even with all the chants and echos that you're casting.

Shield:

• Use a Shield that requires Motivation.
• Use a Shield Handle of Fortitude.
• Use either the inscription "Master of My Domain" for extra Motivation or "Luck of the Draw" for damage reduction.

[edit] Usage

• This Paragon is very efficient in preventing and healing the damage to the whole team (like AoE spells, generic pressure, and health degeneration of the team). "Shields Up!" is also useful to prevent spike from archers, which is very common in the Nightfall campaign.
• Using "Watch Yourself!" for energy management lets you easily spam all your other skills except Mending Refrain. However, with your high number of shouts and chants you are able to maintain Mending Refrain on all the members of the team during long fights.

[edit] Counters

• If you can't acquire adrenaline you can't spam all your skills.
• Necromancer's Anti-Paragon hexes totally shut down this build.

[edit] Variants

• Replace Signet of Synergy with Spear of Lightning.
• You may prefer to use another elite in some areas of PvE.
• You can replace Signet of Return with another resurrection skill, or even with Lightbringer's Gaze when you need it. Like a monk, using this build you will not have time to resurrect while in combat.
• Mending Refrain can be replaced by Finale of Restoration.

[edit] Notes

• It was used to reach the title of Indomitable Survivor by playing through all the Nightfall missions using only heroes and henchman.
• Great against Abaddon itself: the damage he deals is the same type this Paragon heals at best.

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: AZQS1VinMKOxYV86mDrh5KvF5NA

[edit] Mo/any Holy Haste LoD healer [PvE]

This PvE monk uses Holy Haste to quickly cast healing spells on party members whenever needed. With Light of Deliverance, this monk becomes more versatile as it can heal the whole party whenever needed and it has the possibility to heal over a very long range.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Monk / Any	Attribute Rank
Healing Prayers	12 + 1 + 3
Divine Favor	12 + 1
Protection Prayers	3 (+ 1)

Ethereal Light

Dwayna's Kiss

Healing Touch

Light of Deliverance

Dismiss Condition

Smite Hex

Holy Haste

Restore Life

• Signet of Rejuvenation can be used for better energy management
• A Hex Removal such as Smite Hex can be brought if some or multiple "critical" hexes are being used in the area

[edit] Equipment

• Any armor is usable, though for PvE Radiant armor may be best
• A 20/20 +5energy +30hp healing staff is recommended

[edit] Usage

• Cast Holy Haste and recast it whenever necessary
• Cast Dwayna's Kiss and Ethereal Light whenever needed
• If multiple allies take damage, use Light of Deliverance
• Use Light of Deliverance whenever you can't reach an ally in need of healing
• Healing Touch and Light of Deliverance are your self heals, though the easily interruptable Ethereal Light can be used as one as well
• Dismiss Condition whenever a "critical" condition appears on an ally such as Blind on a warrior or Dazed on an elementalist
• Smite Hex whenever a "critical" hex appears on an ally such as Backfire on a caster, Empathy on a warrior or Vocal Minority on a paragon. Of course Scourge Healing is lethal when using Light of Deliverance and therefore this should have high priority when removing hexes
• Use Restore Life on a fallen ally, however don't do this until you are sure you can spend some free seconds where no allies need healing. The last thing you want is more deaths because of a resurrection

[edit] Counters

• Any spell caster counters (daze, backfire, etc.)
• Scourge Healing can do major damage when being careless with Light of Deliverance

[edit] Variants

• Orison of Healing can be used instead of Ethereal Light if you get interrupted a lot while using Ethereal Light
• Words of Comfort can be useful instead of Ethereal Light if many conditions are used in that area
• Mend Condition can be used instead of Dismiss Condition if you think you don't get conditions yourself or if few enchantments are being used
• If no conditions are being used in a certain area, consider bringing another healing skill or another hex removal instead of Dismiss Condition
• Any other hex removal skill such as Remove Hex or Inspired Hex (must become /Me) can be used instead of Smite Hex
• If no hexes are being used in a certain area, consider bringing another healing skill instead of Smite Hex
• Signet of Rejuvenation and possibly Signet of Devotion can be used for a better energy management in this build. Replace Dismiss Condition or Smite Hex by one of these signets, depending on what you need most, anti condition or anti hex
• Resurrection Chant instead of Restore Life for a resurrect from some distance

[edit] Mo/any 55 HP [PvE]

This build can be used in many solo farming areas and does not rely on healing prayers at all. This build can take on any number of monsters as you like without worrying about your health dropping below 55 health. Shield of Absorption reduces damage by 5, and this build has a maximum health of 55. With Protective Spirit, this means that every attack against you will do zero damage. This build will work with Death Penalty and with 1 health (unlike previous Invincible Monk builds). This means that you can tank as many monsters as you want, similar to the old Spirit Bond monk. See the Invincible Monk article for more information on both of these kinds of builds.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Monk / Any	Attribute Rank
Protection Prayers	10 + 1 + 3
Divine Favor	10 + 3
Healing Prayers	0 + 3
Smiting Prayers	11 + 3

Protective Spirit

Shield of Absorption

Shield of Judgment

Blessed Signet

Optional

Watchful Spirit

Balthazar's Spirit

Blessed Aura

• See the Variants section for some skills to use in the optional slot.

[edit] Equipment

• Ascetic's Armor for a larger energy pool, with a +1 Protection Prayers scalp design. You will need to upgrade your armor so as to bring your health down to 55 hp (as seen on this section of the Invincible Monk page).

• Any Sword or Axe of Enchanting. The bonus must be +20%. Also, a +5 Energy modifier (or the inscription "I Have the Power") helps to increase the energy pool even more. The Totem Axe and Rajazan's Fervor are common choices for this. A two-handed weapon cannot be used or your health will be more than 55.

• A 20/20 Insightful Protection Staff of Enchanting works just as well. Unlike using a sword or axe, the staff will help mitigate an enemy's death. Having 105hp doesn't adversely affect the builds effectiveness.

• Consider bringing a scalp design that provides a bonus in Divine Favor and/or a staff of Mastery in Divine Favor.

[edit] Usage

• First cast Watchful Spirit and Balthazar's Spirit. This will provide +2 health regeneration (in case Shield of Absorption slips) and energy management.
• Then cast Blessed Aura. If you are using a Divine Favor headpiece and/or a staff of Mastery in Divine Favor, equip them now to maximize its effect. Note that if you are using a staff of Mastery, it may take multiple castings for the Divine Favor boost to kick in. Be sure to re-equip the Protection Prayers scalp and your sword/axe/offhand combo after you are satisfied with your cast.
  • Note: These three enchantments can be cast in any order according to preference.
• After all of the enchantments are cast, head towards your enemies (but see Choosing Enemies, below).
• Before entering battle cast Protective Spirit and Shield of Absorption. (You should do this no more than two seconds before you do the next step.)
• Aggro your enemies. You must keep up Shield of Absorption (near-)continuously. Depending on how high your Divine Favor attribute was when you cast Blessed Aura, you can have as little as .5 seconds to recast it - or you may have as many as 1.85 seconds. Note that if you miss a recast by a few seconds, the health regeneration from Watchful Spirit combined with the damage reduction from Protective Spirit will help prevent death, but don't take your time about recasting it. (Be aware that larger mobs mean faster death in this situation.)
• Use Shield of Judgment for damage. Your enemies should kill themselves by attacking you.
• Use Blessed Signet for energy management - it can even be used in battle if you have a few seconds to spare.

[edit] Choosing Enemies

Only certain enemies will be effectively damaged by this build. Enemies that are knocked down by Shield of Judgment will scatter; enemies such as hydras cannot be knocked down and therefore will be damaged by this build. Before you use this or any other build with Shield of Judgment to farm monsters, do some research to see if they can be knocked down or not before deciding whether to bring Shield of Judgment.

Also, when considering choosing an area, try to find an area with abundant ranged attackers, such as Ranger or Paragon, who do not flee from damage as melee creatures do. Ice Imps and Siege Ice Golems are good enemies to farm outside Ice Caves of Sorrow.

[edit] Counters

• Enchantment removal can be deadly if it hits Protective Spirit and/or Shield of Absorption. Because Necromancers and Mesmers have so many skills to do this, avoid them.
• Major health degeneration will also kill you. Watchful Spirit will counter minor health degeneration, but even that inflicted by Bleeding or Faintheartedness can overwhelm it. Again, avoid places with Necromancers or Mesmers. (Note that minor health degeneration over Watchful Spirit may not necessarily be deadly as you will heal yourself every time you cast a spell on yourself due to the healing bonus from the Divine Favor attribute.)
• If Shield of Absorption is interrupted, you could be in trouble. You will have to last ten seconds on the health regeneration from Watchful Spirit and the healing boost from casting Protective Spirit on yourself - although Protective Spirit has a five second recharge.

[edit] Variants

• Watchful Spirit and Balthazar's Spirit can be easily replaced by Mending and Essence Bond, respectively, with absolutely no change in the way the build works. Additionally, either one could fill the optional slot.
• Healing Breeze or Watchful Healing is useful when killing foes that cause -3 (or greater) health degeneration.
• Zealot's Fire can provide relatively consistent AoE damage; you must be cautious as to how you time your spells so that there is at least three seconds between each of them, or you will cause your enemies to scatter.
• If your enemies will scatter from Shield of Judgment (see below), consider bringing another elite or another damaging non-AoE spell instead of it. Spell Breaker is a good choice for defense.
• Having only 55 max health is not necessary to maintain a nearly invulnerable monk - see the Mo/E SoA Sliver build, and look at the Spirit Bond variant of that build. It can be used to counter health degeneration, and to some extent, life stealing.
• You may want to ensure survival by using Shielding Hands. Cast it before SoA wears off to stay invulnerable.

• Additional skills are recommended depending on your secondary profession.

Warrior

• Bonetti's Defense - for energy and +75% chance to block attacks, making you more resistant to melee interrupts such as Savage Slash.
• Balanced Stance - to resist knockdowns and therefore some interruptions

Mesmer

• Arcane Echo - for longer use of Shield of Judgment
• Mantra of Resolve - to prevent interruptions (but not knockdowns)

Ranger

• Brambles - for more damage from Shield of Judgment
• Serpent's Quickness for quicker recharge time on all skills cast while it is active

Necromancer

• Spiteful Spirit for a different skill with a faster recharge and more damage output.
• Spoil Victor for farming most melee bosses (assassins, dervishes, and warriors)

Dervish

• Fleeting Stability - to prevent knockdown

Elementalist

• Sliver Armor - to do tremendous damage once surrounded by masses of monsters
• Glyph of Concentration - to avoid interrupts
• Ward of Stability - to prevent knockdown
• Grasping Earth - to keep monsters from fleeing

[edit] Notes

• Like all invincimonk builds, this build will be easier with practice.
• While this build will work if you are reduced to 1 hp, it will require very quick reflexes to maintain constant coverage from Shield of Absorption.
• Try not to cast Protective Spirit and Shield of Absorption at about the same time; try to parse them so there is a one second lag between the two so as to phase out the healing from Divine Favor.
• This build will not make ranged monsters run from you, but melee monsters in groups of 3 or more will run from you.

[edit] Templates

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: ADMhbfKUn6xd1gkSAA/D5BAB

[edit] Mo/any WoH [PvE]

A basic healer build, commonly found and used in PvE. Using only five Energy cost healing spells, this build is able to heal efficiently without having to manage Energy all the time, unlike Blessed Light or Boon-Prot style builds. It is suitable and commonly found in 6 to 8 member pick-up groups. This build is extremely flexible, and does not require any specific equipment or secondary class.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Monk / Any	Attribute Rank
Healing Prayers	12 + 1 + 3
Divine Favor	12 + 1
Protection Prayers	3 + 1

Orison of Healing

Dwayna's Kiss

Word of Healing

Healing Touch

Healing Seed

Optional

Remove Hex

Rebirth

[edit] Equipment

• Any armor is usable with this build, but you may wish to switch to Ascetic's armor for maximum Energy if you're expecting to spam your heals a lot.
• Any focus and offhand combination, or staff, can work with this build. A 20/20 Focus and Offhand can prove to be valuable, but not required.

[edit] Usage

• Orison of Healing, Word of Healing, and Dwayna's Kiss are your main heals. Spam them if necessary, but be aware that long periods of heavy healing without pauses can drain you, although not immediately. Note each spell's special effects.
  • Orison of Healing is the most basic heal. Use this one if the target is not affected by Hexes/Enchantments, or if target is above 50% health.
  • Dwayna's Kiss is very efficient at healing targets with Hexes or Enchantments on them. It is generally used on the main tank upon aggroing the next group of enemies, providing Healing Seed has expired or was removed.
  • Word of Healing is your main spike heal. A single cast of this can easily bring a party member from below 50% health to near-full health. Its 4 second recharge is comparitively longer than the recharge of Orison of Healing, so don't waste casting this on a party member above 50% health.
• Healing Touch is an extremely useful self heal. Use it whenever you think your health is low. If someone in your party has lost quite a bit of health but is not in any particular danger, you may wish to heal them with this skill as well.
• Use Remove Hex to remove any Hexes that affect your party. But remember: your main job is to keep your party alive. It is often better to let the hex die off itself rather than taking the time and energy to remove it. This should be used against serious hexes, rather than easily spammable ones like Life Siphon
• Healing Seed and Rebirth are your only skills which cost more than 5 Energy to use, so use them wisely.
• You should not be resurrecting in-battle with Rebirth. If you want to do so, you may want to switch to Resurrect or Resurrection Chant, or even Restore Life.
• Healing Seed should be placed on the main tank upon right before they aggro the next group of monsters. It can also be used in-battle to protect a party member under heavy attack/pressure.

[edit] Counters

• Energy Denial can pose a problem, but is not of immediate threat to this build.
• Skills that increase recharge time such as Diversion and Distracting Shot can be devastating if more than one primary healing skill is struck by it.
• If facing large groups of enemies or high-damage dealing enemies, the removal of Healing Seed can mean certain death for a tank, if not covered. This is not a large problem in most areas, though.

[edit] Variants

• Some skills to consider to place into the optional skill slot:
  • Mend Ailment, Mend Condition, or Dismiss Condition (only if you want a rather fast condition removal w/o heal) for Condition removal.
  • Holy Veil for additional Hex removal.
  • Infuse Health for a stronger and faster Spike heal.
  • Healing Breeze for better counters againts heavy degeneration, or to cover small amounts of damage.
  • Heal Area or Karei's Healing Circle can be beneficial if your party contains any Minion Masters.
• Remove Hex can be replaced by Holy Veil, if you think you will need a cover Enchantment for Healing Seed.
• Use Smite Hex in place of Remove Hex if you dislike the two-second cast time for Remove Hex, and don't want the awkward double-click removal of Holy Veil.
• Ethereal Light can be used in place of Orison of Healing if you don't think you will be attacked.
• Replace Rebirth with an alternate resurrection skill of your choice. You may even want to eliminate Resurrection as a whole.
• Heal Party is an excellent healing skill, and can be incorporated to this build. However, spamming this can be dangerous to your energy pool. One or two casts can heal your party effectively without putting too much pressure on energy usage.
• Holy Haste can be used to reduce the cast time of healing prayers if you don't plan on using any enchantments like Healing Breeze.
• Vigorous Spirit is a good heal over time for other party members, especially tanks. It also synergies well with Dwayna's Kiss.
• Replace Healing Touch with Signet of Devotion so that you can continue to heal even if you are getting low on energy.

[edit] Template

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: ATMRjfDkjMuRNmTAAgWKTA

[edit] R/Mo Basic Runner [PvE]

This is a basic ranger running build, capable of completing all runs from Ascalon to the Crystal Desert, some of the Southern Shiverpeaks runs, most runs in Cantha, and even with a variant for the Droknar's Forge run. The build is also suited for mapping if you are going for the Grand Master Cartographer title.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Ranger / Monk	Attribute Rank
Expertise	12 + 1 + 1
Healing Prayers	12
Protection Prayers	3

Escape

Dodge

Zojun's Haste

Heal Area

Restful Breeze

Mending Touch

Holy Veil

Mending

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Armor

• Full Druid's Armor set for maximum energy.
• Full Sentry's Armor for extra armor (+10 AL in stance).

Note #1: It is possible to mix Druid's Armor for energy with Sentry's Armor for higher armor. Note that the armor bonus is location specific.

Note #2: If you use Sentry's Armor only, it is advised to polish up your energy pool with weapons as explained below.

[edit] Runes

• Rune of Vigor

[edit] Weapons

• Any one-handed weapon that increases health, energy and/or lengthens enchantments:

1. Sword with +5 Energy and +30 hp or +20% Longer Enchantments
2. Rajazan's Fervor
3. Totem Axe

• Any shield with either stance and/or health modifications:

1. Emboldened Carapace Shield from Hagnon Warblade [Health +60 (while hexed), Received damage -3 (while hexed)] - for hex passages of specific runs.
2. Grognar's Defender - the Runner's Best Stance Shield Choice.

Note: Of course, you are free to use the collectors' shield versions instead of the Green ones.

• Fires in the East staff with a +5 energy Staff Head (+18 energy), and either a health or an enchantment lengthening mod.

[edit] Usage

[edit] General

The Running Sequence gives you a constant high speed boost and a high chance to evade missiles, and attacks. Holy Veil against hexes and the healing skills against conditions and degeneration help you survive.

[edit] Running Sequence

• Use Dodge, Zojun's Haste and Escape for a constant speed boost.
• Only Dodge and Zojun's Haste boost your speed to 33%, whereas Escape only provides you with 25%.
• Use Escape to avoid mass damage as it provides a 75% chance to avoid attacks. It also protects from knockdown from melee attackers.

Note #1: Dodge and Zojun's Haste only evade missile attacks.

Note #2: Avoid knockdown if possible.

[edit] Healing

• Cast Mending when entering a new area.
• Use Restful Breeze before engaging large damage dealing mobs. Remember to activate run skills first.
• Use Heal Area when taking large amounts of damage and when you are in need of instant healing. Be aware of your energy level.

Note: There are enemies which strip enchantments such as Stone Summit Heretics or Avicara Guile. You have to decide then which enchantment (Holy Veil or Mending) you want to use as cover, and which you do not want get stripped right away. Cast the cover enchantment that you want to get stripped last. Pay attention to Chilblains which mostly strips two enchantments.

[edit] Variants

[edit] General

• Use Storm Chaser to regain energy when running through elemental damage dealing mobs.
• Use Troll Unguent instead of Healing Breeze for lower energy cost. Remember to set points into Wilderness Survival.
• Use Smite Hex instead of Holy Veil.
• Use Smite Hex instead of Purge Conditions or Heal Area for a second hex remover.

[edit] Bold Forge Runner

The Bold Forge Runner variant can be used to solo-run Droknar Forge. It is highly reliable and you will notice that it is easier to run Lornar's Pass with, actually. Snake Dance and its Tundra Giants need a bit practice, though. Below are specific Ranger hints for this run:

Note #1: It is advised to use a weapon with 20% longer enchantments for the sake of Healing Breeze.

Note #2: Mend Ailment can replace Purge Conditions for countering two or more Barbed Traps. Crippled will always hit you last.

[edit] Worm Tunnel

• Cast Mending, and Holy Veil (in this order). You don't want the Avicaras to strip Mending right away. Holy Veil represents a cover enchantment here (unlike later).
• Use Healing Breeze before and during encountering dangerous situation, such as a run-through.
• Use Zojun's Haste and Dodge to outrun the worm(s).
• Use Escape when expecting mass damage from attacks, especially in melee by groups of Avicaras. It helps you survive grave danger situation by evading most attacks.

[edit] Worm Path

• Use Healing Breeze after you got knocked-down by the worm(s) and when he is just outside your aggro bubble. This helps to avoid interruption again. Recast Mending on you between knockdowns, in case it got stripped through Chilblains. Without Mending in coordination with HB you might get into trouble regarding your health.
• Use Escape for running through the groups of Grawls and when you get slowed down by hexes and take attack damage from melee.

[edit] Dreadnought's Drift

• Cast Holy Veil, and Mending (in this order). This time Mending is the cover enchantment for Holy Veil due to the high risk of encountering Heretics.
• Lose aggro and regenerate before encountering the Tundra Giants.
• Use Healing Breeze and Escape before running through groups of Giants. Make use of a Stance Shield here.

Note: When HB fades out, and after a Giant Stomp recast it as often as needed. Mending and HB should keep you alive without problems.

Attention: When Stone Summit Heretic(s) and Ice Golem(s) get spawned and you cannot avoid them, immediately run back and rezone. Reasons: 1) Two different slow-down spells (Crippling Anguish & Deep Freeze), 2) covered with different hex-spells 3) accompanied by Gnashers & companions 4) with a Tundra Giant group to be passed at full health with Healing Breeze, and fully recharged Escape only. Smite Hex and Holy Veil will not make you survive this - no matter how high your running level is.

[edit] Snake Dance

• Try to only aggro one group of Giants at a time.
• Aggro them before running through to make them stomp before your run-through comes.
• Use Healing Breeze as often as possible between stomps. The chances for an interrupt between two stomps are low.

[edit] SB Ranger Runner

The variant SB Ranger Runner is optimal for solo-running Copperhammer Mines -> Iron Mines of Moladune and vice versa as ranger. Spell Breaker lasts long enough to overcome the Mesmer spawns at the hardest parts of the run. The success rate with this build is very high.

Note: A weapon with 20% longer Enchantments is a must.

• Activate Holy Veil as Mending coverage, and as additional hex remover when Spell Breaker wears out.
• Follow the main ranger running principles listed above.

Note #1: It is known that bosses will still follow you, especially when running the route in a reversed way. This is the point where Holy Veil is of good use to get rid of the last hex-spell being a slow-downer if a Mesmer boss, or Golem boss got spawned.

Note #2: Mend Ailment can replace Purge Conditions for countering multiple traps. Downside is the longer casting time, and that you cannot clean up from all conditions at a time.

[edit] Notes

[edit] Possible Routes

Listed below are all the possible high-level routes that this build and its variants can be run with:

[edit] Prophecies

1. Beacon's Perch -> Camp Rankor -> Droknar's Forge
2. Camp Rankor -> Deldrimor War Camp -> Granite Citadel -> Copperhammer Mines Using henchmen as cannon fodder is important on most parts of this trip.
3. Copperhammer Mines -> Iron Mines of Moladune and reversed.
4. Iron Mines of Moladune -> Marhan's Grotto -> Thunderhead Keep
5. Elona Reach (Mission) + bonus

[edit] R/any General Barrage [PvE]

This build is a basic barrage ranger that can be used and modified for many situations and secondary professions, the main goal is to use the common elite skill Barrage so as to synergize with other skills for a better effect or at least other skills that compliment it in its most common uses. This is most often used to target groups of enemies as well as solo areas with increases to damage output or other effects on each barrage.

[edit] Attributes and skills

The base is below but to give a more detailed description of the attributes, the highest score is always in Marksmanship (often maxed at 16 but other times it can be as low as 12 depending on the secondary profession used - see below), 9 or 14 ranks in Expertise to effect 10 energy skills primarily (or 8 or 13 if all skills used are 5 energy), and Wilderness Survival is good at 8 or 10 for the use of Troll Unguent or to switch out for secondary profession skill ranks.

Ranger / Any	Attribute Rank
Expertise	8-12 + 1 or + 2
Marksmanship	8-12 + 1 + 1-3
Others	0-12

*The above attributes are a good baseline to work with and can be adjusted as playstyle/preference allows.

Common Core Barrage baseline:

Barrage

Distracting Shot

Savage Shot

Antidote Signet

Favorable Winds

Whirling Defense

Troll Unguent

Generic resurrect

[edit] Equipment

• Any armor can be used though Druid's is best if energy is lacking. Scout's is a poor choice as preparations will not be used in a Barrage build.
• A Flatbow is commonly used in a barrage build provided Favorable Winds is brought as well to lessen the large arrow arc from a Flatbow and to help speed the arrows to their targets. Otherwise, each bow has it's own ups and downs but can be used as preffered.
• Vampiric or Zealous bow strings are used a lot in Barrage builds as you get multiple hits per shot (provided the build doesn't call for an elemental string) though a Sundering string is a good stand by if you don't want to worry about the degen or makes a good switch out weapon.

[edit] Usage

• The function of a barrage build varies slightly but the overall effect is to do damage to a group of foes with each use. Therefore, attacking the central most target in a group is desired for the best effect rather than the closest.
• Placement of any spirits before hand is key as they usually increase the damage and speed the arrows fly at. Be sure to place them where they will be effective yet not attacked by enemies.
• Often, interrupt skills are brought along to take out any big skills or those that might hurt you like Meteor Shower or Resurrect as examples of big skills or Empathy and Spiteful Spirit as examples of skills that can seriously hinder or hurt you. Be aware that you will have to wait for the barrage animation to finish before the interrupt will fire.
• Some sort of self heal, condition removal (primarily for blindness), or defensive stance is popular as well though not required.

[edit] Counters

• Any standard melee/ranger counters such as blindness, on attack/hit hexes, and/or blocking.
• Energy denial.

[edit] Variants

• Support or damage enhancing skills often brought from the ranger skill line may include but are not limited to:

• Throw Dirt as an emergency skill to blind foes attacking you or your allies.
• Winnowing to add 4 damage to each arrow.
• Conflagration to change your bow's damage type to fire damage.
• Winter to change any elemental damage to cold damage.

Barrage/Pet Variant

• Adding a pet to the build with then turn you into what is referred to as a B/P ranger. Pet attacks will not slow your rate of fire as they are all shouts. Often, a team will consist mostly of these creating a pet wall and multiple barragers, or just have one around. Multiple variants can be found for this at Build:Team - Barrage/Pet (Tomb Ruins).

[edit] Variants with Secondary Professions

[edit] R/Warrior

• Attributes levels usually are in Tactics and at around 8-9 ranks should do it in most cases.
• Shouts can be used without interrupting the fire rate flow thus making them useful and often charged with the high adrenaline gain from barrage if they are adrenaline based.

• "Watch Yourself!" charges quickly and can increase the party's AL without any cast time. This also combines well with Soldier's Defense.
• "Fear Me!" can be used repeatedly to reduce the enemy's energy levels though this typically has a minor effect if any on an enemy's seemingly limitless energy pool.
• "Shields Up!" can be used to reduce the damage your party members take from projectiles.

• Healing Signet can be used as an alternate, energy free, though risky heal.
• Protector's Defense can be used to help those near you as you often will not move while barraging.

[edit] R/Monk

Solo Vigorous Barrager

Use: Cast and maintain Live Vicariously. Before battle put up Symbiosis to gain the extra health it offers from enchantments. When entering a battle, cast Vigorous Spirit. When enemies start to pile up, use Barrage to take full advantage of the healing provided by a vampiric bow, Live Vicariously, and Vigorous Spirit.

Other skills:

• Attributes levels usually are in Healing Prayers, Smiting Prayers, Protection Prayers, or none at all depending on what is taken/used and typically at around 8-9 ranks in only one of those areas should do it in most cases. Ranks in Wilderness Survival are usually sacrificed as healing from Trolls Unguent is often replaced with other skills. If Symbiosis is used just use whatever remaining ranks are left but no more than 8-9 ranks in Beastmastery at most.
• Live Vicariously will return health to you for every creature hit which can be up to 6 per Barrage. Commonly used for soloing areas.
• Vigorous Spirit will behave similar to Live Vicariously but without the drain on energy regen.
• Single target heal spells or healing enchantments can replace Troll Unguent as a self heal that can also be used on others. Healing Touch is an example skill that can be used as it's cost is reduced with ranks of expertise though it gains no benefit from Divine Favor with a Ranger primary.
• Judge's Insight to add Armor penetration to each arrow and typically defeat masses of the undead or others weak to holy damage.
• Mending Touch to remove blindness or other conditions.
• Watchful Spirit will sap your energy regen but provide +2 health regen with no needed attribute points spent.
• Renew Life and Restore Life's costs are reduced by ranks in expertise making them decent resurrects to exchange for the Resurrect Signet. Otherwise, there are plenty of reusable resurrection skills in the monks repertoire.
• Balthazar's Spirit or Essence Bond are usually used when soloing as you will be the sole recipient of damage and will often return massive amounts of energy.
• Hex removal skills like Smite Hex or Holy Veil can help eliminate damage from on attack/hit hexes like Spiteful Spirit, Empathy, or others.
• Symbiosis can be useful if using multiple enchants on yourself or others in your party.

[edit] R/Necromancer

• Attribute level of Death Magic, Blood Magic, or Curses is usually at around 8-9 ranks in most cases if at all.
• Many skills can be used to replace a self heal that either give you health, steal health, or exploit a corpse for health.
• Order of Pain will help add damage to every attack but for a very limited time. This is best left to another party member (who can also use Order of the Vampire) that can achieve higher attribute levels as it will slow your rate of fire and eat up your energy if you cast it.
• Mark of Pain may cause scatter but can be most useful in narrow passages.
• Plague Touch's cost is reduced with ranks of expertise and can be used to transfer any conditions from yourself with limited success as it is restricted to touch range.
• Many Necromancer skills can benefit a Barrager but usually they need to be cast by another party member that is dedicated to that role.

[edit] R/Mesmer

• Attribute level of Inspiration Magic, Domination Magic, or Illusion Magic is usually at around 8-9 ranks in most cases if at all.
• Interrupts like Leech Signet can be used to add to or replace bow interrupts.
• Hex removal skills are available like Hex Breaker or Inspired Hex.
• Distortion can be used with limited results as a temporary defensive stance.
• Energy management skills are available mostly from the Inspiration line.
• Ether Feast can be used as a self heal.
• Elemental Resistance, Physical Resistance, or any of the mantras can be used as a replacement for a defensive stance depending on the areas you may be in.
• Arcane Mimicry can be used to make use of another party member's Elite skill in combination with yours without spending any attribute points in a Mesmer attribute line.

[edit] R/Elementalist

Fiery Barrager

Use: Use the Glyph to reduce spell costs and cast Conjure Flame on yourself and Mark of Rodgort on your central most target. Fire a fiery bow using Barrage and you can keep the hexed targets burning. Some may prefer to use Fire Attunement instead of the Glyph to reduce energy costs.

Other Skills:

• Attribute level of Fire Magic, Water Magic, or Earth Magic usually start at around 8 to as high as 12 ranks in most cases if at all.
• Any Conjure skill with the appropriate bow string can add damage to each barrage.
• Stone Striker should NOT be used, as it will convert your attacks to earth damage, which will mean that your attacks will no longer trigger Conjure Flame or Mark of Rodgort, even if you have a fire bow, as Stone Striker overrides the normal damage type.
• If you wish to still have the benefits of a Vampiric, Zealous, or Sundering bowstring, you must bring Conflagration to convert your arrows to fire, so they can still trigger Conjure Flame and Mark of Rodgort.
• Multiple Earth Magic or Water Magic skills can be used for defensive options such as Stoneflesh Aura, Armor of Frost, or many of the different Wards.
• Though less popular and very energy intensive, Glyph of Lesser Energy and Meteor Shower (which causes exhaustion) can be used together to add repeated damage and knock downs on your targets, preventing them from escaping your Barrage area.
• Similar to the Meteor Shower combo, Deep Freeze can be used for a large slow down effect on your foes and no exhaustion though this is uncommon as well.
• If using 2 or more enchantments on yourself Symbiosis becomes a viable option as listed under R/Mo above.

[edit] R/Assassin

• Attribute level of Deadly Arts or Shadow Arts is usually at around 8-9 ranks in most cases if at all.
• Caltrops can be used to slow your targets though it requires a closer range.
• Shadow Refuge makes a good self heal.
• Viper's Defense and other stances can be used for defensive options.
• Way of Perfection can add healing with high ranks in Marksmanship and a lot of targets with minimal energy spent (similar to Vigorous Spirit as seen above but relies on criticals for health return) though it performs best if there is a Paragon in your party using "Go for the Eyes!" to drastically increase chances of critical hits.

[edit] R/Ritualist

Splinter Barrager

Use: Same as the usual barrage build but cast Splinter Weapon on yourself (or allies as time allows) and be sure to target a group of foes. Recast as needed and as foes are available. Especially good in tight passages.

Other Skills:

• Attribute level of Channeling Magic, Restoration Magic, or Communing is usually at around 8 to as high as 12 ranks in most cases if at all and often means the reduction of ranks in Marksmanship though only slightly.
• Nightmare Weapon can be useful for stealing health on up to 3 enemies hit per casting.
• Wailing Weapon can add interruption to a mass of attacking foes for the entire duration.
• Warmonger's Weapon can add interruption to a mass of non-attacking foes for the entire duration.
• Brutal Weapon can add damage to every arrow provided they aren't enchanted. This can be very tricky as many healers will enchant the entire group or those damaged and may ruin this weapon spell unintentionally.
• Guided Weapon can make your Barrages unblockable.
• Vital Weapon can add to your maximum health and others in the party.
• Wielder's Boon can be a useful self heal if under a Weapon Spell effect.
• Spirit Rift can be used as a spiking skill add-on if timed properly and especially effective when combined with Splinter Weapon. Cast Splinter Weapon, Spirit Rift, then Barrage and it all hits about the same time. Drawbacks include energy cost, casting time, and the enemy may move from where the Spirit Rift appears.

• Spirits: Often a R/Rt may also bring a spirit to add more damage or healing as the case may allow (also taking advantage of the cost reduction Expertise allows) though this rarely will enhance Barrage in any way but simply takes advantage of the party make-up. Expendable spirits (like Life or Destruction that give an effect when they expire) tend to make a good defensive "shield" of sorts to hide behind should you come under attack as well. The most commonly brought are:

• Recuperation to add health regen in spirit range to all things friendly - especially good for groups with multiple pets, minions, and/or large groups of players and/or friendly NPC's.
• Life to add cheap healing in spirit range to all things friendly and a "shield".
• Destruction to add cheap damage in spirit range to all things unfriendly and a "shield".
• Bloodsong to add a cheap attacker and possible "shield" that can steal health though less common.
• Pain to add a cheap attacker and possible "shield" that does a little more damage than Bloodsong but can't heal itself though also less common.

[edit] R/Paragon

"Go for the Eyes!" Barrager

Use: Same as the usual barrage build but spam "Go for the Eyes!" and "Find Their Weakness!" together as they charge to do critical hits to your targets and deep wound to one of your targets as well as add crits to the targets of those in your party that are effected. "Find Their Weakness!" only affects one ally and the first critical hit though so it is usually the skill to change out for others listed below.

Other Skills:

• Attribute level of Command or Motivation is usually at around 8-9 ranks in most cases if at all.
• Shouts can be used without interrupting the fire rate flow thus making them useful and often charged with the high adrenaline gain from barrage if they are adrenaline based.

• "Never Give Up!" can add energy to an unhealthy party.
• "Never Surrender!" to add health regen to an unhealthy party.
• "Stand Your Ground!" to add armor to your party while not moving.

• Many motivation skills can be used for party health, energy, defense and more though they don't benefit more from use with barrage unless adrenal based.
• Anthem of Envy can add some minor damage at the easy cost of adrenaline.
• Bladeturn Refrain can be used to add defense to yourself or others and last a long time if using other chants or shouts allowing you to cover the party or at least multiple members.
• Song of Concentration and Hexbreaker Aria can both be charged quickly though will slow you down with the long cast times. They will still benefit the group with less interruption or hex removal though.
• Chorus of Restoration or Energizing Chorus can be quickly charged and used for energy or health management on yourself or others that meet the conditions.
• Remedy Signet is a good condition removal skill.

[edit] R/Dervish

• Attribute level of Earth Prayers or Wind Prayers is usually at around 8-9 ranks in most cases if at all.
• Dust Cloak or Staggering Force can be used to change your weapon damage type to earth damage.(do not use if you are working with an orders necromancer)
• Heart of Holy Flame can be used to change your weapon damage type to holy damage.(do not use if you are working with an orders necromancer)
• Grenth's Fingers can be used to change your weapon damage type to cold damage.(do not use if you are working with an orders necromancer)
• Zealous Renewal can be used for energy management.
• Harrier's Grasp to cripple your targets.
• Harrier's Haste may add some damage to moving foes but works better with Harrier's Grasp.

[edit] Barrage in other primary professions:

• Barrage isn't limited to Ranger primaries and other professions can make good use of the skill. Many will make good use of their primary attribute skill line in combination which Ranger's can't (at least not as effectively with zero ranks).

[edit] R/any Needler [PvE]

The Prepared Needle Ranger uses Read the Wind and Prepared Shot to increase damage per hit as well as supply an endless flow of energy for Needling Shot.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Ranger / Any	Attribute Rank
Marksmanship	12 + 1 + 3
Wilderness Survival	10 + 1
Expertise	8 + 1

Prepared Shot

Needling Shot

Marauder's Shot

Distracting Shot

Read the Wind

Natural Stride

Troll Unguent

Generic resurrect

[edit] Equipment

• Armor with Radiant Insignias and a max health rune and a Rune of Attunement.
• Vampiric Recurve Bow of Fortitude and/or Vampiric Longbow of Fortitude.

[edit] Usage

• Activate Read the Wind and keep it on at all times.
• Use attacks in the following order for maximum benefit: Needling Shot, Marauder's Shot, (Distracting Shot), Prepared Shot, Needling Shot
• When target is below 50% health, use Needling Shot until it is dead.
• Use Natural Stride and throw Troll Unguent in case of melee attacks.

[edit] Counters

• Blind, if you can't see you can't hit.

[edit] Variants

• Take Monk secondary if Rebirth is needed.
• Replace Read the Wind with Apply Poison for added pressure, or Kindle Arrows if elemental damage is preferred.
• Replace Marauder's Shot with Keen Arrow if a Paragon in your party has "Go for the Eyes!".

[edit] Notes

• A Vampiric bow is ideal for the increased damage per hit, but a Sundering Bow is also sufficient.
• This build works well with a supporting Necromancer who uses Order of the Vampire, or a Paragon using "Go for the Eyes!". If GFTE is on you, be sure to use Marauder's Shot or Keen Arrow as your next shot.
• All skills in this build have low energy costs after the effects of Expertise, and have fairly short recharge times; this allows for no energy problems as well as increased effectiveness.
• In PvE, this build can be extremely effective against bosses with high health counts, as they often will not be able to heal above 50% when they get to that point, allowing the Prepared Needler to Needling Shot the boss to death.

[edit] Rt/Mo Burst Healer [PvE]

This build takes advantage of the fact that Weapon Spells and Ritualist Urns may not be removed like Enchantments can, and uses that advantage to heal allies.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Ritualist / Monk	Attribute Rank
Healing Prayers	10
Protection Prayers	1
Restoration Magic	11 + 1
Spawning Power	10 + 1 + 3

Attuned Was Songkai

Heal Party

Remove Hex

Extinguish

Soothing Memories

Vengeful Weapon

Weapon of Warding

Resurrection Chant

[edit] Equipment

• Full Halcyon armor set for Extra Energy.

[edit] Usage

• With Attuned was Songkai at High Spawning Power, the cost of Heal Party and Extinguish is nearly halved. With 14 Spawning Power, 15 energy spells are only 8 energy, 10 energy spells cost 5, and 5 energy spells cost 3.
• Soothing Memories costs no energy if you have the Attuned was Songkai.
• Heal Party should be used when everyone has a bit of damage but has not been hurt enough to warrant a casting of Soothing memories.
• Vengeful Weapon is basically Reversal of Damage with no means of stripping it. It costs 3 energy when you have the Ashes.
• Weapon of Warding is used when there is a hazard of Warriors, Assassins, and Rangers. It should be used sparingly because of the cast time.
• Remove Hex and Resilient Weapon are used as safety skills for when hexes come that are extremely harmful, such as Spiteful Spirit, Backfire, Empathy, Diversion, etc.

[edit] Counters

• High levels of Degeneration.
• Lack of protection versus high-damage hits.
• Energy Denial.
• 15 second downtime when the spells are full cost, meaning heal party and Extinguish cannot be used effectively during those times.

[edit] Variants

• Holy Veil instead of Remove Hex for hex removal
• Gift of Health instead of Extinguish as an emergency heal.
• Take Heal Other or Jamei's Gaze instead of Extinguish.
• Lively Was Naomei instead of Resurrection Chant.

If enchantment removal is not an issue:

• Healing Breeze instead of Extinguish, thereby countering degeneration instead of removing it.
• Vigorous Spirit instead of Vengeful Weapon (it's more energy efficient on Warriors and Assassins than Vengeful Weapon and won't remove Weapon of Warding)

[edit] Rt/any Ritual Lord [PvE, TA]

Through spamming protective spirits, the Ritual Lord is designed to greatly reduce damage dealt to the team.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Ritualist / Any	Attribute Rank
Spawning Power	12 + 1 + 3
Communing	12 + 1

Ritual Lord

Boon of Creation

Shelter

Union

Displacement

Optional

Optional

Flesh of My Flesh

[edit] Usage

• Stand as far away from combat as your spirits can be and still affect allies.
• Use Boon of Creation for Energy management. Cast it first, then begin casting Shelter.
• Activate Ritual Lord during shelter. Like a stance, it has zero casting time so it can be cast during other skills.
• Invoke Displacement then Union.
• Be sure to constantly refresh Boon of Creation and Ritual Lord.
• Typically, Displacement will run out fairly quickly, at which time Union will start eroding. Before Union runs out, your Displacement should be recharged and ready. Invoke it as soon as it becomes ready again.
• For the duration of the battle, try to balance Union and Displacement so that at least one of them is in effect, while always maintaining Shelter. This will make healing extremely easy.

The end result of this build is that the party will almost always take no more than 30-38 Damage Per Hit and will avoid most attacks.

• In Alliance Battles and certain missions (Amatz Basin, etc.), the effects are even better. All 3 spirits affect allies, as opposed to only party members. Thus, even 1 Ritual Lord can turn the tide of battle.

[edit] Counters

• Removing Boon of Creation will greatly reduce the energy management within this build.
• Likewise, any energy denial skills can greatly impact the build's effectiveness.
• If targeted, the build will usually die quickly as it does not have attack or healing skills.
• Interrupts while creating the spirits will force the player to wait the full length of recharge time.

[edit] Variants

There are two optional slots in the skill bar. These can be filled as follows:

• Soothing

Suggested as a near must have for one of the optional slots. This is not a universal opinion, but should be considered. It will go a long way towards shutting down Adrenaline users.

• Armor of Unfeeling

Pointless in PvE, excellent in PvP. A flat-out damage reduction to give more protection than any amount of Armor. Not always effective.

• Mighty Was Vorizun

So-So in PvE, great in PvP. Can't go wrong with additional Armor and Energy, although you lose any Fast Casting/Recharge mods on your weapon.

• Feast of Souls

Overpowered in PvE, excellent in PvP. This far outstrips Heal Party. Chances are, Shelter won't die before it recharges. Feast of Souls can therefore be cast to give the party a strong heal. Used early it will give the party a very strong Heal.

• Signet of Creation

Good in PvE, good in PvP. Gives Union and Displacement a helping hand before they die.

• Shadowsong

Protects caster and caster's spirits from melee attackers that try to bring them down.

• Spirit Siphon

By using two Superior Runes, one each of Communing and Spawning Power, and a Minor Rune of Channeling Magic and putting Communing and Spawning Power at 14, you can put 11 into Channeling Magic and use this skill for much more efficient energy management. Great for PvE, if you stay out of aggro range. Dangerous in PvP because of much lower health.

• Mantra of Resolve

If your secondary class is Mesmer, put 3 into Inspiration. Not needed in PvE, but you may want it for PvP. Binding Rituals are not spells, so there are less interrupting skills to affect them, but interruptions will not trigger Ritual Lord's Recharge reduction, thus, it's really bad to be interrupted. Don't worry about the low Rank: There will be Energy to spare if Boon of Creation is managed properly.

• Mantra of Concentration

A longer lasting, cheaper variant of Mantra of Resolve. Only stops one interrupt per cast however.

• Frozen Soil

Many teams (most notably IWAY) prefer to have one Frozen Soil-spirit carried by the Ritual Lord, to prevent enemies from reviving dead teammates. This requires Ranger as secondary profession.

[edit] Rt/any Spiritual Assassin [AB, CM, RA]

The Spirit of the Assassin build is a heavy pressure build meant to combine the power of Spirit's Strength with the speed and spammability of dagger attacks. This build is primarily designed for the Random Arenas, but can be adapted for other areas of PvP.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Ritualist / Assassin	Attribute Rank
Spawning Power	10 + 1 + 3
Dagger Mastery	12
Communing	4 + 1
Shadow Arts	7

Golden Fox Strike

Fox Fangs

Nine Tail Strike

Feigned Neutrality

Vital Weapon

Sight Beyond Sight

Spirit's Strength

Resurrection Signet

[edit] Equipment

• Halcyon's Armor or armor with Radiant Insignia to have additional energy for the combos. Alternatively, a Blessed Insignia could be used for additional armor while enchanted, or a Ghost Forge Insignia could be used for additional armor with a weapon spell. The Ghost Forge Insignia has the advantage of relying on weapon spells which can not be removed.
• Zealous daggers of Enchanting are preferred to help offset some of the costs of the skills.
• The best Vigor Rune available to help offset the Superior Rune and increase overall survival.

[edit] Usage

• Before engaging in combat, activate Spirit's Strength and follow up with Vital Weapon.
• Proceed to attack your chosen target with your attack chain. As long as you are enchanted these attacks should rarely miss (they cannot be blocked or evaded).
• In between chains continue pressure with normal attacks. The damage will still be notable, these attacks are susceptible to evasion and blocking skills though.
• If you are ever blinded, activate Sight Beyond Sight to quickly cancel the blind effect and prevent future applications for 20 seconds. Alternatively, if you suspect blinding from your target apply the skill before engaging your target.
• When a target dies, or when you need to heal activate Feigned Neutrality and proceed to move away from combat. At 7 seconds it should be enough for a notable heal and the +80 armor should minimize any incoming damage. Be careful not to use any other skills or attack while this skill is active.

[edit] Notes

• The damage output is a respectable 38-48 base Damage per attack with damage reaching closer to 80-100 during the attack chain or crits.

• This build offsets most traditional counters to pressure builds by removing, blocking, and blind from the mix.

[edit] Counters

• As this build is a pressure build, Weakness will lower the overall damage, lessening the impact of the pressure. Though the effect of this would be minimal as it would only affect base weapon damage and lower attributes by 1.

• Relying on an enchantment for the additional damage, the build is susceptible to enchantment removal. If such techniques are suspected it is advisable to use sight beyond sight as a cover enchantment. Alternately you could lay Feigned Neutrality on before coming within casting range so that will get stripped instead.

• This build lacks speed boosts and snares making it extremely susceptible to kiting. The Major Variant listed can overcome this somewhat by adding a snare or speed boost to the optional slot.

[edit] Major Variants

Ritualist / Assassin	Attribute Rank
Spawning Power	8 + 1 + 3
Dagger Mastery	12
Communing	2 + 1
Shadow Arts	10

Golden Phoenix Strike

Horns of the Ox

Optional

Feigned Neutrality

Vital Weapon

Sight Beyond Sight

Spirit's Strength

Resurrection Signet

• This variation attempts to capture the strengths of the main build while removing several weaknesses. The overall +Damage from Spirits strength drops a bit in favor of a more variable combo. Additionally the optional slot can be used on the ever popular Falling Spider, OR a speed boost. This will allow for either a spike or an increase in pressure.
• Consider using Deadly Paradox in the optional slot; this would allow more frequent use of Feigned Neutrality.
• However by doing so you lose your unblockable attacks.

[edit] Minor Variants

• Other weapon skills can also be effective, more notable ones are Resilient Weapon, and Weapon of Warding, although the higher cost, and lower duration means you are more susceptible to running out of energy.

• In Alliance Battle and Competitive Mission battles, the Resurrection Signet can be removed and replaced with another skill. Dark Escape is suggested as it can be used before feigned neutrality to greatly increase the survivability of the build.

• Replace Feigned Neutrality with Shadow Refuge if you prefer a more consistent heal as opposed to a panic button type skill.

• You can also put the 7 points from shadow arts into deadly arts. Then you can use Impale as extra "unblockable" damage (and deep wound) or Siphon Speed to counter kiting. Both of these skills significantly improve your offensive power. However this makes you reliant on others to keep you alive.

[edit] W/N The Quiverer [PvE]

A Factions PvE sword build designed for lots of damage, without the drawback of having to charge up lots of adrenaline as in Final Thrust based builds. Quivering Blade allows you to deal lots of damage without a huge adrenaline requirement, and Plague Touch takes advantage of Quivering Blade's second function. This build works well against casters, causing the Dazed condition and interrupting quickly with Distracting Blow if needed.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Warrior / Necromancer	Attribute Rank
Swordsmanship	12 + 1 + 1
Strength	3
Tactics	12 + 1

Quivering Blade

Distracting Blow

Sever Artery

Gash

Optional

Plague Touch

Healing Signet

Resurrection Signet

[edit] Equipment

• Vampiric swords of Fortitude are preferable.

[edit] Usage

• Upon entering battle, begin building adrenaline.
• Don't stay on a target if he gets enchanted by skills like Protective Spirit or Guardian.
• Use Quivering Blade, Sever Artery and Gash.
• Use Plague Touch to transfer any conditions you receive, including the possible dazed from Quivering Blade.
• Weapons:
  • Use your Vampiric weapon for general use.
  • Use your Ebon weapon to bypass enemy warriors' resistance to physical damage.
  • Use your Zealous weapon when there are lots of incoming conditions to keep up energy.
• Of course, use Resurrection Signet to resurrect dead party members.

[edit] Variants

• For the optional slot use:
  • Sprint for chasing kiters.
  • Flail for building adrenaline faster.
  • Tiger Stance for building adrenaline faster, without loss of hit strength.

[edit] Templates

Template Guide The Skills Template for this build is: ABNRUpcFF+uo8LADA0kAQAA

[edit] W/Rt AoE Splinter [PvE]

The W/Rt AoE Splinter is a PvE build geared towards dealing large amounts of AoE damage.

[edit] Attributes and Skills

Warrior / Ritualist	Attribute Rank
Axe Mastery	12 + 1 + 1
Channeling Magic	10
Strength	8 + 1
Tactics	2 + 1

Triple Chop

Cyclone Axe

Executioner's Strike

Flail

Lion's Comfort

Rush

Splinter Weapon

Flesh of My Flesh

[edit] Equipment

• A Vampiric Axe, like Dragoncrest Axe
• A Zealous Axe, like Wing's Axe
• Any Max Shield Linked to Strength
• Radiant Armor

[edit] Usage

• Use Flail (Recast as necessary)
• Cast Splinter Weapon (Recast whenever possible)
• Use Triple Chop, Cyclone Axe, and Executioner's Strike whenever possible
• Use Lion's Comfort and Rush as necessary

[edit] Counters

• General Anti-Melee
• General Anti-Spam

[edit] Variants

• Disrupting Chop
• Flail can be replaced by a different IAS
• Dismember
• Wild Blow
• Wielder's Strike

[edit] Sword Variant

Hundred Blades

Sun and Moon Slash

Sever Artery

Gash

Flail

Lion's Comfort

Splinter Weapon

Flesh of My Flesh

[edit] Team Builds

These builds have been archived due to the impending build wipe. I neither created nor laid out any of these builds.

[edit] Shadow Flame [PvE]

The Shadow Flame Build is designed primarily for fighting in the Domain of Anguish. It uses the incredible damage abilities of the PBAoE Fire Magic skills to do as much damage possible over a short time, while Shadow Form is used to keep the casters safe from harm.

[edit] Overview

This party consists of:

• 6 / Shadow Flames
• 1 / Shelter Lord
• 1 / LoD Support

[edit] Membership

[edit] E/A Shadow Flame

Elementalist / Assassin	Attribute Rank
Fire Magic	12 + 3 + 1
Energy Storage	3 + 3
Shadow Arts	12

Deadly Paradox

Shadow Form

Recall

Flame Burst

Liquid Flame

Inferno

Flare

Fire Attunement

[edit] Usage

Cast Recall on the Monk. Then cast Deadly Paradox followed by Shadow Form, and then rush your target. When attacking, rush your target until you are adjacent to them. Start off with Inferno, followed by Flame Burst and so on, spamming spells as they become available. Using this order you are likely to get off 2 Infernos and 2 Flame Bursts per attack, if not more. It is key that all Elementalists focus on the same target, so someone should be responsible for calling targets.

[edit] Special Note

You need to know your enemies. Some will carry spells that can strip enchantments indirectly. For these targets it is advised that you stay as far away from them as possible while using Flare to indirectly spike them. Then move in to finish off the rest of the mob when it is safe.

[edit] Equipment

You'll want the highest energy equipment available to you. A sword with a +5 energy mod and a 20% enchant mod and an offhand with a +12 energy mod are good choices, as the sword will automatically cause you to move to adjacent range when you attack.

[edit] Rt/A Shelter Lord

Ritualist / Assassin	Attribute Rank
Communing	12 + 3 + 1
Spawning Power	12 + 3

Recall

Soul Twisting

Shelter

Mighty Was Vorizun

Signet of Binding

Boon of Creation

Destruction

Signet of Creation

[edit] Usage

The one and only purpose of the Ritualist is to ensure that Shelter stays up. Use Soul Twisting on your other spirits to ensure that Shelter stays up. Shelter is the teams insurance policy against PBAoE spells.

[edit] Mo/P LoD Support

Monk / Paragon	Attribute Rank
Motivation	12
Healing Prayers	12 + 3 + 1

Light of Deliverance

Healing Ring

Rebirth

Aria of Zeal

Heal Area

Heal Party

Leader's Zeal

Song of Power

[edit] Usage

The job of the Monk is to heal the team with Light of Deliverance while staying far away from battle and acting as an anchor for the rest of the team to Recall to. Upon return of the team the monk can use the rest of his skills to quickly restore everyone to full health and energy to get ready for an attack.

[edit] Entire Build Usage

All players cast Recall on the Monk. The Ritualist places Shelter a proper distance from the intended mob and uses skills to maintain Shelter continually. The Elementalist all cast Deadly Paradox followed by Shadow Form and then rush the intended target. Very few spells can penetrate Shadow Form and those that do will be caught by Shelter. The Monk meanwhile uses Light of Deliverance to heal his team while staying far away from battle.

[edit] Variants

In certain areas, mainly Stygian Veil, it is advisable for one or two of the elementalists to bring Deep Freeze as a way to pin down PBAoE and touch enemies so that the team can kill them at a distance without risk of them getting too close.

[edit] DoA Balanced Team [PvE]

The DoA Balanced team in the Stygian Veil... Monsters pummeled by Meteor Shower and Searing Flames and unable to flee because of Deep Freeze.

The grand prize of a 4 area run... 4 Titan Gemstones for every party member.

The DoA Balanced team build is a build designed to conquer all of the Domain of Anguish (DoA). It is a balanced build that relies on the tried and true formula of a warrior tank, elementalists nuking and monks keeping the team alive.

This build can complete all the 4 areas in the Domain of Anguish: City of Torc'qua, Stygian Veil, Ravenheart Gloom and The Foundry of Failed Creations. The same concept build can be used to defeat Mallyx the Unyielding in the Ebony Citadel of Mallyx with modifications to the damage dealers. The specific steps to use the build in each area are discussed below.

Conquering the DoA in sequence is done in the order: City -> Veil -> Gloom -> Foundry. This has the benefit that the chests at the end of each area would increasingly yield more gems. The City chest will yield one Margonite Gemstone for each party member, the Stygian Chest would yield two Stygian Gemstones, the Ravenheart Chest would yield three Torment Gemstones and finally, the Foundry Chest would yield four Titan Gemstones.

[edit] Build Concept

While there are different tactics for different situations (explained below, in the tactics section), the general outline of how this team works is as follows:

• An Obsidian Flesh tank draws aggro and tries to hold it.
• Three Searing Flames nukers take out the targets.
• A Necromancer-Ranger provides an added punch with Spiteful Spirit and maintains two helpful ranger spirits.
• Two healer monks keep the tank alive and catch any damage that strays towards the elementalists.
• One bonder maintains all bonds on the tank and some bonds on the nukers to prevent massive spikes.

[edit] Build Details

[edit] The Obsidian Flesh Tank

The Obsidian Flesh tank can be done in many ways. This includes a Warrior/Elementalist, Elementalist/Mesmer as well as other builds. The warrior provides the safest approach as their typical armor is 115 vs Physical and 95 vs Elemental damage without using a single skill. That being said, any of the other builds can be even more successful with enough skill and experience in the Domain of Anguish. Find other proposed tanking builds in the variants section.

Warrior / Elementalist	Attribute Rank
Earth Magic	12
Strength	12 + 3 + 1
Tactics	3 + 1

Signet of Stamina

Endure Pain

Obsidian Flesh

Dolyak Signet

Stoneflesh Aura

Wary Stance

Glyph of Concentration

Optional

Usage:

• The tank will be heavily bonded. As such he/she will only be receiving partial damage at all times.
• The tank will have Balthazar's Spirit on which will allow for constant casting of all Earth Magic spells.
• When going into a group of foes, it is best not to use Obsidian Flesh or Dolyak Signet as they will slow down your approach. Instead ask for Spell Breaker from a monk.
• When pulling a group of foes, it is actually useful to invoke Obsidian Flesh as you pull foes into the tanking spot as moving slower than computer controlled foes will make them follow you as far as they could as opposed to running at normal speed.
• Use Stoneflesh Aura as often as possible. It will make you take zero damage from nearly all attacks and spells.
• Use Dolyak Signet to buff up your armor when facing foes that deal large amounts of damage such as the Tortureweb Dryders and the Stygian Brutes.
• Use Glyph of Concentration to avoid having any of your spells interrupted. Use Wary Stance to protect the glyph if you expect physical interrupts from attack skills such as Savage Shot from the Spirit Tormentors and Disrupting Throw from the Sanity Tormentors.
• The optional slot can be:
  • Ward Against Foes or Grasping Earth when the elementalists start dropping their nukes to snare foes long enough to take them out before aggro breaks.
  • Lightbringer's Gaze: To add some offensive punch to this very defensive build and provide an interrupt.

Equipment:

• A sword/axe with +5 Energy and a 20% "of Enchanting" grip. This will give you extra energy and make all the Earth spells last longer on you. Rajazan's Fervor or the Totem Axe make great weapons for this build.
• A Shield with either +30 Health or +45 while Enchanted is optimal. Also, having a secondary set of Earth Magic based wand and Focus item is optimal for energy. It can also be a 15/-1 set to provide an extra energy boost in times of trouble.
• Gladiator's Armor or an armor set fully equipped with Radiant Insignia (for the extra energy) is ideal for this build.

[edit] The Searing Flames Nukers

The primary damage dealers of this build are two regular Searing Flames nukers and one Freezer:

[edit] The Regular Nukers

These elementalists take out foes by spamming Searing Flames and with tactical usage of Meteor Shower.

Elementalist / Monk	Attribute Rank
Energy Storage	12 + 1
Fire Magic	12 + 3 + 1
Healing Prayers	3

Searing Flames

Glowing Gaze

Glyph of Lesser Energy

Meteor Shower

Glyph of Sacrifice

Convert Hexes

Fire Attunement

Resurrection Chant

Usage:

• Wait until all enemy aggro has settled on the tank.
• Maintain Fire Attunement during a fight.
  1. If the foes contain casters you need to take out quickly (enemy monks, mesmers, necromancers and/or elementalists) then use Glyph of Sacrifice followed by Meteor Shower. Then proceed to spam Glyph of Lesser Energy, Searing Flames and Glowing Gaze as they become available.
  2. If the foes are mostly melee foes (like all Titans) then inverse the combo. Spam the first four skills on your bar until foes are at half health, then use Meteor Shower to finish them off. In fact, against pure melee foes (Warriors, Dervishes and Assassins), try not to use Meteor Shower altogether.
• If an ally is killed during battle, use Glyph of Sacrifice and then Resurrection Chant.
• If the tank gets hexed in certain critical situations, then use Convert Hexes.
• It's possible to replace Fire Attunement with Essence Bond maintained on the tank.
• May be good for one (only one needed) of the nukers to replace Convert Hexes or Glyph of Sacrifice with Mark of Rodgort. So for 37 seconds all Searing Flames hits (except first one) will cause damage AND reapply burning at the same time, instead of one SF every 5 seconds doing no damage. Against spell casters, cast Meteor Shower first then Mark of Rodgort. The first and subsequent meteors will apply burning, synergizing with Searing Flames (but remember that meteor shower only has adjacent radius while SF and Mark of Rodgort are "nearby").