Difference between revisions of "Scourge - Power Curses"
 
(40 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{SEO|description=A strong boonripper WvW build with good damage and valuable AoE spike pressure.}}
 
 
{{Build
 
{{Build
 
| profession = Necromancer
 
| profession = Necromancer
Line 5: Line 4:
 
| designed for = wvw zerg
 
| designed for = wvw zerg
 
| focus = Strike Damage, DPS, Burst, Boonrip
 
| focus = Strike Damage, DPS, Burst, Boonrip
−
| rating = great
+
| rating = good
−
| meta = y
+
| xpac = hot, pof, soto
 +
| meta =  
 +
| difficulty = 1
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 19: Line 20:
 
| weapon1 = axe
 
| weapon1 = axe
 
| weapon2 = focus
 
| weapon2 = focus
−
| weapon3 = scepter
+
| weapon3 = greatsword
−
| weapon4 = dagger
+
| weapon4 =  
 
| healing = Sand Flare
 
| healing = Sand Flare
 
| utility1 = Well of Suffering
 
| utility1 = Well of Suffering
Line 27: Line 28:
 
| elite = Ghastly Breach
 
| elite = Ghastly Breach
 
}}
 
}}
−
 
−
 
−
===Skill Variants===
 
−
* {{Skill|Desiccate}} Melee boon corrupt and damage.
 
−
* {{Skill|Serpent Siphon}} Ranged boon corrupt and barrier.
 
−
* {{Skill|Spectral Armor}} For extra lifeforce and stunbreak.
 
−
* {{Skill|Sand Swell}} Defensive mobility and situational utility.
 
  
  
 
==Template Code==
 
==Template Code==
 
{{TemplateCode|
 
{{TemplateCode|
−
code = [&DQg1NSc6PDl+FgAAgQAAAHMBAAByFgAAYBcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
+
code = [&DQg1NScaPDV+FgAAchYAAHMBAACBAAAAYBcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 44: Line 38:
 
==Specializations==
 
==Specializations==
 
{{Specialization|Spite|top|top|bot}}
 
{{Specialization|Spite|top|top|bot}}
−
{{trait|Awaken the Pain}} slighly higher overall dps.
 
−
{{Specialization|Curses|mid|mid|bot}}
 
−
{{Specialization|Scourge|top|mid|bot}}
 
 
'''Variants'''
 
'''Variants'''
−
* {{trait|Nourishing Ashes}} if Life Force generation is an issue.
+
* {{trait|Awaken the Pain}} slightly higher DPS
 +
{{Specialization|Curses|mid|mid|top}}
 +
{{Specialization|Scourge|top|top|bot}}
 +
'''Variants'''
 +
* {{trait|Nourishing Ashes}} if Life Force generation is an issue
  
  
Line 57: Line 52:
 
| rune = Superior Rune of the Scholar
 
| rune = Superior Rune of the Scholar
 
| rune-qt = 6
 
| rune-qt = 6
 +
| relic = Relic of Cerus
 
| weapon1 = Axe
 
| weapon1 = Axe
 
| weapon2 = Focus
 
| weapon2 = Focus
−
| sigil1 = Superior Sigil of Absorption
+
| sigil1 = Superior Sigil of Concentration
 
| sigil2 = Superior Sigil of Energy
 
| sigil2 = Superior Sigil of Energy
−
| weapon3 = Scepter
+
| weapon3 = greatsword
−
| weapon4 = Dagger
+
| weapon4 =  
−
| sigil3 = Superior Sigil of Absorption
+
| sigil3 = Superior Sigil of Concentration
 
| sigil4 = Superior Sigil of Energy
 
| sigil4 = Superior Sigil of Energy
 +
| infusion1 = Mighty WvW Infusion
 +
| infusion1-qt = 18
 
}}
 
}}
  
  
 
===Equipment Variants===
 
===Equipment Variants===
 +
'''Stats'''
 +
* Feel free to use as much {{Tooltip|Berserker stats}} as you can without dying
 +
 +
;Relic
 +
* {{Relic|Relic of Isgarren}} - for damage
 +
* {{Relic|Relic of Speed}}
 +
 +
'''Sigils'''
 +
* {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Bloodlust}} increased damage
 
* {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Force}} increased damage
 
* {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Force}} increased damage
−
* {{Rune|Superior Rune of Antitoxin}} Best rune against incoming condition pressure.
+
 
−
* {{Rune|Superior Rune of Durability}} Best rune against power based damage.
+
'''Runes'''
−
* {{Rune|Superior Rune of Strength}} High damage and better might uptime, strong if not using Dumplings.
+
* {{Rune|Superior Rune of Durability}} defensive option
−
* {{Rune|Superior Rune of the Pack}} If fury and boons are an issue.
+
* {{Rune|Superior Rune of Speed}} can be useful if you have a hard time staying on tag
  
  
 
===Consumables===
 
===Consumables===
−
* {{Food|Fried Oyster Sandwich}}
+
* {{Food|Peppercorn-Crusted Sous-Vide Steak}}
−
:: {{Food|Peppercorn-Crusted Sous-Vide Steak}} feast option with additional power and ferocity.
+
** {{Food|Fried Oyster Sandwich}} personal food option
 
* {{Utility|Superior Sharpening Stone}}
 
* {{Utility|Superior Sharpening Stone}}
  
  
−
==Usage==
+
==Usage==
−
'''Elite especialization basics'''
+
===Overall Priorities===
−
* This is how the shade mechanic works: if you have no active shade ({{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}}) in the world, all your F2-F5 skills will proc around you. If you do have an active shade, all your shade skills, and related traits, will only affect the active shade area, not you.
+
;High
−
* Therefore, depending on you group playstyle, you may not want to place a shade at all, and behave yourself like a mobile shade, doing damage while in melee, and benefiting from the barrier and cleanse. However, being able to 900-range spike can be superior if coordinating shade cooldowns, and knowing when and where to place your {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}}. The self support aspect of the shade skills is mostly irrelevant, since you run with dedicated supports in WvW zergs.
+
* Wells
 +
* Boon rip
 +
 
 +
;Moderate
 +
* Shades
 +
* Sustained pressure
 +
* Single target damage
 +
 
 +
;Low
 +
* Support
  
−
'''Shroud'''
 
−
* All of your shade skills will proc the strike of {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} (F1), whichs means you want to instantly use then, as soon as you land your F1, to maximize damage.
 
−
* Shroud traits proc as if the shade skills counted as that shroud skill.
 
−
** {{skill|Nefarious Favor}} procs {{Trait|Path of Corruption}}
 
−
** {{Skill|Desert Shroud}} procs {{Trait|Plague Sending}}, and {{trait|Spiteful Spirit}} around you
 
−
** All shade skills proc {{Trait|Reaper's Might}}
 
−
* {{Skill|Nefarious Favor}} and {{skill|Sand Cascade}} can be used before landing a shade, for extra barrier and cleanse.
 
−
* {{Skill|Desert Shroud}} will continue pulsing if a new shade is summoned at the location of the new shade so there should be no worry about repositioning shades when needed.
 
−
* Shade usage order (with enough life force)
 
−
** Using '''F1''' {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} {{to}} {{Skill|Desert Shroud}} {{to}} {{skill|Nefarious Favor}}+{{skill|Sand Cascade}}+{{skill|Garish Pillar}}
 
−
** Not using '''F1''' (on melee) {{Skill|Desert Shroud}} {{to}} {{skill|Nefarious Favor}}+{{skill|Sand Cascade}}+{{skill|Garish Pillar}}
 
  
−
'''General'''
+
====Surviving====
 +
* This build has moderate passive defense
 +
* This build has no mobility skill access
 +
* This builds has low active defenses
 +
** Be conservative with {{Skill|Trail of Anguish}}, it is your only stunbreak
 +
** Don't use {{Skill|Sand Flare}} if the cast is likely to be interrupted
  
−
''Scourge brings strong damage through his shade skills, barrier access and boonrip.''
+
{{Collapsible
−
* Positioning, reacting fast and timing your dodges well are key. You don't have evade skills nor immunities like other classes, and your support classes won't be able to babysit you all the time.
+
|width=85
−
* {{skill|Well of Suffering}} and {{skill|Well of Corruption}} are a significant part of your damage and boonrip outside of weapon skills. Place then on top of the enemy group, along friendly {{skill|Winds of Disenchantment}} and your team pressure. Using your wells at the same time as the other Necromancers in your group is an enormous damage spike.
+
|;Active defense priority
−
* {{skill|Sand Flare}} will be used for the group barrier share before and during extended engages.
+
|
−
* {{Skill|Ghastly Breach}} is going to be dropped if the enemy is hard committing into a melee push, to panic disrupt then. Can also be used offensively on melee, to stack AoE fields on top of the enemy stack and lock then down through corrupts and conditions.
+
* {{Skill|Trail of Anguish}} - for stunbreaking
−
** {{skill|Trail of Anguish}} can be used offensively, the same way as Breach, but you should save it to use as stunbreak if you feel pressured during fights.
+
* '''Dodge'''
 +
* {{Skill|Sand Flare}}
 +
* {{Skill|Sand Cascade}}
 +
* {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}
 +
}}
  
−
'''Scepter'''
 
−
* {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}} is your most important skill and one of the reasons why you run the ''Curses'' spec. Try to keep it on cooldown when you are in range. You can pre-cast it in 1,200-range, while moving towards the enemy, to avoid downtime.
 
−
** Since it has a 10s cooldown, you should be able to cast it twice per weapon swap rotation, as your opener and finisher. It also is one of your main sources of life force in the build.
 
−
* {{Skill|Grasping Dead}} provides good AoE damage and should be used constantly to maintain AoE pressure.
 
  
−
'''Axe'''
+
===Detailed Explanations===
−
* {{Skill|Unholy Feast}} is one of your most powerful melee skills, try to use it as often as possible for AoE boon corruption and extra damage on low targets.
+
====Wells====
−
* {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}} a strong life force generator and high single target damage skill. Useful for a quick downed cleave.
+
* Try to save your '''Well''' skills for the commanders call
−
* {{Skill|Rending Claws}} is a rather strong filler for single target damage.
+
** If you aren't using voice communication, use your wells at the same time as the other Necromancers in your group
 +
* Cast {{Skill|Well of Corruption}} before {{Skill|Well of Suffering}}, due to the longer cooldown
 +
* Only use your '''Well''' skills at the same time, do not use one early and desync their cooldowns
 +
* When using ground AoEs like {{Skill|Well of Corruption}} or {{Skill|Well of Suffering}}, try to place them so that one edge is on the enemy group and the other edge is in the direction they are moving to
  
−
'''Dagger, Focus and Torch'''
 
−
* {{Skill|Harrowing Wave}} decent for melee damage and cleave as well as life force generator.
 
−
* {{Skill|Oppressive Collapse}} single target CC. Use it to snare escaping players or interrupt channeled skills.
 
−
* {{Skill|Enfeebling Blood}} for the extra AoE {{tooltip|Weakness}} and corrupt. Bear in mind the cast and animation time.
 
−
* {{Skill|Spinal Shivers}} deals even more damage on targets with boons. Try to land it on squish foes, like weavers and scourges. It's also a boonrip, not a corrupt skill.
 
−
* {{Skill|Soul Grasp}} and {{Skill|Deathly Swarm}} won't prioritized, being only projectile filler skills. Try to land {{skill|Soul Grasp}} on downed bodies, to ensure the projectile will connect, granting some life force and {{tooltip|Vulnerability}} stack. Use {{Skill|Deathly Swarm}} whenever you might need some condi clear.
 
  
−
'''Staff'''
+
====Boon rip====
−
* Staff auto attacks are low impact and its abilities relatively long cooldowns, so the best use of the weapon is to use its cooldown skills then swap out as soon as possible.
+
* Use {{Skill|Ghastly Breach}} and {{Skill|Nightfall}} when the enemy group is pushing towards you or your group is in melee
−
* Use {{Skill|Mark of Blood}} and {{Skill|Chilblains}} to build area condi stacks.
+
* Avoid casting {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} + {{skill|Nefarious Favor}} when there is 12 seconds or less left on {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}'s cooldown
−
* {{Skill|Putrid Mark}} and {{Skill|Reaper's Mark}} usage should be more careful, don't be afraid to leave them off cooldown when swapping back to S/D.
+
** Save your final charge of {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} when there is 15 seconds or less left on {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}'s cooldown
−
** {{Skill|Putrid Mark}} is one of your limited anti-condition skills so use it carefully.
+
* While {{Skill|Trail of Anguish}} is your only stunbreak, it can be used for boon rip if you feel your party support is good enough
−
** Interrupt key skills with the fear of {{Skill|Reaper's Mark}}.
+
 
 +
 
 +
====Shades====
 +
* Your shade spike consists of casting {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} before casting, in order:
 +
* {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}
 +
* {{skill|Nefarious Favor}}  
 +
* {{Skill|Garish Pillar}}  
 +
* {{Skill|Sand Cascade}}
 +
** These are all instant and can be cast at the same time, but drop skills from bottom to top if limited on '''Life Force'''
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====Sustained pressure====
 +
* Use {{Skill|Unholy Feast}} immediately after {{Tooltip|Weapon Swap}} and use it again immediately before swapping back
 +
** Delaying your {{Tooltip|Weapon Swap}} slightly for the cooldown is fine
 +
 
 +
{{Collapsible
 +
|width=85
 +
|;Skill priority
 +
|
 +
* {{Skill|Well of Corruption}} + {{Skill|Well of Suffering}} - always together, on call
 +
* {{Skill|Ghastly Breach}}
 +
* {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}
 +
 
 +
;Axe
 +
* {{Skill|Unholy Feast}}
 +
* {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} + {{Skill|Nefarious Favor}} - procs {{Trait|Path of Corruption}}
 +
* {{Skill|Spinal Shivers}} - only on single target
 +
* {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}}
 +
* {{Skill|Soul Grasp}} - only if low on '''Life Force'''
 +
}}
 +
 
  
−
'''Weapon skills combos'''
+
====Single target damage====
−
* {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}} {{to}} ''Weapon Swap'' {{to}} {{Skill|Unholy Feast}} {{to}} {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}({{Trait|Spiteful Spirit}}) if running ''Spite'' variant
+
* Use {{Skill|Spinal Shivers}} {{to}} {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}} {{to}} {{Skill|Rending Claws}} pick off isolated players
−
* {{skill|Spinal Shivers}} {{to}} {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}}
 
−
* {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}} {{to}} {{Skill|Enfeebling Blood}}
 
−
** Add {{skill|Grasping Dead}}, {{Skill|Harrowing Wave}} and {{skill|Oppressive Collapse}} (if running Torch) in the mix for more damage.
 
  
  
−
==Videos==
+
====Support====
−
* {{YouTube|0qYqJ8dcIME|[aW] Demon Puppet}} (Strip/Corrupt Guide)
+
* Barrier lasts 5 seconds after application before decaying
−
* {{YouTube|eUuLKvQpnYE|[KEK] Kharturr}}
+
* Use {{Skill|Sand Flare}} and {{Skill|Sand Cascade}} before pushes and during extended engages
−
* {{YouTube|nYN6Lad8b30|[LAYS] Ziggy}}
+
* Pay attention to allies with {{Skill|Illusion of Life}} used on them, apply barrier before the buff times out
 +
** {{Skill|Illusion of Life}} begins flashing on the buff bar at 5 seconds remaining
 +
* Use {{skill|Nefarious Favor}} as a desperation condition clear if you have no other options

Latest revision as of 15:09, 20 January 2024

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Strike damage, Dps, Burst and Boonrip

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required: Heart of Thorns buildsPath of Fire BuildsSecrets of the Obscure builds

Difficulty:
Easy
This build was last updated on January 20, 2024 and is up to date for the April 16, 2024 patch.

Overview

A build designed to strip boons and lay down high area damage.


Skill Bar

Scourge-skillbar-bg.png
Axe/Focus
Greatsword
Utility


Template Code

[&DQg1NScaPDV+FgAAchYAAHMBAACBAAAAYBcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
Copy Template Code


Specializations

Variants

  • Awaken the Pain slightly higher DPS

Variants

  • Nourishing Ashes if Life Force generation is an issue


Equipment

Head
Marauder
Shoulders
Marauder
Chest
Marauder
Hands
Marauder
Legs
Marauder
Feet
Marauder
Backpiece
Marauder
Accessory
Marauder
Accessory
Marauder
Amulet
Marauder
Ring
Marauder
Ring
Marauder
Axe
Marauder
Focus
Marauder
Sigil
Sigil
greatsword
Marauder
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
x6
Infusion
x18
Relic


Equipment Variants

Stats

Relic
  • Relic of Isgarren - for damage
  • Relic of Speed

Sigils

  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Bloodlust increased damage
  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Force increased damage

Runes

  • Rune of Superior Rune of Durability defensive option
  • Rune of Superior Rune of Speed can be useful if you have a hard time staying on tag


Consumables

    • personal food option


Usage

Overall Priorities

High
  • Wells
  • Boon rip
Moderate
  • Shades
  • Sustained pressure
  • Single target damage
Low
  • Support


Surviving

  • This build has moderate passive defense
  • This build has no mobility skill access
  • This builds has low active defenses
    • Be conservative with Trail of Anguish, it is your only stunbreak
    • Don't use Sand Flare if the cast is likely to be interrupted
Active defense priority
  • Trail of Anguish - for stunbreaking
  • Dodge
  • Sand Flare
  • Sand Cascade
  • Desert Shroud


Detailed Explanations

Wells

  • Try to save your Well skills for the commanders call
    • If you aren't using voice communication, use your wells at the same time as the other Necromancers in your group
  • Cast Well of Corruption before Well of Suffering, due to the longer cooldown
  • Only use your Well skills at the same time, do not use one early and desync their cooldowns
  • When using ground AoEs like Well of Corruption or Well of Suffering, try to place them so that one edge is on the enemy group and the other edge is in the direction they are moving to


Boon rip

  • Use Ghastly Breach and Nightfall when the enemy group is pushing towards you or your group is in melee
  • Avoid casting Manifest Sand Shade + Nefarious Favor when there is 12 seconds or less left on Desert Shroud's cooldown
    • Save your final charge of Manifest Sand Shade when there is 15 seconds or less left on Desert Shroud's cooldown
  • While Trail of Anguish is your only stunbreak, it can be used for boon rip if you feel your party support is good enough


Shades

  • Your shade spike consists of casting Manifest Sand Shade before casting, in order:
  • Desert Shroud
  • Nefarious Favor
  • Garish Pillar
  • Sand Cascade
    • These are all instant and can be cast at the same time, but drop skills from bottom to top if limited on Life Force


Sustained pressure

  • Use Unholy Feast immediately after Weapon Swap Weapon Swap and use it again immediately before swapping back
    • Delaying your Weapon Swap Weapon Swap slightly for the cooldown is fine
Skill priority
  • Well of Corruption + Well of Suffering - always together, on call
  • Ghastly Breach
  • Desert Shroud
Axe
  • Unholy Feast
  • Manifest Sand Shade + Nefarious Favor - procs Path of Corruption
  • Spinal Shivers - only on single target
  • Ghastly Claws
  • Soul Grasp - only if low on Life Force


Single target damage

  • Use Spinal Shivers ⇒ Ghastly Claws ⇒ Rending Claws pick off isolated players


Support

  • Barrier lasts 5 seconds after application before decaying
  • Use Sand Flare and Sand Cascade before pushes and during extended engages
  • Pay attention to allies with Illusion of Life used on them, apply barrier before the buff times out
    • Illusion of Life begins flashing on the buff bar at 5 seconds remaining
  • Use Nefarious Favor as a desperation condition clear if you have no other options
Retrieved from "https://metabattle.com/wiki/index.php?title=Build:Scourge_-_Power_Curses&oldid=15978"


Ratings

This build has a rating of 5 stars based on 1 votes.
Log in or register to rate this build.
5 stars
Arete gave this build 5 stars • August 2023
Boon rip nerfs opened up competition from reaper and virtuoso but this is still one of the best ranged boon removal builds for large fights.

Comments

Get MetaBattle Premium
Enjoy an ad-free experience & support the website, for less than $1 per month! Upgrade to Premium
Builds by Game Mode
Builds by Profession
Guides
Tools
General
Metabattle