Cursed Skull Group PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Cursed Staff

Focus: Range DPS

Mode: Open World, Hellgate (5v5) and Crystal Arena

Strengths

• High DoT Damage
• Versatile

Weaknesses

• Low Mobility
• High Skill Ceiling

This build is up to date for the November 6, 2024 Horizons Patch #1.

Overview

The Elder's Cursed Skull focuses on delivering DoTs to enemies through AOE skills while also dealing true damage. This build performs incredibly well in small group PvP like Hellgates, Avalonian Road PvP or Arena. Playing this build will allow you to offer great damage for your team and it works even better in the brawl meta when fighting against mostly melee DPS.

Equipment

Main Hand Weapon

Elder's Cursed Skull

Head

Elder's Helmet of Valor

Alternatives ⇅

Cape

Elder's Lymhurst Cape

Armor

Elder's Feyscale Robe

Shoes

Elder's Scholar Sandals

Alternatives ⇅

Potion

Major Resistance Potion

Food

Beef Stew

Alternatives ⇅

Keep in mind: Gear shown in this build is meant as a reference. Choosing the correct tier of gear is very tricky as there are many variables. Some of them being your budget, your spec and minimum Item Power requirements of your guild if used for ZvZ.

You should always check prices based on IP of the items. For example, a masterpiece quality 4.3 Elder's Cryptcandle could be cheaper while providing roughly the same IP as an 8.0.

Usage

Elder's Cursed Skull

Cursed Sickle — It applies a Vile Curse stack that deals damage over time. This is your main poke ability and should be used every time you get the chance. Try to always account for the fact that the sickle returns to you and can also apply another stack of Vile Curse. You want to maximize the amount of Vile Curses on your targets as the DoT deals high damage over time and puts massive pressure your enemies.

Desecrate — This is your main CC ability and the way you can lock down a target and keep kiting. It creates an AOE explosion and roots targets while also applying a charge of Vile Curse. You want to combo this with Haunting Screams as much as possible but it is also used simply for the root it provides to catch enemies and help your group.

You can also use the Armor Piercer for the extra defense pierce but the utility of Desecrate is usually better to have.

Haunting Screams — This E ability launches a large AOE effect that moves forward in the direction you cast it while dealing true damage to anyone caught in it based on enemy max HP. You want to make sure that this will hit as many enemies as possible so the best use is to have it casted on CC'd enemies, following the pushes of your tanks and bruisers.

Furious — This passive will grant you extra damage every time you cast 5 spells.

Elder's Feyscale Robe

Wild Magic — You can use the Frozen Fragments part of this skill with your auto-attacks as it improves your damage and allows you to deal some good extra damage between casts of Cursed Sickle. The second use of Wild Magic is Ring of Fire as a defensive ability to keep enemies off you while you move away. It works a lot like Wall of Flames but the fire wall it creates is made into a circle around you. The third option is the Storm Shield which can be used whenever you are being focused as it boosts your damage resistance and also stuns attackers.

Aggression — This is your only relevant choice as it increases your flat damage and is perfect for the build.

Elder's Helmet of Valor

Purifying Smoke — This is your main utility skill that can purge buffs off enemies or purge CCs from your team. The AOE is quite large and you should usually look to use this defensively, helping your team. However, try to keep an eye out on the enemy team and purge Life Steal Aura from enemy bruisers.

Toughness — You want to take this for the extra defense it provides.

Elder's Scholar Sandals

Focused Run — This run will let you move through CCs without issues while channeling the ability. The extra damage from the passive is also nice and the main reason of choosing cloth shoes.

However, you can also use Elder's Graveguard Boots for a similar result. If you want to add extra utility for your team, then use Elder's Druid Sandals as it doesn't only boost your speed, it leaves behind a trail of frost that heavily slows enemies that walk into it.

Aggression — Straight up damage increase, perfect for the build.

Elder's Lymhurst Cape

Energy Reserve — This is a great choice as it helps a lot with mana sustain. It will activate on its own when your mana goes below 40% and it restores 80% of the max mana. You can keep track of the cooldown on the top left of your screen under your name and HP bar.

Rotations

Damage Combo ↴

• You should always use Cursed Sickle Try to use Desecrate whenever you have the opportunity to both help your team lock down enemies and also making it easier for you to land a good Haunting Screams. You should then follow up with more casts of Cursed Sickle and even use Wild Magic for the auto-attack damage boost gained with Frozen Fragments.

Consumables

Major Resistance Potion — This comes in use whenever you want to soak up burst damage or you need to give your healer time to heal you and its a great defensive cooldown.

Beef Stew — This is the best food to use as it improves your overall damage. Always try to use an 8.2 or 8.1 version as it as it offers great value for minimum price. You can also use a Deadwater Eel Stew for a mix of damage boost and cooldown rate!