Boltcasters Solo PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Crossbow

Focus: Range DPS

Mode: Open World and [[|]]

Strengths

• High Burst Damage
• Versatile

Weaknesses

• Difficult to play well
• Low Mobility

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

Overview

The Elder's Boltcasters Solo PVP build focuses on using the incredibly high damage of the Elder's Boltcasters Deathward Climax to surprise enemies and take them out before they can even figure out what happened. It performs incredibly well in both mists and corrupted dungeons, relying on surprising the enemy through the unorthodox use of Elder's Harvester Cap and it's Magic Pollen.

Equipment

Main Hand Weapon

Elder's Boltcasters

Head

Elder's Harvester Cap

Cape

Elder's Martlock Cape

Alternatives ⇅

Armor

Elder's Cleric Robe

Shoes

Elder's Soldier Boots

Potion

Major Gigantify Potion

Food

Beef Stew

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 Boltcasters

Auto Fire — This remains your main damaging ability that will be constantly reset as you use skills through the use of Well-Prepared. Use it to poke enemies and deliver damage. Unlike Explosive Bolt, you can channel this ability once you've selected an enemy without aiming it which makes it much easier to play.

Noise Eraser — One of the most important skills of this build, the Noise Eraser can be guaranteed to hit a target affected by Magic Pollen and that for kept silenced and incapable of reacting while you use Deathward Climax. You can still use this skill without Magic Pollen but missing it makes it difficult to recover.

Deathward Climax — This has one of the highest single target damages in the game and a full cast will absolutely shred through enemy HP. While it's long channel makes it difficult to pull off, when coupled with Noise Eraser, it can work very smoothly!

Well-Prepared — This is a great choice as it allows you to reset your Auto Fire cooldown and pump out even more damage.

Elder's Cleric Robe

Everlasting Spirit — While it takes good timing, Everlasting Spirit is a great defensive ability to help you mitigate a lot of burst damage. Use this against auto-attacks or dot damage in order to activate the shield granting you immunity for a few seconds. It is perfect to use against skills like Death Curse and even Exploding Shot or other abilities you can anticipate. Keep in mind however that this effect also increases the damage you do which is perfect to use in sync with Deathward Climax.

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

Elder's Harvester Cap

Magic Pollen — While normally used by gatherers, this can be used to surprise targets through it's long lasting sleep and allow you to use Noise Eraser unhindered. Keep in mind that this ability also turns you invisibile which will further confuse the enemy.

Harvesting Skills — No choice here, this passive can be ignored for the build but it comes standard with any gathering gear.

Elder's Soldier Boots

Wanderlust — While it takes a while for this run to stack up, once it does it can take you very far and outperforms other runs. It is perfect as it helps with your otherwise stationary gameplay.

Toughness — This defensive option is preferred over Authority as the 5% CC duration increase doesn't really help you.

Elder's Martlock Cape

Shield of Protection — You want to use Elder's Martlock Cape for the high defense increase once you drop to 25% of your HP. This will help your survivability a lot. Another option would be the Elder's Caerleon Cape that resets your Auto Fire cooldown, letting you cast it again and have two stacks of Well-Prepared from the start.

Rotations

Pollen Combo ↴

• Start the fight using Auto Fire while keeping distance from your target if he's a melee player. Keep kiting them until they make it into range of your Magic Pollen and use that when you have the chance and can guarantee a hit. You will turn invisible and the enemy will be slept which will guarantee a free hit of Noise Eraser followed up by Deathward Climax that should hit them regardless if he runs away or not. Make sure to always start Deathward Climax very close to your target so you finish the cast no matter where they run. Follow up with Wanderlust and continue to follow your target using Auto Fire until they die.

Consumables

Major Gigantify Potion — You can use this potion to tank the main blunt of enemy damage before using Magic Pollen and that way you can minimize the HP loss while preparing your rotation. You can also use this to get a full cast of Deathward Climax without using your Magic Pollen as your damage isn't affected by the potion.

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.