Bear Paws Ganking PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Axe

Focus: Melee DPS

Mode: Ganking and Open World

Strengths

• High Mobility
• High Burst Damage
• Versatile

Weaknesses

• High Skill Floor
• No Self-healing

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

Overview

This Bear Paws ganking build focuses on the incredible solo ganking potential of the Bear Paws. While this build can be played perfectly fine in ganking groups, this build will give you all the information you need to try your hand and succeed at ganking on your own. Keep in mind that the build isn't very cheap as even the Elder's Bear Paws themselves are quite expensive and the rest of the build isn't too cheap. Once mastered, this build will perform incredibly while remaining very exciting to play every time.

Equipment

Main Hand Weapon

Elder's Bear Paws

Head

Elder's Fiend Cowl

Cape

Elder's Thetford Cape

Alternatives ⇅

Armor

Elder's Assassin Jacket

Shoes

Elder's Royal Sandals

Potion

Major Poison Potion

Alternatives ⇅

Food

Deadwater Eel 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 Bear Paws

Rending Rage — This is your main damaging ability and the one you will use most to catch targets. Use the first two casts of the ability to deal damage while the third cast can be used to root targets. Keep in mind that every hit will also apply a Rending Bleed that will constantly do damage to the target and lower the healing received.

Adrenaline Boost — A great damage and movement speed increase comes from this ability, use it in pair with Defenseless Rush to boost your Razor Cut damage!

Razor Cut — This leap is the most difficult ability to use correctly, a true high risk high reward ability. The damage it deals is incredible and its also one of the few abilities that do true damage through it's bleed. The cooldown is also decreased by almost half once you hit at least one enemy. Try to always predict where your enemy will be before using this, it takes a lot of practice though!

Deep Cuts — As you will be staying on top of your targets, the bleeds provided by this passive are invaluable.

Elder's Assassin Jacket

Ambush — This ability offers you much needed stealth and allows you to camp bridges or spots. It also increases your damage with every moment spent in stealth and increases the damage of your Razor Cut once you come out of stealth.

Balanced Mind — Straight up increases your damage, very good for the build.

Elder's Fiend Cowl

Purge — Your main ability to use whenever enemies try to get away using their runs. It also offers incredible versatility and you can use this to purge skills like Life Steal Aura. The main use however remains purging runs in order to overwhelm enemies with your superior mobility.

Aggression — A good damage increase for the weapon.

Elder's Royal Sandals

Defenseless Rush — Stay aware that this skill not only increases your damage but also increases the damage you take, further adding to the high-risk high-reward aspect of the build.

Aggression — The standard choice for DPS builds. Remember that you can always switch to Courier to carry more weight when you loot items off corpses.

Elder's Thetford Cape

Chain Lightning — Your cape activates on itself and deals damage to whatever target you hit with your auto-attack every time the cooldown is up. The lightning spreads out to other targets though so be aware of mobs that might be drawn in.

Rotations

Damage Combo ↴

• Start off with Ambush from a stationary position with incoming traffic only when you spot an enemy on the edge of the screen. Wait for them to come into range before using Defenseless Rush and Razor Cut on their mounts. Follow up quickly by throwing your poison and using Adrenaline Boost to keep up. Use Purge if they try to run and then spam Rending Rage while burning them down using your auto-attacks and procs of your Chain Lightning.

Consumables

Major Poison Potion — The main potion you'd want to use when ganking as it deals high damage and also slows down enemies that are hit while under the poison effect.

Deadwater Eel Stew — This food offers a good combination of damage and cooldown reduction much needed during ganks. Another good option is Beef Stew for flat damage increase.