Cursed Skull Solo PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Cursed Staff

Focus: Range DPS

Mode: Open World, Corrupt Dungeon and Mist (Solo)

Strengths

• High DoT Damage
• Versatile
• Good Mobility

Weaknesses

• 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 solo PvP content, either in the mists, corrupted dungeons or open world. Its ability to kite and root enemies makes it a dangerous weapon while remaining rather easy to pick up and a straight forward playstyle that can also translate well into group PvP. The build focuses on damage over time (DoT) and is a build you want to kite with as much as possible.

Equipment

Main Hand Weapon

Elder's Cursed Skull

Head

Elder's Hunter Hood

Cape

Elder's Lymhurst Cape

Armor

Elder's Mercenary Jacket

Shoes

Elder's Assassin Shoes

Potion

Major Gigantify Potion

Food

Roast Pork

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 while allowing you to kite easily.

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 allow you to combo a cast of Cursed Sickle into it.

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 usually want to use this right after you've caught someone in a Desecrate but you can also use this to deny an enemy pushing after you as you kite, forcing them to take damage.

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

Elder's Mercenary Jacket

Bloodlust — This will help you in PvP by getting your HP back and allowing you an easier time when kiting, winning fights simply by keeping your HP high while your enemy slowly dies to your curses. Use this after a Desecrate and use auto-attacks to maximize the healing received.

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

Elder's Hunter Hood

Retaliate — You want to always use this against enemies that have high burst damaging skills like Pyroblast as it reflects 85% of the damage. Retaliate should always be used preemptively!

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

Elder's Assassin Shoes

Refreshing Sprint — This run is perfect as it decreases your cooldowns while still providing you good movement, allowing you to cast your skills more often during a fight, often giving you a big advantage without losing too much movement.

Balanced Mind — Straight up damage increase, nothing wrong with it!

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.

You can also use a Elder's Keeper Cape as you will often reach 70% HP quite early in the fight and this could help with the damage of your Haunting Screams.

Rotations

Damage Combo ↴

• You should always use Cursed Sickle while moving. Try to use Desecrate whenever you have the chance to make it easier for you to land a Cursed Sickle. This also makes it easier to force a Haunting Screams on your target while they are rooted. The rotation remains quite simple but the main challenge comes from tactically positioning against different opponents.

Consumables

Major Gigantify Potion — This comes in use whenever you want to soak up burst damage as it highly boosts your maximum HP, allowing you to take high damage during the temporary increase, translating to little or no damage after the effect wears off.

Roast Pork — With your build being focused on DoT damage, the Roast Pork offers great healing for you as the enemies spend a lot of time with around 50% HP as you chip away at them and getting healed becomes easy.

Another good option would be the Pork Omelette for an extra increase in cooldown speed.