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Grovekeeper ZvZ PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Hammer
Focus: Tank
Mode: ZvZ

Strengths

  • Easy to play
  • High AoE CCs

Weaknesses

  • Low Mobility
  • Bad 1vs1
This build is up to date for the November 6, 2024 Horizons Patch #1.

Overview

This Grovekeeper ZvZ PvP build is focused around CC-ing large numbers of enemies and exposing them for your zerg's push. It can act as both an offensive and a defensive tank though. In it's defensive role it will cover retreats through the mix of Inertia RingInertia Ring, Mythical WebMythical Web and Electric DischargeElectric Discharge to keep enemies from following your group as it retreats.


Equipment

Elder's Grovekeeper
Main Hand Weapon
Elder's Grovekeeper
Iron Breaker
Inertia Ring
Ground Pound
Stunning Strike
Elder's Judicator Helmet
Head
Elder's Judicator Helmet
Electric Discharge
Toughness
Elder's Martlock Cape
Cape
Elder's Martlock Cape
Shield of Protection
Elder's Duskweaver Armor
Armor
Elder's Duskweaver Armor
Mythical Web
Toughness
Protective Instinct
Elder's Hunter Shoes
Shoes
Elder's Hunter Shoes
Rush
Balanced Mind
Major Gigantify Potion
Potion
Major Gigantify Potion
Alternatives ⇅
Major Resistance Potion
Beef Stew
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 CryptcandleElder's Cryptcandle could be cheaper while providing roughly the same IP as an 8.0.


Usage

Elder's GrovekeeperElder's Grovekeeper

Iron BreakerIron Breaker — This is a great ability to use after coming across a CC'd group of players as it lowers their damage resistance but also breaks all shields like Arcane ProtectionArcane Protection provided by Arcane Staffs.

Inertia RingInertia Ring — You want to use this ability to deny enemy zerg movement as it creates a large circle that greatly lowers movement speed when passing through. Try to use this either after initiating with Ground PoundGround Pound or before the enemies can engage your zerg to slow down their backline players.

Ground PoundGround Pound — This is the most important ability for a Grovekeeper player, it allows you to jump and stun large groups of enemies. It is best used offensively in order to stop an enemy backline from pushing through as it stuns for a long time and can singlehandedly stop a push.

Stunning StrikeStunning Strike — This passive is great when you are on the move and can keep hitting the same target repeatedly to proc the stun on them but you shouldn't focus too much on using this passive and instead look for possible ways to deliver a Ground PoundGround Pound.


Elder's Duskweaver ArmorElder's Duskweaver Armor

Mythical WebMythical Web — The slow delivered by this ability to players that pass through it is particularly useful in small corridors through which enemies have to push. The web also purges all movement speed buffs which can slow down a zerg considerably and make it impossible for them to catch up to your own group.

ToughnessToughness — As a tank you want to be as resistent as possible and this offers you exactly that, improving all your defense stats by a considerable amount.

Protective InstinctProtective Instinct - Neither of the two options make a difference as they are both aimed for PvE but Protective InstinctProtective Instinct allows you to take aggro from mobs in the rare situations where you need to.


Elder's Judicator HelmetElder's Judicator Helmet

Electric DischargeElectric Discharge — This AoE electricity expands outwards from your position and will stun all targets that get hit by it. While it doesn't do much damage, it is an incredible ability for stopping enemies as it expands up to 11m in all directions.

ToughnessToughness — As a tank, your priority is maximizing your resistance to damage, and this passive skill accomplishes exactly that. It significantly boosts all your defense stats, making you much harder to take down.


Elder's Hunter ShoesElder's Hunter Shoes

RushRush — Using the Elder's Hunter ShoesElder's Hunter Shoes gives you access to RushRush which is a bit part of your build. While it only lasts 3 seconds, it increases the duration of your CCs by 35% which is very useful as the build relies heavily on CC.

Balanced MindBalanced Mind — This passive not only increases both your damage but also your defense which is useful to us.


Elder's Martlock CapeElder's Martlock Cape

Shield of ProtectionShield of Protection — We want to use Martlock Cape for it's defense increase whenever your HP drops below 25%. The increased defense can save you from many deaths, be it while you are venturing into the enemy backline or if you are caught out of position.


Rotations

Main Engage ↴
Rush
Arrow right.webp
Ground Pound
Arrow right.webp
Mythical Web
Arrow right.webp
Inertia Ring
Arrow right.webp
Electric Discharge
  • You want to start your engage by using RushRush in order to boost both your movement speed and the duration of following CC abilities you use. As the speed boost doesn't have a long duration, make sure that you are already well positioned for a Ground PoundGround Pound before you use RushRush. Try to always use Ground PoundGround Pound on the enemy backline, forcing an early CleanseCleanse from Elder's Mercenary HoodElder's Mercenary Hood users. You then continue with Mythical WebMythical Web in order to keep enemies from using their runs before using Inertia RingInertia Ring to further stop their movement. Electric DischargeElectric Discharge should be used inside the biggest group of players you can find in order to maximize the amount of players exposed to your group's DPS.
Defensive Rotation ↴
Mythical Web
Arrow right.webp
Inertia Ring
Arrow right.webp
Rush
Arrow right.webp
Ground Pound
Arrow right.webp
Electric Discharge
  • From a defensive situation, you want to start off by placing Mythical WebMythical Web just as the enemies propped their sprints, forcing them to lose the movement speed by running through your web. Inertia RingInertia Ring is used while running alongside your group's backline, keeping an eye on the enemies so they don't get to catch your tail. If you see the enemies managing to catch up to your group, you want to use RushRush alongside Ground PoundGround Pound on top of the enemy backline to stop them from following up. Electric DischargeElectric Discharge is used afterwards to help you move out and to further disrupt the enemies.


Consumables

Major Gigantify PotionMajor Gigantify Potion — This comes into use whenever your your zerg has lost an engage and you need to move away or if you are too deep into the enemy backline and need to get back to your frontline. It will increase you Max HP, making you incredibly difficult to kill while also making you immune to Forced Movement Effects. It will also increase your character model size however which makes it obvious for the enemy whenever the potion runs out so they can wait for you to go back to normal before killing you.

Avalonian Pork OmeletteAvalonian Pork Omelette — The special Avalonian Pork OmeletteAvalonian Pork Omelette is the perfect choice for a tank in ZVZ as it lowers your Cooldowns and also offers you great extra defense that you need as a tank. Avalonian Beef SandwichAvalonian Beef Sandwich is also a great choice as it considerably improves your max HP and increases the duration of your CCs by a lot.


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