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Cursed Skull Solo PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Cursed Staff
Focus: Range DPS

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 SkullElder'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

Elder's Cursed Skull
Main Hand Weapon
Elder's Cursed Skull
Cursed Sickle
Desecrate
Haunting Screams
Furious
Elder's Hunter Hood
Head
Elder's Hunter Hood
Retaliate
Balanced Mind
Elder's Lymhurst Cape
Cape
Elder's Lymhurst Cape
Energy Reserve
Elder's Mercenary Jacket
Armor
Elder's Mercenary Jacket
Bloodlust
Balanced Mind
Elder's Assassin Shoes
Shoes
Elder's Assassin Shoes
Refreshing Sprint
Balanced Mind
Major Gigantify Potion
Potion
Major Gigantify Potion
Roast Pork
Food
Roast Pork
Alternatives ⇅
Pork Omelette
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 Cursed SkullElder's Cursed Skull

Cursed SickleCursed 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.

DesecrateDesecrate — 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 CurseVile Curse. You want to combo this with Haunting ScreamsHaunting 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 SickleCursed Sickle into it.

Haunting ScreamsHaunting 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 DesecrateDesecrate but you can also use this to deny an enemy pushing after you as you kite, forcing them to take damage.

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


Elder's Mercenary JacketElder's Mercenary Jacket

BloodlustBloodlust — 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 DesecrateDesecrate and use auto-attacks to maximize the healing received.

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


Elder's Hunter HoodElder's Hunter Hood

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

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


Elder's Assassin ShoesElder's Assassin Shoes

Refreshing SprintRefreshing 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 MindBalanced Mind — Straight up damage increase, nothing wrong with it!


Elder's Lymhurst CapeElder's Lymhurst Cape

Energy ReserveEnergy 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 CapeElder'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 ScreamsHaunting Screams.


Rotations

Damage Combo ↴
Cursed Sickle
Arrow right.webp
Desecrate
Arrow right.webp
Haunting Screams
Arrow right.webp
Cursed Sickle
  • You should always use Cursed SickleCursed Sickle while moving. Try to use DesecrateDesecrate whenever you have the chance to make it easier for you to land a Cursed SickleCursed Sickle. This also makes it easier to force a Haunting ScreamsHaunting 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 PotionMajor 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 PorkRoast Pork — With your build being focused on DoT damage, the Roast PorkRoast 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 OmelettePork Omelette for an extra increase in cooldown speed.


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