Logo Albion iconAlbion Online AoC iconAshes of Creation Deadlock iconDeadlock GW2 iconGuild Wars 2 TL iconThrone & Liberty

Battleweaver - Crossbow + Staff PvE Build

Overview
Weapons: Staff and Crossbow
Designed for: PvE
Focused on: DPS
Difficulty:
Normal
Strengths
  • High DPS
  • Lots of AOE damage
  • Fun to Play
Weaknesses
  • Low Movement
  • High APM
  • High Skill Floor
This build is up to date for the December 5, 2024 patch.
This build has been created with great help from one of the top Battleweaver players in the world, offering crucial insight into creating the Battleweaver build for Metabattle. Check out Scythe's Twitch and Youtube channels for more information and possibly even watch him play the build.

Overview

This Crossbow & Staff PvE build that prioritizes high sustained DPS is capable of achieving one of the highest sustained DPS in the game. Although the crossbow is notorious for its high mana consumption because of its low cooldowns, the staff effectively mitigates this issue, enabling you to maintain DPS for prolonged periods during boss fights. With this setup, you'll effortlessly burn down bosses in dungeons, farm mobs in open world or any other PVE encounter!


Attributes

PRIMARY
Perception Perception
+
Dexterity Dexterity
SECONDARY
Strength Strength
+
Wisdom Wisdom
With the unique stats and attributes system in Throne and Liberty, it can be difficult to determine exactly where to invest your attribute points at each stage of the game. This is because gear pieces provide attributes just like leveling up does, meaning everyone will have a different number of attribute points depending on what gear they are wearing at the time.
Given this variation, it's best to reset your attributes regularly to adjust to the new gear you acquire. Aim to reach the achievement effects, which provide extra benefits at milestones like 30, 50, and 70 points.

In order to maximizing your damage potential, invest most points into Dexterity and Perception, aiming to push them first as they offer much needed hit rate and critical hit rate. As both the Crossbows and Longbow are mainly DPS weapons, there is no need for Wisdom, especially not for PVE content but strength can still offer good extra damage increase and a bit of HP that can help with certain encounters.


Skills

Quick FireUsed frame.webp
Quick Fire
Quick Fire - Gale
Quick Fire - Min Chain Fire ▲
Quick Fire - Cooldown ▼
Nimble LeapUsed frame.webp
Nimble Leap
Nimble Leap - Consecutive Use
Nimble Leap - Cooldown Reset
Merciless BarrageUsed frame.webp
Merciless Barrage
Merciless Barrage - Annihilation Barrage Shot
Merciless Barrage - Gale
Selfless DiffusionUsed frame.webp
Selfless Diffusion
Mana ExchangeUsed frame.webp
Mana Exchange
Mana Exchange - Effect Boost
Chain LightningUsed frame.webp
Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning - Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning - Damage Transfer (1)
Inner PeaceUsed frame.webp
Inner Peace
Judgment LightningUsed frame.webp
Judgment Lightning
Judgment Lightning - Damage Transfer (1)
Serial Fire BombsUsed frame.webp
Serial Fire Bombs
Serial Fire Bombs - Focused Fire Bombs
Serial Fire Bombs - Directional Tempest
Mother Nature's ProtestUsed frame.webp
Mother Nature's Protest
Mother Nature's Protest - Flame Arrow
High FocusUsed frame.webp
High Focus
High Focus - Base Damage Boost
Fireball BarrageUsed frame.webp
Fireball Barrage
Passives
Piercing StrikeActive frame.webp
BloodlustActive frame.webp
AmbidexterityActive frame.webp
AsceticismActive frame.webp
Manaball EruptionActive frame.webp
Forbidden SanctuaryActive frame.webp
Nature's PowerActive frame.webp
Flame CondensationActive frame.webp
Defense
Mystic ShieldUsed frame.webp
Guardian
Shade Revenant Stheno Guardian
Food
Quality Vegetable Stir-fry
Quality Wild Game Steak

While leveling, make sure that you start by upgrading Quick FireUsed frame.webpQuick Fire and Serial Fire BombsUsed frame.webpSerial Fire Bombs to boost your damage potential and have an easier time leveling as these abilities play a significant role in your damage output from the beginning of your adventure in Throne and Liberty and up to the endgame content. Quick FireUsed frame.webpQuick Fire remains your main damaging ability due to it's low cooldown, while Serial Fire BombsUsed frame.webpSerial Fire Bombs and Chain LightningUsed frame.webpChain Lightning deal great damage and are an important part of this Battleweaver build. Judgment LightningUsed frame.webpJudgment Lightning and Merciless BarrageUsed frame.webpMerciless Barrage are great for dealing AOE damage with ease, especially when grinding mobs in open world dungeons.

Inner PeaceUsed frame.webpInner Peace is the main way of regaining mana throughout PVE encounters alongside Mana ExchangeUsed frame.webpMana Exchange, helping alleviate any mana issues you might run into during your rotations as long you keep track of your mana.

As far as passives go, Piercing StrikeActive frame.webpPiercing Strike, AmbidexterityActive frame.webpAmbidexterity and Forbidden SanctuaryActive frame.webpForbidden Sanctuary provide respectable passive damage bonuses. Meanwhile, upgrading AsceticismActive frame.webpAsceticism will not only improve your mana regeneration and helps with the mana hunger but also grants you extra ranged heavy attack chance when you stand still during boss fights. Mana AmpActive frame.webpMana Amp offers you extra HP that can often save you from boss mechanics while Manaball EruptionActive frame.webpManaball Eruption adds extra damage to your auto-attacks.


Equipment

Staff of the Resistance
Staff of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Primary
Crossbows of the Resistance
Crossbows of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Mask of the Resistance
Mask of the Resistance
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Deadeye's Cloak
Deadeye's Cloak
Mana Regen
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance
Heroic Tunic of the Resistance
Heroic Tunic of the Resistance
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Mana Regen
Gauntlets of the Resistance
Gauntlets of the Resistance
Melee Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Mana Regen
Trousers of the Resistance
Trousers of the Resistance
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Glade Stalker Boots
Glade Stalker Boots
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Necklace of Clarity
Necklace of Clarity
Skill Damage Boost
Mana Regen
Bracelet of Conquest
Bracelet of Conquest
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Violent Signet
Violent Signet
Max Health
Skill Damage Boost
Buff Duration
Ring of Precision
Ring of Precision
Max Health
Skill Damage Boost
Belt of Deftness
Belt of Deftness
Skill Damage Resistance
Max Health

These are the first items you should strive for through the leveling period as they are very easy to get and upgrade or trait as needed. However, you shouldn't try to trait these items too much as you won't be spending too much time playing with this setup before you start changing pieces into the Midgame. The green accessories however are very easy to trait as you can craft many of them quickly in order to get the correct traits so you should consider traiting them until you change into purples. The same goes for the blue ring as you keep it for a long time.

Toublek's Shattering Quarterstaff
Toublek's Shattering Quarterstaff
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Primary
Rex Chimaerus's Crossbows
Rex Chimaerus's Crossbows
Heavy Attack Chance
Added Attack Speed
Hit Chance
Elusive Hexweaver Hat
Elusive Hexweaver Hat
Cooldown Speed
Magic Endurance
Melee Endurance
Supreme Devotion
Supreme Devotion
Mana Regen
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance
Heroic Tunic of the Resistance
Heroic Tunic of the Resistance
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Mana Regen
Nature's End Gloves
Nature's End Gloves
Max Health
Melee Endurance
Added Attack Speed
Ruthless Enforcer Leggings
Ruthless Enforcer Leggings
Melee Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Max Mana
Glade Stalker Boots
Glade Stalker Boots
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Clasp of the Conqueror
Clasp of the Conqueror
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Bracers of the Primal King
Bracers of the Primal King
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Debuff Duration
Amber Dimensional Band
Amber Dimensional Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Violent Signet
Violent Signet
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Butcher's Belt
Butcher's Belt
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance

This is the gear you should transition to once you're leveled to 50 and start grinding gear. It is comprised of gear you can get either from dungeons or by completing Litographs, they are relatively easy to trait up and you will spend most of the time wearing this set before advancing into the late game so traiting these items is very important and should be your main focus.

Toublek's Shattering Quarterstaff
Toublek's Shattering Quarterstaff
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Primary
Rex Chimaerus's Crossbows
Rex Chimaerus's Crossbows
Heavy Attack Chance
Added Attack Speed
Hit Chance
Shadow Harvester Mask
Shadow Harvester Mask
Mana Regen
Ranged Evasion
Cooldown Speed
Supreme Devotion
Supreme Devotion
Mana Regen
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance
Swirling Essence Robe
Swirling Essence Robe
Buff Duration
Melee Endurance
Magic Endurance
Shadow Harvester Grips
Shadow Harvester Grips
Mana Regen
Ranged Evasion
Magic Evasion
Phantom Wolf Breeches
Phantom Wolf Breeches
Max Health
Magic Evasion
Ranged Evasion
Swirling Essence Shoes
Swirling Essence Shoes
Max Health
Movement Speed
Melee Evasion
Clasp of the Conqueror
Clasp of the Conqueror
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Bracers of the Primal King
Bracers of the Primal King
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Debuff Duration
Amber Dimensional Band
Amber Dimensional Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Band of Universal Power
Band of Universal Power
Skill Damage Boost
Buff Duration
Mana Regen
Girdle of Spectral Skulls
Girdle of Spectral Skulls
Mana Regen
Skill Damage Resistance
Debuff Duration

This is the current endgame gear you should aim for, and while it isn't easy to acquire, it offers great power without the need of acquiring archboss gear pieces. However, items like Tevent's Fangs of FuryTevent's Fangs of Fury or other archboss weapons are superior but difficult to acquire for the majority of players. If you do manage to get the archboss weapons for your build, feel free to use them over the weapons shown here.

Rune Information Attack runeDefense runeSupport rune
While runes can be applied to different types of gear, you should make sure that you invest into the gear pieces that you plan on using for a long time. However, if the build you are using uses the same items between Mid Game and End Game, you can invest into adding runes to them as early as you get the items.


Weapon Masteries

Health Regen
Magic Defense
Amitoi Heal
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Health Regen
Debuff Duration
Cooldown Speed
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Mana Regen
Ranged
Hit Chance
Mana Regen
Ranged Heavy
Attack Chance
Weaken Chance
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Ranged Hit Chance
Magic Defense
Ranged Crit
Hit Chance
Movement Speed
Damage
Skill
Damage Boost
Off-Hand Weapon
Attack Chance
Damage
Buff Duration
Added
Attack Speed
Cooldown Speed
Mana Regen
Ranged
Damage Dealt
Melee Defense
Mana Regen
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Magic Hit
Chance
Melee Evasion
Mana Regen
Mana Regen
Melee Defense
Silence Resistance
Mana Regen
Damage
Magic Hit
Chance
Magic Critical
Hit Chance
Damage
Mana Regen
Skill Damage
Boost
Cooldown Speed
Bonus Damage
Cooldown Speed
Mana Regen
Weaken Chance
Burning Damage
Max Mana
Magic Hit
Chance
Burning Chance
Weaken Chance
Wisdom
Magic Damage
Dealt

Crossbow: Spend 9 points on Chain Fire to enhance attack speed and ranged damage. Next, allocate 9 points to Move to boost heavy attack chance, ranged hit rate, and movement speed. Put the last 1 point into Regen for recovery benefits.

Staff: Focus on damage by investing 9 points in Destroy for a skill damage boost and quicker cooldowns. Then, place 6 points in Attribute to increase burning effects and overall damage. Use your final 1 point on Mana to improve mana regeneration.


Rotations

DPS Rotation ↴
Mother Nature's ProtestUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
High FocusUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Serial Fire BombsUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Inner PeaceUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Selfless DiffusionUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Quick FireUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Judgment LightningUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Fireball BarrageUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Nimble LeapUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Chain LightningUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Quick FireUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Nimble LeapUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Quick FireUsed frame.webp
  • Make sure that you have Mother Nature's ProtestUsed frame.webpMother Nature's Protest active before beginning the rotation by buffing yourself with High FocusUsed frame.webpHigh Focus. Follow up with a fully charged Serial Fire BombsUsed frame.webpSerial Fire Bombs to start dealing serious damage.
  • Continue by using Inner PeaceUsed frame.webpInner Peace and cancelling it quickly so you still gain the benefit of lower mana usage when using skills. Follow-up with Selfless DiffusionUsed frame.webpSelfless Diffusion and then use Quick FireUsed frame.webpQuick Fire and Judgment LightningUsed frame.webpJudgment Lightning.
  • Use Fireball BarrageUsed frame.webpFireball Barrage to make use of the burn stacks on your target before using Nimble LeapUsed frame.webpNimble Leap to animation cancel and reset Quick FireUsed frame.webpQuick Fire before using Chain LightningUsed frame.webpChain Lightning and Quick FireUsed frame.webpQuick Fire. Finish the rotation with another Nimble LeapUsed frame.webpNimble Leap to reset Quick FireUsed frame.webpQuick Fire and use it again.

Merciless BarrageUsed frame.webpMerciless Barrage: While it doesn't have to be part of a rotation, Merciless BarrageUsed frame.webpMerciless Barrage is fantastic for clearing groups of mobs with ease. Make sure to use Nimble LeapUsed frame.webpNimble Leap if you need that extra range.


Comments

MetaBattle is recruiting!
We are seeking an experienced Build Admin for Throne and Liberty with a deep understanding of the meta across most weapons and game modes. Get in touch with Galaxian on Discord if you're a good fit for the role or know someone else who is. This is a paid position.
Split Metabattle Logo