Bladesworn - Power DPS

Part of the current metagame

Our curator decided this build is in the current metagame regardless of rating. The community gave this build a rating, making it top-tier: Great

Focused on: Direct damage

Designed for: Raids and Fractals

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

Normal

This build was last updated on June 22, 2024 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

Bladesworn trades its second weapon set for a Gunsaber that combines ranged explosions with melee slashes. Most importantly, it gains access to the unique Dragon Slash burst skills - incredibly powerful single strikes that take a long time to prepare. As the Bladesworn is immobile this preparation, it can be challenging to manage against targets that move a lot, or can disrupt you. With so much of its damage loaded into the Dragon Slash, Bladesworn is incredibly strong if the player can perform them off cooldown, but even one missed Slash is a significant damage loss.

With Tactics, the Bladesworn can also provide some passive Might generation for their subgroup, making them an excellent choice for filling in gaps in your boon uptime while still being top DPS.

Skill Bar

Sword/Pistol

Utility

Skill Variants

Healing

• Depending on the encounter, you may find "To the Limit!" makes the opener more consistent, as it provides a bonus to flow generation for 15 seconds upon use. It is used in the same way as Mending.
  • In fractals, you can precast "To the Limit!" at a Mistlock then switch to Mending to gain the benefits of both.

Template Code

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Specializations

• Martial Cadence could be used if the extra Stability uptime will be useful - just be wary on encounters that corrupt boons, as Stability gets corrupted into Fear!

Equipment

Head
Assassin

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Assassin

Legs
Berserker

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Sword
Berserker

Pistol
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Relic

• You want to hit 2217 precision (with a Sigil of Superior Sigil of Accuracy).
• In strikes where the boss gets Exposed, or at Keep Construct, it would be more beneficial to swap the Sigil of Superior Sigil of Force for a Sigil of Superior Sigil of Impact.
• Relic of the Thief is the best relic for players that don't own Secrets of the Obscure.

Consumables

Food

• or ascended versions

Utility

• • for a cheaper alternative

Usage

Simplified Rotation (by Masel)

Bladesworn can simplified in two ways: First, by replacing some of the Armament skills with warrior's powerful signets, and second by using a consistent loop for Gunsaber and Sword/Pistol sections, rather than two variants as the full rotation uses.

• Replace Overcharged Cartridges and Dragonspike Mine with Signet of Might and Signet of Fury.
• The Signet of Fury means that different gear should be used. Pick one of the following:
  • Rune of Superior Rune of the Scholar, full Berserker stats gear, and (or ascended versions).
  • Rune of Superior Rune of the Scholar, full Berserker stats gear except one ring and one accessory in Assassin stats, and (or ascended versions).

Opener

1. Precast as many skills in Gunsaber as you can (make sure not to hit the boss early!), "To the Limit!", both charges of Flow Stabilizer, and Tactical Reload - you can skip some or all of the Gunsaber skills if you're not confident.
2. Dragon Trigger
3. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
4. Dragon Slash - Force

Part 1

1. Stay in Gunsaber and use the following skills off cooldown
   • Blooming Fire
   • Cyclone Trigger (if available)
   • Artillery Slash (if at two or more charges)
2. Autoattack until Dragon Trigger is available
3. Dragon Trigger as soon as you can
4. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
5. Dragon Slash - Force

Part 2

1. Blooming Fire
2. Weapon Swap
3. Dragon's Roar
4. Gunstinger
5. Dragon's Roar
6. Final Thrust
7. Autoattack until Dragon Trigger is available
8. Dragon Trigger as soon as you can
9. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
10. Dragon Slash - Force
11. Return to start of Part 1

• Use Flow Stabilizer and Tactical Reload off cooldown.
• If the boss is about to phase, activate Signet of Fury just before Dragon Slash - Force to make it even stronger.

Video guide

Rotation

There are two openers you can use for Bladesworn. The higher damage opener immediately starts with Dragon Slash - Force, but requires getting into combat at just the right time to avoid having to delay later parts of the rotation. The other opener has a slightly delayed Dragon Slash - Force which allows a bit more time for flow to build up and makes it easier to line up cooldowns.

If possible, you can pre-cast Blooming Fire, Artillery Slash and Break Step to build up stacks of Fierce as Fire. Pre-cast both charges of Flow Stabilizer, Tactical Reload, an additional charge of Flow Stabilizer, and your healing skill.

Burst Opener

1. Overcharged Cartridges
2. Dragon Trigger
3. Dragon Slash - Force
4. Dragonspike Mine
5. Dragon Trigger
6. Flicker Step back into melee range
7. Dragon Slash - Force
8. Sheathe Gunsaber

Sword/Pistol 1

1. Dragon's Roar
2. Final Thrust
3. Gunstinger
4. Sever Artery ⇒ Gash ⇒ Hamstring x2
5. Overcharged Cartridges
6. Dragon's Roar
7. Dragon Trigger

Gunsaber 1

1. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
2. Dragon Slash - Force
3. Blooming Fire
4. Cyclone Trigger
5. Artillery Slash
6. Swift Cut ⇒ Steel Divide ⇒ Explosive Thrust
7. Cyclone Trigger
8. Overcharged Cartridges
9. Tactical Reload
10. Sheathe Gunsaber
11. Proceed to Loop

Regular Opener

Start on Sword/Pistol.

1. Overcharged Cartridges
2. Dragon's Roar
3. Final Thrust
4. Dragon Trigger

Gunsaber 1

1. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
2. Dragon Slash - Force
3. Dragonspike Mine
4. Dragon Trigger
5. Flicker Step back into melee range
6. Dragon Slash - Force
7. Artillery Slash
8. Overcharged Cartridges
9. Sheathe Gunsaber

Sword/Pistol 1

1. Gunstinger
2. Dragon's Roar
3. Final Thrust
4. Sever Artery ⇒ Gash ⇒ Hamstring x2
5. Dragon Trigger

Gunsaber 2

1. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
2. Dragon Slash - Force
3. Blooming Fire
4. Cyclone Trigger
5. Swift Cut ⇒ Steel Divide ⇒ Explosive Thrust
6. Cyclone Trigger
7. Overcharged Cartridges
8. Tactical Reload
9. Sheathe Gunsaber
10. Proceed to Loop

Loop

Use Flow Stabilizer and Tactical Reload off cooldown.

Sword/Pistol 1

1. Dragon's Roar
2. Final Thrust
3. Dragon Trigger

Gunsaber 1

1. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
2. Dragon Slash - Force
3. Dragonspike Mine
4. Dragon Trigger
5. Flicker Step back into melee range
6. Dragon Slash - Force
7. Artillery Slash OR Blooming Fire - Use Artillery Slash if it is at three charges, otherwise use Blooming Fire
8. Overcharged Cartridges
9. Sheathe Gunsaber

Sword/Pistol 2

1. Gunstinger
2. Dragon's Roar
3. Final Thrust
4. Sever Artery ⇒ Gash ⇒ Hamstring x2
5. Dragon Trigger

Gunsaber 2

1. Flicker Step just before Dragon Slash is fully charged
2. Dragon Slash - Force
3. Blooming Fire
4. Cyclone Trigger
5. Swift Cut ⇒ Steel Divide ⇒ Explosive Thrust
6. Blooming Fire
7. Cyclone Trigger
8. Overcharged Cartridges
9. Sheathe Gunsaber
10. Return to start of Sword/Pistol 1

Video example

Video example (burst opener)

General Tips

• Both openers follow the same broad structure as the loop, so learning the loop first might be helpful.
• Outside of the opener, you always use Overcharged Cartridges as your last skill before exiting your Gunsaber.
• Flicker Step is not only used for positioning, but triggers Relic of Peitha.
• While charging Dragon Trigger, you can use Triggerguard to generate extra charges of Fierce as Fire, to ensure you are at 10 stacks for Dragon Slash - Force.
  • If there is any danger of you getting interrupted while in Dragon Trigger, you can forgo this step so they are available for defence.
• Dragon Slash - Force alone is over half your total damage, so it is essential not to delay Dragon Trigger. If necessary, you can skip some of the Sword skills in your rotation if it is already available.
• If you find yourself getting lost in the rotation, glance at the cooldowns on your F1 and F2 skills. This will tell you how long your next section will be - e.g. If you are charging Dragon Trigger and Gunsaber is still on a long cooldown, you know you need to do the long Gunsaber section next (Gunsaber 2').