Tempest - Viper Tempest
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Contents
Overview
This is a build intended to have a 100% Burning and
Bleeding uptime with moderately-high damage.
Additionally, due to , you can maintain permanent Fury and
Might on yourself and party. Consider this for those times when you are solo roaming in PvE. Overall, dagger will be better for raiding and scepter better for open-world PvE.
Some Numbers
Note: Tests performed on small and large golem with realistic buffs (Alacrity, five Grace of the Land, Banner of Strength, Banner of Discipline, Spotter, Sun Spirit, Frost Spirit, Empower Allies, Pinpoint Distribution, Quickness, Fury, Might, Regen, and Swiftness), food, crystal, and conditions on the 4mil hp golem.
- For the main build [dagger], damage averages 3_._k on a large hitbox using and variation.
- For the main build [dagger], damage averages 3_._k on a small hitbox using and variation.
Skill Bar
Slot Changes
- Use with in place of on targets with a large hitbox for a slight dps increase. Cast after every to take advantage of damage boost from .
Specialisations
Equipment
Use the following weapons for the main build and two variations below:



OR



- All weapons, armour, and trinkets are Viper with helm and back as Sinister. This will give you 100.07% condition duration with ascended gear.
- 4x
Superior Rune of the Nightmare
(1): +25 Condition Damage (2): +5% Condition Duration (3): +50 Condition Damage (4): +10% Condition Duration (5): +100 Condition Damage (6): When you use an elite skill, deliver an attack (240 radius) that blinds enemies and transfers one condition.(Cooldown: 45s) - 2x
Consumables
- OR
The difference in these two utilities is roughly 0.5% dps, so use what you feel you can afford.
Variation (Budget 1)
With the changes to food, the old method of gear falls short for condi duration unless you go full exotic Viper and use a Sinister back with a Black Diamond slotted, and one of the two weapons as Sinister as well. This does, however, mean that you must craft
to get the last few percent of condi duration. Doing so, however, will get you the same 100.07% condi duration as the ascended gear above.
Variation (Budget 2)
Similarly to 'Budget 1', but with both weapons being Viper, you can achieve 100.2% condi duration using the same runes and food as the ascended set. For those without the artificer recipe, or the desire to craft your own utility, this will be the cheapest of the three options.
Usage
- You want to cast in fire when off cooldown.
- When using , always cast signets and overloads with it equipped as it gives you 180 condition damage and otherwise spam off cooldown amidst your rotation but never more than three times and only when in earth. With the new changes to this weapon from 8/8/17 patch, stick with it as long as you can (the icon will start to flash) before picking up your second one.
- Cast off cooldown as it is your most damaging skill, same for unless needed for the Defiance Bar. I did not otherwise list them in the rotations below... just fit them in where you are otherwise auto-attacking.
Skills that provide condition damage:
- Fire (Dagger):
- —make sure the burning trail passes through the boss.
- Earth (Dagger):
- Fire (Sceptre):
- Earth (Sceptre):
Thanks to you can cast the signets and still receive their benefits, including , giving you a lot of survivability for open-world PvE as well.
When it comes time for breaking the Defiance Bar, make use of , , and . Additionally, if you are using a dagger, .
Rotation
These need to be worked on but here is the gist of it
Dagger
Note: I found that it worked best to cast signets when running back to the golem after using to dash through it.
- (careful not to go over any ledges!)
- and can be cast at once.
- or on large hitbox followed by and .
- as soon as you finish above and before cast finishes.
- Pick up your second one if applicable or skip if on cooldown.
- until overload is ready. if using FGS.
- if holding FGS.
- if not holding FGS.
- if holding FGS.
- Cast signets here to benefit from the 180 extra condition damage if using FGS.
- if holding FGS (if it is off cooldown—varies from signet use).
- Drop FGS if you are using it.
Repeat from 1
Sceptre
- —skip if running or on cooldown.
- as soon as you finish above and before cast finishes.
- —this skill gives you 250 toughness so if it will put you over the tanks toughness, tap it super fast or do not use it at all.
- and at the same time.
- —skip if running . Pick up your second one if applicable or skip if on cooldown.
- Cast signets here to benefit from the 180 extra condition damage if using FGS.
- until overload is ready. if using FGS.
- until fire is ready. if using FGS.
- Drop FGS if you are using it.
- —this skill gives you 250 toughness so if it will put you over the tanks toughness, tap it super fast or do not use it at all.
Repeat from 1
How about doing something like this with some seraph gear? Love this either way.