Arete/usage2

Overview

A support Firebrand build for WvW. Provides a large amount of Stability, powerful healing, cleansing and boon support.

Skill Bar

Staff

Mace/Shield

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Axe provides excellent CC but at a short range
  • Recommended for smaller numbers

Skill Variants

• Mantra of Lore swap Signet of Mercy if condition clear is needed or the rez is unneeded.

Template Code

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Specializations

Variants

• Weighty Terms can be useful for lower Mantra of Liberation cooldown, especially if Quickness is already covered

Equipment

Head
Minstrel

Shoulders
Minstrel

Chest
Minstrel

Hands
Minstrel

Legs
Minstrel

Feet
Minstrel

Backpiece
Minstrel

Accessory
Minstrel

Accessory
Minstrel

Amulet
Minstrel

Ring
Minstrel

Ring
Minstrel

Staff
Minstrel

Sigil

Sigil

Mace
Minstrel

Shield
Minstrel

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Equipment Variants

Stats

• Healing infusions are also a viable choice

Sigils

• Sigil of Superior Sigil of Concentration for higher Stability uptime

Runes

• Rune of Superior Rune of the Monk better healing but less boons, boon uptime and survivability

Consumables

• • personal food option

Usage

Overall Skill Priorities

High

• Apply Stability for allies
• Stunbreak caught allies
• Resurrect downed allies with Signet of Mercy

Moderate

• Condition clear Immobilize from allies
• CC enemy players in allied spikes
• Heal allied players
• Apply primary boons to allied players

Low

• Apply cover boons to allied players

Surviving

• This build has high passive defense
• This build has no mobility skill access, staying very close to your tag and group is critical
• This builds' active defenses are strong, but ideally saved for your group and not used selfishly
  • Use "Stand Your Ground!" as a stunbreak, but only if your entire party is in range and outside of Winds of Disenchantment. Otherwise use Mantra of Liberation
  • If you are low on healing or pressured by conditions, use Tome of Resolve and its related skills

Specific Priorities Stability skills by priority "Stand Your Ground!" Tome of Courage + Epilogue Unbroken Lines + Chapter 1 Unflinching Charge Hallowed Ground Mantra of Liberation Condition clear skills by priority Mantra of Lore (if applicable) Tome of Courage + Chapter 4 Stalwart Stand (Only outside of Winds of Disenchantment) Tome of Resolve (to proc Absolute Resolve Epilogue Eternal Oasis Chapter 2 Radiant Recovery Symbol of Swiftness ⇒ Holy Strike (Blast finisher) CC skills by priority Blazing Edge (if applicable) Line of Warding Chapter 3 Heated Rebuke Chapter 2 Daring Challenge Heal skills by priority Empower (if you have time to finish cast) Holy Strike Shield of Absorption (only if the knockback isn’t disruptive) Dodge (Selfless Daring) Tome of Resolve Epilogue Eternal Oasis Chapter 4 Shining River Chapter 1 Desert Bloom Aegis Protector's Strike Mantra of Solace Shield of Judgment Regeneration Symbol of Faith Primary boon skills by priority Mantra of Solace - Quickness + Aegis Empower - Might Protector's Strike - Protection + Aegis Shield of Judgment - Protection + Aegis Cover boon skills by priority Chapter 3 Azure Sun - Vigor + Regeneration Symbol of Swiftness - Swiftness Symbol of Vengeance - Fury (if applicable) Symbol of Faith - Regeneration

Detailed Explanations

Applying Stability for allies

• Apply Stability before allies get caught by enemy CC
• Enemy CC is most likely to land when they spike your group, your group is moving through theirs, or your group is moving away from theirs.
• Be careful not to apply Stability, especially from "Stand Your Ground!", while your allies are under the effect of 24px Winds of Disenchantment

Stunbreaking caught allies

• Mantra of Liberation is your group stunbreak, use its charges very carefully - the cooldown is too long to waste them
• Allies are most likely to be CCed at the same times they need Stability or while they are the focus target.
• Turn your camera, make use of a “Look Behind” keybind and listen to voice communications to pay attention to caught allies.
• Give them additional support after stunbreaking as needed

Signet of Mercy

• Watch for low allied health bars to enable precasting (Using the skill before an ally is downed so that it finishes casting on them as soon as they do go down)
• Give yourself quickness with Mantra of Solace before beginning the cast
• Cover the cast with Stability ("Stand Your Ground!" or Mantra of Liberation only - the others are too slow)
• Make sure to communicate over voice comms. Broadcast that you are beginning, casting and finishing the rez, include the name of the person being rezzed if possible.
• If another player with a higher priority calls they are rezzing at the same time, cancel the rez (“Stow Weapon” keybind or Escape button while in a Tome skill) and communicate the fact you are cancelling.

Condition clear

• You have limit condition clear compared to other supports, focus on using yours when allies have Immobilize
  • Allies are very likely to get Immobilize at the same times they need Stability
• If allies are not in a Winds of Disenchantment and close by, prioritize resistance from Chapter 4 Stalwart Stand
• If allies are too far for Chapter 4 Stalwart Stand or in a Winds of Disenchantment, use Tome of Resolve and related skills

CC

• Use your CC when:
  • Your group calls a spike:
    • Winds - Winds of Disenchantment
    • Wells - Well of Corruption+Well of Suffering
    • Shades - Desert Shroud
    • Traps - Procession of Blades+Test of Faith
  • On top of enemy downs (while alive players are on top of them)
  • Enemy groups moving defensively while your group is pushing

Heal allied players

• Be careful when healing others, Empower and Selfless Daring are powerful heals but can easily leave you out of position if misused
• Give yourself quickness with Mantra of Solace before casting Empower

Apply primary boons to allied players

• Defensive boons like Protection or Aegis should be prioritized when your group is on the defensive
• Offensive boons like Might and Quickness should be prioritized when your group is on the offensive
  • Especially as your group spikes, try to always use a charge of Mantra of Solace

Apply cover boons to allied players

• Cover boons are low value boons applied to soak strips instead of critical boons like Stability
• While most boon rips randomly choose from the boons on a target, boon corrupts always work on a first in, last out priority.
  • This means that cover boons should be applied after primary boons when possible

Settings

• Under General Options / User Interface check Always show squad health bars and Always show party health bars. These will make it much easier to keep track of who needs your support.
• Also under General Options / User Interface turn on Thick party health bars
  • Thick squad health bars can be used too as a matter of personal preference, but is not recommended for large numbers
• Under Squad Options uncheck View as a grid. This will allow you to keep track of your allies' boons, conditions and health, enabling a better decision-making and skill management.