View source for Elementalist - Staff DPS

{{SEO|description=A backline DPS build for Elementalist in WvW Zergs that provides damage, CC and field support. Requires a precise usage of skills and positioning to survive.}}
{{Build
| profession = elementalist
| specialization = 
| designed for = wvw zerg
| focus = strike damage, utility, crowd control
| rating = archived
| xpac = 
}}

==Overview==
A backline DPS build for Elementalist in WvW Zergs that provides damage, CC and field support. Requires a precise usage of skills and positioning to survive. Also, somewhat accessible by F2P, more new player friendly and straight to play than the weaver build [[Build:Weaver_-_Staff_Backline|Staff Backline]]


==Template Code==
{{TemplateCode|
code = [&DQYfLykbJS51AAAAkAAAAE4BAADrAAAAlwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
}}


==Skill Bar==
{{Skill bar
|profession = elementalist
|specialization = 
|weapon1 = Staff
|weapon2 = 
|weapon3 = Staff
|weapon4 = 
|healing = Ether Renewal
|utility1 = Lightning Flash
|utility2 = Arcane Wave
|utility3 = Mist Form
|elite = Conjure Fiery Greatsword
}}


===Skill Variants===
'''Utility'''
* {{Skill|Glyph of Storms}}


==Specializations==
{{Specialization|Fire|bot|bot|mid}}
{{Specialization|Air|bot|mid|top}}
{{Specialization|Arcane|mid|bot|mid}}
'''Variants'''
* {{Trait|Bountiful Power}} for pure damage


==Equipment==
{{PvE equipment
| weight = Light
| stats = Marauder
| rune = Superior Rune of Strength
| rune-qt = 6
| weapon1 = Staff
| weapon2 = 
| sigil1 = Superior Sigil of Force
| sigil2 = Superior Sigil of Energy
| weapon3 = Staff
| weapon4 = 
| sigil3 = Superior Sigil of Force
| sigil4 = Superior Sigil of Bloodlust
| infusion1 = Mighty WvW Infusion
| infusion1-qt = 18
}}


===Consumables===
* {{Food|Plate of Truffle Steak}}
::{{Food|Peppercorn-Crusted Sous-Vide Steak}} feast option with additional damage reduction.
* {{Utility|Superior Sharpening Stone}}


===Variants===
'''Stats''' 
* Feel free to use as much '''Berserker's''' gear as you can without dying


===Consumables===
* {{Food|Fried Oyster Sandwich}}
** {{Food|Peppercorn-Crusted Sous-Vide Steak}} feast option with additional power and ferocity.
* {{Utility|Superior Sharpening Stone}}


==Usage==
'''General'''
* Having 2 Staffs is purely for the stacking sigil purpose. As soon as you achieve 25 stacks of {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Bloodlust}} and get out of combat you should swap back to the Staff without it.
* This build requires rapidly switching between attunements. 
** You can switch while you are still casting a skill without interrupting the cast.
* {{Skill|Mist Form}} (and sometimes {{Skill|Lightning Flash}}) will be used mainly for self defense as reposition tool, temporarily avoiding ground heat and denying enemies tunnel visioning on you. Prioritize living over dealing damage. Lightning Flash can also be used while CC'ed.
** Don't attempt to rely on {{trait|Final Shielding}}.
* You can interrupt {{Skill|Ether Renewal}} by using ''stow weapon'' as soon as you are full healed in order to save time

'''Staff'''

* {{skill|Fireball}} can consist a decent part of your damage.
** It also helps with self {{Tooltip|Might}} uptime thanks to {{trait|Pyromancer's Puissance}}
** Beware of enemy reflect skills though
** {{skill|Chain Lightning}} is also a good option for cleaving a downed clump, since it bounces.
* Staff #2 skills are strong damage fillers (with low cooldown) to rotate between while Meteor Shower isn't available. Bear in mind Ice Spike and Eruption aren't instant.
** {{Skill|Lava Font}} makes significant part of your sustained pressure after Meteor Shower. Look for casting it off cooldown to maximize ground pressure.
** {{Skill|Lightning Surge}} quick cast and good damage, will be used to pick off single targets, try to cast it on enemies stacked to hit multiple foes.
** {{Skill|Ice Spike}} whilst being Water gives significant 300-radius damage and justifies, along with the Water 4-5 skills, going into Water Attunement
** {{Skill|Eruption}} gives reliable damage, assuming the the slow proc time. Can be used as preventive ground pressure and for cleaving.
* Staff#3 skills are somewhat ignorable in this build, but can bring some utility.
** Use {{skill|Gust}} for the extra CC, it doesn't require LoS. 
** {{skill|Geyser}} for tiny heals and a water field
** {{skill|Flame Burst}} tiny damage, land it for {{Tooltip|Burning}} uptime, which increases damage via {{trait|Pyromancer's Training}}, and follow up with a hard hittng skill. 
* {{Skill|Unsteady Ground}}, {{Skill|Frozen Ground}} and {{Skill|Static Field}} will be used mainly for the CC along with your team damage pressure. {{Skill|Unsteady Ground}}'s direction is based on your where your character is looking. Turn briefly while casting the skill to aim it and effectevily blocking the passage. 
* {{Skill|Healing Rain}} and {{Skill|Windborne Speed}} can be used to soften condition pressure, benefiting from the large radius, and to remove soft CC on allies, respectively.

'''Meteor Shower'''

* {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} is your main damage source, but it has a long cast time. Try to place it on spots the enemy stack will tend to be, rather than where it is now. Very useful for cleave
** Try to be in a safe spot while channeling. If you get interrupted midcast, the amount of meteors and damage will be lower.
** If you realize the skill won't connect, you have a small window to cancel (stow) the skill before the meteors start to go off, putting it on a 4s CD
** Watch out for the incoming damage from {{Tooltip|Retaliation}}, be ready to heal u
* Meteor Shower should always be followed up, as soon as possible, by {{Skill|Arcane Wave}} in {{Skill|Earth Attunement}} to ensure an {{Tooltip|Immobilize}} from the trait {{Trait|Elemental Surge}}
** {{Skill|Arcane Wave}} is also very effective when used inside a Spellbreaker's {{Skill|Winds of Disenchantment}}
* By the end of the channel, you can find yourself out of position or focused by enemies. You can avoid this in two ways: 
** Use {{Skill|Lightning Flash}} after you start casting
** Using {{Skill|Burning Retreat}} immediately before starting the cast

'''Conjure Fiery Greatsword'''
* {{Skill|Conjure Fiery Greatsword}} (FGS) provides great mobility and a damage boon when wielded. It can be used after casting {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} to increase the damage. 
** You should still swap attunements, mainly between {{Skill|Fire Attunement}} and {{Skill|Air Attunement}} for damage, while yielding the FGS.
** Remember that you can retrieve the FGS conjured on the ground if you are still around. It stands for 30s.
* Cast {{Skill|Firestorm}} on top of downed enemies and/or the enemy stack. Despite the small radius, it hits 10 targets and should be used after {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} to maximize damage.
* {{Skill|Fiery Rush}} will be used mostly for mobility, chasing down and bursting a single target or repositioning.
* {{Skill|Fiery Whirl}} will be taken mainly to deal damage in melee range, while evading through enemies. Try to use it after Firestorm.
* {{Skill|Flame Wave}} spam it while on melee to maintain DPS after you burned through the FGS skills, but it isn't worth to drop yet.

'''High Spike Damage'''
# Start in Fire
# {{Skill|Lava Font}}
# {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
# {{Skill|Earth Attunement}}
# {{Skill|Arcane Wave}}
# {{Skill|Eruption}}
# {{Skill|Water Attunement}}
# {{Skill|Ice Spike}}
# {{Skill|Air Attunement}}
# {{Skill|Lightning Surge}}
# {{Skill|Fire Attunement}}
# {{Skill|Lava Font}}
# {{Skill|Conjure Fiery Greatsword}}
# {{Skill|Firestorm}}

* This combo allows 3 high damage skills to all hit at once if cast quickly, spiking for extremely high damage.


==Related Builds==
* [[Build:Weaver_-_Staff_Backline|Staff Backline]]