Build:Herald - Hammer Herald

The community gave this build a rating, making it top-tier: Great

Focused on: Strike damage, Dps and Boon support

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

Normal

This build was last updated on August 22, 2023 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A Power based Herald build for WvW. The utility of Glint, the durability of Jalis, and the damage of Coalescence of Ruin allow this build to deal strong damage with great sustain, while buffing allies.

Skill Bar

Hammer

Greatsword

Utility

Utility

Template Code

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Specializations

Variants

• Brutality constant stability removal with quickness uptime but less DPS.

Variants

• Core Value offers more group utility, but less movement speed.

Equipment

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Berserker

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Assassin

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Hammer
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Greatsword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Relic

• Speed - utility
• Isgarren - damage
• Thief - damage alternative

Equipment Variants

• Marauder stats if you find you need extra defensive stats, but do not go over crit cap

Consumables

• • personal food option

Usage

Priorities

High

• Ranged Spike

Moderate

• Sustained damage
• Boon support

Low

• CC

Surviving

• This build has moderate passive defense
• This build has moderate mobility skill access
  • Phantom's Onslaught will lunge towards a target if they are within range, otherwise it moves you considerably less than 900 range
    • Neutral creatures can be used as targets
• This builds has high active defenses
  • Only use Phase Smash defensively if desperate, it will likely leave you more out of position than when you started
  • Toggle Vengeful Hammers on whenever you expect significant pressure, its upkeep is cheap
  • Rite of the Great Dwarf breaks stuns at the beginning of the cast, dodge or weapon stow to cancel the cast if you're in danger
  • Keep Facet of Light active as often as possible so that Infuse Light is available
  • Save Facet of Nature + One with Nature for use in Jalis stance
  • Don't waste Gaze of Darkness on trivial CC, the Fury it provides is very valuable

Active defense priority Gaze of Darkness - for stunbreaking Rite of the Great Dwarf - for stunbreaking Vengeful Hammers Soothing Stone - for Immobilize Dodge Imperial Guard Facet of Light ⇒ Infuse Light Rite of the Great Dwarf - general use Soothing Stone - general use Phase Smash

Detailed Explanations

Ranged Spike

• Casting Coalescence of Ruin immediately before Phase Smash will make both hits land at the same time
  • Phase Smash is the priority skill if you can't use both
• Swap legends during Phase Smash at 3/4ths through the cast to activate Sigil of Superior Sigil of Hydromancy
• Avoid casting Phase Smash as groups cross each other so you aren't left behind
• Flip Vengeful Hammers on while casting Phase Smash in Jalis to proc Forceful Persistence

Sustained damage

• You can Phase Smash through traps and marks to activate them without taking any damage.
  • Cast Gaze of Darkness near the end of the cast of Phase Smash to clear Blind, if needed
• Try to place Inspiring Reinforcement in the direction your group is pushing if possible, but prioritize hitting enemies
• Toggle on Vengeful Hammers any time you're in range and in Jalis, but prioritize other skills when energy is limited

Skill priority Burst of Strength Elemental Blast Inspiring Reinforcement Vengeful Hammers Greatsword True Strike (Vindicator) - 5 charges Eternity's Requiem Phantom's Onslaught Mist Unleashed Hammer Phase Smash Coalescence of Ruin

Boon support

• Always upkeep 3 facets for Forceful Persistence, but don't be afraid to consume then if the opportunity appears
  • Use Facet of Darkness + Facet of Strength + Facet of Light as your general setup to have instant access to Infuse Light
  • Use Facet of Darkness + Facet of Strength + Facet of Elements to allow energy regeneration
• Facet of Nature + One with Nature can be used to cover Stability for your group when your firebrand and scrapper's sources are on cooldown

CC

• Save Chaotic Release to launch downed players out of Signet of Mercy/Illusion of Life
• Use Drop the Hammer when all other skills are on cooldown and projectile block is stopping your Hammer Bolt