Build:Holosmith - Power PBM DPS

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 April 29, 2024 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A power DPS Holosmith build for fractals and raids. This build brings extremely high burst and sustained AoE damage, as well as heavy CC and Vulnerability.

While this build deals good damage on its own, it excels when there are lots of conditions on the boss for Modified Ammunition.

Skill Bar

Hammer

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Rifle is the best weapon option for players that don't own Secrets of the Obscure.
• See Holosmith - Power Sword DPS for the Sword/Pistol variation of this build.

Skill Variants

Swapping out your utility skills is a large DPS loss and should only be considered as a last ditch option.

• Bomb Kit is higher DPS than Throw Mine if using a Rifle.
• Hard Light Arena can be useful in uncoordinated groups for the protection and pull.
• Spectrum Shield if you don't trust your healer to keep you alive or stunbreak you in high pressure fights.

Template Code

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Equipment

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Dragon

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Dragon

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Hammer
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Relic

Equipment Variants

• The Dragon stats pieces are a tiny dps increase, so you can run full Berserker stats if you prefer.
• Sigil of Superior Sigil of the Night or slaying sigils when applicable.

Consumables

Food

Utility

• Slaying potions when applicable.

Usage

The logic behind this rotation is to maximize your Photon Forge and Laser's Edge uptime. First you build heat in Photon Forge with Corona Burst, Photon Blitz, and autoattack chains. After you overheat, you use your highest damage skills together with Solar Focusing Lens, then fill with your high damage skills such as Shrapnel Grenade. Rinse and repeat when Photon Forge is available again.

Hammer Rotation

If possible, start with Throw Mine and Mine Field precast.

Opener

Start with 75% heat.

1. Thunderclap
2. Electro-whirl
3. Grenade Barrage
4. Grenade Kit
5. Shrapnel Grenade
6. Engage Photon Forge
7. Corona Burst
8. Detonate (engineer) and Detonate Mine Field if you precast them
9. Photon Blitz
10. Blade Burst
11. Overheat
12. Laser Disk
13. Prime Light Beam
14. Electro-whirl
15. Throw Mine
16. Poison Grenade
17. Shrapnel Grenade

Basic Loop

1. Positive Strike ⇒ Negative Bash ⇒ Equalizing Blow until Electro-Whirl is available (finish your auto chains!)
2. Electro-whirl
3. Grenade Kit
4. Shrapnel Grenade
5. Poison Grenade OR Freeze Grenade (whichever is off cooldown, with Poison Grenade taking priority)
6. Repeat until Photon Forge is available

• Cast Throw Mine and Thunderclap off cooldown, without interrupting auto chains
• Cast Mine Field ⇒ Detonate Mine Field, Grenade Barrage and Blade Burst off cooldown while in Photon Forge.

Simple Photon Forge Rotation

This is the easier Photon Forge rotation and applicable to all bosses.

1. Corona Burst
2. Photon Blitz
3. Light Strike → Bright Slash → Flash Cutter x5
4. Corona Burst
5. Photon Blitz
6. Laser Disk
7. Prime Light Beam (if available)
8. Overheat
9. Resume Basic Loop

Delayed Overheat Rotation

This is an alternate Photon Forge rotation which aims to use Corona Burst 3 times before overheating. You leave Photon Forge mid way through to get in an extra cast of your non-Photon Forge DPS skills.

This rotation is a DPS increase in long phases or bosses that don't have phases. However, it's more dependent on quickness and alacrity uptime.

1. Corona Burst
2. Photon Blitz
3. Light Strike → Bright Slash → Flash Cutter until Corona Burst is available
4. Corona Burst
5. Deactivate Photon Forge
6. Electro-whirl
7. Grenade Kit
8. Shrapnel Grenade
9. Poison Grenade OR Freeze Grenade (whichever is off cooldown, with Poison Grenade taking priority)
10. Engage Photon Forge
11. Laser Disk
12. Light Strike → Bright Slash → Flash Cutter until Corona Burst is available
13. Corona Burst
14. Photon Blitz
15. Prime Light Beam (if available)
16. Overheat
17. Resume Basic Loop

Video example

Rifle Rotation

Opener

Start with 75% heat.

1. Big Ol' Bomb
2. Fire Bomb
3. Shrapnel Grenade
4. Grenade Barrage
5. Engage Photon Forge
6. Corona Burst
7. Photon Blitz
8. Overheat

Loop

1. Laser Disk
2. Jump Shot
3. Blunderbuss
4. Overcharged Shot
5. Prime Light Beam
6. Shrapnel Grenade
7. Poison Grenade
8. Freeze Grenade
9. Fire Bomb
10. Bomb until 6s cooldown on Fire Bomb
11. Blunderbuss
12. Shrapnel Grenade
13. Bomb until Engage Photon Forge is almost off cooldown
14. Fire Bomb
15. Net Shot
16. Overcharged Shot
17. Blunderbuss
18. Shrapnel Grenade
19. Bomb until Engage Photon Forge is available
20. Jump Shot and Engage Photon Forge before you land
21. Photon Forge rotation (see below)
22. Repeat

Standard Photon Forge Rotation

This is the easier Photon Forge rotation and applicable to all bosses.

1. Corona Burst
2. Photon Blitz
3. Light Strike → Bright Slash → Flash Cutter x5
4. Corona Burst
5. Photon Blitz
6. Overheat

Delayed Overheat Rotation

This is an alternate Photon Forge rotation which aims to use Corona Burst 3 times before overheating. You leave Photon Forge mid way through to get in an extra cast of your non-Photon Forge DPS skills.

This rotation is a DPS increase in long phases or bosses that don't have phases. However, it's more dependent on quickness and alacrity uptime.

1. Corona Burst
2. Photon Blitz
3. Light Strike → Bright Slash → Flash Cutter until Corona Burst is available
4. Corona Burst
5. Deactivate Photon Forge
6. Blunderbuss
7. Fire Bomb
8. Shrapnel Grenade
9. Engage Photon Forge
10. Light Strike → Bright Slash → Flash Cutter until Corona Burst is available
11. Corona Burst
12. Photon Blitz
13. Overheat

Notes

• Never interrupt your Photon Forge autoattack chain.
• In real fights you will want to time your Overheat based on the encounter. Overheating provides a lot of burst damage, but it will also deal damage to yourself.
  • If a burst damage phase is about to come up, it's worth tweaking your rotation or using extra Photon Forge skills like Holographic Shockwave so you will be at 75% heat when the phase arrives. This lets you do your opening rotation and overheat for high burst damage.
  • If you are low on health or if the burst damage will be wasted, you should Deactivate Photon Forge and fill with your normal DPS skills similar to the "Delayed Overheat Rotation" listed above.
• Use Big Ol' Bomb and Grenade Barrage in place of an autoattack chain whenever possible.
• Blade Burst should be used off cooldown, as long as you're above 51 heat. Try to stand inside the boss' hitbox when you cast this, to ensure all projectiles hit the boss.

Video example (0% heat opener)

Video example (45% heat opener)

CC

• Big Ol' Bomb
• Holographic Shockwave
• Overcharged Shot
• Prime Light Beam
• Static Shock

Encounter Specific Tips

Spirit Vale

Vale Guardian

• You can help to push away seekers with Overcharged Shot and immobilize them with Net Shot. Big Ol' Bomb will also knock all seekers away.
• Vale Guardian's breakbars happen on a predictable schedule so memorize them, save your CC, and precast Big Ol' Bomb for them.
• If you get ported use Holo Leap to quickly get back to the group.
• A.E.D. can be used to survive failed greens.

Gorseval the Multifarious

• You can help to immobilize Charged Spirits with Net Shot or Glue Bomb.
• A.E.D. can be used to survive the retaliation and black AoEs during the breakbar phase.

Sabetha the Saboteur

• Use Smoke Bomb (engineer) and Flash Grenade to blind the adds during the flamewall attack so they don't get a chance at knocking one of your allies into the flames. Holographic Shockwave is also worth using to keep the adds chain CCed.
• You can use Jump Shot to move around faster if you're on cannon duty. You can also use Holo Leap but make sure you don't target Sabetha or one of the adds.

Salvation Pass

Slothasor

• Consider saving Big Ol' Bomb and Overcharged Shot to use during the breakbar phase.

Bandit Trio

• Use Big Ol' Bomb or Overcharged Shot to CC the Saboteurs when they reach the cage.

Matthias

• Consider saving Big Ol' Bomb and Overcharged Shot to use on the breakbars.

Stronghold of the Faithful

Siege the Stronghold (Escort)

• In the escort team, blind the mobs with Smoke Bomb (engineer) and keep them knocked down with Holographic Shockwave.
• Slow down the Wargs with Freeze Grenade, Net Shot, and Glue Bomb.
• If you keep getting feared consider bringing Spectrum Shield for a low cooldown stun break.

Keep Construct

• Save your damaging skills and precast your heat to 75% for maximum damage during the burst phase.
• Healing Turret is useful for keeping everyone above 90% during the burst phase.

Xera

• Use Smoke Bomb (engineer) and Flash Grenade to blind the adds.
• Use Big Ol' Bomb and Overcharged Shot during the breakbar phase.
• You can use A.E.D. to survive 10 stacks of the button debuff during the pre-event. You can also use it to survive and cleanse the condition spam if you're clearing shards.

Bastion of the Penitent

Samarog

• Samarog's breakbar appears every 10% of his health. You can precast your Big Ol' Bomb for faster CC.
  • Note that Samarog is immune to conditions during this phase so don't waste time using Net Shot, Freeze Grenade, etc.
• If your druids and chronos are having trouble pulling Rigom, you can knock him back with Overcharged Shot and immobilize Guldheim with Net Shot or Glue Bomb.

Deimos

• Anticipate the many small breakbars during this fight and save your CC skills for them.
• Use Net Shot to immobilize Prides.
• If doing ranged strat, use Grenade Kit and Crystal Configuration: Storm.

Hall of Chains

Dhuum

• Net Shot and Glue Bomb can be used to immobilize mobs.
• Holo Leap and Jump Shot are useful for mobility.

Mythwright Gambit

Conjured Amalgamate

• Try to start every burn phase with 75% heat for maximum damage.
• Use Holographic Shockwave to instantly break Conjured Shields when they spawn.
• A.E.D. can be used to survive claps if needed. The CC from Static Shock is also useful.

Fractals

Aquatic Ruins

• Scatter Mines and Timed Charge are DPS increases and can be used in place of your rifle DPS skills. You can also use Capture Line for CC.

Swampland

• Rocket Boots and the toolbelt skill of Slick Shoes are useful for running wisps.
• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.

Urban Battleground

• Swap to Scrapper and use Sneak Gyro to stealth to the gate at the beginning. You can also bring Elite Mortar Kit to destroy the Burning Oils.
• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.

Uncategorized

• You can swap to Scrapper and use a combination of Sneak Gyro and Elixir S for stealth during the jumping sections. You can also bring a shield for blocks and reflects.
• The lasers in the tunnel count as projectiles, so if you're having trouble you can bring a shield to block or reflect them. You can also slot Tool Kit for Gear Shield.
• You can dodge while pulling the switches after the laser tunnel. This means you can dodge from one switch to another, pulling both of them.
• After Old Tom it's possible to skip past the last jumping puzzle section. Go to the platform beneath the final encounter and jump up the incline with Jump Shot. Once you're at the top your party can /gg and respawn above.

Solid Ocean

• Don't go into Photon Forge here as you can't pick up the crystals while in Photon Forge.
• You can blind the tentacles to avoid their knockdown attack.

Underground Facility

• Swap to Scrapper and use Sneak Gyro to stealth the switches at the beginning.
• Precast heat to 75% before you hit the final boss for maximum burst damage.

Cliffside

• If you reach the switches at the end of a section first, you can equip Med Kit to self-cleanse the immobilize and pull all the switches by yourself.
• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.

Molten Furnace

• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.

Thaumanova Reactor

• You can solo the heat room by equipping A.E.D., Rocket Boots and Slick Shoes, and traiting Gadgeteer in Tools. Use Jump Shot, Rocket Boots, Super Speed, and dodges to get through the room quickly. Activate A.E.D. when you're low on health.
• At the end of the heat room or the maze, equip Med Kit to self-cleanse the immobilize and pull both switches by yourself.

Snowblind

• As a mobile power DPS, you should be killing ice elementals during the bonfire section. Use Net Shot to immobilize ice elementals and burst them down before they reach the bonfire.

Twilight Oasis

• Swap to Scrapper and use Sneak Gyro to stealth the section at the beginning.
• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.

Chaos

• You can swap to Scrapper and use a combination of Sneak Gyro and Elixir S for stealth during the jumping sections. You can also bring a shield for blocks and reflects.
• The final boss does his spin at 50%. If CC is really bad, slot Personal Battering Ram, precast Big Ol' Bomb, and solo the breakbar when it comes up.

Molten Boss

• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.
• Holographic Shockwave is very good for interrupting Molten Protectors here.

Volcanic

• Use Net Shot to immobilize grawl shamans before they reach the captives.
• When the final boss enters its shield, use Grenade to quickly strip shield stacks.
• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.
• Healing Turret is very strong here as it cleanses burning from you and all your teammates.

Mai Trin

• Precast Big Ol' Bomb to break Mai Trin when she's in the lightning AoEs.
• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.

Aetherblade

• You can use Smoke Bomb (engineer) to blind adds.
• If you reach the end of a section

first, you can equip Elixir S to cheese the immobilize and pull multiple switches by yourself.

Nightmare

• Your CC contribution is very high for a DPS. Don't be afraid to interrupt your DPS rotation to CC whenever a breakbar is up.
• Precast your Big Ol' Bomb to break defiance bars whenever possible.
• If the chrono and warrior are on point with CC, you can save your CC to interrupt Ensolyss mid-stomp.

Shattered Observatory

• Note that Jump Shot is a DPS loss in this fractal due to the low gravity, and should only be used to reposition.
• Precast your Big Ol' Bomb to break defiance bars whenever possible.
• Your CC is important during Viirastra/Artsariiv's split phase so make sure you're going around killing clones.
• When Arkk's fear is up, you can hit behind yourself with grenades and bombs.