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Difference between revisions of "Catalyst - Staff Backline"

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{{SEO|description=A backline zerg WvW DPS build for Elementalist providing damage, CC and field support. Requires a precise usage of skills and positioning to survive.}}
 
 
{{Build
 
{{Build
 
| profession = elementalist
 
| profession = elementalist
Line 5: Line 4:
 
| designed for = wvw zerg
 
| designed for = wvw zerg
 
| focus = strike damage, utility, crowd control
 
| focus = strike damage, utility, crowd control
−
| rating = test
+
| rating = good
 
| xpac = hot, eod
 
| xpac = hot, eod
 +
| difficulty = 2
 
}}
 
}}
  
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|utility2 = Relentless Fire
 
|utility2 = Relentless Fire
 
|utility3 = Glyph of Storms
 
|utility3 = Glyph of Storms
−
|elite = Conjure Fiery Greatsword
+
|elite = Elemental Celerity
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
;Variants
+
 
−
* {{Skill|Elemental Celerity}}
+
===Variants===
 +
;Heal
 +
* {{Skill|Arcane Brilliance}} extra combo finisher, if needed for {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}}
  
  
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==Specializations==
 
==Specializations==
−
{{Specialization|Fire|mid|bot|top}}
+
{{Specialization|Fire|bot|bot|top}}
 
{{Specialization|Air|bot|mid|top}}
 
{{Specialization|Air|bot|mid|top}}
−
{{Specialization|Catalyst|bot|top|mid}}
+
{{Specialization|Catalyst|mid|top|mid}}
 
;Variants
 
;Variants
−
* {{Trait|Staunch Auras}} only if you can't reach 10 stacks of {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}}
+
* {{Trait|Energized Elements}} if {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}} can be maintained
 +
* {{Trait|Evasive Empowerment}} only if you can't reach 10 stacks of {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}}
  
  
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| rune = Superior Rune of the Scholar
 
| rune = Superior Rune of the Scholar
 
| rune-qt = 6
 
| rune-qt = 6
 +
| relic = Relic of Fireworks
 
| weapon1 = Staff
 
| weapon1 = Staff
 
| weapon2 =  
 
| weapon2 =  
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| weapon3 = Staff
 
| weapon3 = Staff
 
| weapon4 =  
 
| weapon4 =  
−
| sigil3 = Superior Sigil of Force
+
| sigil3 = Superior Sigil of Bloodlust
−
| sigil4 = Superior Sigil of Bloodlust
+
| sigil4 = Superior Sigil of Energy
 
| infusion1 = Mighty WvW Infusion
 
| infusion1 = Mighty WvW Infusion
 
| infusion1-qt = 18
 
| infusion1-qt = 18
−
| backpiece =  Dragon
+
| amulet =  Dragon
 +
| ring1 = Dragon
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
 +
===Equipment Variants===
 +
;Relics
 +
* {{Relic|Relic of Speed}}
 +
* {{Relic|Relic of the Thief}}
  
  
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===General===
 
===General===
 
* As soon as you get 25 stacks of {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Bloodlust}} and get out of combat, swap back to the Staff without a stacking sigil
 
* As soon as you get 25 stacks of {{Sigil|Superior Sigil of Bloodlust}} and get out of combat, swap back to the Staff without a stacking sigil
 +
* You are much stronger with full stacks of {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}} and {{Trait|Empowering Auras}}
 +
** Make sure to use {{Skill|Frozen Ground}} on yourself to help maintain stacks
 
* Staff Catalyst uses an attunement rotation for maximum burst damage
 
* Staff Catalyst uses an attunement rotation for maximum burst damage
 
** You are not locked into this rotation, while it is optimal for DPS, change the order based on your needs:
 
** You are not locked into this rotation, while it is optimal for DPS, change the order based on your needs:
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*** {{Skill|Earth Attunement}} - CC, projectile reflect
 
*** {{Skill|Earth Attunement}} - CC, projectile reflect
  
−
{{Collapsible
+
{{Collapse start|Attunement rotation}}
−
|width=85
 
−
|;Attunement rotation
 
−
|
 
 
# {{Skill|Fire Attunement}}
 
# {{Skill|Fire Attunement}}
 
# {{Skill|Earth Attunement}}
 
# {{Skill|Earth Attunement}}
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# {{Skill|Air Attunement}}
 
# {{Skill|Air Attunement}}
 
# Repeat from step 1
 
# Repeat from step 1
−
}}
+
{{Collapse end}}
  
  
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;High
 
;High
 
* {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
 
* {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
−
* {{Skill|Conjure Fiery Greatsword}}
 
  
 
;Moderate
 
;Moderate
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** An '''About Face''' keybind can be useful for {{Skill|Burning Retreat}}
 
** An '''About Face''' keybind can be useful for {{Skill|Burning Retreat}}
 
** Avoid using {{Skill|Lightning Flash}} for mobility unless nessecary to survive
 
** Avoid using {{Skill|Lightning Flash}} for mobility unless nessecary to survive
−
* This builds has moderate active defenses  
+
* This build has moderate active defenses  
−
** {{Skill|Twist of Fate}}
 
 
** Save {{Skill|Soothing Water}} for removing {{Tooltip|Immobilize}}, {{Tooltip|Chill}} or {{Tooltip|Weakness}}
 
** Save {{Skill|Soothing Water}} for removing {{Tooltip|Immobilize}}, {{Tooltip|Chill}} or {{Tooltip|Weakness}}
  
−
{{Collapsible
+
{{Collapse start|Active defense priority}}
−
|width=85
 
−
|;Active defense priority
 
−
|
 
 
* {{Skill|Windborne Speed}} - for {{Tooltip|Immobilize}}
 
* {{Skill|Windborne Speed}} - for {{Tooltip|Immobilize}}
 
* {{Skill|Magnetic Aura}} - for projectiles
 
* {{Skill|Magnetic Aura}} - for projectiles
 +
* '''Dodge'''
 
* {{Skill|Burning Retreat}}
 
* {{Skill|Burning Retreat}}
 
* {{Skill|Lightning Flash}}
 
* {{Skill|Lightning Flash}}
 
* {{Skill|Soothing Water}}
 
* {{Skill|Soothing Water}}
−
}}
+
{{Collapse end}}
  
  
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* Place {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} where the enemy group is moving to, not where they are when you begin the cast
 
* Place {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} where the enemy group is moving to, not where they are when you begin the cast
 
* Activate {{Skill|Relentless Fire}} after casting {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
 
* Activate {{Skill|Relentless Fire}} after casting {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
 +
* Use {{Skill|Elemental Celerity}} to reset the cooldown of {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} and {{Skill|Lava Font}} after your first cast
 
* There are two ways to move during the cast of {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}:  
 
* There are two ways to move during the cast of {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}:  
 
** Cast {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} immediately after casting {{Skill|Burning Retreat}} and the {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} will be queued to cast at the target location after the rollback ends
 
** Cast {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} immediately after casting {{Skill|Burning Retreat}} and the {{Skill|Meteor Shower}} will be queued to cast at the target location after the rollback ends
 
** Use {{Skill|Lightning Flash}} after you start casting it
 
** Use {{Skill|Lightning Flash}} after you start casting it
−
 
−
 
−
====Fiery Greatsword====
 
−
* Treat {{Skill|Firestorm}} as a secondary {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
 
−
* Activate {{Skill|Relentless Fire}} after casting {{Skill|Conjure Fiery Greatsword}}
 
−
* {{Skill|Fiery Whirl}} is low cooldown and has high damage, use it aggressively but don't move yourself into a bad position
 
−
** Aim through the enemy stack if your group crosses through them and aim across the enemy stack otherwise
 
−
* Use {{Skill|Fiery Rush}} for mobility, on single targets or to set up {{Skill|Fiery Whirl}}
 
−
* Coordinate with a DPS player in your group to pick up the conjure dropped on the ground
 
−
** Make sure to place it in a safe place for them to grab
 
−
** If you don't have anyone reliable to coordinate with, you can pick it up yourself for 30s after casting the skill
 
  
  
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** Otherwise {{Skill|Air Attunement}} has more damage but with a much longer cooldown
 
** Otherwise {{Skill|Air Attunement}} has more damage but with a much longer cooldown
  
−
{{Collapsible
+
{{Collapse start|Skill priority}}
−
|width=85
 
−
|;Skill priority
 
−
|
 
 
* {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
 
* {{Skill|Meteor Shower}}
−
* {{Skill|Conjure Fiery Greatsword}}
 
 
* {{Skill|Lava Font}}
 
* {{Skill|Lava Font}}
 
* {{Skill|Glyph of Storms}}
 
* {{Skill|Glyph of Storms}}
 
* {{Skill|Lightning Surge}}/{{Skill|Eruption}}/{{Skill|Ice Spike}}
 
* {{Skill|Lightning Surge}}/{{Skill|Eruption}}/{{Skill|Ice Spike}}
 
* '''Autoattacks'''
 
* '''Autoattacks'''
−
}}
+
{{Collapse end}}
  
  
 
====CC====
 
====CC====
 
* Your three ground CCs are {{Skill|Static Field}}, {{Skill|Unsteady Ground}} and {{Skill|Frozen Ground}}, in order of strength
 
* Your three ground CCs are {{Skill|Static Field}}, {{Skill|Unsteady Ground}} and {{Skill|Frozen Ground}}, in order of strength
 +
** {{Skill|Frozen Ground}} should normally be saved to give yourself and allies {{Skill|Frost Aura}} instead of being used as a CC
 
* Drop your target when casting {{Skill|Shock Wave}} to make it easier to aim, don't cast it into projectile reflect
 
* Drop your target when casting {{Skill|Shock Wave}} to make it easier to aim, don't cast it into projectile reflect
−
** You shouldn't interrupt your rotation to try and CC, instead try to predict when you'll need to CC and move into the best possible attunement early
+
* You shouldn't interrupt your rotation to try and CC, instead just use whichever CC you have available for the attunements you're in
 
* Use your CC when:
 
* Use your CC when:
 
** Your group calls a spike:
 
** Your group calls a spike:
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====Support====
 
====Support====
 +
* Focus on using {{Skill|Windborne Speed}} when your group is pushing or disengaging from the enemy
 
* Cast {{Skill|Healing Rain}} on clashes, targeting the ground AoE so that one edge is on your group and the other edge is where they are moving to
 
* Cast {{Skill|Healing Rain}} on clashes, targeting the ground AoE so that one edge is on your group and the other edge is where they are moving to
 
* If a player in your party is going to die because of {{Tooltip|Immobilize}}, save them with {{Skill|Windborne Speed}}
 
* If a player in your party is going to die because of {{Tooltip|Immobilize}}, save them with {{Skill|Windborne Speed}}
 
* Cast {{Skill|Geyser}} where your team is regrouping
 
* Cast {{Skill|Geyser}} where your team is regrouping
 +
* Use {{Skill|Frozen Ground}} on your group before pushes to give {{Skill|Frost Aura}}
 
* Use your '''Jade Sphere''' in {{Skill|Air Attunement}}, on your group, for {{Tooltip|Quickness}}
 
* Use your '''Jade Sphere''' in {{Skill|Air Attunement}}, on your group, for {{Tooltip|Quickness}}

Latest revision as of 13:21, 12 May 2024

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Strike damage, Utility and Crowd control

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required: Heart of Thorns buildsEnd of Dragons builds

Difficulty:
Normal
This build was last updated on May 12, 2024 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A backline zerg WvW DPS build for Elementalist providing damage, CC and field support. Requires a precise usage of skills and positioning to survive.


Skill Bar

Staff
Staff
Utility


Variants

Heal
  • Arcane Brilliance extra combo finisher, if needed for Elemental Empowerment


Template Code

[&DQYfHikbQyd1AAAAkAAAAL4BAAD4GgAAlwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
Copy Template Code


Specializations

Variants
  • Energized Elements if Elemental Empowerment can be maintained
  • Evasive Empowerment only if you can't reach 10 stacks of Elemental Empowerment


Equipment

Head
Marauder
Shoulders
Marauder
Chest
Marauder
Hands
Marauder
Legs
Marauder
Feet
Marauder
Backpiece
Marauder
Accessory
Marauder
Accessory
Marauder
Amulet
Dragon
Ring
Dragon
Ring
Marauder
Staff
Marauder
Sigil
Sigil
Staff
Marauder
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
x6
Infusion
x18
Relic


Equipment Variants

Relics
  • Relic of Speed
  • Relic of the Thief


Consumables

    • personal option


Usage

General

  • As soon as you get 25 stacks of Sigil of Superior Sigil of Bloodlust and get out of combat, swap back to the Staff without a stacking sigil
  • You are much stronger with full stacks of Elemental Empowerment and Empowering Auras
    • Make sure to use Frozen Ground on yourself to help maintain stacks
  • Staff Catalyst uses an attunement rotation for maximum burst damage
    • You are not locked into this rotation, while it is optimal for DPS, change the order based on your needs:
      • Water Attunement - healing and cleanse
      • Air Attunement - CC, Immobilize Immobilize clear, single target damage
      • Earth Attunement - CC, projectile reflect
Attunement rotation Toggle
  1. Fire Attunement
  2. Earth Attunement
  3. Water Attunement
  4. Air Attunement
  5. Repeat from step 1


Priorities

High
  • Meteor Shower
Moderate
  • Sustained damage
  • CC
Low
  • Support


Surviving

  • This build has low passive defense
  • This build has moderate mobility skill access
    • An About Face keybind can be useful for Burning Retreat
    • Avoid using Lightning Flash for mobility unless nessecary to survive
  • This build has moderate active defenses
Active defense priority Toggle
  • Windborne Speed - for Immobilize Immobilize
  • Magnetic Aura - for projectiles
  • Dodge
  • Burning Retreat
  • Lightning Flash
  • Soothing Water


Detailed Explanations

Meteor Shower

  • Place Meteor Shower where the enemy group is moving to, not where they are when you begin the cast
  • Activate Relentless Fire after casting Meteor Shower
  • Use Elemental Celerity to reset the cooldown of Meteor Shower and Lava Font after your first cast
  • There are two ways to move during the cast of Meteor Shower:
    • Cast Meteor Shower immediately after casting Burning Retreat and the Meteor Shower will be queued to cast at the target location after the rollback ends
    • Use Lightning Flash after you start casting it


Sustained damage

  • When using ground AoEs like Lava Font, place them so that one edge is on the enemy group and the other edge is in the direction they are moving to
  • Your 2 skills (Eruption/Ice Spike)/Lightning Surge) have very long delays or cast times
    • Predict the enemies movement, as with Meteor Shower
    • If you rotate quickly enough from Earth Attunement ⇒ Water Attunement ⇒ Air Attunement you can have all three skills land at the same place and time for burst damage. Sync them up as much as possible
  • Use Glyph of Storms in Fire Attunement if you expect the fight to last at least 25 seconds
    • Otherwise Air Attunement has more damage but with a much longer cooldown
Skill priority Toggle
  • Meteor Shower
  • Lava Font
  • Glyph of Storms
  • Lightning Surge/Eruption/Ice Spike
  • Autoattacks


CC

  • Your three ground CCs are Static Field, Unsteady Ground and Frozen Ground, in order of strength
    • Frozen Ground should normally be saved to give yourself and allies Frost Aura instead of being used as a CC
  • Drop your target when casting Shock Wave to make it easier to aim, don't cast it into projectile reflect
  • You shouldn't interrupt your rotation to try and CC, instead just use whichever CC you have available for the attunements you're in
  • 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


Support

  • Focus on using Windborne Speed when your group is pushing or disengaging from the enemy
  • Cast Healing Rain on clashes, targeting the ground AoE so that one edge is on your group and the other edge is where they are moving to
  • If a player in your party is going to die because of Immobilize Immobilize, save them with Windborne Speed
  • Cast Geyser where your team is regrouping
  • Use Frozen Ground on your group before pushes to give Frost Aura
  • Use your Jade Sphere in Air Attunement, on your group, for Quickness Quickness
Retrieved from "https://metabattle.com/wiki/index.php?title=Build:Catalyst_-_Staff_Backline&oldid=17606"


Ratings

This build has a rating of 5 stars based on 4 votes.
Log in or register to rate this build.
5 stars
Bonemiser gave this build 5 stars • August 2024
If your goal is to AoE an enemy boonball at 1200 range, I can't think of any other builds that do it better. Burning Retreat and Lightning Flash compensate for Meteor's standing cast weakness quite well. It is shocking how often players will let you chain cast Meteor -> Lava Font -> Glyph of Storms -> Celerity -> Lava Font -> Meteor for extreme AoE output on a single point. Also supplies Staff's great CC along with Ice and Water fields for your team to blast. That said, this build cannot stand up to any kind of actual pressure, so play smart if you enjoy not folding like a napkin.
5 stars
Alexkz gave this build 5 stars • December 2023
pretty good dps on this one, let's you hit many targets quickly. Can't get as much dps with staff weaver
5 stars
DEL gave this build 5 stars • July 2023
I play this and variations of it and if you can handle the APM and know where to put your stuff it is pretty much the #1 stat padder build out there.
4 stars
Arete gave this build 4 stars • April 2023
Solid build, has much more control over its attunement access and weapon skills than weaver, but maintaining elemental empowerment can be pretty challenging. With extra auras on staff now it can compete with weaver pretty well.

Comments

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