Difference between revisions of "Specter - Condition Scepter"
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| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
| rating = great | | rating = great | ||
| focus = Mobility, Condition Damage, Utility | | focus = Mobility, Condition Damage, Utility | ||
| + | | difficulty = 2 | ||
| + | | xpac = EoD | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| − | A | + | A Carrion Scepter Specter condition build for PvP that's viable anywhere from duels to teamfights. The build's greatest strength is its versatility, being able to switch from pressuring targets to supporting allies at will. |
| Line 22: | Line 24: | ||
| utility1 = Well of Bounty | | utility1 = Well of Bounty | ||
| utility2 = Shadowstep | | utility2 = Shadowstep | ||
| − | |||
| elite = Shadowfall | | elite = Shadowfall | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |||
===Skill Variants=== | ===Skill Variants=== | ||
| − | '''Weapons''' | + | <!--'''Weapons''' |
| − | * ''Scepter/Dagger'' over ''Scepter/Pistol'' - swapping the offhand weapons around for a different Scepter dual skill is also viable. Don't forget to swap Sword/Dagger to Sword/Pistol. | + | * ''Scepter/Dagger'' over ''Scepter/Pistol'' - swapping the offhand weapons around for a different Scepter dual skill is also viable. Don't forget to swap Sword/Dagger to Sword/Pistol.--> |
| + | '''Heal''' | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Well of Gloom}} - bit more mobility, trait synergy and group utility in general. | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''Utility''' |
| − | |||
| + | Viable choices for the optional slot: | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Signet of Shadows}} - passive mobility boost and lots of cover conditions on active that could instantly be used during burst combos or defensively for the {{Tooltip|Blind}} and {{Tooltip|Weakness}}. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
* {{Skill|Thousand Needles}} - great AoE condition burst (and a chance to contribute to fights you're not even present in, due to its range). | * {{Skill|Thousand Needles}} - great AoE condition burst (and a chance to contribute to fights you're not even present in, due to its range). | ||
| Line 52: | Line 55: | ||
{{Specialization|Trickery|bot|top|mid}} | {{Specialization|Trickery|bot|top|mid}} | ||
{{Specialization|Specter|mid|bot|mid}} | {{Specialization|Specter|mid|bot|mid}} | ||
| + | '''Variants''' | ||
| + | * Taking {{Trait|Second Opinion}}, {{Trait|Larcenous Torment}} and {{Trait|Strength of Shadows}} results in a more roaming/+1 focused build with higher damage, but it's going to make you worse at 1v1ing and supporting allies. The build also becomes harder to play in general due to the loss of several defensive traits. | ||
| Line 64: | Line 69: | ||
| sigil3 = Escape | | sigil3 = Escape | ||
| sigil4 = Cleansing | | sigil4 = Cleansing | ||
| − | | rune = | + | | rune = Necromancer |
| amulet = Carrion | | amulet = Carrion | ||
| + | | relic = Relic of the Demon Queen | ||
}} | }} | ||
===Equipment Variants=== | ===Equipment Variants=== | ||
| + | '''Relics''' | ||
| + | * {{Relic|Relic of the Blightbringer}} - better condi variety and some extra damage. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * {{Relic|Relic of the Sunless}} - adds AoE burst damage to your elite. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * {{Relic|Relic of the Chronomancer}} - worth considering when playing with a lot of '''Well''' skills, the {{Tooltip|Quickness}} could speed up your burst combos. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
'''Runes''' | '''Runes''' | ||
| − | * {{Rune| | + | * {{Rune|Lynx}} - better mobility when not running {{Skill|Signet of Shadows}}. |
| + | |||
| + | * {{Rune|Orr}} - good stats and could help you survive against other condi specs. | ||
| − | |||
'''Sigils''' | '''Sigils''' | ||
| Line 87: | Line 102: | ||
'''General''' | '''General''' | ||
| − | * Most of your Specters skills double as support skills. While your role is to kill targets, a good Specter also keeps an eye on allies and helps them in critical moments by granting them Barrier. | + | * Most of your Specters skills double as support skills. While your role is to kill targets, a good Specter also keeps an eye on allies and helps them in critical moments by granting them Barrier. Versatility is one of the build's key strengths - you're equally good at camping enemy supports in teamfights and stabilizing low HP allies with support skills. |
* Because of Shroud you can be a bit more reckless with spending Initiative as Shroud skills are free and by the time you've rotated through Shroud CDs your Initiative should be back to full. | * Because of Shroud you can be a bit more reckless with spending Initiative as Shroud skills are free and by the time you've rotated through Shroud CDs your Initiative should be back to full. | ||
| Line 96: | Line 111: | ||
** Scepter is the main weapon set of the build, the other one fills more of a utility/situational purpose. Sword/Dagger has good defensive skills, chase potential and damage. | ** Scepter is the main weapon set of the build, the other one fills more of a utility/situational purpose. Sword/Dagger has good defensive skills, chase potential and damage. | ||
| − | * | + | * {{Skill|Shadowfall}}'s range can be extended by using {{Skill|Shadowstep}} in the middle of the cast, the Well will spawn on Shadowstep's target location. |
* The main sources of condition cleansing are {{Skill|Shadowstep}}, {{Trait|Hungering Darkness}}, your on-swap Sword sigils and {{Skill|Infiltrator's Return}} (Sword #2's chain skill). | * The main sources of condition cleansing are {{Skill|Shadowstep}}, {{Trait|Hungering Darkness}}, your on-swap Sword sigils and {{Skill|Infiltrator's Return}} (Sword #2's chain skill). | ||
| Line 105: | Line 120: | ||
:# {{Skill|Black Powder}} | :# {{Skill|Black Powder}} | ||
:# {{Skill|Enter Shadow Shroud}} | :# {{Skill|Enter Shadow Shroud}} | ||
| − | :# {{Skill|Grasping Shadows}} | + | :# {{Skill|Grasping Shadows}} (Shroud 2) |
| − | :# {{Skill|Dawn's Repose}} | + | :# {{Skill|Dawn's Repose}} (Shroud 3) |
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Related Builds== | ||
| + | * [[Build:Specter_-_Celestial_Scepter_Roamer|Specter - Celestial Scepter]] - WvW roaming version of the build. | ||
| Line 114: | Line 133: | ||
* Twitch: [https://www.twitch.tv/azzardome Azzardome] | * Twitch: [https://www.twitch.tv/azzardome Azzardome] | ||
| − | * Twitch: [https://www.twitch.tv/ | + | * Twitch: [https://www.twitch.tv/pain_yamashiro Pain] |
Latest revision as of 17:58, 11 September 2024
The community gave this build a rating, making it top-tier: Great
Focused on: Mobility, Condition damage and Utility
Designed for: PvP Conquest
Expansions required: 
Difficulty:
Normal
This build was last updated on September 11, 2024 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.
Overview
A Carrion Scepter Specter condition build for PvP that's viable anywhere from duels to teamfights. The build's greatest strength is its versatility, being able to switch from pressuring targets to supporting allies at will.
Skill Bar
Scepter/Pistol
Sword/Dagger
Utility
Skill Variants
Heal
- - bit more mobility, trait synergy and group utility in general.
Utility
Viable choices for the optional slot:
- - passive mobility boost and lots of cover conditions on active that could instantly be used during burst combos or defensively for the
Blind and 
Weakness.
- - great AoE condition burst (and a chance to contribute to fights you're not even present in, due to its range).
- - great area denial tool for securing kills and isolating enemy team members.
Template Code
[&DQUcGywnRy4KAQwBCBsZAVgAWwELATQBERsoAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
Specializations
Variants
- Taking , and results in a more roaming/+1 focused build with higher damage, but it's going to make you worse at 1v1ing and supporting allies. The build also becomes harder to play in general due to the loss of several defensive traits.
Equipment
Scepter
Pistol
Sigil
Sigil
Sword
Dagger
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
Amulet
Relic
Equipment Variants
Relics
- - better condi variety and some extra damage.
- - adds AoE burst damage to your elite.
- - worth considering when playing with a lot of Well skills, the
Quickness could speed up your burst combos.
Runes
- - better mobility when not running .
- - good stats and could help you survive against other condi specs.
Sigils
- over - if you can afford to give up some cleansing more endurance.
Usage
Elite specialization basics
- Specters gain access to their own version of called . Mechanically they are the same, replacing your skill bar while active. Damage taken while in Shroud drains Shadow Force instead of HP.
- Using (Specter's version of ) and spending Initiative builds Shadow Force.
General
- Most of your Specters skills double as support skills. While your role is to kill targets, a good Specter also keeps an eye on allies and helps them in critical moments by granting them Barrier. Versatility is one of the build's key strengths - you're equally good at camping enemy supports in teamfights and stabilizing low HP allies with support skills.
- Because of Shroud you can be a bit more reckless with spending Initiative as Shroud skills are free and by the time you've rotated through Shroud CDs your Initiative should be back to full.
- removes boons when used on enemies and
Dazes them right after, allowing it to interrupt targets even through 
Stability.
- Most of the weapon damage comes from spamming skill #3 on Scepter: + .
- Scepter is the main weapon set of the build, the other one fills more of a utility/situational purpose. Sword/Dagger has good defensive skills, chase potential and damage.
- 's range can be extended by using in the middle of the cast, the Well will spawn on Shadowstep's target location.
- The main sources of condition cleansing are , , your on-swap Sword sigils and (Sword #2's chain skill).
- Offhand pistol's main purpose is to combo stealth with and to provide a quick interrupt via .
- Stealth stacking rotation:
- (Shroud 2)
- (Shroud 3)
Related Builds
- Specter - Celestial Scepter - WvW roaming version of the build.
Top Streamers
- Twitch: Sindrener
- Twitch: Azzardome
- Twitch: Pain
Ratings
It's still good, but it can be very map dependant where it works well on maps with a lot of verticality, like temple of the silent storm, where as it struggles to escape on maps like capricorn due to the nature of its mobility coming from multiple shorter range shadowsteps from wells. It still does well in small fights like 1v1 or 2v2, but compared to other thieves it is easily focused due to lower stealth access, only really having more than s/d daredevil. Barrier share and the buff that makes ally attacks inflict torment can easily cause a foe to be overwhelmed, especially since scepter 3 inflicts multiple cover condis that can make its poison and torment harder to cleanse. Not bad but not competitively viable outside of ranked, the only person still playing this in tournaments is Frae and even that is rare to see.
All I can say to the complainers: skill issue. There are better builds for damage and rotating but the supportive aspect of the build carries it. In 2v2s on sides especially the barrier sharing is invaluable, it's endless and almost free. You need to care for your team to get the full potential of this build which makes it more complex than your average thief build and I can see some people are having trouble adjusting.
I'm not an excellent pvp player and I certainly haven't exploited its full potential at all. But this spec seems really bad to me btw...
My first love of the expansion but good things never last. Shroud nerf slapped it hard and we never got anything to compensate. I still play it sometimes and it CAN be useful, it's not unviable but there are so many more OP things to play rn. I absolutely hate shortbow on thief and I loved that we could finally play without it. The support angle was very refreshing and a welcome addition to thief, the damage is kinda of good but the whole thing feels sluggish without quickness. Maybe instead of alacrity wells should give quickness? Or buff chrono rune.
Seems to be the #1 thief build after the last balance patch. Great damage, mobility and group utility.
this is the real "necro" with high speed good support help team . only specter can win blade 1v1
My favorite build atm - highly mobile, good damage, and strong utility. Really starts to shine once you get the hang of which shadowstep to use in a given situation and when to target allies with 3. I currently prefer Panic Strike since a surprise immobilize is nice for securing kills, and there might be an argument for pistol offhand with scepter (though the 3 is somewhat harder to use).
Comments
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