Build:Dragonhunter - Power Dragonhunter

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

Focused on: Strike damage

Designed for: Open World and Open World General

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

Normal

This build was last updated on September 16, 2024 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

Power dragonhunter offers very high burst damage from melee range in a small AoE, high vulnerability application, and has decent mobility. Although it has low health, it has access to several defensive options and decent sustain. Moreover, it can opt to bring Longbow if ranged damage is required.

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Skill Bar

Standard

Greatsword

Spear

Utility

Weapon Variants

Usage of Spear requires the Janthir Wilds expansion.

• Longbow - provides high burst damage from range, but lacks the much-needed boon generation of spear and has slightly lower damage.
• Mainhand Sword + Focus - default set for players without Spear.

Skill Variants

Heal Skills

Litany of Wrath provides insane sustain, making you almost immmortal for its duration.

• Signet of Resolve can be considered as a more defensive option.

Utility Skills

Replace Procession of Blades first, then Bane Signet.

• Test of Faith - defense + offense; replaces Procession of Blades against moving targets and grants Protection.
• "Hold the Line!" - defensive; grants area Protection to yourself and nearby allies
• Wall of Reflection - defensive; reflects projectiles
• "Advance!" - defense; provides area Aegis and Swiftness
• "Stand Your Ground!" - defense; area Stability and personal stunbreak.
• Merciful Intervention - mobility
• Sanctuary - projectile block and extreme CC, though it has a long cooldown

Elite Skills

Dragon's Maw is a good damage option.

• Renewed Focus - defensive option.
• "Feel My Wrath!" - area Quickness and Fury.

Specializations

• Fiery Wrath - take this if allies are providing you Might.

Equipment

Ascended gear and stat infusions are not required; you can use exotic gear with the same stats.

Standard Equipment

This set uses gear that is generally applicable in all of PVE.

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Assassin

Chest
Assassin

Hands
Assassin

Legs
Assassin

Feet
Assassin

Backpiece
Assassin

Accessory
Assassin

Accessory
Assassin

Amulet
Assassin

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Assassin

Greatsword
Assassin

Sigil

Sigil

Spear
Assassin

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Relic

• Relic of the Dragonhunter further increases your burst damage. Consider Relic of Zakiros to trade damage for high sustain. If you lack access to these relics, consider Relic of the Thief.
• For defense, equip the highest tier Jade Core you can afford. Use defensive food, traits, or skills if required. If necessary, use Knight trinkets.

Consumables

Budget consumables are acceptable for use in open world.

DPS

• Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
• /
• /

Farming

• Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
• /
• (and variants)

Usage

Spear of Justice

Spear of Justice is the dragonhunter's first profession skill. Thanks to Big Game Hunter, your Spear of Justice allows you to deal massive burst damage to your target and also activates Inspiring Virtue.

Always mark your target with Spear of Justice before bursting it down.

Damage

• Turn off "Melee Attack Assist" in Options. This allows you to use Whirling Wrath and Binding Blade inside an enemy's hitbox so that all projectiles hit your target.
• Make sure to hit enemies with your symbols to gain stacks of Symbolic Avenger and inflict vulnerability from Symbolic Exposure.
• Maintain uptime on Inspiring Virtue with Spear of Justice, Wings of Resolve, and Shield of Courage.
• Use Procession of Blades off cooldown for damage, Fury, and uptime of Relic of the Dragonhunter.
• Use Sword of Justice at the start to apply vulnerability, and then periodically throughout the fight instead of autoattacks.
• Make sure to use Symbol of Luminance first to empower your other spear skills with Illuminated.
• Mark the target with Spear of Justice before unleashing your combo.

Opener

1. Procession of Blades
2. Spear of Justice
3. Sword of Justice
4. Symbol of Luminance
5. Gleaming Disc
6. Solar Storm
7. Helio Rush
8. weapon swap
9. Dragon's Maw
10. Symbol of Resolution
11. Whirling Wrath
12. Binding Blade
13. Leap of Faith

Defense

• Chain Shield of Courage and Litany of Wrath to cover your opening rotation.
• Indomitable Courage turns Shield of Courage into a stunbreak.
• Use Wings of Resolve to heal and cleanse conditions.
• Use Leap of Faith and Gleaming Disk to Blind enemies.
• Review the defensive skill variants above for more defensive options.

Crowd Control

• Pull
• Dragon's Maw
• Symbol of Luminance
• Bane Signet (as a last resort)