Difference between revisions of "Catalyst - Power Catalyst"
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| designed for = open world, open world general | | designed for = open world, open world general | ||
| focus = strike damage | | focus = strike damage | ||
| − | | rating = | + | | rating = good |
| xpac = eod | | xpac = eod | ||
| difficulty = 2 | | difficulty = 2 | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| − | Power | + | Power catalyst rotates through all four Attunements dealing damage in a large AoE. It's also slightly more durable thanks to {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}} improving all your attributes, and provides some boons to itself and nearby allies - most notably, permanent {{Tooltip|Quickness}} and {{Tooltip|Fury}}. |
| + | As a downside, the playstyle is very fast and requires you to be constantly swapping attunements pretty much off cooldown to spam their Spheres such as {{Skill|Deploy Jade Sphere (Fire)}}, and you need to stay inside the Spheres to receive the boons, making the build somewhat static and vulnerable to enemies that move around. | ||
==Template Code== | ==Template Code== | ||
{{TemplateCode| | {{TemplateCode| | ||
| − | code = [& | + | code = [&DQYfHSkfQz50AHQA+Br4Gr4BUAH2APYA9xr3GgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADCQFWAGcAAA==] |
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
==Skill Bar== | ==Skill Bar== | ||
| Line 24: | Line 23: | ||
|profession = elementalist | |profession = elementalist | ||
|specialization = catalyst | |specialization = catalyst | ||
| − | |weapon1 = | + | |weapon1 = Spear |
|weapon2 = | |weapon2 = | ||
|weapon3 = | |weapon3 = | ||
|weapon4 = | |weapon4 = | ||
| − | |healing = | + | |healing = Signet of Restoration |
| − | |utility1 = | + | |utility1 = Relentless Fire |
| − | |utility2 = | + | |utility2 = Glyph of Storms |
| − | |utility3 = | + | |utility3 = Arcane Shield |
| − | |elite = | + | |elite = Elemental Celerity |
}} | }} | ||
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| − | + | ===Weapon Variants=== | |
| − | + | Usage of {{Tooltip|spear}} requires Janthir Wilds. Other weapon options you can consider are: | |
| − | * {{ | + | * {{Tooltip|Scepter}} + {{Tooltip|Dagger}} |
| − | * {{ | + | * {{Tooltip|Hammer}} |
| − | + | ===Skill Variants=== | |
| − | * {{Skill|Glyph of | + | ====Heal skill==== |
| + | We default to {{Skill|Signet of Restoration}} as it provides good passive healing and works great with a fast-paced playstyle, but very weak heal on demand, leaving you vulnerable to burst damage. Other alternatives are: | ||
| + | *{{Skill|Glyph of Elemental Harmony}} - strong burst healing and a boon based on attunement. | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Arcane Brilliance}} - weak heal by default, but is greatly increased if it strikes nearby enemies. Performs a blast finisher, and heals for more when doing so. Excellent synergy with water combo fields. (See: [[Guide:What are Combo Fields]]). | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Ether Renewal}} - very high healing and condition removal throughout its long channelling time. Great option for raw healing if you can afford the cast time. | ||
| + | ====Utility skills==== | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Shattering Ice}} provides extra damage if a stunbreak is not needed. | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Glyph of Lesser Elementals}} - spawn a small elemental army that dies when you mount up, good for fighting strong bosses. | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Cleansing Fire}} - condition cleanse and stun break. | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Lightning Flash}} - more mobility | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Glyph of Elemental Power}} - very flexible skill that can do damage, or cleanse conditions, or daze enemies, or give barrier, depending on your current attunement, and breaks stun. | ||
| + | ====Elite skill==== | ||
| + | {{Skill|Elemental Celerity}} lets you use your {{Skill|Etching: Volcano}} into {{Skill|Volcano}} a second time. | ||
==Specializations== | ==Specializations== | ||
| − | |||
{{Specialization|Fire|top|bot|top}} | {{Specialization|Fire|top|bot|top}} | ||
| − | {{Specialization| | + | {{Specialization|Air|bot|bot|top}} |
| − | + | {{Specialization|Catalyst|mid|bot|bot}} | |
| − | + | ;Variants | |
| − | + | * {{Trait|Empowering Auras}} + {{Trait|Empowered Empowerment}}: when playing in groups and someone else is already providing {{Tooltip|Quickness}}. | |
| − | |||
| − | * {{Trait| | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
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==Equipment== | ==Equipment== | ||
Ascended gear is not required. | Ascended gear is not required. | ||
| Line 83: | Line 71: | ||
| rune = Superior Rune of the Scholar | | rune = Superior Rune of the Scholar | ||
| rune-qt = 6 | | rune-qt = 6 | ||
| − | | weapon1 = | + | | weapon1 = Spear |
| − | | weapon2 | + | | weapon2 = |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| sigil1 = Superior Sigil of Force | | sigil1 = Superior Sigil of Force | ||
| − | | sigil2 = Superior Sigil of | + | | sigil2 = Superior Sigil of Accuracy |
| weapon3 = | | weapon3 = | ||
| weapon4 = | | weapon4 = | ||
| sigil3 = | | sigil3 = | ||
| − | | sigil4 = | + | | sigil4 = |
| − | | | + | | relic = Relic of Fireworks |
| − | | | + | | head = Assassin |
| − | + | | backpiece = Assassin | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | | backpiece = | ||
| − | |||
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}} | }} | ||
| + | If you are gearing this character from zero, start with '''exotic quality gear'''. Search the trading post for "Zhed" armor, "Impaler" spear, "Ironfist" hammer. See also: [[Guide:How to Gear a Character]]. | ||
| + | * You can use {{Relic|Relic of Zakiros}} to trade a minor amount of damage for sustain, {{Relic|Relic of the Cavalier}} to start combat with boons, or {{Relic|Relic of Durability}} for a little extra defense. | ||
| + | * For defense, equip the highest tier Jade Core you can afford. Use defensive food or skills if | ||
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| − | + | ==Consumables== | |
| − | + | Budget consumables are acceptable for use in open world. | |
| + | ===DPS=== | ||
| + | * Prioritize '''Steak''' Ascended food. | ||
| + | * {{Food|Plate of Spicy Moa Wings}} / {{Food|Bowl of Sweet and Spicy Butternut Squash Soup}} | ||
| + | * {{Utility|Superior Sharpening Stone}} / {{Utility|Tin of Fruitcake}} | ||
| − | == | + | ===Defense=== |
| − | + | * {{Food|Bowl of Orrian Truffle and Meat Stew}} | |
| − | + | * {{Food|Fried Oyster Sandwich}} | |
| − | * {{ | + | * {{Food|Bowl of Lemongrass Mussel Pasta}} |
| − | * {{ | ||
| − | * {{ | ||
| − | + | ===Farming=== | |
| − | * {{ | + | * Prioritize '''Steak''' Ascended food. |
| − | * {{ | + | * {{Item|Birthday Blaster}} / {{Item|Feast of Delectable Birthday Cake}} |
| + | * {{Food|Peppermint Omnomberry Bar}} | ||
| + | * {{Utility|Sharpening Skull}} (and variants) | ||
==Usage== | ==Usage== | ||
| − | === | + | ===Jade Sphere=== |
| − | + | The Jade Sphere is the profession mechanic of the catalyst. Hitting enemies generates energy, and you spend this energy to summon a sphere that deals minor damage and provides yourself and nearby allies with boons, most notably permanent {{Tooltip|Quickness}} thanks to {{Trait|Spectacular Sphere}} and {{Trait|Sphere Specialist}} . Each attunement has its own sphere, and their cooldowns are not shared. Thanks to the trait {{Trait|Sphere Specialist}}, you can generate Energy even while a sphere is deployed. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | You also gain improved attributes from Elemental Empowerment effect from traits like {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}}. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ===Damage=== | |
| − | + | The playstyle is easy to explain, but not so much to execute. You want to rotate through all four attunements while using their Sphere and their spear Etching skills. If you are spending more than 5 seconds on an attunement, you are too slow. Cast {{Skill|Relentless Fire}} (preferably inside the fire Sphere) and {{Skill|Glyph of Storms}} (on Air or Fire) off cooldown for damage. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | === | + | In long fights, if you do not have {{Tooltip|Alacrity}} from another player, your spear Etchings will not be ready once you attune to an element for a second time. When that happens, you have to skip the Etching, cast whatever weapon skills are off cooldown, and move to the next attunement to cast its Sphere off cooldown in order to maintain permanent Quickness. Note that you want to always cast the fire etching, {{Skill|Volcano}}, right after {{Skill|Seethe}} to increase its damage. |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | If not using spear, the idea is the same: rotate through all four attunements off cooldown to use their Sphere while casting all your damaging weapon skills. | |
| − | + | ||
| + | ===Elemental Empowerment=== | ||
| + | As a catalyst, you gain stacks of Elemental Empowerment which increase all your attributes. This obviously increases your damage and survivability a little bit, but they are also important to increase boon duration. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}} provides 3 stacks of Elemental Empowerment. To get more, you need to inflict crowd control due to {{Trait|Vicious Empowerment}}. Pretty much all your cc skills on any weapon are also damage skills and thus part of your normal rotation, so you don't need to worry about this trait. {{Trait|Elemental Epitome}} will also give you an aura periodically, and every time you get an aura you get one stack of Elemental Empowerment, such as when you attune to {{Skill|Fire Attunement}} due to {{Trait|Sunspot}}. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Quickness=== | ||
| + | You provide quickness with the traits {{Trait|Spectacular Sphere}} + {{Trait|Sphere Specialist}}. You want to swap attunements off cooldown and use their Sphere immediately. This also provides other boons, namely permanent {{Tooltip|Fury}} and some {{Tooltip|Might}}. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Trait|Sphere Specialist}} lets you generate energy even while a sphere is deployed, so you won't have energy problems. | ||
| + | Consider using one or two {{Tooltip|Diviner}} trinkets if you're struggling to maintain permanent {{Tooltip|Quickness}}. | ||
| − | * | + | ===Defense=== |
| + | * {{Tooltip|Protection}} and {{Tooltip|Aegis}} via {{Skill|Deploy Jade Sphere (Earth)}}. | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Jokulhlaup}} provides healing. | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Ripple}} evades. | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Haboob}} stability. | ||
| + | * {{Trait|Elemental Empowerment}} passively increases toughness and vitality | ||
| − | + | ===CC=== | |
| + | * {{Skill|Harden}} | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Wind Storm}} | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Lesser Derecho}} / {{Skill|Derecho}} | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Twister}} | ||
| + | * {{Skill|Undertow}} | ||
Latest revision as of 00:19, 11 August 2025
The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good
Focused on: Strike damage
Designed for: Open World and Open World General
Expansions required: 
Difficulty:
Normal
This build was last updated on August 11, 2025 and is up to date for the August 19, 2025 patch.
Overview
Power catalyst rotates through all four Attunements dealing damage in a large AoE. It's also slightly more durable thanks to improving all your attributes, and provides some boons to itself and nearby allies - most notably, permanent 
Quickness and 
Fury.
As a downside, the playstyle is very fast and requires you to be constantly swapping attunements pretty much off cooldown to spam their Spheres such as , and you need to stay inside the Spheres to receive the boons, making the build somewhat static and vulnerable to enemies that move around.
Template Code
[&DQYfHSkfQz50AHQA+Br4Gr4BUAH2APYA9xr3GgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADCQFWAGcAAA==]
Skill Bar
Spear
Utility
Weapon Variants
Usage of 
spear requires Janthir Wilds. Other weapon options you can consider are:
Skill Variants
Heal skill
We default to as it provides good passive healing and works great with a fast-paced playstyle, but very weak heal on demand, leaving you vulnerable to burst damage. Other alternatives are:
- - strong burst healing and a boon based on attunement.
- - weak heal by default, but is greatly increased if it strikes nearby enemies. Performs a blast finisher, and heals for more when doing so. Excellent synergy with water combo fields. (See: Guide:What are Combo Fields).
- - very high healing and condition removal throughout its long channelling time. Great option for raw healing if you can afford the cast time.
Utility skills
- provides extra damage if a stunbreak is not needed.
- - spawn a small elemental army that dies when you mount up, good for fighting strong bosses.
- - condition cleanse and stun break.
- - more mobility
- - very flexible skill that can do damage, or cleanse conditions, or daze enemies, or give barrier, depending on your current attunement, and breaks stun.
Elite skill
lets you use your into a second time.
Specializations
- Variants
- + : when playing in groups and someone else is already providing Quickness.
Equipment
Ascended gear is not required.
Head
Assassin
Assassin
Shoulders
Berserker
Berserker
Chest
Berserker
Berserker
Hands
Berserker
Berserker
Legs
Berserker
Berserker
Feet
Berserker
Berserker
Backpiece
Assassin
Assassin
Accessory
Berserker
Berserker
Accessory
Berserker
Berserker
Amulet
Berserker
Berserker
Ring
Berserker
Berserker
Ring
Berserker
Berserker
Spear
Berserker
Berserker
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
x6
x6
Relic
If you are gearing this character from zero, start with exotic quality gear. Search the trading post for "Zhed" armor, "Impaler" spear, "Ironfist" hammer. See also: Guide:How to Gear a Character.
- You can use to trade a minor amount of damage for sustain, to start combat with boons, or for a little extra defense.
- For defense, equip the highest tier Jade Core you can afford. Use defensive food or skills if
Consumables
Budget consumables are acceptable for use in open world.
DPS
- Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
- /
- /
Defense
Farming
- Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
- /
- (and variants)
Usage
Jade Sphere
The Jade Sphere is the profession mechanic of the catalyst. Hitting enemies generates energy, and you spend this energy to summon a sphere that deals minor damage and provides yourself and nearby allies with boons, most notably permanent Quickness thanks to and . Each attunement has its own sphere, and their cooldowns are not shared. Thanks to the trait , you can generate Energy even while a sphere is deployed.
You also gain improved attributes from Elemental Empowerment effect from traits like .
Damage
The playstyle is easy to explain, but not so much to execute. You want to rotate through all four attunements while using their Sphere and their spear Etching skills. If you are spending more than 5 seconds on an attunement, you are too slow. Cast (preferably inside the fire Sphere) and (on Air or Fire) off cooldown for damage.
In long fights, if you do not have 
Alacrity from another player, your spear Etchings will not be ready once you attune to an element for a second time. When that happens, you have to skip the Etching, cast whatever weapon skills are off cooldown, and move to the next attunement to cast its Sphere off cooldown in order to maintain permanent Quickness. Note that you want to always cast the fire etching, , right after to increase its damage.
If not using spear, the idea is the same: rotate through all four attunements off cooldown to use their Sphere while casting all your damaging weapon skills.
Elemental Empowerment
As a catalyst, you gain stacks of Elemental Empowerment which increase all your attributes. This obviously increases your damage and survivability a little bit, but they are also important to increase boon duration.
provides 3 stacks of Elemental Empowerment. To get more, you need to inflict crowd control due to . Pretty much all your cc skills on any weapon are also damage skills and thus part of your normal rotation, so you don't need to worry about this trait. will also give you an aura periodically, and every time you get an aura you get one stack of Elemental Empowerment, such as when you attune to due to .
Quickness
You provide quickness with the traits + . You want to swap attunements off cooldown and use their Sphere immediately. This also provides other boons, namely permanent Fury and some 
Might.
lets you generate energy even while a sphere is deployed, so you won't have energy problems.
Consider using one or two 
Diviner trinkets if you're struggling to maintain permanent Quickness.
Defense
Protection and 
Aegis via .- provides healing.
- evades.
- stability.
- passively increases toughness and vitality
CC
- /
Ratings
A lot more fun now that we have spear and can generate energy while a sphere is deployed and quickness base duration is increased. The only problem is how static the build is, since you want to stay inside the effects of your spheres and your spear's Etchings.
Having tested the build for some time now, I can summarize it in 1 word... Reliable. It does take getting used to it a little, but once you get a hang of it, you hit like a freight train. The cleave on this build (and on the catalyst in general), is spectacular. Survivability can be an issue sometimes, but if you mix in pieces of marauder and dragon, you can easily get by without issues. You can mix them to make sure your critical cap is not reached. Remember, that you are aiming for a 90% crit chance with Fury. Hammer 3 on air gives you 10% for 15 sec. Elemental Empowerment (you have 3 while in combat at the minimum), gives you a nice top-up. If you can reliably have hammer 3 in air up almost all the time, then you won't have to worry and can even lower crit chance a bit more. One of the biggest thing with catalyst is, understanding combos. You put down many combo fields and have many finishers. Learning what each does, will allow a player to use the most out of this build. All in all, it is fun build to play and can easily go toe to toe with other classes.
Comments
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