Build:Willbender - DPS Willbender (GvG)

This is a rough draft. Once adequately written, it will progress to the testing stage, where it can be rated by the community. You can help by proposing changes with a comment.

Focused on: Strike damage and Dps

Designed for: WvW GvG

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on June 05, 2022.

Overview

A build designed for massive AoE DPS, with great access to spike damage, ground AoE, ranged pressure and Alacrity.

Skill Bar

Greatsword

Scepter/Torch

Utility

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Specializations

Variants

• Swap Virtues to Radiance for more damage but no group Alacrity
  • Use Dragon stats to avoid going past crit cap

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Equipment

Head
Marauder

Shoulders
Marauder

Chest
Marauder

Hands
Marauder

Legs
Marauder

Feet
Marauder

Backpiece
Marauder

Accessory
Marauder

Accessory
Marauder

Amulet
Marauder

Ring
Marauder

Ring
Marauder

Greatsword
Marauder

Sigil

Sigil

Scepter
Marauder

Torch
Marauder

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Equipment Variants

Stats

• Use Dragon stats if you find you need more offensive stats

Consumables

• • personal food option

Usage (WiP)

Overall Priorities

High

• Ranged Spike
• Alacrity

Moderate

• Sustained damage

Low

• Single target
• CC

Surviving

• This build has moderate passive defense
• This build has high mobility skill access
• This builds has moderate active defenses
  • Beware of unblockable CCs (Line of Warding) when using Shelter
    • Standing briefly still while channeling Shelter can sometimes be better than moving straight back to your group
  • Use "Stand Your Ground!" when pushing if your firebrand's Stability is on cooldown
  • Because Renewed Focus resets your virtues, you should use them before casting Renewed Focus if they are not on cooldown.

Active defense priority Flowing Resolve - for Immobilize "Stand Your Ground!" - for stunbreaking Dodge Shelter Renewed Focus

Detailed Explanations

Ranged Spike

• Open with staff, using Holy Strike ⇒ Symbol of Swiftness
  • If the groups continue into 900 range, swap to Scepter/Torch and use Symbol of Punishment ⇒ Sword of Justice, otherwise wait in Staff for the next engage
• Don't waste Wall of Reflection to add useless DPS at range, wait until the damage can be followed up on

Alacrity

• Use Flowing Resolve before casting your Symbol skills or Wall of Reflection to give your group alacrity
  • Be careful not to double tap or the second charge will be wasted
• Avoid using your other Virtue skills while Flowing Resolve is active since it will end the buff

Sustained damage

• When using ground AoEs like Symbol skills or Sword of Justice, try to place them so that one edge is on the enemy group and the other edge is in the direction they are moving to
• Try to swap between weapons as often as possible, keeping all damage skills on cooldown
  • It is worth delaying the swap for 1-2 seconds to fit another Symbol skill
  • If you are frequently delaying your swap out of Staff it is likely you aren't swapping weapons fast enough
• Use your Symbol skills quickly after swapping weapons so that the cooldowns will line up for future swaps
• Combine your Symbol skills with other damage to generate higher spikes
  • Symbol of Punishment ⇒ Weapon Swap ⇒ Symbol of Swiftness ⇒ Holy Strike
  • Symbol of Punishment ⇒ Sword of Justice
• Try to hit your own group with Cleansing Flame as well if you can, but prioritize hitting enemies
• Place Wall of Reflection closer to the enemy group than your own to reduce projectile travel time
• Maintain Inspiring Virtue by activating Flowing Resolve and Rushing Justice
  • Make sure not to overwrite the Flowing Resolve buff with Rushing Justice

Skill priority Holy Strike Symbol of Swiftness Symbol of Punishment Wall of Reflection Zealot's Fire - when no projectile block present (Zealot's Flame flip skill) Cleansing Flame - in melee Sword of Justice

Single Target

• Use Chains of Light to follow up on other CC or to catch targets as enemies disengage
• If you have a chance to use Zealot's Fire on an isolated target without projectile block, take it

CC

• Don't use Line of Warding unless your DPS skills are on cooldown, other builds are better at providing CC
• 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