Build:Firebrand - Group Support

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

Focused on: Healing, Support and Utility

Designed for: Open World and [[|]]

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on August 23, 2022 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A very powerful group support for open world zerg farming.

Skill Bar

Staff

Axe/Shield

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Mace - higher area healing at the cost of Fury and CC
• Hammer - high CC option with low healing

Skill Variants

• Purging Flames - area condi cleanse
• Bow of Truth - more healing if Stability isn't needed
• Hallowed Ground - more stability for allies
• Wall of Reflection - if projectiles are a problem.
• "Advance!" - even more Aegis
• "Feel My Wrath!" - more Quickness and Fury when Stab isn't needed.

Specializations

• Writ of Persistence - better for slow-moving or static groups

Equipment

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

Head
Harrier

Shoulders
Harrier

Chest
Harrier

Hands
Harrier

Legs
Harrier

Feet
Harrier

Backpiece
Harrier

Accessory
Harrier

Accessory
Harrier

Amulet
Harrier

Ring
Harrier

Ring
Harrier

staff
Harrier

Sigil

Sigil

axe
Harrier

shield
Harrier

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Variant Equipment

• Cleric - very high healing, but a drastic decrease in boon support
• Rune of Superior Rune of Dwayna, Rune of Superior Rune of the Water, Rune of Superior Rune of the Flock - alternative healing runes

A note on Minstrel

It is often asked why pure-healing stats such as Minstrel are not used for open world supports. This is because without enough Power, you will often miss out on event credit and tags due to being unable to deal damage to enemies before they die. In large groups, damage from enemies is very spread-out as well so heavy defense is generally not needed nor advised.

Consumables

Farming

This food is used to maximize profit when farming events.

Food

• Any ascended food is superior to any other food
• - Use for general farming.
• - Use for when you need to max out magic find.
• - more sustain (requires crit chance)
• Anything - Any food is better than none, but you should prioritize the food above before using any other food.

Utility

• , , - general farming

Usage

Tome Breakdown

Firebrand has three tomes. Each is dedicated to a different specialty.

1. Tome of Justice - Damage via Burning
2. Tome of Resolve - healing and condition cleanse
3. Tome of Courage - defensive boons and projectile hate

In each of these tomes, you can often just spam skills to great effect, but it is strongly advised you sit down and learn what the skills in each tome do. Some big ones to memorize:

1. Tome of Justice
   1. Chapter 3 Heated Rebuke - circular pull that can group enemies
   2. Epilogue Ashes of the Just - provides a very powerful buff to nearby allies
2. Tome of Resolve
   1. Epilogue Eternal Oasis - increases all healing allies (including you) receive
   2. Chapter 4 Shining River - a large waterfield that heals
   3. Chapter 1 Desert Bloom - a powerful heal
3. Tome of Courage
   1. Chapter 1 Unflinching Charge - Provides stability, which grants quickness
   2. Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark - a projectile-hate bubble
   3. Epilogue Unbroken Lines - provides extreme defense to nearby allies for 5 seconds, also triggers Stalwart Speed

Damage

This build is not focused on damage, but it is recommended to use Staff to attack enemies during zergs for tag-credit. Use Symbol of Swiftness and staff auto-attacks to gain tags.

Healing

One of this build's primary focuses is healing.

• Dodging heals thanks to Selfless Daring
• Tome of Resolve has many high healing skills. In general, enter this and hit 5, 4, and spam 1. 2 will remove Conditions.
• Mantra of Lore offers high Regeneration uptime
• Empower
• Holy Strike
• Shield of Absorption
• Symbols heal if Writ of Persistence is taken. In slow groups, this is a massive increase to healing, though fast groups will move out of them quickly.

Boons

The second focus of the build is supplying allies with boons. In general, this means Quickness, Might, Fury, and Stability. These boons are a massive boost to allied DPS. The build is also capable of providing significant Protection and Aegis, while also offering Swiftness, Resolution, Resistance, and Vigor.

• Tome of Courage grants a plethora of boons. A simple but effective method of using this tome is to use each skill once.
• Mantra of Potence + Mantra of Solace grant Quickness in an area.
• Symbol of Vengeance - area Fury, though ineffective while mobile
• Empower - might
• "Stand Your Ground!", Mantra of Liberation - Stability for nearby allies; extremely valuable during CC heavy fights

Crowd Control

• Binding Blade
• Chapter 3 Heated Rebuke
• Chapter 2 Daring Challenge
• Bane Signet (as a last resort)