Build:Firebrand - Condi DPS

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

Focused on: Condition damage

Designed for: Raids and Fractals

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on September 28, 2022 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A condition DPS build for Firebrand in fractals and raids. This build can inflict massive AoE Burning bursts with Tome of Justice, which resets on killing (most) enemies. This makes it one of the burstiest condition damage builds and very strong if it can consistently reset Tome of Justice.

In addition to DPS, Firebrand's tomes can provide high defensive utility to its subgroup including Aegis, Protection, Resistance, Resolution, Stability, projectile destruction, and emergency healing.

Skill Bar

Axe/Torch

Scepter/Torch

Utility

Skill Variants

• Mantra of Flame or Signet of Wrath can be swapped out for more utility. In general Signet of Wrath should be swapped out, but it will deal more damage than Mantra of Flame on encounters that have very long phases.
  • Sanctuary for more CC.
  • "Stand Your Ground!" for group Stability.
  • "Advance!" might be useful on encounters where reliable Swiftness and Aegis are more valuable than damage.
• With virtues, your tome comes off cooldown quickly enough that Renewed Focus barely offers a dps increase, thus you could bring "Feel My Wrath!" for better Fury and Quickness uptime, or Mantra of Liberation for Stability and a group stunbreak.

Template Code

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Specializations

Trait Variants

• You could run Absolute Resolve for more support and personal sustain.
• Archivist of Whispers can be taken for more DPS, with some caveats:
  • It has slower burst, so phases need to be 20+ seconds long.
  • The rotation may not line up on encounters where you get tome resets via Renewed Justice (e.g. some bosses in wings 1-2, most fractals).
  • If you have three or more firebrands in the same subgroup, you may not be able to expend Epilogue Ashes of the Just charges faster than you gain them, limiting the benefit of the trait.

Equipment

Head
Viper

Shoulders
Viper

Chest
Viper

Hands
Viper

Legs
Viper

Feet
Viper

Backpiece
Sinister

Accessory
Sinister

Accessory
Sinister

Amulet
Sinister

Ring
Sinister

Ring
Viper

Axe
Viper

Torch
Viper

Sigil

Sigil

Scepter
Viper

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Consumables

Food

• or ascended variants

Utility

• • or for a cheaper alternative

Usage

Rotation

The basic idea is to maintain high symbol uptime while spamming Burning with Tome of Justice, Mantra of Flame and Zealot's Flame. When Tome of Justice is not available, axe skills are used to fill the downtime.

Your default state will be to autoattack in axe and using Symbol of Vengeance and Blazing Edge as filler. Use your Mantra of Flame and Purging Flames off cooldown. You should be able to use Symbol of Vengeance three times between each Tome Burst.

Immediately after using your 2 casts of Zealot's Fire, you may perform a Tome Burst if it is available.

Opener

1. Zealot's Flame
2. Symbol of Vengeance
3. Zealot's Fire
4. Weapon swap
5. Symbol of Punishment
6. Zealot's Fire

Tome Burst

1. Tome of Justice
2. Chapter 2 Igniting Burst
3. Chapter 4 Scorched Aftermath
4. Epilogue Ashes of the Just
5. Chapter 1 Searing Spell
6. Chapter 2 Igniting Burst

• If you have Renewed Focus available, you may do another tome burst (below). If it is unavailable, use Cleansing Flame and another Symbol of Punishment before returning to axe.

Archivist of Whispers Tome Burst

1. Tome of Justice
2. Epilogue Ashes of the Just
3. Chapter 2 Igniting Burst
4. Chapter 4 Scorched Aftermath
5. Chapter 1 Searing Spell
6. Wait for Chapter 2 Igniting Burst to come off cooldown, then use it
7. Wait for Chapter 2 Igniting Burst to come off cooldown again, then use it
8. Epilogue Ashes of the Just
9. Chapter 4 Scorched Aftermath

• While waiting, continue to use utility skills such as Purging Flames as they come off cooldown.
• If you have Renewed Focus available, you may do another tome burst (below). If it is unavailable, use Symbol of Punishment before returning to axe.

Renewed Focus Tome Burst

1. Renewed Focus
2. Zealot's Flame during the channel of Renewed Focus
3. Zealot's Fire x2 (second throw assumes Radiant Fire triggered)
4. Symbol of Punishment
5. Repeat Tome Burst
6. Cleansing Flame if Symbol of Punishment is still on cooldown
7. Symbol of Punishment
8. Return to axe

Rotation example (without Renewed Focus)

Rotation example (with Renewed Focus)

Archivist of Whispers rotation example

General Tips

• Try to always place a Symbol of Punishment immediately before entering Tome of Justice as well as immediately before swapping back to axe.
• All mantras are instant cast and should be used while performing the rest of the rotation.
• Zealot's Flame and Zealot's Fire should be used in place of autoattacks when up. You should throw the free Zealot's Fire you get from Radiant Fire as well.
  • Radiant Fire is not affected by Alacrity, but Zealot's Flame is. This means they have approximately the same cooldown so if you activate Zealot's Flame when it comes off cooldown and wait until Radiant Fire triggers, you can throw both Zealot's Fire in quick succession.
• Make sure to always complete your auto attack chain while on Axe

Encounter Specific Tips

Spirit Vale

Vale Guardian

• Use Chains of Light on Scepter to Immobilize Seekers that are getting too close.
• Make sure not to face Seekers when using Blazing Edge to ensure you don't pull them into the group.
• You can bring "Feel My Wrath!" to provide some Quickness in the split phase, if you will not have any other source.
• Renewed Focus can be used to invuln the damage if you are skipping greens.
• If you don't trust your healers, you can bring Litany of Wrath to heal up after a skipped green.
• Tome of Resolve can be used to quickly recover after a skipped green, or at the end of the split phase.
• The split phase guardian will reset your Tome of Justice when they die, so you don't need to save it for the main phase.

For more information, see our Vale Guardian Guide.

Spirit Woods

For more information, see our Spirit Woods Guide.

Gorseval the Multifarious

• Blazing Edge can be used to pull the little spirits into Gorseval to they can be cleaved down.
• During the split phase, use Chains of Light on the big spirits to prevent them moving into Gorseval.
• During the later parts of the encounter it may be worth dropping your Symbol of Punishment on the Orbs to prevent them expanding into the group.

For more information, see our Gorseval the Multifarious Guide.

Sabetha the Saboteur

For more information, see our Sabetha the Saboteur Guide.

Salvation Pass

Slothasor

• Use Blazing Edge to pull slublings (NOT the friendly slubling) into the stack.
  • Slublings reset your Tome of Justice when they die, so be on the lookout for stray ones to pull in.
• If you are the only firebrand in the group, you might want to bring "Stand Your Ground!" to provide Stability for the Fear.
• Renewed Focus can be used while jumping in Slothasor's hitbox to block the spores from the shake attack.
• Tome of Resolve can be used to quickly cleanse conditions if people are hit by the shake attack.
• If slubling pressure is too high, then Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark in Tome of Courage can reduce it, though some slubling attacks are unblockable.

For more information, see our Slothasor Guide.

Bandit Trio

• "Stand Your Ground!" is worth taking to reduce general annoyance from the various bandit CCs.

For more information, see our Bandit Trio Guide.

Matthias Gabrel

• You can be the group's primary reflect if you bring Wall of Reflection. Note that you must place the wall inside Matthias' hitbox, or the targeted person will need to remain still in order to ensure all the shards are reflected correctly.
• if you are not the main reflect, you can be a backup by using Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark in Tome of Courage.
• If your group's CC is bad, take Sanctuary to easily break the sacrifice. Matthias will no longer try to sacrifice players in the abomination phase, so you can use it to block the Shards of Rage attack instead (make sure not the block the bubble attack).
• Matthias will Fear the whole squad when transitioning into the abomination phase. If it's available, enter Tome of Courage and apply as much Stability and Resolution to your group as possible to protect against this.

For more information, see our Matthias Gabrel Guide.

Stronghold of the Faithful

Escort

• "Stand Your Ground!" is worth taking to reduce general annoyance from the various White Mantle CCs.

For more information, see our Escort Guide.

Keep Construct

• Blazing Edge can be used to pull the orb into a rift.
• Slightly delay Purging Flames after the orb collecting phase and drop it on the group and KC when it starts using phantasmal blades to cleanse the Confusion and Torment from your subgroup.

For more information, see our Keep Construct Guide.

Twisted Castle

• "Stand Your Ground!" is worth taking to reduce general annoyance from the various White Mantle CCs.

For more information, see our Twisted Castle Guide.

Xera

• Use Blazing Edge to pull adds into the stack.
• Use Tome of Resolve during the split phase and on the "puzzle islands" to clear condis, provide Swiftness, and keep everyone alive.
• You can help clear shards with Symbol of Punishment without having to run into the AoEs.

For more information, see our Xera Guide.

Bastion of the Penitent

Cairn the Indomitable

• If you have no other source of Stability, you can bring "Stand Your Ground!" to help your group to skip greens.
• If you are skipping greens and "Stand Your Ground!" is not off cooldown, you can use Tome of Courage to provide some Stability to your subgroup instead.

For more information, see our Cairn the Indomitable Guide.

Mursaat Overseer

For more information, see our Mursaat Overseer Guide.

Samarog

• Epilogue Eternal Oasis in Tome of Resolve can be dropped on the target of Brutalize to boost healing to them during the break bar.
• If your group's CC is lacking, you can bring Sanctuary. Try to drop it on the target of Brutalize to provide some incidental healing as well as CC.

For more information, see our Samarog Guide.

Deimos

• When blocking Mind Crush rather than hiding in the dome, you will take ticking damage for 10 seconds afterwards, so Tome of Resolve will be useful to keep people alive.
• If you are responsible for Aegis then you need to take "Advance!" as the duration and AoE are much larger.
• Chains of Light can be used to Immobilize Prides to keep them away from Saul.

For more information, see our Deimos Guide.

Hall of Chains

Soulless Horror

• Make sure not to pull the Tormented Dead into the group with Blazing Edge.
• After the Tormented Dead has been knocked, you can use Chains of Light to keep it Immobilized at range.
• Tome of Resolve can be useful in dealing with conditions if people are hit by scythes or the Tormented Dead AoE.
• If CC is severely lacking, you could take Sanctuary to help.

For more information, see our Soulless Horror Guide.

River of Souls

• You could bring Signet of Courage as an emergency heal.

For more information, see our River of Souls Guide.

Statues of Grenth

• Do not run Unrelenting Criticism on the eyes, as the Daze will overwrite the orb stun.

For more information, see our Statues of Grenth Guide.

Dhuum

• You can use Epilogue Eternal Oasis at every Greater Death Mark to convert the Torment.

For more information, see our Dhuum Guide.

Mythwright Gambit

Conjured Amalgamate

• Use Blazing Edge to pull in swords and CC shields.

For more information, see our Conjured Amalgamate Guide.

Sorting and Appraisal

For more information, see our Sorting and Appraisal Guide.

Largos Assassins

• As it's hard to maintain DPS during Nikare's charge, use Tome of Resolve or Tome of Courage to heal and clear condis, or provide extra toughness and Protection.
• The breakbar attack fires out projectiles than can be blocked with Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark.
• The Largos are Exposed for eight seconds after being broken, so it may be beneficial to try your burst to coincide with this - if you enter your tome as the breakbar appears this should be approximately the correct timing.

For more information, see our Largos Assassins Guide.

Qadim

• Blazing Edge can be used to pull Magma Elementals (either into the group or away, depending on strategy).
• If the squad is really struggling to prevent the Lava Elementals from reaching Qadim, you could consider bringing Sanctuary as this will prevent them from being able to enter his hitbox for five seconds. Be aware that this will also push Magma Elementals out, so be very careful when you use it.

For more information, see our Qadim Guide.

The Key of Ahdashim

Cardinal Sabir

• Sanctuary is a good choice here as Sabir cannot be damaged during one of his defiance bars, so breaking it quickly is a group DPS increase.
• Renewed Focus will allow you to invuln through some shockwaves and hold on to the damage buff.

For more information, see our Cardinal Sabir Guide.

Cardinal Adina

• Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark in Tome of Courage can be used to protect against the hand knockback in the split phase by camping the tome to keep using it. Note that Tome of Courage will not be up for every split phase (unless you are very slow) so you will either need to alternate with another player, or just keep it as a backup.

For more information, see our Cardinal Adina Guide.

Qadim the Peerless

• If the group lacks another source of Stability, you should bring "Stand Your Ground!" to protect everyone from the knock-back attack at the start of each phase.

For more information, see our Qadim the Peerless Guide.