Build:Scourge - Condition Scourge

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

Focused on: Boonrip, Boon support and Condition damage

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

Normal

This build was last updated on May 25, 2024 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A utility build with high boon rip, Poison and Torment application intended to be played in a group with other condition based builds.

Skill Bar

Scepter/Torch

Greatsword

Utility

Variants

Utility

Swap Epidemic if needed

• Trail of Anguish
• Signet of Undeath

Template Code

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Specializations

Variants

• Path of Corruption

Variants

• Sadistic Searing consistent but low damage, easier to use

Equipment

Head
Celestial

Shoulders
Celestial

Chest
Celestial

Hands
Celestial

Legs
Celestial

Feet
Celestial

Backpiece
Celestial

Accessory
Celestial

Accessory
Celestial

Amulet
Celestial

Ring
Celestial

Ring
Celestial

Scepter
Celestial

Torch
Celestial

Sigil

Sigil

Greatsword
Celestial

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Relic

Equipment Variants

Stats

• Trailblazer is a viable alternative to Celestial

Rune

• Rune of Superior Rune of the Trapper
• Rune of Superior Rune of the Berserker

Relic

• Relic of Mercy
• Relic of Cerus

Consumables

• or

Usage

General

• It is extremely important to use Garish Pillar deliberately to proc Transfusion, do not waste it.

Overall Priorities

High

• Wells
• Transfusion

Moderate

• Support
• Boon rip

Low

• CC
• Damage

Surviving

• This build has moderate passive defense
• This build has no mobility skill access
• This build has low active defenses
  • Be conservative with Trail of Anguish, it is your only stunbreak
  • Don't use Sand Flare if the cast is likely to be interrupted

Active defense priority Trail of Anguish - for stunbreaking Dodge Sand Cascade Sandstorm Shroud Sand Flare

Detailed Explanations

Wells

• Save your Well of Corruption for the commanders call
  • If you aren't using voice communication, use your wells at the same time as the other Necromancers in your group
• When using pulsing ground AoEs like Well of Corruption, 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

Transfusion

• Use Garish Pillar to activate Transfusion and pull any allied downstates within 600 range to your character
• After transfusing, interact with the rez to activate Ritual of Life and quickly bring revive them
• Be careful not to pull downstates away from your group. If you can't activate Transfusion in a good position, don't use it at all
• Don't stay rezzing a downstate when the enemy group is pushing to or spiking it, its more important to keep yourself alive

Boon rip

• Cast Devouring Darkness as often as possible
• Use Ghastly Breach and Nightfall when the enemy group is pushing towards you or your group is in melee
• Always save a charge of Manifest Sand Shade for Sandstorm Shroud, there is a 3s delay so try to predict enemy movement
  • Hit allies as well if possible for Barrier
• Sand Flare removes boons, but should be prioritized on allies
  • Try to hit both allies and enemies as much as possible

Support

• Use Sand Flare and Sand Cascade as often as possible on pushes and during extended engages
• Make sure to use Manifest Sand Shade on your group before casting Nefarious Favor, Sand Flare or Sand Cascade
  • Save your final charge of Manifest Sand Shade when there is 15 seconds or less left on Sandstorm Shroud's cooldown
• Pay attention to allies with Illusion of Life used on them, apply barrier before the buff times out
  • Illusion of Life begins flashing on the buff bar at 5 seconds remaining
• Barrier lasts 5 seconds after application before decaying

CC

• Use Grasping Darkness at range or when the enemy group is moving away, never while the enemy is crossing or pushing into yours
• Grasping Darkness can be canceled with a Stow Weapon keybind after ~0.25s into the cast and will still finish casting

Damage

• Cast Corrosive Poison Cloud as often as possible
• Camp Scepter/Torch, only swap to Greatsword when there is an opportunity for a useful cast of Grasping Darkness or Nightfall
• Make sure Epidemic targets don't have Resistance
• Epidemic can be targeted on downed players, ranger pets and NPCs such as objective lords to make it more reliable

Skill priority Garish Pillar - Transfusion Well of Corruption - on call Ghastly Breach Corrosive Poison Cloud Grasping Darkness Nightfall Devouring Darkness Manifest Sand Shade + Sandstorm Shroud Epidemic Manifest Sand Shade + Sand Cascade Nefarious Favor Devouring Wave Grasping Dead Oppressive Collapse Death Spiral Gravedigger