Build:Specter - Support Specter

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Healing, Condition cleanse and Boon support

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

Hard

This build was last updated on December 02, 2024 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A support with high Quickness, Resistance, and Barrier output.

Skill Bar

Scepter/Pistol

Scepter/Pistol

Utility

Variants

Utility

• Shadow Refuge
• Well of Silence

Template Code

[&DQUUJSwXRz4VGwAANAEAAAAAAAAIGwAAERsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]

Copy Template Code

Equipment

Head
Minstrel

Shoulders
Minstrel

Chest
Minstrel

Hands
Minstrel

Legs
Minstrel

Feet
Minstrel

Backpiece
Minstrel

Accessory
Minstrel

Accessory
Minstrel

Amulet
Minstrel

Ring
Minstrel

Ring
Minstrel

Scepter
Minstrel

Pistol
Minstrel

Sigil

Sigil

Scepter
Minstrel

Pistol
Minstrel

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Consumables

• • Alternative

Usage

General

• As soon as you get the 25 stacks of Sigil of Superior Sigil of Life, swap to the Scepter/Pistol without it
  • Otherwise avoid swapping weapons

Overall Priorities

High

• Barrier/Healing

Moderate

• Boon Application

Low

• CC

Surviving

• This build has moderate passive defense
• This build has moderate mobility skill access
• This builds has low active defenses

Active defense priority

• Blinding Powder - for Stunbreaking
• Dodge
• Enter Shadow Shroud

Detailed Explanations

Barrier/Healing

• Make sure to use Siphon on an ally so you have a link after you Enter Shadow Shroud
  • Subsequent casts should be used on enemies to proc Thrill of the Crime/Bountiful Theft
• Spend most of your initiative on Measured Shot ⇒ Endless Night
  • With Endless Night target either a DPS for Quickness or a target likely to take heavy damage for Barrier (such as the commander}}
  • Your character must face the target of Endless Night for the entire cast or it will be cancelled
    • If you don't input any movement then the skill will automatically aim towards the target
• When you're not in a good position for Measured Shot/Endless Night Shadow Sap is a good way to dump initiative
• In Enter Shadow Shroud:
  • Prioritize Mind Shock and Grasping Shadows
    • Hitting enemies with Mind Shock is nice, but not worth putting yourself out of position
    • Mind Shock can be used to blast the Smoke Field from Black Powder for Stealth
  • Dawn's Repose is excellent, but needs to be used cautiously to avoid putting the player in a bad position
    • Try to hit with the edge of the AoE rather than targeting the center of the enemy group
  • Eternal Night has good healing, but don't go out of your way to land it
  • Haunt Shot is generally not better than leaving shroud to use scepter skills
• Shadowsquall is your largest heal and can be accessed through utility skills or Black Powder ⇒ Mind Shock

Boon Application

• Use Well of Bounty whenever your party is lacking Stability
  • Ideally also use it in a location your party will stay for multiple ticks, not while your group is moving
• Your other Well skills should be used for primarily Resistance, though try to get value from their other effects when possible

CC

• Be careful not to put yourself out of position with Shadowfall

Settings

• Under General Options / User Interface check Always show squad health bars and Always show party health bars. These will make it much easier to keep track of who needs your support.
• Also under General Options / User Interface turn on Thick party health bars
  • Thick squad health bars can be used too as a matter of personal preference, but is not recommended for large numbers
• Under Squad Options uncheck View as a grid. This will allow you to keep track of your allies' boons, conditions and health, enabling a better decision-making and skill management.