Soulbeast - Staff Soulbeast (GvG)

Part of the current metagame

Our curator decided this build is in the current metagame regardless of rating. The community gave this build a rating, making it top-tier: Great

Focused on: Direct damage and Crowd control

Designed for: WvW GvG

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

Normal

This build was last updated on October 10, 2023 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

This build focuses on landing Immobilize during your group's spike and excels in coordinated group play. It also adds high spike damage.

Skill Bar

Staff

Sword/Axe

Utility

Specializations

Template Code

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Equipment

Head
Marauder

Shoulders
Marauder

Chest
Marauder

Hands
Marauder

Legs
Marauder

Feet
Marauder

Backpiece
Marauder

Accessory
Dragon

Accessory
Marauder

Amulet
Marauder

Ring
Dragon

Ring
Marauder

Staff
Marauder

Sigil

Sigil

Sword
Marauder

Axe
Marauder

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Relic

Consumables

• • personal option

Usage

Overall Priorities

High

• Single Target

Moderate

• Immobilize/CC
• Damage

Low

• Support

Surviving

• This build has high passive defense
• This build has high mobility skill access
  • Drop your target when using one of your leaps (Crippling Leap (soulbeast), Brutal Charge, Swoop) defensively
• This builds has moderate active defenses
  • Try to save Dolyak Stance for stunbreaking as much as possible

Active defense priority

• Dolyak Stance - for stunbreaking
• Bear Stance - for Immobilize
• Dolyak Stance - for Immobilize
• Dodge
• Bear Stance - general use

Detailed Explanations

Single Target

• Solar Beam is extremely strong for focusing down single targets when combined with "Sic 'Em!" and One Wolf Pack
• Wait for your target to waste their dodges before committing to the combo

Immobilize/CC

• Prelude Lash and Path of Scars pull enemies towards you, make sure you aren't pulling enemies out of damage with it
• Don't overcommit into melee when Muddy Terrain is sufficient to CC
• Save Brutal Charge for gapclosing on greatsword, but only use it instead of one of your other leaps if the target doesn't have Stability
• 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

Immobilize / CC priority

• Prelude Lash - against targets without Stability
• Muddy Terrain
• Vine Surge
• Brutal Charge

Damage

• Play mainly on Staff using Solar Beam for damage until you see an opportunity to go in for a kill with Sword/Axe
• Use Whirling Defense to the side of enemy groups, not directly inside them, and make sure you're not standing in the direction they're pushing since it locks you in place
• Your Autoattacks in Greatsword are a very strong filler if you can use them safely, try to chain them until Whirling Defense is ready if possible
• Ancestral Grace can be used as a gap closer

Damage priority

Sword/Axe

• Pounce
• Whirling Defense
• Serpent's Strike
• Crippling Leap (soulbeast)

Staff

• Solar Beam

Support

• Try to save Bear Stance and Dolyak Stance for Immobilize and make sure to watch your party as well

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.