Necromancer - Core Power Curses

This is a test build. You may comment and rate it.

Focused on: Strike damage, Dps, Burst and Boonrip

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

"Core" is not in the list (Tempest, Chronomancer, Reaper, Druid, Scrapper, Daredevil, Dragonhunter, Berserker, Herald, Weaver, ...) of allowed values for the "Is for elite specialization" property.

This build was last updated on March 18, 2022.

Overview

A build designed to strip boons and lay down high area damage.

Skill Bar

Axe/Focus

Scepter/Dagger

Utility

Template Code

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Equipment

Head
Marauder

Shoulders
Marauder

Chest
Marauder

Hands
Marauder

Legs
Marauder

Feet
Marauder

Backpiece
Marauder

Accessory
Marauder

Accessory
Marauder

Amulet
Marauder

Ring
Marauder

Ring
Marauder

Axe
Marauder

Focus
Marauder

Sigil

Sigil

Scepter
Marauder

Dagger
Marauder

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Equipment Variants

Stats

• Use Berserker stats if you want more offensive stats

Sigils

• Sigil of Superior Sigil of Force increased damage

Runes

• Rune of Superior Rune of Durability defensive option

Consumables

• • personal food option

Usage

Overall Priorities

High

• Wells
• Boon rip

Moderate

• Shroud
• Sustained pressure
• Single target damage

Low

• Lich Form

Surviving

• This build has little passive defense, meaning you will have to rely on dedicated supports and your awareness to play it. Prioritize using your Dodge
• This builds has low active defenses
  • Be mindful you can use Death Shroud to face tank some damage, as the life force replaces your health and, while in shroud, you take less damage.
  • Death Shroud can be used to clear movement impairing conditions thanks to Speed of Shadows
  • Use your heal skill Signet of Vampirism whenever you are in need. There is no need to save it to mark targets for the extra lifesteal damage all the time.

Detailed Explanations

Wells

• Try to save your Well skills 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
• Cast Well of Corruption before Well of Suffering, due to the longer cooldown
• Only use your Well skills at the same time, do not use one early and desync their cooldowns
• When using ground AoEs like Well of Corruption or Well of Suffering, 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
• Right after both wells are placed, try to go into Death Shroud to enable traits and use shroud skills that enhance your boonrip and damage spike.
  • Spiteful Spirit, Death Perception and Soul Barbs
  • Dark Path to proc Path of Corruption, Tainted Shackles and Life Transfer

Boon rip

• Use Signet of the Locust when the enemy group is pushing towards you or your group is in melee
  • Overall, prioritize using the utility skill before going into Death Shroud, as it allows the utility skill cooldown to come back faster due to Signets of Suffering
• Since Death Shroud has such short cooldown (10 seconds), use it to proc Spiteful Spirit, press Dark Path (Path of Corruption) and leave.
• Rotating between weapon skills maintains the boonrip pressure.

Shroud

• Your shroud spike consists of casting in order:
  • Enter Death Shroud
  • Dark Path
  • Tainted Shackles
  • Life Transfer
• Some of the skills require melee range, so save then for the situations where they are best suited. Don't be afraid to leave shroud with its skills available.
• Worth mentioning Life Blast does a considerable amount of damage and can be used to cleave targets whenever there aren't enemy reflects.

Sustained pressure

• Start fights on Scepter/Dagger to maximize ranged uptime
• Use Unholy Feast and Devouring Darkness immediately after Weapon Swap and use them again immediately before swapping back
  • Delaying your Weapon Swap slightly for the cooldown is fine

Skill priority Well of Corruption + Well of Suffering - always together, on commander's call Signet of the Locust Death Shroud Axe Unholy Feast Death Shroud + Dark Path - procs Path of Corruption Spinal Shivers - only on single target Ghastly Claws Soul Grasp - only if low on Life Force Scepter Devouring Darkness Enfeebling Blood Death Shroud + Dark Path - procs Path of Corruption Grasping Dead

Single target damage

• Use Spinal Shivers ⇒ Ghastly Claws ⇒ Rending Claws pick off isolated players

Lich Form

• Can be replaced with Plaguelands if you feel the skill isn't being effective
• Spam Deathly Claws and Lich's Gaze on isolated targets and avoid enemy reflects.
• Use Grim Specter for the extra damage and vitality