Herald - Hammer Backline (GvG)

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

Focused on: Strike damage, Dps and Boon support

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on April 04, 2022 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A Power based Herald build for WvW. The utility of Glint, the durability of Jalis, and the damage of Coalescence of Ruin allow this build to deal strong damage with great sustain, while buffing allies.

Skill Bar

Hammer

Sword/Sword

Utility

Utility

Template Code

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Specializations

Variants

• Notoriety selfish stat boost, can be worth it if you party has only two DPS
• Brutality constant stability removal with quickness uptime but less DPS.

Variants

• Core Value offers more group utility, but less movement speed.

Equipment

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Berserker

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Assassin

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Hammer
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Sword
Berserker

Sword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Equipment Variants

• Marauder stats if you find you need extra defensive stats, but do not go over crit cap

Consumables

• • personal food option

Usage

Priorities

High

• Ranged Spike

Moderate

• Sustained damage
• Boon support

Low

• CC

Surviving

• This build has moderate passive defense
• This build has low mobility skill access
  • Deathstrike will teleport in the direction of an out of range target, use it if desperate to reposition
    • Neutral creatures can be used as targets
• This builds has high active defenses
  • Keep Facet of Light active as often as possible so that Infuse Light is available
  • Save Facet of Nature + One with Nature for use in Jalis stance
  • Only use Phase Smash defensively if desperate, it will likely leave you more out of position than when you started
  • Toggle Vengeful Hammers on whenever you expect significant pressure, its upkeep is cheap
  • Don't waste Gaze of Darkness on trivial CC, the Fury it provides is very valuable
  • Rite of the Great Dwarf breaks stuns at the beginning of the cast, dodge or weapon stow to cancel the cast if you're in danger

Active defense priority Gaze of Darkness - for stunbreaking Rite of the Great Dwarf - for stunbreaking Vengeful Hammers Soothing Stone - for Immobilize Dodge Facet of Light ⇒ Infuse Light Rite of the Great Dwarf - general use Soothing Stone - general use Phase Smash

Detailed Explanations

Ranged Spike

• Casting Coalescence of Ruin immediately before Phase Smash will make both hits land at the same time
  • Phase Smash is the priority skill if you can't use both
• Avoid casting Phase Smash as groups cross each other so you aren't left behind
• Flip Vengeful Hammers on while casting Phase Smash in Jalis to proc Forceful Persistence

Sustained damage

• You can Phase Smash through traps and marks to activate them without taking any damage.
  • Cast Gaze of Darkness near the end of the cast of Phase Smash to clear Blind, if needed
• Try to place Inspiring Reinforcement in the direction your group is pushing if possible, but prioritize hitting enemies
• Use Chilling Isolation quickly after swapping into Sword/Sword so it can be used again before swapping back to Hammer
• Toggle on Vengeful Hammers any time you're in range and in Jalis, but prioritize other skills when energy is limited
• Deathstrike is best used to get yourself into position for your other melee skills
  • Wait for the follow up cast to finish before taking other actions

Skill priority Burst of Strength Phase Smash Coalescence of Ruin Deathstrike - single target only Shackling Wave Elemental Blast Chilling Isolation Inspiring Reinforcement Vengeful Hammers

Boon support

• Always upkeep 3 facets for Forceful Persistence, but don't be afraid to consume then if the opportunity appears
  • Use Facet of Darkness + Facet of Strength + Facet of Light as your general setup to have instant access to Infuse Light
  • Use Facet of Darkness + Facet of Strength + Facet of Elements to allow energy regeneration
• Facet of Nature + One with Nature can be used to cover Stability for your group when your firebrand and scrapper's sources are on cooldown

CC

• Use Forced Engagement 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
• Save Chaotic Release to launch downed players out of Signet of Mercy/Illusion of Life
• Use Drop the Hammer when all other skills are on cooldown and projectile block is stopping your Hammer Bolt