Necromancer - Core Power Curses

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

Focused on: Strike damage, Dps, Burst and Boonrip

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on April 14, 2022 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

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
Dragon

Shoulders
Dragon

Chest
Dragon

Hands
Dragon

Legs
Dragon

Feet
Dragon

Backpiece
Marauder

Accessory
Marauder

Accessory
Dragon

Amulet
Dragon

Ring
Dragon

Ring
Dragon

Axe
Dragon

Focus
Dragon

Sigil

Sigil

Scepter
Dragon

Dagger
Dragon

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x18

Equipment Variants

Stats

• Use Berserker stats if you want more offensive stats (Keep in mind crit cap with Death Perception

Sigils

• Either option is viable on axe/focus (recommended to move energy to Scepter/Dagger set)
  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Vision
  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Force

Runes

• Rune of Superior Rune of Durability defensive option

Consumables

• • personal food option

Usage

Overall Priorities

High

• Wells
• Boon rip

Moderate

• Sustained pressure

Low

• Single target damage

Surviving

• This build has moderate passive defense
• This build has low mobility skill access
  • Avoid using Dark Pursuit unless needed to survive, since it increases the cooldown of Dark Path
• This builds has low active defenses
  • Death Shroud gives an unlisted 50% damage reduction
  • Speed of Shadows clears movement impairing conditions when entering Death Shroud

Active defense priority Deathly Swarm - for Immobilize Death Shroud - for Immobilize Dodge Death Shroud - general use Signet of Vampirism

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
• Immediately after placing both wells enter Death Shroud to activate Death Perception and remain in shroud for the duration of the wells

Boon rip

• Use Signet of the Locust when the enemy group is pushing towards you or your group is in melee
  • Prioritize Signet of the Locust before going into Death Shroud, since Signets of Suffering lowers the cooldown
• Use Death Shroud as often as possible to activate to cast Dark Path (Path of Corruption) and leave
  • When safe, be within 600 range of enemies when activating Death Shroud to proc Spiteful Spirit

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
• Enter Death Shroud frequently to maintain Soul Barbs
• Save Lich Form until Winds of Disenchantment and other projectile block is used up.
  • Don't be afraid to drop form early if Deathly Claws is being projectile blocked.
• Don't commit your Death Shroud damage unless you'll be in range long enough to finish Tainted Shackles and Life Transfer
  • Using Dark Path and immediately leaving is fine if you're at range
  • Leave shroud if your Life Blast is being projectile blocked or when Unholy Feast and Devouring Darkness are ready

Skill priority Well of Corruption + Well of Suffering - always together, on commander's call Signet of the Locust Lich Form - only after projectile block is down Grim Specter Lich's Gaze Deathly Claws Death Shroud Dark Path Tainted Shackles Life Transfer Life Blast 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 to pick off isolated players