Firebrand - Quickness Support Condi DPS

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: Condition damage and Support

Designed for: Raids and Fractals

Expansions required: Path of Fire Builds

Difficulty:
TBD
This build was last updated on March 01, 2023 and is up to date for the February 27, 2024 patch.

Overview

This build provides 100% Quickness Quickness and high Fury Fury uptime on a closely stacked group while having very strong personal DPS as well as access to Guardian's powerful utility skills.

The access to utility skills allows firebrand to provide boons such as Aegis Aegis and Stability Stability better than almost any other class, and their tomes mean they always have access to extra abilities such as condition cleanse or reflect.


Skill Bar

Axe/Torch
Scepter/Torch
Utility


Skill Variants

may be swapped out for the following:

  • can be used to provide Stability Stability and Resolution Resolution.
  • can be used if you need multiple pulsing applications of Stability Stability over a longer period of time.
  • can be used as a reflect.
  • can provide higher DPS than on encounters with long phases.
  • can be used for more CC.
  • might be useful on encounters where reliable Swiftness Swiftness and Aegis Aegis are more valuable than damage.


If you use and consume all charges of off cooldown, then you can maintain Quickness Quickness without the need for

  • gives access to regular Stability Stability and a rare group stunbreak.
  • could be used to gain more utility from your tomes as you typically will be spending pages as fast as you can generate them.


Template Code

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Specializations


Trait Variants

  • The master trait in Virtues is completely optional. You could run for more support, or for higher Chilled Chilled uptime.
  • If you consume all charges of your mantras immediately, then the cooldown reduction from is somewhat irrelevant (it only reduces the charge cooldown), but it should be taken if you don't want to consume all charges of your for any reason.
    • You never want to consume all charges of as you need to use it regularly to trigger .
  • can also be used to allow you to replace with another elite.
    • In this case you should be consuming all charges of .


Equipment

Head
Viper
Shoulders
Ritualist
Chest
Viper
Hands
Ritualist
Legs
Viper
Feet
Viper
Backpiece
Viper
Accessory
Viper
Accessory
Viper
Amulet
Viper
Ring
Viper
Ring
Viper
Axe
Viper
Torch
Viper
Sigil
Sigil
Scepter
Viper
Sigil
Rune
x6
Infusion
x10
Infusion
x8


Boon Duration Variants

The setup above has a little over 42% boon duration. If you consume all charges of immediately and recharge as soon as you can, you can potentially lower your boon duration to as low as 20%. This higher value was chosen as it significantly opens up your options:

  • At this level, you can just about maintain Quickness Quickness with and without the need to consume the last charge of . This allows you to very easily handle mechanics off-stack by consuming all remaining charges before you leave.
  • Similarly, this also gives the option to swap out for something like if you consume all charges of .


Balthazar Runes Variant

If you want to benefit from ascended food buffs, you are better off running the setup below:

Head
Ritualist
Shoulders
Ritualist
Chest
Ritualist
Hands
Ritualist
Legs
Ritualist
Feet
Ritualist
Backpiece
Ritualist
Accessory
Ritualist
Accessory
Ritualist
Amulet
Ritualist
Ring
Ritualist
Ring
Ritualist
Axe
Ritualist
Torch
Ritualist
Sigil
Sigil
Scepter
Ritualist
Sigil
Rune
x6
Infusion
x18
  • You should use (or ascended versions) and .
  • In fractals, you can swap in Sinister stats Sinister stats pieces for more DPS (assuming you have 150+ AR and Mistlock Singularities).
  • Note that as this setup has much lower precision, procs will be less reliable which may make the rotation more awkward.


Consumables

Food

    • for a cheaper alternative


Utility


Usage

Rotation

Video Example (using slightly different gear)


Quickness

, , and are used to maintain Quickness Quickness on your group.

  • and can be cast as soon as they are available.
  • should be used every 7 seconds to activate . You can estimate this by looking at the line that moves around the mantra icon as it recharges. Once it starts moving along the top of the icon, at least 7.2 seconds have passed (if you have Alacrity Alacrity) so it can be freely used again.


Mantras

As the final charge of each mantra is so powerful, the optimal use of them is to quickly consume all three charges (NOT ) then recharge them as they come off cooldown and use all three charges and repeat. You typically always want to do this for , but there can be reasons to keep charges of (you should be running in this case).

For example, with the recommended boon duration you can maintain Quickness Quickness by only using the first charge of , then if you need to deal with a mechanic that keeps you off-stack for an extended duration, burn all remaining charges to provide your subgroup with enough Quickness Quickness to (hopefully) last until you get back.


Damage

Otherwise follow the rotation found in Build:Firebrand_-_Condi_DPS


Encounter Specific Tips

Spirit Vale

Vale Guardian Toggle
  • Use on Scepter to Immobilize Immobilize Seekers that are getting too close.
  • Make sure not to face Seekers when using to ensure you don't pull them into the group.
  • can be used to quickly recover after a skipped green, or at the end of the split phase if you have any spare pages.

For more information, see our Vale Guardian Guide.

Spirit Woods Toggle

For more information, see our Spirit Woods Guide.

Gorseval the Multifarious Toggle
  • can be used to block Gorseval's slams.
  • can be used to pull the little spirits into Gorseval to they can be cleaved down.
  • During the split phase, use on the big spirits to prevent them moving into Gorseval.
  • Use during the break bar to help out-heal the returned damage.
  • During the later parts of the encounter it may be worth dropping your on the Orbs to prevent them expanding into the group.

For more information, see our Gorseval the Multifarious Guide.

Sabetha the Saboteur Toggle
  • Bandit Sappers spawn opposite the cannons every 30 seconds, and you can use to pull them into the group. Make sure the sapper has thrown its bomb before doing this however if you don't want to skip the cannon.
  • can also be used to provide Stability Stability during the flamewall attack.
  • If you have spare pages, use Epilogue Unbroken Lines Epilogue Unbroken Lines in when Karde spawns, to provide toughness and protection for his flamethrower attack.

For more information, see our Sabetha the Saboteur Guide.


Salvation Pass

Slothasor Toggle
  • Use to pull slublings (NOT the friendly slubling) into the stack.
  • Unless it's being covered by other people, bring to provide Stability Stability for the Fear Fear attack after Slothasor's defiance bar is broken.
  • can be used to quickly cleanse conditions if people are hit by the shake attack}}
  • If slubling pressure is too high, then Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark in can reduce it, though some slubling attacks are unblockable.

For more information, see our Slothasor Guide.

Bandit Trio Toggle
  • is worth taking to reduce general annoyance from the various bandit CCs.

For more information, see our Bandit Trio Guide.

Matthias Gabrel Toggle
  • You can be the group's primary reflect if you bring . Note that you must place the wall inside Matthias' hitbox, or the targeted person will need to remain still in order to ensure all the shards are reflected correctly.
  • if you are not the main reflect, you can be a backup by using Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark in .
  • If your group's CC is bad, take to easily break the sacrifice. Matthias will no longer try to sacrifice players in the abomination phase, so you can use it to block the Shards of Rage attack instead (make sure not the block the bubble attack).
  • Matthias will Fear Fear the whole squad when transitioning into the abomination phase. If you have spare pages, enter and apply as much Stability Stability and Resolution Resolution to your group as possible to protect against this.

For more information, see our Matthias Gabrel Guide.


Stronghold of the Faithful

Escort Toggle
  • is worth taking to reduce general annoyance from the various White Mantle CCs.

For more information, see our Escort Guide.

Keep Construct Toggle
  • can be used to pull the orb into a rift.
  • Slightly delay after the orb collecting phase and drop it on the group and KC when it starts using phantasmal blades to cleanse the Confusion Confusion and Torment Torment from your subgroup.

For more information, see our Keep Construct Guide.

Twisted Castle Toggle
  • is worth taking to reduce general annoyance from the various White Mantle CCs.

For more information, see our Twisted Castle Guide.

Xera Toggle
  • Use to pull adds into the stack.
  • Use during the split phase and on the "puzzle islands" to clear condis, provide Swiftness Swiftness, and keep everyone alive. The pages should recharge by the time Xera spawns.
  • You can help clear shards with without having to run into the AoEs.

For more information, see our Xera Guide.


Bastion of the Penitent

Cairn the Indomitable Toggle
  • Bring to help your group if you are skipping greens.
  • If you are skipping greens and is not off cooldown, you can use to provide some Stability Stability to your subgroup instead.

For more information, see our Cairn the Indomitable Guide.

Mursaat Overseer Toggle

For more information, see our Mursaat Overseer Guide.

Samarog Toggle
  • Epilogue Eternal Oasis Epilogue Eternal Oasis in can be dropped on the target of Brutalize to boost healing to them during the break bar.
  • If your group's CC is lacking, you can bring . Try to drop it on the target of Brutalize to provide some incidental healing as well as CC.

For more information, see our Samarog Guide.

Deimos Toggle
  • When blocking Mind Crush rather than hiding in the dome, you will take ticking damage for 10 seconds afterwards, so will be useful to keep people alive.
  • If you are responsible for Aegis Aegis then you need to take as the duration and AoE are much larger.
  • can be used to Immobilize Immobilize Prides to keep them away from Saul.

For more information, see our Deimos Guide.


Hall of Chains

Soulless Horror Toggle
  • Make sure not to pull the Tormented Dead into the group with .
  • After the Tormented Dead has been knocked, you can use to keep it Immobilize Immobilized at range.
  • can be useful in dealing with conditions if people are hit by scythes or the Tormented Dead AoE.
  • You could take to help with CC.

For more information, see our Soulless Horror Guide.

River of Souls Toggle
  • You could bring as an emergency heal.

For more information, see our River of Souls Guide.

Statues of Grenth Toggle

For more information, see our Statues of Grenth Guide.

Dhuum Toggle

For more information, see our Dhuum Guide.


Mythwright Gambit

Conjured Amalgamate Toggle
  • Use to pull in swords and CC shields.

For more information, see our Conjured Amalgamate Guide.

Sorting and Appraisal Toggle

For more information, see our Sorting and Appraisal Guide.

Largos Assassins Toggle
  • As it's hard to maintain DPS during Nikare's charge, use or to heal and clear condis, or provide extra toughness and Protection Protection.
  • The breakbar attack fires out projectiles than can be blocked with Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark.
  • The Largos are Exposed Exposed for eight seconds after being broken, so it may be beneficial to try your burst to coincide with this - if you enter your tome as the breakbar appears this should be approximately the correct timing.

For more information, see our Largos Assassins Guide.

Qadim Toggle
  • can be used to pull Magma Elementals (either into the group or away, depending on strategy).
  • If the squad is really struggling to prevent the Lava Elementals from reaching Qadim, you could consider bringing as this will prevent them from being able to enter his hitbox for five seconds. Be aware that this will also push Magma Elementals out, so be very careful when you use it.

For more information, see our Qadim Guide.


The Key of Ahdashim

Cardinal Sabir Toggle
  • is a good choice here as Sabir cannot be damaged during one of his defiance bars, so breaking it quickly is a group DPS increase.

For more information, see our Cardinal Sabir Guide.

Cardinal Adina Toggle
  • Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark in can be used to protect against the hand knockback in the split phase by camping the tome to keep using it. Note that it will not be up for every hand (unless you are very slow) so you will either need to alternate with another player, or just keep it as a backup.

For more information, see our Cardinal Adina Guide.

Qadim the Peerless Toggle
  • You should bring to protect everyone from the knock-back attack at the start of each phase.

For more information, see our Qadim the Peerless Guide.


Ratings

This build has a rating of 5 stars based on 2 votes.
Log in or register to rate this build.
4 stars
OfficerAndyGentleman gave this build 4 stars • May 2023
The latest nerfs to DPS mean that while firebrand can keep up with other DPS supports, its damage drops like a stone if it has to swap out any utility skills. Still, no-one provides Aegis like a guardian can, and rarely a bad choice.
5 stars
Screaming gave this build 5 stars • August 2019
After the recent buffs, much like the pure DPS variant, this build is astoundingly strong considering just how essential quickness is for both DPS and quality of life in raids, often able to compete with pure DPS builds themselves. Easily one of the strongest support builds right now, and very simple to play while at it, too.

Comments

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