Difference between revisions of "Scourge - Power Curses"
(reworked usage)
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−
==Usage==
+
==Usage==
−
'''Elite specialization basics'''
+
===General===
−
* This is how the shade mechanic works: if you have no active shade ({{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}}) in the world, all your F2-F5 skills will proc around you. If you do have an active shade, all your shade skills, and related traits, will only affect the active shade area as well as you.
+
====Surviving====
 +
* This build has moderate passive defense
 +
* This build has no mobility skill access
 +
* This builds has low active defenses
 +
** Be conservative with {{Skill|Trail of Anguish}}, it is your only stunbreak
 +
** Save {{Skill|Deathly Swarm}} to clear movement impairing conditions
 +
** Use your three barrier skills in the following order if needed to survive once you run out of endurance  to '''Dodge''':
 +
*** {{Skill|Sand Flare}}
 +
**** Don't use {{Skill|Sand Flare}} if the cast is likely to be interrupted
 +
*** {{Skill|Sand Cascade}}
 +
*** {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}
  
−
'''Shroud'''
 
−
* All of your shade skills will proc the strike of {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} (F1), which means you want to instantly use then, as soon as you land your F1, to maximize damage.
 
−
* Shroud traits proc as if the shade skills counted as that shroud skill.
 
−
** {{skill|Nefarious Favor}} procs {{Trait|Path of Corruption}}
 
−
** {{Skill|Desert Shroud}} procs {{Trait|Plague Sending}} and {{trait|Spiteful Spirit}} around you
 
−
** All shade skills proc {{Trait|Reaper's Might}}
 
−
* {{Skill|Nefarious Favor}} and {{skill|Sand Cascade}} can be used before landing a shade, for extra barrier and cleanse.
 
−
* {{Skill|Desert Shroud}} will continue pulsing if a new shade is summoned, at the location of the new shade. Don't worry about repositioning shades when needed.
 
−
* Shade usage order (with enough life force)
 
−
** Using '''F1''' {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} {{to}} {{Skill|Desert Shroud}} {{to}} {{skill|Nefarious Favor}} + {{skill|Sand Cascade}} + {{skill|Garish Pillar}}
 
  
−
'''General'''
+
===Overall Priorities===
−
* Positioning, reacting fast and timing your dodges well are key. You don't have evade skills nor immunities like other classes, and your support classes won't be able to babysit you all the time
+
====High====
−
* {{skill|Well of Suffering}} and {{skill|Well of Corruption}} are a significant part of your damage and boonrip outside of weapon skills. Place then on top of the enemy group, along friendly {{skill|Winds of Disenchantment}} and your team pressure. Using your wells at the same time as the other Necromancers in your group is an enormous damage spike
+
* Wells
−
* {{skill|Sand Flare}} will be used for the group barrier share before and during extended engages
+
* Boon rip
−
* {{Skill|Ghastly Breach}} is going to be dropped if the enemy is hard committing into a melee push, to panic disrupt then. Can also be used offensively on melee, to stack AoE fields on top of the enemy stack and lock then down through corrupts and conditions
 
−
** {{skill|Trail of Anguish}} can be used offensively, the same way as Breach, but you should save it to use as stunbreak if you feel pressured during fights
 
  
−
'''Scepter/Dagger'''
+
====Moderate====
−
* {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}} is your most important skill and one of the reasons why you run the ''Curses'' spec. Try to keep it on cooldown when you are in range. You can pre-cast it in 1,200-range, while moving towards the enemy, to avoid downtime
+
* Shades
−
** Since it has a 10s cooldown, you should be able to cast it twice per weapon swap rotation, as your opener and finisher. It also is one of your main sources of life force in the build
+
* Sustained damage
−
* {{Skill|Grasping Dead}} provides good AoE damage and should be used constantly to maintain AoE pressure
+
* Single target damage
−
* Use {{Skill|Deathly Swarm}} whenever you might need some condi clear
 
−
* {{Skill|Enfeebling Blood}} for the extra AoE {{tooltip|Weakness}} and corrupt. Bear in mind the cast and animation time
 
  
−
'''Axe/Focus'''
+
====Low====
−
* {{Skill|Unholy Feast}} is one of your most powerful melee skills, try to use it as often as possible for AoE boon corruption and extra damage on low targets
+
* Support
−
* {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}} a strong life force generator and high single target damage skill. Useful for a quick downed cleave.
 
−
* {{Skill|Rending Claws}} is a rather strong filler for single target damage
 
−
* Try to land {{skill|Soul Grasp}} on downed bodies, to ensure the projectile will connect, granting some life force and {{tooltip|Vulnerability}} stack
 
−
* {{Skill|Spinal Shivers}} deals even more damage on targets with boons. Try to land it on squish foes, like weavers and scourges. It's also a boonrip, not a corrupt skill
 
  
−
'''Weapon skills combos'''
+
 
−
* {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}} {{to}} ''Weapon Swap'' {{to}} {{Skill|Unholy Feast}} {{to}} {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}
+
===Specific Priorities===
−
* {{skill|Spinal Shivers}} {{to}} {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}}  
+
====Skill priority====
−
* {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}} {{to}} {{Skill|Enfeebling Blood}}
+
* {{Skill|Well of Corruption}} + {{Skill|Well of Suffering}} - always together, on call
−
** Add {{skill|Grasping Dead}} in the mix for more damage
+
* {{Skill|Ghastly Breach}}
 +
* {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}
 +
 
 +
=====Axe=====
 +
* {{Skill|Unholy Feast}}
 +
* {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} + {{Skill|Nefarious Favor}} - procs {{Trait|Path of Corruption}}
 +
* {{Skill|Spinal Shivers}} - only on single target
 +
* {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}}
 +
* {{Skill|Soul Grasp}} - only if low on '''Life Force'''
 +
 
 +
=====Scepter=====
 +
* {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}}
 +
* {{Skill|Enfeebling Blood}}
 +
* {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} + {{Skill|Nefarious Favor}} - procs {{Trait|Path of Corruption}}
 +
* {{Skill|Grasping Dead}}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===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 {{Skill|Well of Corruption}} before {{Skill|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 {{Skill|Well of Corruption}} or {{Skill|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
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====Boon rip====
 +
* Use {{Skill|Ghastly Breach}} when the enemy group is pushing towards you or your group is in melee
 +
* Avoid casting {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} + {{skill|Nefarious Favor}} when there is 12 seconds or less left on {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}'s cooldown
 +
** Save your final charge of {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} when there is 15 seconds or less left on {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}'s cooldown
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====Shade spike====
 +
* Your shade spike consists of casting {{Skill|Manifest Sand Shade}} before casting, in order:
 +
* {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}  
 +
* {{skill|Nefarious Favor}}
 +
* {{Skill|Garish Pillar}}
 +
* {{Skill|Sand Cascade}}
 +
** These are all instant and can be cast at the same time, but drop skills from bottom to top if limited on '''Life Force'''
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====Single target damage====
 +
* Use {{Skill|Spinal Shivers}} {{to}} {{Skill|Ghastly Claws}} {{to}} {{Skill|Rending Claws}} pick off isolated players
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====Sustained damage====
 +
* Start fights on '''Scepter/Dagger''' to maximize ranged uptime
 +
* Use {{Skill|Unholy Feast}} and {{Skill|Devouring Darkness}} immediately after {{Tooltip|Weapon Swap}} and use them again immediately before swapping back
 +
** Delaying your {{Tooltip|Weapon Swap}} slightly for the cooldown is fine
 +
 
 +
 
 +
====Support====
 +
* Barrier lasts 5 seconds after application before decaying
 +
* Use {{Skill|Sand Flare}} and {{Skill|Sand Cascade}} before pushes and during extended engages
 +
* Pay attention to allies with {{Skill|Illusion of Life}} used on them, apply barrier before the buff times out
 +
** {{Skill|Illusion of Life}} begins flashing on the buff bar at 5 seconds remaining
 +
* Use {{skill|Nefarious Favor}} as a desperation condition clear if you have no other options

Revision as of 03:06, 26 February 2022

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: Strike damage, Dps, Burst and Boonrip

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Difficulty:
TBD
This build was last updated on February 26, 2022 and is up to date for the April 16, 2024 patch.

Overview

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


Skill Bar

Scourge-skillbar-bg.png
Axe/Focus
Scepter/Dagger
Utility


Template Code

[&DQg1NSc6PDl+FgAAchYAAHMBAACBAAAAYBcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
Copy Template Code

Specializations

Variants

  • Awaken the Pain slightly higher DPS

Variants

  • Nourishing Ashes if Life Force generation is an issue


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

Sigils

  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Force increased damage

Runes

  • Rune of Superior Rune of Durability defensive option

Consumables

    • personal food option


Usage

General

Surviving

  • This build has moderate passive defense
  • This build has no mobility skill access
  • This builds has low active defenses
    • Be conservative with Trail of Anguish, it is your only stunbreak
    • Save Deathly Swarm to clear movement impairing conditions
    • Use your three barrier skills in the following order if needed to survive once you run out of endurance to Dodge:
      • Sand Flare
        • Don't use Sand Flare if the cast is likely to be interrupted
      • Sand Cascade
      • Desert Shroud


Overall Priorities

High

  • Wells
  • Boon rip

Moderate

  • Shades
  • Sustained damage
  • Single target damage

Low

  • Support


Specific Priorities

Skill priority

  • Well of Corruption + Well of Suffering - always together, on call
  • Ghastly Breach
  • Desert Shroud
Axe
  • Unholy Feast
  • Manifest Sand Shade + Nefarious Favor - 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
  • Manifest Sand Shade + Nefarious Favor - procs Path of Corruption
  • Grasping Dead


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


Boon rip

  • Use Ghastly Breach when the enemy group is pushing towards you or your group is in melee
  • Avoid casting Manifest Sand Shade + Nefarious Favor when there is 12 seconds or less left on Desert Shroud's cooldown
    • Save your final charge of Manifest Sand Shade when there is 15 seconds or less left on Desert Shroud's cooldown


Shade spike

  • Your shade spike consists of casting Manifest Sand Shade before casting, in order:
  • Desert Shroud
  • Nefarious Favor
  • Garish Pillar
  • Sand Cascade
    • These are all instant and can be cast at the same time, but drop skills from bottom to top if limited on Life Force


Single target damage

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


Sustained damage

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


Support

  • Barrier lasts 5 seconds after application before decaying
  • Use Sand Flare and Sand Cascade before pushes and during extended engages
  • Pay attention to allies with Illusion of Life used on them, apply barrier before the buff times out
    • Illusion of Life begins flashing on the buff bar at 5 seconds remaining
  • Use Nefarious Favor as a desperation condition clear if you have no other options
Retrieved from "https://metabattle.com/wiki/index.php?title=Build:Scourge_-_Power_Curses&oldid=3107"


Ratings

This build has a rating of 5 stars based on 1 votes.
Log in or register to rate this build.
5 stars
Arete gave this build 5 stars • August 2023
Boon rip nerfs opened up competition from reaper and virtuoso but this is still one of the best ranged boon removal builds for large fights.

Comments

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