Difference between revisions of "Willbender - Support Alacbender"
Line 78: Line 78:
  
  
−
==General Understanding==
+
==Usage==
−
===Condition Removal Sources===
+
===General===
−
* With Trooper runes and Pure of Voice, each shout will remove 2 conditions on 5 targets.
+
*Focus on using your utility skills to cleanse allies
−
* Absolute Resolve will proc on each F2 use, 3 conditions removed 5 targets.
+
*Make sure to have the active effect from F2 as much as possible
−
* Purging flames, works best if we need to stay still (stairs/choke points/hand-rez fiesta...) 7 pulses each removing 1 condition on 5 targets.
+
*Use your burst heal to help during pressuring moment
−
* Blasting symbols with Staff 2 will remove 1 condition on 5 targets
 
  
−
===Alacrity Source===
+
===Overall Priorities===
−
* The alacrity you offer to the party comes from F2 traited with "Battle Presence" and "Phoenix Protocol". After using f2, you'll gain the boon "Flowing Resolve" and every few time you attack an ennemie you'll gain and share alacrity. The easiest way is to put symbols inside the ennemies zerg (or where they are moving). This is why we use scepter instead of mace in this build.
+
;High
 +
*Condition Removal
 +
*{{tooltip|Alacrity}}
 +
;Moderate
 +
*Boon application {{tooltip|Might}} {{tooltip|Aegis}} {{tooltip|Regeneration}} {{tooltip|Protection}}
 +
*Healing
 +
;Low
 +
*Crowd Control
  
−
===Healing Sources===
+
====Surviving====
−
* With the Honor trait line, you'll gain the ability to heal on dodges and on aegis (shield 4 / Advance x2). Because you're playing with Energy Sigils and with Battle Presence from Virtues you'll have a higher endurance regeneration rate and can use them a bit more "freely" than other classes.
+
* This build has high passive defense from minstrel armor
−
* You can use Staff 2 and 4 to heal allies
+
* This build has high mobility skill access (f1-f2-f3)
−
* Signet of Courage : Passive heal around you every few seconds and a strong active pulsing healing, stability, protection and resolution.
+
* This build has high active defense (condition removal / burst healing / Aegis)
−
* F2 spam give perma regeneration to allies.
+
** While your active defenses are strong, they are ideally saved for your group and not used selfishly
−
* You get extra +120 healing power from playing Willbender
+
{{Collapsible
 +
|width=85
 +
|;Active defense priority
 +
|
 +
{{Skill|"Advance!"}} - Aegis + 2 Conditions cleansed
 +
{{Skill|Flowing Resolve}} - 3 Conditions cleansed + 3/4s Evade
 +
{{Skill|Crashing Courage}} - 600 range shadowstep + personal stability and aegis
 +
}}
  
−
*The healing you offer is less than the other cleansing classes (but higher than firebrand due to regeneration / receive the light and signet of courage)
+
===Detailed Explanations===
 +
====Condition Removal====
 +
*Use shouts to cleanse your allies with {{Trait|Selfless Daring}} and {{Rune|Superior Rune of the Trooper}}
 +
** {{Skill|"Advance!"}}, {{Skill|"Save Yourselves!"}}, {{Skill|"Receive the Light"}}
 +
*Use F2 {{Skill|Flowing Resolve}} to Cleanse allies with {{Trait|Absolute Resolve}} working on both charges
 +
*Use {{Skill|"Purging Flames!"}} to cleanse in static situation (stairs / choke point) or against the ennemie wells bomb
 +
* Blasting symbols or Light Fields with {{Skill|Holy Strike}} will remove 1 condition on 5 targets
 +
{{Collapsible
 +
|width=85
 +
|collapsed=true
 +
|;Condition Removal priorities
 +
|
 +
{{Skill|"Advance!"}} 2 conditions removed per charge (mostly to cleanse low amount)
 +
{{Skill|Flowing Resolve}} 3 conditions removed per charge (moderate amount)
 +
{{Skill|"Save Yourselves!"}} Pull conditions to yourselves (Huge condition bomb, beware that you'll need to cleanse yourself)
 +
{{Skill|"Purging Flames!"}} static condition removal
 +
{{Skill|"Receive the Light"}} Powerfull healing ability best used to heal allies but the 2 conditions cleaned can be clutch
 +
}}
  
 +
====Alacrity====
 +
Use {{Skill|Flowing Resolve}} before casting your Symbol skills {{Skill|Symbol of Punishment}} {{Skill|Symbol of Swiftness}}
 +
** {{tooltip|Alacrity}} is shared because {{Trait|Battle Presence}} interacts with {{Trait|Phoenix Protocol}}
 +
** You need to hit targets to gain alacrity while Flowing Resolve is active
 +
*** Avoid using {{Skill|Rushing Justice}} and {{Skill|Crashing Courage}} while {{Skill|Flowing Resolve}} is active if not needed
  
−
==Usage==
+
====Boon Application====
−
* Cleansing is mostly priority based instead of a real rotation :
+
{{tooltip|Might}}
−
** Advance! is used to remove a small amount (2)
+
** {{Skill|Empower}}
−
** Save Yourselves! is used to remove a HUGE amount (beware because you'll transfer a few to yourself, it's best to use it if you can stand inside your purging flames or if you have f2 available)
+
** {{Skill|Rushing Justice}} with {{Trait|Inspired Virtues}}
−
** F2 is to be used to remove 3 conditions on each charge and to give alacrity to allies
+
** {{Skill|Symbol of Punishment}} (if squad push inside of it)
−
** Your healing skill will get back someone to full health if you can aim it correctly + removing 2 conditions because it's a shout. It's often better to keep it to heal someone than to clean conditions.
+
{{tooltip|Aegis}}
 +
** {{Skill|Shield of Judgment}}
 +
** {{Skill|"Advance!"}}
 +
{{tooltip|Regeneration}}
 +
** {{Skill|Flowing Resolve}} with {{Trait|Inspired Virtues}}
 +
{{tooltip|Protection}}
 +
** {{Skill|Crashing Courage}} with {{Trait|Inspired Virtues}}
 +
** {{Skill|Shield of Judgment}} (use it to sponge the first ranged spike has it also gives aegis)
  
−
* F1 and F3
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====Healing====
−
** They are mobility and boon skills, you can use them to go support someone / come back to zerg and/or to give boon (Might from F1 and Protection from F3)
+
* Be careful when healing others, {{Skill|Empower}} and {{Trait|Selfless Daring}} are powerful heals but can easily leave you out of position if misused
 +
* Understanding when to use {{Skill|Signet of Courage}} can be hard but it can really carries hard in hard moment
  
−
* F2
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{{Collapsible
−
** F2 is a skill you want to use often because it's a good condition removal source + giving regeneration and you source of alac. When you see "Flowing Resolve" going out you can almost re-use F2 to reapply it to yourself to keep giving alacrity. As you have 2 Charges, you can keep one to burst clean with Save Yourself. F2 is also an evade for yourself.
+
|width=85
 +
|;Healing priority
 +
|
 +
* {{Skill|Empower}} (if you have time to finish cast)
 +
* {{Skill|Holy Strike}}
 +
* {{Skill|Shield of Absorption}} (also projectile-hate, you may want to keep it a bit)
 +
* '''Dodge''' ({{Trait|Selfless Daring}})
 +
* {{Tooltip|Aegis}}
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** {{Skill"Advance!"}}
 +
** {{Skill|Shield of Judgment}}
 +
* {{Tooltip|Regeneration}}
 +
** {{Skill|Flowing Resovle}}
 +
{{Skill|"Receive the Light"}} (Can almost full heal someone if aimed correctly)
 +
{{Skill|Signet of Courage}} (Huge Burst heal pulsing Stability)
 +
}}
  
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* Weapons :
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====Crowd Control====
−
** Staff is a popular weapon in all game mode for support guardian, it brings healing(Staff 2 and 4), swiftness (Staff 3), might (Staff 4) and a good crowd control skill (Staff 5). You can use Staff 3 inside ennemies to proc alacrity from F2 (you're party will always have swiftness due to running Advance) or to put a light field in case you want to blast it with Staff 2 for the extra condition removal.
+
* Use your CC when:
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** Scepter is the best weapon to apply alacrity with because the symbol is ranged + extra hits (while pulsing might to allies if we push inside of it). Scepter 3 can be used to root a target from 900 range, it's a fairly deadly skill if used in sync with squad damage dealers or on late ennemies.
+
** Your group calls a spike or bomb:
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** Shield provides projectile-hate (since firebrand can't spam F3-3 anymore is pretty nice to have), extra healing from shield 5 and the aegis + proection from shield 4
+
*** Winds - {{Skill|Winds of Disenchantment}}
 +
*** Wells - {{Skill|Well of Corruption}}+{{Skill|Well of Suffering}}
 +
*** Shades - {{Skill|Desert Shroud}}
 +
*** Traps - {{Skill|Procession of Blades}}+{{Skill|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
  
−
 
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{{Collapsible
−
====Surviving====
+
|width=85
−
* This build has high passive defense from minstrel armor
+
|;CC Priority
−
* This build has mobility skill access (f1-f2-f3)
+
|
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* This builds has high active defense (condition removal / burst healing / Aegis)
+
* {{Skill|Line of Warding}} one of the strongest CC in the game
−
** While your active defenses are strong, they are ideally saved for your group and not used selfishly
+
* {{Skill|Chains of Light}} {{Tooltip|Immobilize}} from 900 range, deadly on a late target
 +
{{Skill|Shield of Absorption}} knock back foes
 +
}}
  
  
Line 129: Line 193:
 
** '''Thick squad health bars''' can be used too as a matter of personal preference, but is not recommended for large numbers
 
** '''Thick squad health bars''' can be used too as a matter of personal preference, but is not recommended for large numbers
 
* Under '''Squad Options''' uncheck '''View as a grid'''. This will allow you to keep track of your allies' boons, conditions and health, enabling a better decision-making and skill management.
 
* Under '''Squad Options''' uncheck '''View as a grid'''. This will allow you to keep track of your allies' boons, conditions and health, enabling a better decision-making and skill management.
 +
 +
 +
===Tips & Tricks===
 +
* {{Skill|Rushing Justice}} and {{Skill|Crashing Courage}}
 +
** They are mobility skills you can use them to go support someone really fast (or to come back to squad)
 +
*{{Skill|"Save Yourselves!"}} is used to remove a HUGE amount of condition by pulling them to you. You want to have a charge of {{Skill|Flowing Resolve}} or {{Skill|"Advance!"}} to cleanse yourself after using it.
  
  
 
===Gameplay Videos===
 
===Gameplay Videos===
 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmHUpnvz04M Youtube video of an exemple in Inhouse format (20+ vs 20+)]
 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmHUpnvz04M Youtube video of an exemple in Inhouse format (20+ vs 20+)]

Revision as of 19:01, 19 December 2022

This is a rough draft. Once adequately written, it will progress to the testing stage, where it can be rated by the community. You can help by proposing changes with a comment.

Focused on: Condition cleanse, Boon support, Healing and Crowd control

Designed for: WvW Zerg

Expansions required: End of Dragons builds

Difficulty:
TBD


Overview

A support Willbender build for WvW. Provides a large amount of Alacrity Alacrity, cleansing, healing and boon support.


Skill Bar

Staff
Scepter/Shield
Utility
Weapon Variants
  • Torch provides better cleansing at the cost of shield utility
Skill Variants
  • "Stand Your Ground!" if more stability is needed
  • "Feel My Wrath!" good fury uptime + 2 condition removal but lose the burst heal + stab from signet
  • Signet of Mercy if you want res utility


Template Code

[&DQEuKzEZQRd/AAAALQEAAEwBAACKAAAAcRIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
Copy Template Code


Specializations


Equipment

Head
Minstrel
Shoulders
Minstrel
Chest
Minstrel
Hands
Minstrel
Legs
Minstrel
Feet
Minstrel
Backpiece
Minstrel
Accessory
Minstrel
Accessory
Minstrel
Amulet
Minstrel
Ring
Minstrel
Ring
Minstrel
Staff
Minstrel
Sigil
Sigil
Scepter
Minstrel
Shield
Minstrel
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
x6
Infusion
x18


Equipment Variants

Sigils
  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Concentration for higher boon uptime
  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Water healing on crits every 5s, with symbols you'll use it everytime it's available.

Consumables

    • personal food option


Usage

General

  • Focus on using your utility skills to cleanse allies
  • Make sure to have the active effect from F2 as much as possible
  • Use your burst heal to help during pressuring moment

Overall Priorities

High
Moderate
Low
  • Crowd Control

Surviving

  • This build has high passive defense from minstrel armor
  • This build has high mobility skill access (f1-f2-f3)
  • This build has high active defense (condition removal / burst healing / Aegis)
    • While your active defenses are strong, they are ideally saved for your group and not used selfishly
Active defense priority

"Advance!" - Aegis + 2 Conditions cleansed Flowing Resolve - 3 Conditions cleansed + 3/4s Evade Crashing Courage - 600 range shadowstep + personal stability and aegis


Detailed Explanations

Condition Removal

  • Use shouts to cleanse your allies with Selfless Daring and Rune of Superior Rune of the Trooper
    • "Advance!", "Save Yourselves!", "Receive the Light"
  • Use F2 Flowing Resolve to Cleanse allies with Absolute Resolve working on both charges
  • Use "Purging Flames!" to cleanse in static situation (stairs / choke point) or against the ennemie wells bomb
  • Blasting symbols or Light Fields with Holy Strike will remove 1 condition on 5 targets
Condition Removal priorities

"Advance!" 2 conditions removed per charge (mostly to cleanse low amount) Flowing Resolve 3 conditions removed per charge (moderate amount) "Save Yourselves!" Pull conditions to yourselves (Huge condition bomb, beware that you'll need to cleanse yourself) "Purging Flames!" static condition removal "Receive the Light" Powerfull healing ability best used to heal allies but the 2 conditions cleaned can be clutch


Alacrity

Use Flowing Resolve before casting your Symbol skills Symbol of Punishment Symbol of Swiftness

    • Alacrity Alacrity is shared because Battle Presence interacts with Phoenix Protocol
    • You need to hit targets to gain alacrity while Flowing Resolve is active
      • Avoid using Rushing Justice and Crashing Courage while Flowing Resolve is active if not needed

Boon Application

Might Might

    • Empower
    • Rushing Justice with Inspired Virtues
    • Symbol of Punishment (if squad push inside of it)

Aegis Aegis

    • Shield of Judgment
    • "Advance!"

Regeneration Regeneration

    • Flowing Resolve with Inspired Virtues

Protection Protection

    • Crashing Courage with Inspired Virtues
    • Shield of Judgment (use it to sponge the first ranged spike has it also gives aegis)

Healing

  • Be careful when healing others, Empower and Selfless Daring are powerful heals but can easily leave you out of position if misused
  • Understanding when to use Signet of Courage can be hard but it can really carries hard in hard moment
Healing priority
  • Empower (if you have time to finish cast)
  • Holy Strike
  • Shield of Absorption (also projectile-hate, you may want to keep it a bit)
  • Dodge (Selfless Daring)
  • Aegis Aegis
  • Regeneration Regeneration
    • Flowing Resovle

"Receive the Light" (Can almost full heal someone if aimed correctly) Signet of Courage (Huge Burst heal pulsing Stability)


Crowd Control

  • Use your CC when:
    • Your group calls a spike or bomb:
      • 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
CC Priority
  • Line of Warding one of the strongest CC in the game
  • Chains of Light Immobilize Immobilize from 900 range, deadly on a late target

Shield of Absorption knock back foes


Settings

  • Under General Options / User Interface check Always show squad health bars and Always show party health bars. These will make it much easier to keep track of who needs your support.
  • Also under General Options / User Interface turn on Thick party health bars
    • Thick squad health bars can be used too as a matter of personal preference, but is not recommended for large numbers
  • Under Squad Options uncheck View as a grid. This will allow you to keep track of your allies' boons, conditions and health, enabling a better decision-making and skill management.


Tips & Tricks

  • Rushing Justice and Crashing Courage
    • They are mobility skills you can use them to go support someone really fast (or to come back to squad)
  • "Save Yourselves!" is used to remove a HUGE amount of condition by pulling them to you. You want to have a charge of Flowing Resolve or "Advance!" to cleanse yourself after using it.


Gameplay Videos

Youtube video of an exemple in Inhouse format (20+ vs 20+)

Retrieved from "https://metabattle.com/wiki/index.php?title=Build:Willbender_-_Support_Alacbender&oldid=8009"


Ratings

This build has a rating of 4 stars based on 4 votes.
Log in or register to rate this build.
5 stars
Peliagudest gave this build 5 stars • August 2023
Same cleanses than druid or ele, good burst healing with some passive heal, a lot of alac and some boons. Really good 2nd supp with different option if you need go more deffensive, stabs, signet, etc. The only thing is has low CC
4 stars
Lyco gave this build 4 stars • February 2023
- Fairly easy to use (No hidden CD compared to Tempest/Scrapper nor the need to do field finishers) but still rewarded for reading the situation well with Purging Flames / Signet of Courage, using your mobility skill to help people stuck and using the CC that comes from guardian weapons. As of patch 14/02/22, you don't lose the active effect of virtues if you use another (so you can use f1-f3 when you wish now as you won't stop the flowing resolve effect). - I believe the closest meta build would be support tempest (Alacrity / Cleansing / Healing), Alacbender gives more alacrity (and as it pulses, even after ennemie corrupt it gets reapplied instantly), Cleansing feels similar but the Tempest really takes it in the healing deppartement (the party with the willbender will get a lot more Aegis compared to other subs tho, helping mitigating damages) while having the best res-utility with Glyph of Renewal. - It really improves the capability of pure damage dealers with perma alacrity and high might uptime due to Empower having low CD from playing Willbender (IE : Revenant hammer skill 3 goes down to 9s, which makes it sync with hydro sigil procs from legend swap which makes the gameplay much more fluid). It's a nice "offensive" support but wouldn't recommend running only that as support class in a squad, it's an exotic Build with niche applications, that can be strong, but is by no means a staple in comps.
3 stars
Dolan gave this build 3 stars • December 2022
Pros: Very fun to play, very good cleanse, good alac reapplication \\ Cons: limited usefulness, lacking lots of necessities \\ Overall: Has no place in a squad in the current iteration. Cannot be the healer/off-support role because close to no healing (and no, signet of courage is not a potent heal), cannot replace chrono for strips (as it does not strip), cannot replace fb as there's literally no stab or group resistance. It's just an awkward cleanse/alac bot. I've really enjoyed playing it (albeit with a bit of a different build) but it just doesn't really fit anywhere in current squads. \\ Note: signet of courage also does NOT apply stability in wvw
5 stars
Fowin49396 gave this build 5 stars • December 2022
Still a solid meta build. An insane amount of relentless a.o.e. cleanses to employee, and just so you don't get bored, you can always play that wonderful little game of drifting, simply the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Comments

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