Firebrand - Condi Firebrand

The community gave this build a rating, making it top-tier: Great

Focused on: Condition damage and Support

Designed for: Open World and Open World General

Expansions required: Path of Fire Builds

Difficulty:
Normal
This build was last updated on August 21, 2023 and is up to date for the March 19, 2024 patch.

Overview

Condition Firebrand is simultaneously one of the strongest DPS and Support options for open world farming in a group, and is also one of the best solo options available.

The DPS version of this build offers exceptionally high damage, competing for the highest DPS slots if it has allies, while also providing very high Aegis Aegis uptime. Most of its damage is AOE, making it one of the strongest cleave options available, and its primary damage source being Burning Burning means that it has burst that rivals power builds, something most condition builds cannot offers. Its primary weakness is its reliance on melee-ranged abilities and its lack of mobility, both of which can be somewhat mitigated by the use of Scepter or Sword as backbar weapons.

Similarly, the Support version of this build (Dubbed "Condi Quickbrand") maintains very high DPS for a support while providing up to 4 allies with permanent Quickness Quickness and very high Aegis Aegis uptime.

Both builds can dip into further ally support through the use of skills such as "Hold the Line!", "Stand Your Ground!", and "Advance!", along with being able to enter into their more defensive tomes should the situation call for it. This versatility makes them incredibly strong picks for general PVE, and especially for open world farming.


Template Code

[&DQEqHxAaPiUmDwAASAEAABUXAABMAQAAiRIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]
Copy Template Code


Skill Bar

Axe/Torch
Scepter/X
Utility


Weapon Variants

  • Staff - the best option for ranged AOE
  • Sword, Greatsword - higher burst than Scepter

Skill Variants

  • Sword of Justice - strong option for power-based variants to provide extra vuln
  • "Stand Your Ground!" can be used to provide extra Stability Stability.
  • Mantra of Lore for more condition cleanse.
  • Mantra of Truth for Blind Blind on demand.
  • Hammer of Wisdom or Bane Signet for more crowd control.
  • Shield of the Avenger or Wall of Reflection if projectiles are a problem.
  • "Hold the Line!" - party Protection Protection
  • "Feel My Wrath!" - more quickness uptime


Specializations

  • Legendary Lore is basically even in performance with Weighty Terms for DPS Condi Firebrand when solo.
  • Adept Radiance traits are purely preference.

Virtues

Virtues provides us with a significant boost to damage if we are already receiving Might Might and Vulnerability Vulnerability from other sources. This should be run in groups.

  • Change Sword of Justice to Signet of Wrath

Honor

Honor offers higher might generation for yourself and nearby allies, longer boon duration from symbols, and higher defensive utility thanks to endurance regeneration and the small amount of sustain. It does this at a very small DPS loss (under 10% when compared to Virtues). Replaces Virtues.


Equipment

Ascended gear is not required. You can use exotic gear with the same stats instead. Due to the nature of Firebrand, multiple Default options are listed.

Viper DPS Equipment

This variant uses equipment similar to existing Condi DPS Firebrand raid builds, making it an easy gearing option for general PVE.

Head
Viper
Shoulders
Viper
Chest
Viper
Hands
Viper
Legs
Viper
Feet
Viper
Backpiece
Viper
Accessory
Viper
Accessory
Viper
Amulet
Viper
Ring
Viper
Ring
Viper
Axe
Viper
Torch
Viper
Sigil
Sigil
Scepter
Viper
x
Viper
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
x6


Viper Quickness Equipment

This variant uses equipment similar to existing Condi Quickbrand raid builds, making it an easy gearing option for general PVE.

Head
Viper
Shoulders
Viper
Chest
Viper
Hands
Viper
Legs
Viper
Feet
Viper
Backpiece
Viper
Accessory
Viper
Accessory
Viper
Amulet
Viper
Ring
Viper
Ring
Viper
Axe
Viper
Torch
Viper
Sigil
Sigil
Scepter
Viper
x
Viper
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
x6


  • This variant should be run with Liberator's Vow, Stalwart Speed, and Mantra of Potence. It is also recommended to take "Feel My Wrath!" and potentially Mantra of Solace.

Ritualist Generalist Equipment

Ritualist is a fantastic set for open world as it can perform both of the above mentioned roles with the same equipment, swapping only one weapon sigil rather than an entire set of runes. It does sacrifice a very small amount of damage (less than 500 DPS) to accomplish this but the versatility can make it well worth it for people that only want to invest in one set. As a bonus, Ritualist provides us with a very significant boost to HP, making it an incredible choice for open world.

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
Axe
Ritualist
Torch
Ritualist
Sigil
Sigil
Rune
x6


Trailblazer Bruiser Firebrand

This bruiser build features extremely high passive defense while sacrificing practically no damage. Its primary tradeoffs are a lack of flexibility, a lack of burst damage, and that the build is restricted for use in solo play only; it will not be good in large group or instanced activities. This set relies on the insane synergy between Trailblazer Trailblazer, Rune of Superior Rune of the Undead, , and . Along with a Sigil of Superior Sigil of Smoldering, this build caps out at 100% Burning Burning duration with extremely high condition damage.

Head
Trailblazer
Shoulders
Trailblazer
Chest
Trailblazer
Hands
Trailblazer
Legs
Trailblazer
Feet
Trailblazer
Backpiece
Trailblazer
Accessory
Trailblazer
Accessory
Trailblazer
Amulet
Trailblazer
Ring
Trailblazer
Ring
Trailblazer
Axe
Trailblazer
Torch
Trailblazer
Sigil
Sigil
Scepter
Trailblazer
Sigil
Rune
x6


Other Equipment

Open World allows players to be incredibly versatile with their build. If the above options aren't to your liking, you can customize your build with some of the options below. Keep in mind that the options listed below are not generally accepted in raids, fractals, or other instanced PVE which may limit the versatility or usability of your build.

Defense

Defensive equipment options are sometimes popular with players that only play open world or that want to play "bruiser" / "juggernaut" playstyles. These options are never accepted in instanced PVE and always sacrifice some level of DPS.

  • Trailblazer Trailblazer stats can be used in place of Viper Viper, as we see in the Trailblazer variant above. This provides a dramatic boost to passive defense at a relatively small drop in DPS. Rune of Superior Rune of the Undead can be combo'd with this set for a solo build that actually deals practically the same damage as the glass setup.
  • Celestial Celestial stats synergize extremely well with Firebrand's kit. This can be used in place of Viper Viper for a flat defensive upgrade or it can open up entirely new playstyles. See Build:Firebrand_-_Celestial_Firebrand.
  • Carrion Carrion / Dire Dire can be very cheap budget defensive gear when paired with Rune of Superior Rune of Balthazar.
  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Energy can be used in place of Sigil of Superior Sigil of Bursting for a moderate boost to defense, but at a significant drop in damage.

Budget

Some budget options are available for the builds above, though with this build in particular the budget options perform significantly worse than the full gear.

  • There is no adequate budget option for the Viper Quickbrand or Ritualist setups.
  • Carrion Carrion stats can be used as a budget replacement for Viper Viper in the DPS build but must be paired with Rune of Superior Rune of Balthazar. This is a considerable drop in DPS but can be very cheap as Carrion gear on the TP costs less than 15g for a full set.
  • Sigil of Superior Sigil of Bursting can be quite expensive but has no "good" replacement. Use Sigil of Superior Sigil of Earth if you have to, but note that it's a relatively large DPS loss.

Other Options

Since this build does not rely on its runes for condition duration, as most condition builds do, we have the freedom to take runes such as Rune of Superior Rune of Speed for use in farm trains. Runes like this are often up to player preference in open world, but aren't recommended by default due to the fact that they are not used in instanced PVE.


Consumables

Budget consumables are acceptable for use in open world.

DPS

  • Prioritize Flatbread Ascended food.
  • /

Defense

Farming

  • Prioritize Flatbread Ascended food.
  • /
  • (and variants)


Usage

Tome Breakdown

Firebrand has three tomes. Each is dedicated to a different specialty.

  1. Tome of Justice - Damage via Burning Burning
  2. Tome of Resolve - healing and condition cleanse
  3. Tome of Courage - defensive boons and projectile hate

In each of these tomes, you can often just spam skills to great effect, but it is strongly advised you sit down and learn what the skills in each tome do. Some big ones to memorize:

  1. Tome of Justice
    1. Chapter 3 Heated Rebuke Chapter 3 Heated Rebuke - circular pull that can group enemies
    2. Epilogue Ashes of the Just Epilogue Ashes of the Just - provides a very powerful buff to nearby allies
  2. Tome of Resolve
    1. Epilogue Eternal Oasis Epilogue Eternal Oasis - increases all healing allies (including you) receive
    2. Chapter 4 Shining River Chapter 4 Shining River - a large waterfield that heals
    3. Chapter 1 Desert Bloom Chapter 1 Desert Bloom - a powerful heal
  3. Tome of Courage
    1. Chapter 1 Unflinching Charge Chapter 1 Unflinching Charge - Provides stability, which grants quickness
    2. Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark Chapter 3 Valiant Bulwark - a projectile-hate bubble
    3. Epilogue Unbroken Lines Epilogue Unbroken Lines - provides extreme defense to nearby allies for 5 seconds, also triggers Stalwart Speed

Damage

  1. Purging Flames
  2. Mantra of Flame
  3. Zealot's Flame
  4. Symbol of Vengeance / Symbol of Punishment
  5. Cleansing Flame
  • Use Zealot's Flame whenever available.
  • If everything you have is on cooldown, fill with auto-attacks

Boons

  • Use your "Feel My Wrath!" and Mantra of Potence off cooldown for Quickness Quickness.
  • Use your Mantra of Solace approximately every 7 seconds for Quickness Quickness from Liberator's Vow and Stalwart Speed.

Defense

  • Tome of Courage has many good defensive skills. You can go into it and press a few skills (including Epilogue Unbroken Lines Epilogue Unbroken Lines if possible) to quickly stack defensive boons.
  • Carefully time your activation of Mantra of Solace to block dangerous attacks.

Crowd Control

Retrieved from "https://metabattle.com/wiki/index.php?title=Build:Firebrand_-_Condi_Firebrand&oldid=12830"


Ratings

This build has a rating of 5 stars based on 2 votes.
Log in or register to rate this build.
5 stars
Frostbyte gave this build 5 stars • July 2023
Simply *outstanding* build. I have used it to great effect in not only PvE in nearly all variations but WvW zerg environments, as well, especially with the latest updates. I have to give props to the author. Unless FB is considerably nerfed in the near future, this is the build to learn inside and out. The trick is to find the variation that works for you and for your desired roles/areas (e.g., DPS or Off-support, open world vs. fractals, etc.) The other types of PvE have their own builds, of course, but I would even suggest using this (with perhaps very slight modifications) for fractals, for instance, as it is a solid, balanced and powerful build with great sustain and excellent damage output.
5 stars
Starlitjupiter gave this build 5 stars • July 2023
Condi Firebrand and Condi Quickbrand are some of the strongest DPS options in the game and they transfer very well into open world. High solo DPS, high group DPS, great utility, even a little emergency healing. Strongly recommend for open world.

Comments

Get MetaBattle Premium
Enjoy an ad-free experience & support the website, for less than $1 per month! Upgrade to Premium
Builds by Game Mode
Builds by Profession
Guides
Tools
General
Metabattle