Do you change builds for different missions?

My oldschool Shock war still pwns, so why change

I change around, both because different circumstances call for different strategies and because always playing the same build all the time is dull.

For all characters except my mesmer, I have my "normal" PvE setup and I usually swap a couple skills for a specific area, such as brining mending touch on a warrior in Kaineng because every goddamn thing in there is trying to blind you, etc.

I rarely do but that's because I prefer to create builds that have a more or less universal application. The only toon I constantly switch skills on is my mesmer because if you play a mesmer and aren't swapping out your skill bar for every new mission or situation then you're playing a bad PvE mesmer.

As a ranger Yes I do change quite often

B/P
trapper
runner
crip shot

change spirits to go with other rangers

depends on where when and who else

As a Monk yes - again depends on where when and who else

For certain missions and depending on the party.

If Heros/Henchies, usually keep the same build except for specific missions and areas, like Hell's Precipice, Unwaking Waters, and Dasha Vestibule.

If playing with friends, usually change my build to better coinicide with the party synergy, and recommend they do likewise.

It depends-I usually make my own builds. I add skills i want and meh whatever...and if i do change it is usually a few skills.

Yes. Some builds just plain work better than others for certain missions. Do my heroes change builds for each mission? No, other than a few instances where 1 or 2 skills makes all the difference in the world.

I get bored of playing the same build all the time and regularly switch up my "favorite" build. Like, my ele started by exclusively using earth, then discovered water, had a bit of fun with fire, and is now exploring air.

While my mesmer has one build that pretty much works in any mission (heh, even monks will try attacking with Ineptitude on them), I do change things up almost every mission.

I change my build based both on the mission at hand and the desires of the team that I am with.

A good example of this would be my experience with the Domain of Anguish area. I usually play a tank, and for the most part one build is asked for when I am playing - Obsidian Flesh. So I take a handful of health buffing skills and some anti-spell bits, just like everyone else.

I've had teams there who have not dictated that my build be Obsidian Flesh, so I've also used a Defy Pain, Dolyak Signet, Endure Pain, Signet of stamina etc. build, which I've seen many other people use. I've even been allowed to use a hammer heavy build once or twice.

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How much I change depends more on the mission, however, than the people. Outside of the "elite" areas of the game I will change based on what sort of damage I want to put out or defense I want to help add. I sometimes use Paragon as my warrior's secondary for some extra team buffing, or monk with my elementalist to act as a healing boost as well. I rarely use the common searing flames build, preferring a proper mix of water, fire, and knockdown, so on and so forth.

Then, of course, there is what the situation actually calls for. After I set up my build I tweak it for what I know I will be presented with. In FoW, for example, I usually bring Dolyak signet, Charging Strike, For Great Justice, and Backbreaker or Devastating hammer. I can use Charging and Great Justice to run up to things like Abyssals and when I hit them automatically have a charged up Devastating Hammer or an almost charged backbreaker (Charging gives 4 adrenaline, FGJ doubles it = 8 when I strike, devastating hammer @ 7 necessary.)

But any good build takes coordination, so I build based on the group and how cooperative they seem to be before we leave the outpost.

I change mine quite a bit, and I usually have one or two elites (or like, 7 on my dervish) that I have an eye on and don't care about much others. After I find an elite and a decent skillset with at least some form of healing, I'm set for life.

With my dervish I occasionally switch out one elite and *maybe* another skill. Mainly because I have all 5 forms and I anticipate what I'm about to fight and equip the most useful form. (Whether it be vs. players or monsters)
Other than my dervish, very little skill-switching.

I tend to have a core build, with 2-3 skill slots changed for each area, according to needs.

For example, my warrior will always (well, almost) start the skill bar with Triple chop, Penetrating blow and chop, Executioner's strike, Flail and Enraging charge. As needed, I will then add Dolyak signet for KD/heavy tank needs, Lightbringer gaze for RoT, Disrupting chop for caster heavies, ...

This sums it up.

I often only change my build when I'm in certain regions aka. Shiverpeak, Crystal Desert, RoF...
Eg. In desert I will go plague touch for my warrior since there is so many blind conditions. While else in RoF, I will opt for mantra of flame to make my warrior lasts longer.

I used to, until I realized all of PvE is essentially fighting the same thing, only packaged in a different mob. Since November 05, I've barely changed my Mesmer build for anything except new chapters/skill updates, as far as general PvE is concerned.

'Elite' areas in Factions and DoA are the only real exception... and for solo farming.

The best PvE players will look at the composition of their team, what their skills are and the environment they are fighting. Some professions lend themselves to change more than others(e.g mesmer) but in reality a player should be able to roll to any variation of the profession they are playing.

A well set up team can make the difference between failure, scraping by or doing a mission with ease.

I don't change my Ranger Build that often. Only because it works fine the way it is. I always found myself being a damage dealing and a interrupter. Which my build covers both perfectly.

Of course some missions I change based on the requirements of the mission or team. For example the Ruins of Morah where using Burning arrow works wonders.

Not unless I'm getting bored. PvE doesn't require you to be adaptive. I've never come across a mission that couldn't be beaten easily by a pug with no preparation but with a little communication when playing it.

Every once in a while, but not often. Extinguish or broad head arrow (on a hero) when I know I'm going up against a SF boss. A snare (on a hero) for the Moddok Crevice bonus, etc. Change from a hybird heal/prot to LoD/HP&GoLE for the last couple of NF missions. But generally, no. I switch which heroes I bring along, but generally their skill bars are pretty set as well. There isn't much need if your builds are already optimized. You can power through most anything with just simple DPS.

I do it all the time, because I can and it makes life easier. It's more fun. Having a 10 inch love rod while only using 5 is quite pointless imo. Try to fight the giant squid in boreas seabed without interrupts :P.
Try fight shiro without stance enders.
Maelstrom does miracle works for the gain olias quest while I normally never use it.
Broadhead arrow + ruby djinn = ownage
etc. etc.

Each of my chars has at least 2 or 3 templates I change depending on when and where that char is...

My warrior has 2 templates for each weapon (so 2 for Hammer, Sword and Axe) - if I feel like bashing stuff I switch to Hammer; Sword is mainly for melee focussed areas and Axe is just for sheer carnage...

My Rit has a Spirit based template and a weapon spell template - that's used when a secondary healer is needed.

My Paragon has either dmg buff or defense buff templates...

Going with the same each time is boring imo