D/Mo Grim Reaper Build (Tank)

Hooded Doom

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2007

IGN : Hooded Lfg Uwsc, Il H O O D E D Il

someones mad.

D/

Hi guys, wondering what you think of this build that im using on my dervish for AB and general tanking.

Scythe Mastery 9+1+2
Earth Prayers 9
Mysticism 10+2
Healing prayers 6

{E} Vow of Silence
Mending
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Victorious Sweep
Zealous Sweep
Chilling Victory

Wielding: Zealous Ancient Scythe Of Fortitude
Health +29
inscrip: Guided by fate
Damage +15%^enchanted
Energy gain on hit 1
energy regeneration-1
Damage +20%

Basically I run Faithful intervention and mending from the start and use the character as a tank, charging into battle with mystic regen and vital boon on.

It is particularly useful when clearting Elementalist shrines (AB) or charging a group of mesmers as you can keep Vow of Silence up almost constantly.


Please comment suggestions

Doom

~ Dan ~

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

D/

It has mending. It's a tank. Utter fail.

Hooded Doom

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2007

IGN : Hooded Lfg Uwsc, Il H O O D E D Il

someones mad.

D/

??

whats wrong with mending in a tank

Keekles

Keekles

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Floating amongst the ethereal seas of placating breezes.

Like A [Boss]

Mo/

Nothing particularly wrong with mending imo... but tank = ehhh...

Kyrein

Kyrein

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2008

Island of Undisclosed Location

mending. get the shotgun.

Cebe

Cebe

The 5th Celestial Boss

Join Date: Jul 2006

Inverness, Scotland

The Cult of Scaro [WHO]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Xenox X
??

whats wrong with mending in a tank Stop and think to yourself if (at 6 healing prayers), whether the 2 health regeneration is worth the 1 energy upkeep...not only that, but Mending would do exactly the same with only 3 points in Healing Prayers! Even THAT doesn't mean you should use it. By wasting a slot on Mending, you're essentially losing a skill slot in that build.

Tanks are not required in PvE (and fail in PvP), especially a Dervish Tank, since Dervishes have the highest damage weapon in the game. You should take advantage of that and deal damage rather than "tank".

M @ T

M @ T

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2006

South of heaven

S E X Y Shinigami[SEXY]

W/

Mending!

\,,,/____( ^_^ )____\,,,/

lol

Sirius-NZ

Sirius-NZ

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Bellevue, WA (I know ... but I moved out of NZ)

Xen of Onslaught

D/

Mending is the trademark skill that gets you laughed at when you're playing a melee class, by the way. When you're dealing with mystic regen, you completely don't need it.

And as noted above, you don't really need tanks in PvP. Shrine defenders aren't so tough that you can't roll them with a monk in your party for support, and real players usually ignore "tanks" and kill their support first.

2048

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2007

Guild Wars

Brotherhood of Veterans C co [BRO]

D/

hey, why wouldn't you slap healing breeze in there somewhere?

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Why flame the guy for his build? He's just trying to improve his game and there's no reason to mock him for it. Tell him how to improve it. Really it's not that terrible of a build. Especially for AB. Maybe lose Mending for Conviction, lose VS for Mystic Sweep. Drop Healing Prayers to zero, drop Earth Prayers to 8 (break point for 3 pips regen with MR) and put everything else you can into Scythe Mastery. Good survivability, good damage and VoS keeps you from having rending spells cast at you. Dervishes have enough skills that you don't really need a seconday most of the time.

I agree with Beaver though. There's no real reason for a Derv to tank in PvP and rarely in PvE.

~ Dan ~

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshuarodger
Really it's not that terrible of a build. It really is. He's obviously new to Dervish, and new players should read the stickied guide and use one of those builds. Only when they have a good understanding of the class, should they then make builds.

Stormlord Alex

Stormlord Alex

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Beyond the Forest of Doom, past the Cavern of Agony... on Kitten & Puppy Island

Soul of Melandru [sOm]

W/E

Lose Mending. 4 health a second at the cost of 1/4 of your energy is really, really shit - there's a reason everyone laughs at Mending; it's bad and a 'n00b' skill.

Personally, I'd lose the Earth Prayers too... because tanking is bad and wasting attributes and skills on a class that should be killing things is also bad - I'd just get a monk instead.

Anyho, for general PvE Vow of Silence is pretty poor - it does nothing to protect against heavy-hitting physicals (Destroyers, dinosaurs, dervs), and nothing to protect against point-blank spells - and when things start killing you, VoS stops the monks saving your ass.

For AB, VoS is workable - essentially, it negates a lot of common classes and counters as threats (SS necros, air eles, stuff like that).

However, it needs a lot of work for a PvP build - speed buff is mandatory, for moving between shrines and dealing with kiting players, and either an IAS skill or timed activation attacks like Mystic Sweep are essentially for increasing your dps.
Also, major runes are baed and not having 14 Scythe is baed - fix those.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

That's....quite bad.

Needs less tank, more Deep Wound (Pious Assault).
And less bad skills, like Mending....O_O

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
Lose Mending. 4 health a second at the cost of 1/4 of your energy is really, really shit - there's a reason everyone laughs at Mending; it's bad and a 'n00b' skill.

Personally, I'd lose the Earth Prayers too... because tanking is bad and wasting attributes and skills on a class that should be killing things is also bad - I'd just get a monk instead.

Anyho, for general PvE Vow of Silence is pretty poor - it does nothing to protect against heavy-hitting physicals (Destroyers, dinosaurs, dervs), and nothing to protect against point-blank spells - and when things start killing you, VoS stops the monks saving your ass.

For AB, VoS is workable - essentially, it negates a lot of common classes and counters as threats (SS necros, air eles, stuff like that).

However, it needs a lot of work for a PvP build - speed buff is mandatory, for moving between shrines and dealing with kiting players, and either an IAS skill or timed activation attacks like Mystic Sweep are essentially for increasing your dps.
Also, major runes are baed and not having 14 Scythe is baed - fix those. Really you're losing a third of your energy since you're using a zealous scythe. and i forgot about an IAS because i just always have one equipped. There goes Faithful Intervention or VB.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshuarodger
Really you're losing a third of your energy since you're using a zealous scythe. and i forgot about an IAS because i just always have one equipped. There goes Faithful Intervention or VB. Zealous Scythe is sexy on Scythes....
How are you losing a third of your energy by the way...?

Stormlord Alex

Stormlord Alex

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Beyond the Forest of Doom, past the Cavern of Agony... on Kitten & Puppy Island

Soul of Melandru [sOm]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by tyla salanari
Zealous Scythe is sexy on Scythes....
How are you losing a third of your energy by the way...? With a Zealous scythe, you're down to 3 pips of energy regen, Mending eats up one of these - so that's a third of your energy.

I say a quarter because I don't take into account Zealous, at the very least it's paying for itself so the degen it gives is moot.

Darkside

Darkside

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Chantry of Secrets

[Angl]

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Xenox X
Hi guys, wondering what you think of this build that im using on my dervish for AB and general tanking.

Scythe Mastery 9+1+2
Earth Prayers 9
Mysticism 10+2
Healing prayers 6

{E} Vow of Silence
Mending
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Victorious Sweep
Zealous Sweep
Chilling Victory

Wielding: Zealous Ancient Scythe Of Fortitude
Health +29
inscrip: Guided by fate
Damage +15%^enchanted
Energy gain on hit 1
energy regeneration-1
Damage +20%

Basically I run Faithful intervention and mending from the start and use the character as a tank, charging into battle with mystic regen and vital boon on.

It is particularly useful when clearting Elementalist shrines (AB) or charging a group of mesmers as you can keep Vow of Silence up almost constantly.


Please comment suggestions

Doom Wow...

suggestion... you need to change that entire build. Since this is for AB where is your speed boost? You're suppose to be capping shrines as quickly as possible. You have four skills devoted to self heal... that's far to many for that purpose try and limit yourself to only one or two. Take some more useful attack skills so that you can actually kill stuff if you have to....as for general pve usage...no just no.

Hooded Doom

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2007

IGN : Hooded Lfg Uwsc, Il H O O D E D Il

someones mad.

D/

Thanks for all of that...

well lol it seems i have some work to do, the build actually works half decently if anyone has bothered to Try It but when ive re done the build i shall repost it

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
With a Zealous scythe, you're down to 3 pips of energy regen, Mending eats up one of these - so that's a third of your energy.

I say a quarter because I don't take into account Zealous, at the very least it's paying for itself so the degen it gives is moot. yeah you're absolutle right about zealous paying for itself...if you're attacking someone, which isn't always the case in AB. There's a lot of running from shrine to shrine. you could always take another weapon set though, i guess.

Biostem

Biostem

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Oct 2007

[skill]vital boon[/skill] + [skill]signet of pious light[/skill] = win

Plus, it'll allow you to spec into fewer attributes, which in turn allows those attributes to be higher, thus providing even more of a benefit.

The Dervish really has an excellent selection of skills. Really, the only thing you'd need to be a monk for would be for an always-available rez...

blue.rellik

blue.rellik

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Melbourne, Australia

None

W/

That's a pretty bad idea, only usable every 20 seconds

Biostem

Biostem

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Oct 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue.rellik
That's a pretty bad idea, only usable every 20 seconds If you use vital boon first, the signet strips it, which means you get healed from vital boon and the signet recharges instantly, (and also heals for even more).

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Biostem
[skill]vital boon[/skill] + [skill]signet of pious light[/skill] = win

Plus, it'll allow you to spec into fewer attributes, which in turn allows those attributes to be higher, thus providing even more of a benefit.

The Dervish really has an excellent selection of skills. Really, the only thing you'd need to be a monk for would be for an always-available rez...
i really like the VB SoPL combo for a good self heal also and you can reuse SoPL instantly if you need a little more HP. I think at 9 EP this combo returns about 200 health and you can instantly reuse SoPL if you still need more since you stripped VB with it. This is the self heal i use when i'm running an EDA build. but he doesn't need a rez in this build as it's for AB.

blue.rellik

blue.rellik

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Melbourne, Australia

None

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Biostem
If you use vital boon first, the signet strips it, which means you get healed from vital boon and the signet recharges instantly, (and also heals for even more). So you're speccing into a typically bad attribute and using two skill slots to do the job of the monk?

Really if I was going to put a healing skill on my dervish, it would be imbue

horseradish

horseradish

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2007

In a donut hole

Rt/A

My advice:Get a speed boost (Pious Haste/Featherfoot Grace/Harrier's Haste) Deep Wound skill one USEFUL self heal (Dwayna's Touch/Vital Boon Sig combo etc etc) Good attack skills (Chilling Victory/Wild Blow/Pious Assault etc etc) Better Elite. (Avatar of Melandru/Lyssa) Perhaps a snare (Signet of Pious Restraint comes to mind) utility (M-touch, Pious Restoration, Interrupt, etc etc)

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue.rellik
So you're speccing into a typically bad attribute and using two skill slots to do the job of the monk?

Really if I was going to put a healing skill on my dervish, it would be imbue imbue health would do you no good. if you were trying to heal some one else it would be a good skill. but the skill discription says "target other ally" which means you can't use it on yourself.

blue.rellik

blue.rellik

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Melbourne, Australia

None

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshuarodger
imbue health would do you no good. if you were trying to heal some one else it would be a good skill. but the skill discription says "target other ally" which means you can't use it on yourself. I run monks and/or ritualists in my groups. Do you?

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue.rellik
I run monks and/or ritualists in my groups. Do you?

lol. no need to get testy there. the whole point of the post was a "self-heal". if you'll read some of my other posts i have stated that a derv's job is to kill and you should always bring a good monk. it isn't your job to make sure other people stay alive if you're playing a derv. so of course i bring a monk who's trying to keep at least 4 people alive in AB. It can sometimes be tough if someone's not as experienced as you obviously seem to be with your Quote: It's AB, everything is so random there it doesn't matter how good a player you are.

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue.rellik
That's a pretty bad idea, only usable every 20 seconds i also never said that i specifically use that combo unless i'm running an EDA build, which is earth prayers specific and is a pretty decent option for a lot of situations. in other posts i have also said to put most if not all of your attribute points into myst and scythe mastery. i'm sorry if i offended you somehow but it wasn't intentional. i was just referring to a good dervish self-heal which imbue is not. since the OP might be fairly new to derv i didn't want him to think it was. lol.

blue.rellik

blue.rellik

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Melbourne, Australia

None

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshuarodger
lol. no need to get testy there. the whole point of the post was a "self-heal". if you'll read some of my other posts i have stated that a derv's job is to kill and you should always bring a good monk. it isn't your job to make sure other people stay alive if you're playing a derv. so of course i bring a monk who's trying to keep at least 4 people alive in AB. It can sometimes be tough if someone's not as experienced as you obviously seem to be with your
i also never said that i specifically use that combo unless i'm running an EDA build, which is earth prayers specific and is a pretty decent option for a lot of situations. in other posts i have also said to put most if not all of your attribute points into myst and scythe mastery. i'm sorry if i offended you somehow but it wasn't intentional. i was just referring to a good dervish self-heal which imbue is not. since the OP might be fairly new to derv i didn't want him to think it was. lol. ? I wasn't even talking to you when I initially saw the Vital Boon + Signet of Pious Light comment

Sirius-NZ

Sirius-NZ

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Bellevue, WA (I know ... but I moved out of NZ)

Xen of Onslaught

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Xenox X
Thanks for all of that...

well lol it seems i have some work to do, the build actually works half decently if anyone has bothered to Try It but when ive re done the build i shall repost it Half decently, I wouldn't be surprised. It can hurt stuff a bit, it can last a fair while. Provided you've got some playing skills you can make that sort of thing work.

Problem is, you're not getting nearly as much out of your character as you could. While this won't kill you in AB, if the build were well-optimised you'd find your Dervish significantly more effective.

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by blue.rellik
It's AB, everything is so random there it doesn't matter how good a player you are.



? I wasn't even talking to you when I initially saw the Vital Boon + Signet of Pious Light comment

i just reread my last post directed at you bluerellik, and it may have come off as a little scathing. sorry for that. your point about it being random is exactly my point about needing a self heal in AB. when you die you don't always make it back to your team right away and may not have a monk handy to heal you when you need it. i know you weren't talking to me with VB+SoPL comment and i was being an ass and pointing out your mistake. sorry again.

Hooded Doom

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2007

IGN : Hooded Lfg Uwsc, Il H O O D E D Il

someones mad.

D/

How about....
Scythe Mastery 9+1+2
Earth Prayers 10+1
Mysticism 10+2

{E} Vow of Silence
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Signet of Pious Light
Wearying Strike
Zealous Sweep
Chilling Victory

Wielding: Zealous Ancient Scythe Of Fortitude
Health +29
inscrip: Guided by fate
Damage +15%^enchanted
Energy gain on hit 1
energy regeneration-1
Damage +20%

For Alliance Battle

And as much as all of u dont want me to, i am going to list my FoW tank build.

Earth Prayers 12+1
Mysticism 12+2+1
Tactics 5

{E} Avatar of Balthazar
Eternal Aura
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Signet of Pious Light
Pious Restoration (works well with VB)
Zealous Renewal

Using a high armour shield and high HP sword.

This build works really well and is actually very hard to kill, sometimes i take Vow instead of Balth but it really doesnt matter.

please let me know what you think of these 2

ZenRgy

ZenRgy

Zookeeper

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australian Discussion Posse HQ - Glorious leader

҉ ̵̡̢̢̛̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟&#

N/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Xenox X
How about....
Scythe Mastery 9+1+2
Earth Prayers 10+1
Mysticism 10+2

{E} Vow of Silence
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Signet of Pious Light
Wearying Strike
Zealous Sweep
Chilling Victory

Wielding: Zealous Ancient Scythe Of Fortitude
Health +29
inscrip: Guided by fate
Damage +15%^enchanted
Energy gain on hit 1
energy regeneration-1
Damage +20%

For Alliance Battle

And as much as all of u dont want me to, i am going to list my FoW tank build.

Earth Prayers 12+1
Mysticism 12+2+1
Tactics 5

{E} Avatar of Balthazar
Eternal Aura
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Signet of Pious Light
Pious Restoration (works well with VB)
Zealous Renewal

Using a high armour shield and high HP sword.

This build works really well and is actually very hard to kill, sometimes i take Vow instead of Balth but it really doesnt matter.

please let me know what you think of these 2 Tanking is really pointless, you'll find yourself being more effective if you just run a more offensive build with less enchants for healing and defense and bringing more scythe attacks.

Div

Div

I like yumy food!

Join Date: Jan 2006

Where I can eat yumy food

Dead Alley [dR]

Mo/R

Quote:
Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver
Stop and think to yourself if (at 6 healing prayers), whether the 2 health regeneration is worth the 1 energy upkeep...not only that, but Mending would do exactly the same with only 3 points in Healing Prayers! Even THAT doesn't mean you should use it. By wasting a slot on Mending, you're essentially losing a skill slot in that build.

Tanks are not required in PvE (and fail in PvP), especially a Dervish Tank, since Dervishes have the highest damage weapon in the game. You should take advantage of that and deal damage rather than "tank". Or you could use watchful spirit and get +2 without ANY spec into healing. Not to mention +health when it gets removed. But yeah, those skills are stupid, and tanks are even more stupid.

Sirius-NZ

Sirius-NZ

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Bellevue, WA (I know ... but I moved out of NZ)

Xen of Onslaught

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Xenox X
How about....
Scythe Mastery 9+1+2
Earth Prayers 10+1
Mysticism 10+2

{E} Vow of Silence
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Signet of Pious Light
Wearying Strike
Zealous Sweep
Chilling Victory

Wielding: Zealous Ancient Scythe Of Fortitude
Health +29
inscrip: Guided by fate
Damage +15%^enchanted
Energy gain on hit 1
energy regeneration-1
Damage +20%

For Alliance Battle OK, first you should have the attribute points to bump scythe mastery up to 11 base. That'll make the major rune less necessary, although I suppose if you really want it, ok.

Second you ought to have a speed boost somewhere. Running around makes up quite a bit of AB play, and the faster you can do it the better. People regularly use pious haste for this, but be warned it strips enchantments. If you cast enchants after it ends and before engaging you should still be OK though.

Third, wearying strike is going to reduce your damage output because you have no way to remove the weakness as far as I can see. If you can't put one on, find another deep wound skill. Since you seem to be using only Dervish skills you could go Assassin secondary and take Augury of Death, though without attribute points it won't last for long.

Other than that this build at least makes sense for avoiding damage, though it wouldn't be my first choice (I don't tank).

No comment on the FoW build though.

street peddler

street peddler

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2007

i know AB is basically PvE, but you should never tank in any form of PvP..

Yuhe Ji

Yuhe Ji

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2008

Los Angeles

E/

The FoW tank probably wouldn't work too well since it doesn't quite have the armor a normal "tank" would need. Try looking at something along these lines: http://www.pvxwiki.com/wiki/Build/E_Obsidian_Dervish
As for the AB build, dervs should not be tanking. The scythe does the most damage out of every melee weapon and it should be used to its fullest extent. Quote:
Originally Posted by X Xenox X
How about....
Scythe Mastery 9+1+2
Earth Prayers 10+1
Mysticism 10+2

{E} Vow of Silence
Faithful Intervention
Mystic Regeneration
Vital Boon
Signet of Pious Light
Wearying Strike
Zealous Sweep
Chilling Victory

Wielding: Zealous Ancient Scythe Of Fortitude
Health +29
inscrip: Guided by fate
Damage +15%^enchanted
Energy gain on hit 1
energy regeneration-1
Damage +20%

For Alliance Battle This looks a bit better, but wearying strike should be taken out, as the sirius suggested. Vital boon and signet of pious light should be enough healing, which means Faithful Intervention and Mystic Regeneration are not needed. Two things needed, however, are an IAS, such as Heart of Fury and a speed boost such as Harrier's Haste or perhaps dash.

Marverick

Marverick

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

R/

Personally I'd drop all of those enchantments. If I want survivability, I'll run

[skill]Pious Fury[/skill][skill]Pious Assault[/skill][skill]Chilling Victory[/skill][skill]Eremite's Attack[/skill][skill]Pious Haste[/skill][skill]Mending Touch[/skill][skill]Avatar of Dwayna[/skill] and then some other random skill, maybe [skill]Banishing Strike[/skill] to screw over MM's


And get a +30hp mod on your Scythe... never walk into PvP with anything less than perfect gear, make a PvP char if you can't afford to buy it.

Coloneh

Coloneh

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

D/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by street peddler
i know AB is basically PvE, but you should never tank in any form of PvP.. or pve.


you should never tank, ever actually...

Sir Pandra Pierva

Sir Pandra Pierva

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2007

Sardelec yelling at Tenshi

Angels Of Strife

E/

lol if you want an ab build that will survive and deal alot of dmg output
try
ebon dust aura
wearying strike
crippling sweep
chilling victory
mystic or ermites
vital boon
sig of pious light
signet of malice