Multiple semi-noobie questions on Voltaic Spear Farming

I was hanging out in Umbral Grotto this weekend--I swear the people there speak another acronym language that I can't decipher--anyway, there were multiple groups that were VSFing which I found out was Voltaic Spear Farming. One group added me but I had to quit as I had NO clue what to do.

So, next time I'm asked (I would like to go because I just like going out with other people never mind the VSFing) as a ranger what build would I be expected to bring? Barrage? Interrupt? Trap? Other? I'm pretty good as either a barrage ranger or an interrupt ranger but haven't really worked on skillls as a trapper. I have a mesmer secondary that I use for condition spreading. I also have most major ranger elites.

Also, to VSF, do you go into Vloxen Excavations? Do the Voltaic spears come from the end chest?

I tried to find a relevent thread (Index of farming builds) I didn't find it helpful as far as the questions I have and, perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems like those builds are mostly for solo farming in HM? I did also look on PvXwiki but again, nothing very detailed on what VSF farming is.

You ll find that VSF revolves around using the mesmer PvE skill Cry of Pain. Ive only done 1 of these runs but what happens is the Permasin runs to the Slavers Dungeon and then to the end boss. He leads him to the wall where the rest of the team is waiting on the other side and they spam cry of pain after a hex is placed on the target. A ranger usually brings a few spirits to speed things up.

This is the "cliffs notes" version as Ive said Ive only done 1 of these but its hot hard to get whats going on.

as for a ranger, you'd expect to run only one type of build, and thats called FS

FS consists of Frozen Soil, but also you'd be expected to be /Rt and bring the skill Gaze of Fury to destroy any spirits. Also another good spirit to bring is edge of extinction. and you'd be expected to just sit there and keep FS and EoE up.

alright so yes vsf is voltaic spear farming. You collect a group consisting of 1 perma sin 1 ranger with frozen soil gaze of fury and other spirits and then 6 cry of pain nukers or Ray of judgment nukers. you then go into verdant cascades and run to the slavers exile dungeon. Once inside you go to the thommis dungeon. you then let the perma run to the boss and draw him to a wall. You then nuke him and all his friends. Once all defeated, the wall disappears and you can get the endchest which may drop a voltaic spear. A good run takes 3-5 minutes.

Thanks everyone, this is exactly the information I was looking for. And now that I know, I'm not sure it's for me. However, I may try it once just to say I have. I'm not much for farming, but there were so many people grouping at Umbral Grotto for VSF that I had to know what it was and what exactly it entailed.

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