Looking for an effective sword skill

Ok here is my dilemma. I'm thinking of cranking out a warrior elementalist. I want to base this around maximum armor. Basically a real damage sponge but he still needs to dole out damage. I need some kind of sword skill, maybe axe but definately not hammer, that is good for damage and doesn't require me to chain stuff together,i.e. sever artery, gash, final thrust. Here is the skill list I've worked out so far and you'll see why. Also do stances stack? That is can you be in balanced stance and shield stance a the same time?

Bonettis Defense: Mostly as sort of energy management since this is warrior primary.

Balanced Stance: for obvious reasons

Shield Stance: Extra attack avoidance

Magnetic Aura: More attack avoidance

Obsidian flesh: Armor and can't be the target of spells.

Healing Signet: for obvious reasons


Ok so that leaves me with two slots free. I'm thinking of glyph of lesser energy just to keep all those 10 energy skills down to a manageable cost, 5 for the glyph then the spell is free if I read it right. Suggestions are welcome. What I want to do with this guy is just run him into a group and hit obsidian flesh and then magnetic aura balanced stance and just wail while taking next to no damage.

Maybe Galrath slash since it is adrenaline based then use my other free slot for to the limit.

Yes you can use balance stance and shield stance at the same time as it won't cancel it out like say wary.They Anet just buffed a hole bunch of sword skill.The ones i can think are riposte ,deadly riposte,bulls xxx non elite of charge and a few others.I would check the updates thread in the Riverside forum.

Quote: Originally Posted by Age Yes you can use balance stance and shield stance at the same time as it won't cancel it out like say wary. - Balanced Stance (Tactics)
Stance. For 18 seconds, you cannot be knocked down and you do not suffer extra damage from a critical attack.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:30

- Shield Stance (Tactics)
Stance. For 18 seconds, while wielding a shield, you have a 75% chance to "block" incoming attacks, but you move 33% slower.
Energy:5 Cast:0 Recharge:60

As usual Age, you are wrong. They are both stances, therefore you can't use both at the same time.

Hmm...I don't really know where to start...

Basically, you are equiping mostly defensive skills which are not really effective or useful. Some of them require constant energy input that doesn't really fit the Warrior's energy pool.

If you are talking about PVP in RA/TA, the following situations are most likely what you will encounter. (I try to rank them by priority)
1) hexes (a necro or mesmer with high attribute on their deadly hexes is gonna hurt. You can't really do much except you have a monk or you can heal/remove condition by yourself)
2) conditions (like blinding, bleeding, disease, burning...they are as annoying as hexes. But the damage will be generally lower)
3) Interupt/Knockdown (that's gonna hurt. You may be shut down for up to like 20 seconds and you cannot do much about it)
4) Block/Evade (Almost 95% casters/rangers will have one or more block/evade skill(s). Tactic-build warrior/Smiting Monk can even reflect partial/extra damage back to you)
5) running/fleeing foes (that's really annoying especially when your dps is low and cannot kill them before they flee away or got healed by others)
6) energy drain (this affects more on W/E, W/R, W/Mo, or any other builds with a lot of energy-required skills)

So basically, you cannot avoid all of these. You have to choose which situation is the most unfavorable to you. Then modify your build accordingly. Try to follow those "standard" templates in forum. They are easy to use and all-rounded, especially for new players.

Take care and have fun

your aim is to be a damage sponge but you dont have dolyak signet or watch yourself ?

Watch yourself is an insignificant armor boost compared to what I already have there. Dolyak signet would work but it is strength based and therefore not fitting in with my attribute point scheme which calls for mostly tactics. I could ditch one of the avoidance skills like magnetic aura or shields up in favor of Armor of Earth. My goal is to drop obsidian flesh and armor of earth, attack and use bonettis to rebuild energy. I'm not maintaining any enchantments so I get the full, although limited, energy regen of the warrior. when the first two armor buffs fade I can switch to one of the cheaper tactics based ones until they recharge. The goal is to survive for the thirty second recharge of obsidian flesh and then drop it again. With a good enchanting weapon I can maintain it for just a hair longer making it more useful. The two most expensive skills that I absolutely must have are only 10 energy,which while significant, isn't bad and can be recouped quickly enough I think. If I get it to work I'll let you guys know.

If this is PVE, then here's what I recommend.
1. Hundred Blades {E} (to charge up adrenaline if you have it, otherwise you could use Glad's Defense)
2. Galrath Slash
3. Desperation Blow / Savage Slash
4. Bonettis Defense if you still feel like you need more defense
5. Watch Yourself
6. Dolyak Sig
7. Heal Sig
8. Res Sig

Str: 15 (11+1+3)
Swd: 11 (10+1)
Tac: 11 (10+1)

if you wanted to go axe, replace skills 1-3 w/ Eviscerate {E}, Exec. Strike, and Cyclone Axe or Disrupting Chop. Earth ele's defensive line is good... providing you're not a warrior. Warriors just don't have the energy to maintain them. One of the few secondaries that really adds to the warrior defense is on the mesmer inspiration line, that extra 40 armor to ele or physical is more than worth it. I'd replace Bonetti's with whatever resistance the situation calls for, in which case you'll pretty much have constant +100 armor from dolyak, watch yourself, and resistance. But it's your call as always. If you do go the mesmer secondary route, take a point out of either sword or tactics and put them into inspiration.

Thanks for the suggestions but I'd like to not deviate from my W/E profession and I can't use elite attack skills since I am keeping Obsidian flesh in there. I'll just go all trial and error on it. I appreciate the help but no one really gave me what I was looking for.

Quote: Originally Posted by djfatben 1. Final Thrust {E} Final Thrust is'nt elite

Quote: Originally Posted by Str0b0 Watch yourself is an insignificant armor boost compared to what I already have there The only armor boost you have is obsidian flesh ...which gives the same armor boost as watch yourself only it is has a 30 sec recharge time and at best an 18 sec duration (around 22 sec with a 20% enchanting mod) for a warrior where as watch yourself charges with only 4 strikes of adrenaline. Yes granted Obsidian Flesh will give you at best a 22 second illusion of invinciblity but if you need to be avoiding that many Hexs/Spells then i'm afraid you will pay for it in the gap between recharges.

Considering he said to use it for charging adren, I think he meant to say Hundred Blades.

Well then to speak of your build directly, don't use magnetic aura. There are plenty of warrior skills that don't have that awful 60 second recharge, last longer, and aren't nearly as vulnerable as an enchantment.

1. Armor of Earth
2. Obsidian Flesh {E}
3. Ward Against Melee / Balanced Stance
4. Healing Signet
5. Shield Stance
6. Galrath Slash
7. Pure Strike / Desperation Blow
8. Res Sig

Earth: 11
Tac: 12 (10+1+1)
Sword: 11 (10+1)

You need a zealous/enchanting sword for this build to be effective, as well as glads.

Quote: Originally Posted by Avarre

april fools prank

Quote: Originally Posted by Dahnel

Ok I did have healing signet in there but I don't want to use Dolyak Signet because to get any worthwhile duration out of it I have to have Strength to at least 9 or ten and that means slacking in another important attribute. I'll figure something out. I already figured on glads armor and a zealous and enchanting mod although since I'm not using an attack speed bosting skill I question whether the energy gain will negate the lack of regeneration. Unless I can find a perfect mod which may be somewhat difficult considering I'm broke as hell LoL. Still I'm going to fiddle around with it. I don't think this is one I can figure out by research. I got the basic idea I just need to build it and tweak it until ti works.

Use HB and a Conjure(whatever) for a decent damage output.

Actually I've been fiddling with it and now the more or less final build is thus.

I'm not putting attributes because I haven't fiddled with those yet. Right now they are

Swordsmanship: 10+3

Tactics: 11

Earth Magic: 8

I could be wrong I didn't pay attention that closely.

Deadly Riposte

Galrath Slash

To the Limit

Shields Up

Bonettis

Balanced Stance

Armor of earth

Healing signet

So far everything works perfectly. I have no energy issues and no problem tanking large groups of enemies. I tested it on Trolls outside of Droks and took almost no damage and what little I did take was easy for Healing Signet to fix even with the -40 armor. I have to capture Obsidian flesh still which will probably take the place of Shields Up. With glad armor and perfect Zealous mod on my sword. I can throw up both Armor of Earth Obsidian flesh. Obsidian flesh will lapse first but it will be ready for use again by the time armor of earth lapses. With a constant attack rate and the avoidance of bonettis to build up energy in a hurry I can keep at least armor of earth up more or less constantly. I'll have to see how it works with all the skills in place.

Shields Up: Shout. For 11 seconds, you and all allies in the area gain 50 armor against piercing damage and 18% chance to block incoming projectile attacks.

And the purpose of this is? It's practically useless. Watch Yourself is a much better choice. Yeah, it's only 20 armor, but 20 armor wipes half the damage you take.

With ONE sword skill you go with 13 sword? I think you need to put your Superior Rune in Tactics instead of sword...and add Riposte. Perhaps work in Desperation Blow or Thrill of Victory with such high tactics. To replace the sword skills....and put 0 points in sword. Spend them in Earth and Tactics.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hells Last Survivor

Missed that update...but still, armor against conditionals is so so. Armor against everything, is the prefered way to go.