My Bonder Build (oro/FA) - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

otherside

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2006

ATL

Apathetic Nobodies

N/

09 Apr 2006 at 22:40 - 1

Tired of the monks who only bond like 6 bonds outside in Grenth's?

Mo/Me

Divine: 14(11+3)
Protection: 13(12+1)
Inspiration: 6

Life Barrier {E}
Life Bond
Mantra of Inscriptions
Blessed Signet
Life Attunement
Watchful Spirit
Balthazar's Spirit
Vital Blessing

*Note* The reason I went more runes in divine is so I could get more inspiration for the better mantra of inscriptions. I highly suggest doing this, but also getting more prot in the process (not +1 like I have

). I know it gives you hardly any hp, but if you have a good healer you'll manage. Outside cast barrier/bond on all in the farm grp, then balth on yourself... that gives you 9 bonds (which means you can cast one more and still be comfortably able to keep energy up). Inside Sorrows I like casting barrier/bond/attune/watchful/vital on the tank, balth on myself, attune on the MM, and watchful on the SS... this let's your healer not worry about healing the SS, and easy orison's on the MM, while still keeping nice bonds on the aggro-man. Works for me, and inside SF you can usually go afk for food/drink when you hit some big aggro

Tsunami Rain

mmmmmmmm pie.

Join Date: Aug 2005

Honolulu, Hawaii

Favorable Winds [Gust]

Mo/

10 Apr 2006 at 00:26 - 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by otherside

and inside SF you can usually go afk for food/drink when you hit some big aggro

<3

As a bonder I usually cant go afk for food and drink

I'll be sure to try out your bonder build as I like to go get drinks in the middle of runs

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

10 Apr 2006 at 06:55 - 3

I find watchful and mantra to be a waste, unless you dont trust your healer and you find yourself having to heal.

THEIvo

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

The Netherlands

looking for a place to settle..

E/

10 Apr 2006 at 07:04 - 4

Mantra.. a waste? that mantra allows you to regain energy MUCH faster. I have done the calculations, and even at zero inspiration the ten energy investment is still worth it.

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

10 Apr 2006 at 07:19 - 5

if you cant keep bonds up without mantra... you need to practise a bit more.

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

10 Apr 2006 at 07:31 - 6

The mantra comes from PvP...It's certainly not a waste...you don't need any secondary...for bonding in particular, so why not take mantra? you can also take inspired hex etc....it's great imo

Exile Of Heaven

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Netherlands

Farmers Union [CASH]

Mo/

10 Apr 2006 at 07:33 - 7

ive got a different build for fa

Life Barrier
Life Bond
Blessed Signet
Mantra of Inscriptions
Reversal
Mend Condition
Essence bond
Ressurect

It works great in sf , its harder in the way 2 get ther becuz u have 2 hold 8 bonds, still its possible 2 make proffit of energy with mantra becuz ive got 6 on Inspiration, and not max out Prot so my bonds are at 50% not at 52% as most bonders have i think

Reversal is for ure only keep up in hp and if ure monk leaves its even possible 2 go on without it. u can spam reversal and mend condition on him

its my build and works pretty nice for fa

oro is different. i dont go Mend Condition and Reversal with me then.
Life Attunement and Vital Blessing works great then instead of those 2 named above.

Gwondolas Marillion

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2005

Sweden

SWAC (30+ Swedish Adults Club)

10 Apr 2006 at 07:59 - 8

... since I feel it's false security, and since PvE is quite free from spikes; why provide the foes with a possible spike when (or if) Vital Blessing it shattered?

With 16 prot and 13 divine I use ...
Life Barrier
Life Bond
Life Attunement
Watchful Spirit
Mend Ailment
Holy Veil
Balthazar's Spirit
Blessed Signet

Barrier and Bond for all four members and Balth for yourself in Grenth's. Just by using the sig I'm perfectly capable of holding my own energy-wise. I make sure to keep all casters free of conditions and hexes as well, leaving only the tank to the healer.

In SF, slap Balth on yourself and then all six enchants on tank:
1. Barrier
2. Bond,
3. Life
4. Watchful
5. Balth
6. Veil

Works like a charm. I can quite easily even do the healing myself if the healer drops.

/Gwon

Nadine

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

OhNo quitted too active gvg

W/E

10 Apr 2006 at 13:24 - 9

I have found that anything over 3 bonds with good tank (watch yourself and dolyak signet) is overkill. And keeping up 9 bonds at the time without mantra and without crying for ritual all the time is also bit hard, so my build is this:
(and i don't like sup runes for monk)
And i have found that it is USELESS to just stand and wait while your tank gets stripped from enchants, so i use guardian as help/cover for tank, spam it whenever u feel that there are many enchant strippers near

. Also mend condition is usefull for good healing and removing cripple which sometimes slows the job.
prot 12+1+1
divine 11+1
inspiratio 6

1. Blessed Signet
2.Mantra Of Inscriptions
3.Balthazar Spirit
4.Life Bond
5.Life Barrier
6.Life Attuntement
7.Guardian
8.Men Condition

ender6

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/

10 Apr 2006 at 17:58 - 10

I play a Mo/N and don't have the luxury of mantra of inscriptions....

I always maitain 10 enchants in the footprint, zero difficulties and no need for blood ritual...And I also cast plenty of RoF and mend ailment....

You definately need practice as a bonder if you can't handle that workload without mantra of inscriptions.

*Note I am not saying that Mantra of inscriptions isn't nice, just saying it isn't necessary.

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

10 Apr 2006 at 19:16 - 11

Getting inside Sorrow's Furnace is the hardest part, but if you get past that part, you can solo Sorrow's Furnace if you practice enough, this means 4-man runs, instead of 5-man (never tried FA, but did Oro 3 times succesfully). Make sure your Tank knows how to have full aggro at all time. I think I used something like this:

Protection Prayers: 16
Divine Favor: 15

1. Life Barrier
2. Life Bond
3. Essence Bond
4. Divine Boon
5. Reversal of Fortune
6. Mend Ailment
7. Blessed Signet
8. Rebirth

Quite simple. You use Essence Bond, Life Barrier and Life Bond on the Tank while inside SF, and heal with RoF and Mend Ailment. Blessed Signet is your only Energy Management, but 12 Energy each 12 seconds isn't that bad, and Essence Bond will make your Energy go up quite nicely.
In Grenth's Footprints you'll be healing your ass off, and it won't be easy. Make sure only one group will be pulled. Use Life Bond on the 3 others, and use Divine Boon on yourself, to make Blessed Signet more useful. Make sure your teammates wait untill you're on full Energy after each group, since you'll need all the Energy you can get.

ender6

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/

10 Apr 2006 at 19:31 - 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxiemonster

Getting inside Sorrow's Furnace is the hardest part, but if you get past that part, you can solo Sorrow's Furnace if you practice enough, this means 4-man runs, instead of 5-man (never tried FA, but did Oro 3 times succesfully). Make sure your Tank knows how to have full aggro at all time. I think I used something like this:

Protection Prayers: 16
Divine Favor: 15

1. Life Barrier
2. Life Bond
3. Essence Bond
4. Divine Boon
5. Reversal of Fortune
6. Mend Ailment
7. Blessed Signet
8. Rebirth

Quite simple. You use Essence Bond, Life Barrier and Life Bond on the Tank while inside SF, and heal with RoF and Mend Ailment. Blessed Signet is your only Energy Management, but 12 Energy each 12 seconds isn't that bad, and Essence Bond will make your Energy go up quite nicely.
In Grenth's Footprints you'll be healing your ass off, and it won't be easy. Make sure only one group will be pulled. Use Life Bond on the 3 others, and use Divine Boon on yourself, to make Blessed Signet more useful. Make sure your teammates wait untill you're on full Energy after each group, since you'll need all the Energy you can get. Drop Rebirth/or Essence and add Balz.

For Footprint:

Cast Life Barrier and Life Bond on everyone in that order.
Cast Balz and Boon on yourself...
Total: 8 enchants
You will be healing plenty, but energy will never be a problem, and you will realize quite quickly how easy it is to 4-man.

LouAl

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

10 Apr 2006 at 20:04 - 13

otherside,

that is almost exactly my same build...I don't take VB as it *can* come off and be an instant spike. I also don't ever bring any hex removal anymore since hexes on the tank usually aren't that bad and just make Dwayna's kiss heal more...

I love Mantra of Inscriptions but it is really not needed if you are only maintaining 9-10 enchants. However I usually put Balt's then Watchful on me and then Barrier, Bond, Attune, then Watchful on the tank and then I put life bond and Watchful on the other 3 people just to be safe. While using mantra it is easy to keep this up (12 enchants total...I think). I also drop and then recast Wachful on anyone who needs more healing than they are getting, and I also put barrier on anyone who is taking extra damage.

I also use sup divne and sup prot runes to boost my attbs a little (just need to stay out of harms way).

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

11 Apr 2006 at 09:47 - 14

Balthazars spirit is your friend

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

11 Apr 2006 at 15:40 - 15

Balthazar's Spirit and Essence Bond are both considerable.
Balthqzar's Spirit is great while outside, though, you'll most likely be inside rather quickly, and even outside, the Tank will be taking most hits, and inside he'll be taking all hits.
Essence Bond is another enchantment cover for Life Barrier and when running Balthazar's Spirit it means that if Life Bond is shattered not only Life Bond is shut down, but also your second Energy Management (besides Blessed Signet).
I prefer Essence Bond because while outside, you won't be having any hard battles, though, inside, you'll face many Energy removals, and in some battles Energy removals will totally screw you up.

And maybe I shouldn't take Rebirth, because my teammates shouldn't be dying, but it's just to be sure. I might switch it out for Holy Veil or Life Attunement later though.

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

11 Apr 2006 at 16:14 - 16

I dont think you understand Balth spirit: cast it on urself and everytime life bond reduces damage (which is every time) you gain 1 energy. Although the point about using it as a covering hex was valid.

Edit: by it i mean essence bond.

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

11 Apr 2006 at 16:50 - 17

Don't worry

I understand every Monk skills. My Monk is my main character, and I've played on her something like 600 hours.

Both Essence Bond and Balthazar's Spirit only trigger when your Tank is hit while inside SF, since he'll be taking all hits. So in that case, the Energy gained doesn't differ between the two. So Essence Bond is better inside SF, and since you don't really have Energy problems outside, and you're outside for a small period, it's not worth it in my opinion.

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

11 Apr 2006 at 18:46 - 18

How could essence bond possible be better? Other than if you want it to cover enchantments, Balth spirit = ALL hits on ANY party member with life bond, Essence bond = ONLY hits on TARGET party member.

hmm something appears to be wrong with my caps lock key :P

LouAl

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

11 Apr 2006 at 19:59 - 19

I thought it was standard procedure to let the healer run essence bond if they choose to do so....because the bonder can easily use balth's.

And while inside the furnace the tank takes *nearly* all the damage, so both balth's and essence would net you *about* the same amount of energy.

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

11 Apr 2006 at 20:21 - 20

Essences from two different people stack.

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

11 Apr 2006 at 20:41 - 21

Why can't you understand that inside SF, Balthazar's Spirit and Essence Bond give you EXACTLY as much Energy? :/

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

11 Apr 2006 at 20:53 - 22

thats great, but u have to start outside

LouAl

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

12 Apr 2006 at 23:22 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxiemonster

Why can't you understand that inside SF, Balthazar's Spirit and Essence Bond give you EXACTLY as much Energy? :/ how do you figure?

With my build I run Life bond on the whole party. When others (non-tanks) get hit I get that energy also. With Essence I would not, unless I had essence on all of them, of course, but I don't because L. Bond does more than just get energy for me.

The point of running life bond on everyone is so that (in SF or out of it) whenever anyone gets hit, I take some of that damage AND I get energy. In this situation Balth's + L. Bond is the better choice.

Edit: huh, I never knew that essence bonds from different people stacked...

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

13 Apr 2006 at 00:21 - 24

Yea, they dont give the target two enchants, they seem to merge into one - but both casters will gain energy each time he gets hit.

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

13 Apr 2006 at 14:26 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouAl

how do you figure?

With my build I run Life bond on the whole party. When others (non-tanks) get hit I get that energy also. With Essence I would not, unless I had essence on all of them, of course, but I don't because L. Bond does more than just get energy for me.

The point of running life bond on everyone is so that (in SF or out of it) whenever anyone gets hit, I take some of that damage AND I get energy. In this situation Balth's + L. Bond is the better choice.

Edit: huh, I never knew that essence bonds from different people stacked... lol.. Do you run Bonds on everyone while inside SF? :/ That's just plain stupid. Your Tank is the only one taking damage, the others don't need bonds. And yes, in the situation that everyone can get hit, Balthazar's Spirit is WAY better, but that's not the situation.

And Fenixxor, do you know if all Essence Bonds are removed in one Enchantment removal? That'd be lame..

ender6

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/

13 Apr 2006 at 14:40 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxiemonster

lol.. Do you run Bonds on everyone while inside SF? :/ That's just plain stupid. Your Tank is the only one taking damage, the others don't need bonds. And yes, in the situation that everyone can get hit, Balthazar's Spirit is WAY better, but that's not the situation.

And Fenixxor, do you know if all Essence Bonds are removed in one Enchantment removal? That'd be lame.. The FA run takes you from Dlidremor camp, through the foot print, and then into SF. Therefore, while in the footprint you bond everyone, when you are in SF you only need to bond the tank. Not sure WTF you are trying to say. But it is apparent that life bond with balz is a far supperior choic over essence bond. In addition, to the fact that life bond serves two purposes, maybe you think taking balthz is a waste of a skill spot? But even there you are mistaken because it acts as a nice cover enchant to be thrown onto the tank once inside of SF.

You ask if all essence bonds are removed in one enchantment removal? Do you think essence bond stacks? You can only place one essence bond on the tank not multiple. I am starting to get the feeling that you have never even SF farmed.

One thing I am sure of is that I don't want you ever bonding for me when I am making an FA/Oro run.

**One thing to be new and seeking to better oneself, another to be obstinate and just plain foolish.

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

13 Apr 2006 at 15:01 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ender6

The FA run takes you from Dlidremor camp, through the foot print, and then into SF. Therefore, while in the footprint you bond everyone, when you are in SF you only need to bond the tank. Not sure WTF you are trying to say. But it is apparent that life bond with balz is a far supperior choic over essence bond. In addition, to the fact that life bond serves two purposes, maybe you think taking balthz is a waste of a skill spot? But even there you are mistaken because it acts as a nice cover enchant to be thrown onto the tank once inside of SF.

You ask if all essence bonds are removed in one enchantment removal? Do you think essence bond stacks? You can only place one essence bond on the tank not multiple. I am starting to get the feeling that you have never even SF farmed.

One thing I am sure of is that I don't want you ever bonding for me when I am making an FA/Oro run.

**One thing to be new and seeking to better oneself, another to be obstinate and just plain foolish. lol? I've 4-manned FA many times as a Monk, I know what I'm talking about.

I'm saying the inside SF Essence Bond is better then Balthazar's Spirit, and I'm right about that. Outside SF, Balthazar's Spirit is better, but I'm saying that I'd rather get the small advantage inside SF, then the big advantage outside SF.

And I'm not asking if you can cast multiple Essence Bonds on the same target. I'm talking about Essence Bond that have been stacked because multiple people have cast Essence Bond on someone.

**Shut the hell up and try to understand me first before you start saying I suck.

holden

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

[NICE]

Mo/

13 Apr 2006 at 15:12 - 28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxiemonster

I'm saying the inside SF Essence Bond is better then Balthazar's Spirit, and I'm right about that. Outside SF, Balthazar's Spirit is better, but I'm saying that I'd rather get the small advantage inside SF, then the big advantage outside SF. that's true.

ender6

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/

13 Apr 2006 at 17:28 - 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxiemonster

lol? I've 4-manned FA many times as a Monk, I know what I'm talking about.

I'm saying the inside SF Essence Bond is better then Balthazar's Spirit, and I'm right about that. Outside SF, Balthazar's Spirit is better, but I'm saying that I'd rather get the small advantage inside SF, then the big advantage outside SF.

And I'm not asking if you can cast multiple Essence Bonds on the same target. I'm talking about Essence Bond that have been stacked because multiple people have cast Essence Bond on someone.

**Shut the hell up and try to understand me first before you start saying I suck. I still don't see how essence is better than having Balz WITH lifebond inside of SF. As I already stated: if you think balz is a wasted skill slot, it can be used as a cover enchant on a tank, so it has functionality inside of SF aswell.

Further, when you select your skill setup from the begining you have to plan for the entire trip, from footprint to SF -- not just SF. I don't see how you can believe that essence bond is the better build. PS I have 4 man'd countless times.

**And trust me, i am trying to understand you, just not getting it.

Katari

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Upstate

Me/

13 Apr 2006 at 18:50 - 30

With Balth's + Lifebond there are two ways for your energy regen to be shut down, and there's no cover enchant on you to protect your balth's. You'll get stripped freqnently, and you'll find yourself recasting Balth's on yourself freqently. Essence bond acts as a cover enchant on the tank, or if it happens to be burried, there's no way that it'll be removed.

imho, it's better to just have Life Barriers on everyone while you're in GF. I don't see a need for everyone to have Bond+Barrier as long as your heal monk is halfway decent.

Mantra of Incriptions is a waste on SF runs because you simply don't need the energy. You don't strictly need it when you're outside, and inside most bonders don't even do a darned thing with their energy besides recast the occasional bond.

The Fenixxor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

13 Apr 2006 at 20:28 - 31

Yea, i always use essence bond as the first enchant and then cover it up, so its rarely stripped - but yea its a valid point, essence bond is (i suppose) marginally better inside grenths. Not even sure why theres a thread about this though, bonding in SF is so unbelievably easy

its like making a thread about the optimum build to kill charr.

otherside

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2006

ATL

Apathetic Nobodies

N/

13 Apr 2006 at 20:51 - 32

glad some people found use out of my post... would like to clear up/explain a few things about my build.

Why I use mantra of inscriptions: It's easier for me to keep bonds up when I have blessed running faster.. I wouldn't have a problem w/o it, I just like having it as a precaution.

Why I don't run any healing prot spells (like reversal): I usually run with my guildie healer, and he's l33t

so I like to have more bonds to help him out instead of heals (like life attune).

Why I run watchful (with above): My guildie healer is l33t, but it's always nice to run a full-time +2 hp regen on people, plus you can easily take it off if your healer's having a hard time for an easy 170+ heal.

Why I run vital (problem with it being an easy shatter?): Vital is tight for it's high hp, what I do when I get into SF is bond barrier, bond, then watchful, then cast life attune and vital, so the vital goes first (the fastest casting bond), then life attune goes next (both are only 10 energy). So it only dents me a little in energy to get the bonds back up quick, and with barrier/bond/watchful/your healer watching the tank, I never see his hp go down much from a shatter.

*Edit* to Fenixxor... bonding is easy, good builds are made to make it easier

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

13 Apr 2006 at 21:00 - 33

4-manning SF isn't hard if your Tank knows what he's doing, but most of the time in PUG, the Tank is absolutly useless. If the Tank doesn't control all aggro, meaning you or one of the Necros gets attacked, the one attacked dies quite quickly, and since they don't have Bonds, you can waste your Energy easily.

And Katari, you can always cover with Boon, if you take it

And I ran Holy Veil (replaced with Rebirth) last run, and used Divine Boon (for myself) and Holy Veil (on the Tank) as cover enchantments (and Hex Removal of course, for Rust on me, and Crippling Anguish on the Tank).

And I still use Essence Bond, even though I've already got Holy Veil as a cover enchant. I just use it as a second cover enchant now ^^ I still don't have Energy problems outside, and it won't change either

LouAl

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

14 Apr 2006 at 18:40 - 34

@ender6
maxie was responding to something that I had posted. S/he (I try hard to not make assumptions, and I am not having a go at you, maxiemonster) wasn't being a jerk (at least I didn't thnk so).

@maxiemonster
I guess we were really talking about 2 different areas. You were talking about Sorrow's Furnace (with guildies) and I was talking about Sorrow's Furnace (with PuG's)

But, yeah I bond everyone, even inside the furnace...my guild kinda sucks (Fools) and so I use my friends list and PuGs. I usually end up with healers that are off taking a crap about half the time. With bonds on everyone I don't have to worry (as much) that the healer is afk and the tank is a moron, and as a bonus, it helps ward off some of the boredom making sure to keep all 12-13 enchants up all the time when I am in a group with good healing/tanking.

Side note (also directed toward Katari), as far as a good cover chant...IMO Vital blessing/Essence bond are both horrible choices. Holy Veil is a good option, but I prefer Watchful Spirit. It gives a great heal when removed, recharges 2 seconds faster than veil, and helps offset *some* of the damage with its +2 regen. It is what I cover my balth's with so I never have to worry about my energy supply being down.