Blackout Warrior ?? Foolish ?

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

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I know a lot of people will straight away think blackout is a stupid skill to put on a warrior because when your skills get disabled (by blackout) you'd lose all adrenaline. I have however already thought of this. This build isn't about being super damaging, its about disruption. 8 points in domination will hit 5 seconds of all foe's skills being disabled. The point being is you can still do some damage in that 5 seconds while they're useless.

I had the idea of using Hex Breaker, which is a stance and lasts for a long time as well as stops you from being hexed, as an easy way to trigger bonuses while in a stance. I have a +13% dmg while in a stance axe and a +45 hp while in a stance -3 dmg while in a stance shield. So the theory being I cast hex breaker, run upto a monk and blackout them. With hex breaker still on me I should be able to do ok damage just attacking normally. I also use inspired hex (either for self or group hex removal). Sometimes energy can be a problem since I've only got 25 energy (glad chest and leggins). This is why I thought of using Warriors Endurance (also a stance) to get energy back.
This then leaves 2 spaces for energy requiring damage skills. I thought of swift chop or griffons sweep (or bull's strike) and wild blow (don't have any adrenaline anyway and causes a critical hit) or possibly sprint.

If anyone can think of a better skill setup for a blackout warrior please tell me. The reason why I think they are so good is a tried it in HA and with a couple of E-surgers or even one, I can add additional annoyance and pressure to another monk and if I'm partnered with a high damage warrior, in the 5 seconds of blackout, a monk could easily be killed.

Any thoughts ?

Red Locust

Red Locust

Site Contributor

Join Date: May 2005

Aside from the fact that warriors do more damage with adrenal skills than energy skills, blackout does not really fit into a warrior build. What do you hope to accomplish by blacking out yourself and your target? A warrior is most dangerous when he unexpectedly locks onto you and lands his attack skills. Once you land the attacks, there's not much use in blackout, and if you blackout before the attack, you just made yourself useless.

Keep blackout on someone else, blackout their monks while your warriors go after someone. It's the better way to do things.

chumsy

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

You could use shock with stonefist gauntlets as an alternative -
it costs less energy, you dont lose adrenaline, and you dont need any points in air magic, but it has less duration, and causes exhaustion.

Xaero Gouki Kriegor

Xaero Gouki Kriegor

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Leather Rebels, (LR)

W/

Switch to a hammer war :P knock down people to interupt/shut them down, its fun, effective, and gets good damage

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

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Join Date: Mar 2006

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Tis all true, I know how good shock warriors are but you people haven't tried this build or your wouldn't be so negative. If, as I said, you partner up with a max axe shock warrior who can unload their attacks while you blackout target then we're talking certain doom. Everytime I've used this build as well, its not actually just using it, its the fact that the monks know you can use it at any time. They are more pressured and often just try to run away making them less helpful. And my damage while I'm blacked out isn't too bad. If you did something like this. Wild Blow, Frenzy, Blackout, you've got fast attack speed and frenzy should run out about when blackout does.

All I'm saying is its easy to critise and this build is very different to any warrior build used before. I would just like people to try it. Just to clarify, your main role is not to be pumping out huge amounts of damage, but to disrupt enemy monking. You can also cause enemy warriors to lose all adrenaline by blacking them out. You are also support hex removal using inspire.

Try before you critise....

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

I can only see this been useful on a hammer warrior imo.

Backbreaker, Crushing Blow, Irresistable Blow, Hammer Bash. If they're somehow still alive, throw Blackout onto the end, you've just used up all your Adren skills so everything is recharging anyway and stopped them self healing. Imagine how pissed off boon prots in RA would get from that

Vaga

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

You could find a build where this works but in general you are better off having the warriors doing damage and the other characters in your build using things like blackout on monks.

If you were to do it, hammer warrior is probably best with Frenzy, Irristable Blow.

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

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Hammers don't work. I tried them and the 5 seconds you have to do damage while foe is blacked out, axes seem to do more damage. Wild Blow is pretty sweet as it can't be blocked or evaded and results in a critical hit. Warriors Endurance works well but I wonder if it wouldn't be better to move points in tactics to inspiration and use E-Tap (or E-Drain {E}) and Ether Feast instead of Warriors Endurace and Healing Signet. This would also make inspired hex give you more energy. Gonna try that now.

If you don't think this build works then I say just try it. But if ur trying it in HA make sure ur team also has a high damage shocker who'll constantly be on the same target as you. The adrenaline spike from them plus my Dmg in a stance should cause plenty of trouble ( and damage) for the monk while they are disabled.

Red Locust

Red Locust

Site Contributor

Join Date: May 2005

As a general rule of thumb, anything with a cast time of 2s or more should be kept off a warrior's skillbar. Too much time lost that could've been spent attacking and building up adrenaline.

Viade

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2006

Mo/Me

Shroud of silence is a nice alternative. It's elite though, which puts a big dent in your damage as an axewarrior, and pretty much rules out hammer warrior.

Strikes me that someone might find a use for this when ganking flag runners.

chumsy

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

I've already tried blackout way before you suggested it -
used dwarven battle stance + blackout and double knockdown + blackout.

It didn't work so well because the thing I notice most is that the enemy monk simply runs, minimizing the damage he/she takes while everyone else stacks degen on me, causing me to have to stop and heal.

Even when the enemy didn't run, I wasn't anywhere near killing him/her because of speading too many attribute points around.

Iraqalypse Now

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Seattle, Wa

Nuclear Babies

E/Mo

If you want to carry blackout on an offensive character, run blackout on an Assassin/mesmer. Attack skill chain, then once its done go blackout someone while the attack chain is recharging. Hex breaker is gold on an Assassin as well.

Solberg the Exiled

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Xen of Onslaught

N/

I have tried the blackout warrior before, in fact I even added in echo there for some constant blackout lockdown. And while it's intresting and all, your enemy will just run away from a balckout. (At least that's what I do whenever I get balckouted) It's also easy to see who did the balckout since it has a very unique animation.

I have however, always wanted to use something like 4 permenant balckout warriors together to completely shutdown the opponent's 4 target and see what happens.

Iskrah

Iskrah

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

SsS

R/

Warrior's Blackout is Backbreaker basically.

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

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solberg the exiled I like your thinking. Even 2 blackout warriors (possibly with echo) would hinder enemy monks a lot. If you had 2 blackout warriors it may be possible to not need mesmers in a GvG or HA build. So 2 blackout warriors for enemy healing disruption, 2 monks then 4 damage dealers maybe elementals or necros (or 3 spikers and a ranger flag runner).

This may work by warriors taking on seperate monk targets then possibly doing a coordinated spike bit like with an r-spike. One of the spikers calls a target then everyone selects that target. Then caller counts down for a spike. When count down is at 1 blackout warriors do their thing on both enemy monks and so spike is guarenteed to be successful. This wouldn't work so well in HA but in a Gvg with a skilled guild all with TS or ventrillo or something this might work nicely.

I only suggested blackout warrior because it was something different. There are lots of W/E, Far too many W/Mo, Far too many W/R (iway), few W/N but hardly any W/Me. If anyone else could think of a W/Me thats lil bit different that would be cool, just for a change.

Thanks for the comments so far

granor

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2005

Onslaught of Xen

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by fatboyslimerr
I only suggested blackout warrior because it was something different. A great way to be sure your build is different than what most of your oppents are running is to use a build that is sub-par.

NinjaKai

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

UK

Duality Of The Dragon

Quote:
Originally Posted by granor
A great way to be sure your build is different than what most of your oppents are running is to use a build that is sub-par. There are builds that are simple as pie to use and pretty boring. Sub-par builds are perfect for the person who wants to try something that is actually a challenge. I have a ton of sub-par builds as you put it, simply because it's fun to actually have a challenge. However that is just my preference.

Iori Shozu

Iori Shozu

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2006

N/

-3 in a stance shield?? As far as I know stance shields are only -2 unless I have been fooled the past year I have been playing this game.

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

Krytan Explorer

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Are you really that bothered I made a wee mistake of -3dmg ???
Whats a sub-par build anyway ???
You wanna give examples ?

I've almost given up on W/Me and using blackout because warriors were made to use adrenaline. Was a nice idea though
Anyone know any other W/Me builds good for PvP ???

Zui

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by fatboyslimerr
Whats a sub-par build anyway ???
You wanna give examples ? Examples(relating to PvP):
Paladin
Stance Tank
W/Mo acting as a primary healer
Warrior running only energy skills, save maybe a res signet
Warrior running 9 in a weapon mastery, while maxing tactics
Warrior using dolyak signet while trying to kill casters

Only a few examples, if you really need more just go play random arenas. As you probably have guessed, theese are some of the absolute worst setups that you can run, and will only work against extremely unskilled players.

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

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ha ha ha. Not really the kind of build I was looking for.
Anyone tried a W/E with frozen burst, armor of mist, eviscerate {E} executioners etc ??? I think that might be quite nicely.
You mentioned a full energy using warrior, surely this could be combined with a Blackout warrior ?? If so what skills would you use for full energy using warrior ??

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

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Was looking through build directory and some guy made quite a nice blackout warrior. I stole his ideas and modified them a bit
11 Stre
11 Dom
14 Axe

Skills

Executioners
Eviscerate
Rake
Blackout
Shatter Enchantment
Wild Blow / Endure Pain
For Greater Justice / Berserker Stance
Res Signet

Possiblity of readjusting to have 9 tactics to use healing sig but then axe is down to 12 or something.

The idea of this build being to charge upto a monk or mesmer and bash away earning adrenaline (possibly use berserker or for greater justice now for quick adrenaline gain) then using the executioners/eviscerate/rake combo, quickly followed by blackout. When your skills aren't disabled anymore (1 second before enemies) use greater justice or beserker to gain adrenaline again (or use wild blow if they use evade or block spell or stance) to gain adrenaline quickly again. Then if its a boon prot they are most likely to use reversal of fortune so if possibly use shatter enchant for a nice spike and continue bashing away to repeat this combo. Zealous axe would have to be used for energy management.

This build is all about getting the timing and the correct combo off. On a boon prot, axe combo+blackout+berserker/greater justice+shatter enchantment etc etc. Tis just an idea and obviously need decent support team mates but the fast adrenaline gain will make up for having to disable all your skills for 5 seconds.

This build is by far, better than mine. If more of a disruptive roll is needed, wild blow could be switched with disruptive chop or distracting blow. The shatter enchantment after blackout works wonderfully on boon prots. Wild blow works wonderfully on distortion mesmers and rake works nicely on everyone

You guys like this one better ???

Zui

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

Mo/

fatboyslimerr, I was giving examples of extremely sub-par(bad) builds.

Having a full energy using blackout warrior would be very bad, as you have 1/2 the energy regen as a caster, so you couldn't use 1/2 the skills on your bar 1/2 the time they were charged. Making your build very ineffective.



As for that blackout warrior, here are some problems/solutions/comments:

Skills:

1. No sprint or rush, without theese anyone who kites you can lower your effectiveness ALOT(even with them, it certainly does put a dent in your effectiveness) I'd use sprint, since you also have blackout in there.

2. Bezerker Stance has a 30 second recharge. You won't be able to use it, spike, blackout, then use it again. And it'll last 9 seconds at 11 strength, meaning that it ends the second your opponent can do somthing again. For Great Justice is nice, but again doensn't really merrit using. I'd go with Frenzy, since it would raise your DPS a good bit.

3. Wild Blow only works against stances. Not enchantments. It also sucks. Endure Pain is a great skill, but honestly it's not needed in this build/setting, as I'm getting the feeling that this is more RA-style, the odds of endure pain doing much to help isin't there. Ditch both, then put Sprint here.

Tactics:

With frenzy added make sure not to overuse it, and to always have sprint ready to hit when you do use it(or be sure you can't take alot of damage during those 8 seconds). Hit frenzy, spike, hit spirnt(to keep hitting if they kite while blacked out), hit blackout(if the target has no self-healing don't bother with this) should be the general order for spiking, without shatter coming into play, that one should be very case-specific in use.

This build isin't the absolute best build(no blackout warrior is), but it's certainly not that bad, and it would be pretty decent for RA.

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

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I realise those builds were meant to be bad lol,
and I realise both berserker and greater justice have long recharge times.
Sprint could be easily put in there instead of one of these and I really like frenzy anyway (except for double damage). Again I also think Endure Pain sucks but as I said this was someone elses idea. Wild Blow I personally think is pretty good. It can't be blocked or evaded, always lands a critical and ends a stance of target enemy.

I wouldn't use this in RA, probably not even TA, it would be for HA and I think could work well with 2 monks 1 shocker 2 surgers Blackout Warrior and 2 necros or 2 elementals - basically balanced but blackout instead of 2 shock warriors.

Your suggested tactic is nice, fairly usual and I know blackout warriors aren't the best but enemies aren't prepared for them and so they have a certain pant wettage factor. Shatter Enchantment would have limited use but since your putting points into Domination, it is a nice spike to have against prots or even monks using recall or something.

I'm certainly gonna try this build a lot to really see if it can work well and hey its something different isn't it

Edited skills

Executioners
Eviscerate {E}
Rake
Frenzy
Blackout
Shatter Enchantment/Wild Blow
Sprint
Res Signet

Think that is better ????

SpaceGh057

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Evilsod
I can only see this been useful on a hammer warrior imo.

Backbreaker, Crushing Blow, Irresistable Blow, Hammer Bash. If they're somehow still alive, throw Blackout onto the end, you've just used up all your Adren skills so everything is recharging anyway and stopped them self healing. Imagine how pissed off boon prots in RA would get from that This is my exact build
I run this precisely in RA

W/Me
8dom (5sec blackout)
10str
16hammer

Frenzy, Backbreaker(10adr is worth 4sec), Crushing, Irresistable, Hammer Bash, Blackout, Rush, Res sig

The four second down time is enough to unload your crushing and irresistable. Bash them when they stand back up, then black them out as they get up yet again.
This build can easily kill many squishies.

Edit: I use a 15% (-10), zealous, 30hp hammer
Lets you string them together.

fatboyslimerr

fatboyslimerr

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

U.K

Intensive Care Unit [ICU]

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I never really got into using hammers. Probably my loss. I prefer 6 second blackout and domination at 11. This means you have 1 second to do something tricksy before they can heal and in that second you can be creative. This is a bit far out but one idea (someone already mentioned this) would be to use echo {E} and in that 1 second cast echo and blackout them for another 6 seconds. This is 12 second blackout and you'll still be damaging them (and gaining energy from zealous weapon) from frenzy or whatever.

Again I don't intend this build to be able to be good on its own. It will do best in 8 vs 8 HA and GvG I reckon with decent healing support and a co warrior who can be doing superfly damage in that 12 seconds of blackouted goodness. You could also work with an E-Surger to make sure that the other enemy monk has no energy (or ya could hit them with 16 domination 7 second blackout too). Maybe I've gone blackout crazy... is it usually night time for 3 days in a row ???

Zui

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by fatboyslimerr
Executioners
Eviscerate {E}
Rake
Frenzy
Blackout
Shatter Enchantment/Wild Blow
Sprint
Res Signet

Think that is better ???? By far.