_______________________________________
This is a modification of my original anti-caster build. I made a few changes that make my build much more effective than my previous N/E build. Keep in mind that I use this build pretty much exclusively in 4v4 Random Arena, but I have gone to Team Arena with Random Arena PUGs and have done pretty decently there. Overall, I have been on winning teams much more often and have had more win streaks than before. Honestly, I think there is a place for this build in 4v4 Team builds, and possibly in the other forms of PvP.
Note: Please don't tell me that you can be a better anti-caster as a Mesmer or interrupt Ranger. This is specifically for Necro primaries, if you don't like that then go away.
Classes:
Necro / Mesmer
Attributes:
Blood: 12+1 (thinking about changing to +2 and re-allocating some attribute points to Domination or possibly Curses)
Domination: 10
Soul Reaping: 9+1
Curses: Whatever is left over (3, IIRC)
Note: If you don't like Soul Reaping, you can probably drop all of it and re-allocate the points into Domination and Curses. Putting more points into Domination would raise the damage done by Backfire, but I think the better choice would be to put more points into Curses to lessen the self-damaging effect of Rend Enchantments.
Skillset:
Soul Leech [E]
Shadow Strike
Vampiric Gaze
Barbed Signet
Parasitic Bond
Rend Enchantments
Backfire
Res Sig
Armor/Weapons:
It really depends on your own preference, but I'm currently using a Wand with 20% Blood quick recharge, Gordac's Hook Blood (+12 energy, 20% Blood +1, 20% Blood quick recharge).
For armor, I'm using a Devilish Scar Pattern (Soul Reaping +1), Bonelace Tunic (for +15 vs. piercing), Arm Scar Pattern (for energy and for looks), Leg Scar Pattern (for energy and for looks), and Bloodstained Boots (only for looks, hehe. I like to play w/ style). If I really don't care, I use a collector's Tunic for additional style.
My Health/Energy:
Health: 521
Energy: 45
Obviously your character may be different due to runes, different equipment, etc.
Build Goal:
The basic idea behind this build is to: 1) let casters damage and often kill themselves and heal me at the same time (with Soul Leech); 2) Stop one caster from casting for ~20-30 seconds (with a quick Soul Leech recharge); or 3) Stop two or possibly 3 casters from casting for ~10 seconds (also with a quick Soul Leech recharge).
Thoughts on this build:
Either way, once Soul Leech and/or Backfire have been cast, I unload Shadow Strike, Vamp Gaze, and Barbed Signet in that order on the target. If the target is wise and does not cast while afflicted with SL and/or Backfire, then I will unload approximately 194 damage (if target above 50% health, due to Shadow Strike) on them for 20 energy, while healing myself for 140 (w/ target above 50% health).
Soul Leech, if the target(s) are unwary, will heal me for 71 and damage them for the same amount every time they cast a spell. With the individual 20% quick Blood skill recharges, sometimes I can get off 2 Soul Leeches in just a few seconds, giving me 2 times as much healing and/or enemy disruption.
Pros of Soul Leech vs. Backfire: 1) Soul Leech heals me when triggered, while also damaging the target; 2) Recharges in 15 seconds as opposed to Backfire's 20; 3) Costs 10 energy as opposed to Backfire's 15; 4) 2 second cast time as opposed to Backfire's 3.
Pros of Backfire vs. Soul Leech: 1) Does more damage to target.
So, basically, cast Soul Leech instead of Backfire if you have a choice.
Occasionally, I will use Rend Enchantments immediately after casting Soul Leech, to mess with any enemies using enchants. It can be especially devastating for Elementalists who rely on Aura of Restoration for healing and/or on multiple attunements. Sometimes a single Rend can render an entire enemy build completely useless.
Parasitic Bond is used as a cover hex, or a Hex Breaker breaker. Heheh. It also does a tiny bit of degen and heals me for a little bit.
I thought about using Arcane Echo to get another Soul Leech into the build instantly, but it wasn't very practical energy-wise.
With this build, I've had a far easier time shutting down two-monk teams than ever before. Once one monk's health goes down a little, I cast Soul Leech on one, and Backfire on the other monk. Whether they try to heal themselves or each other, or do nothing at all, both monks are pretty much neutralized for a crucial ~7-8 seconds.
This build's weaknesses are pretty apparent. Good interrupting, energy denial, enemy Backfire / Soul Leech, non-caster enemies (warriors + rangers), and effective hex removal all make my build fairly useless, as I can only deal a limited amount of damage with Shadow Strike, Vamp Gaze, and Barbed Sig. Maybe help out the team by using Rend on a called target. The upside is that those kinds of counters will render pretty much any caster useless, not just my build, so that makes me feel a little better.
Constructive comments, please!
