Helly.2597

Thanks! Sometimes breaks are good though! Found myself not enjoying the game and took some time to reset before coming back. Does mean you have a bit of rust coming back though. Scourge probably is fine for small scale, and is still strong when you have a support. I just would rather play core Necro or even hybrid reaper over it currently I think. We'll see if I get the itch to play it again here.

Well after taking a few months break from the game, I'm back playing gw2. Still debating what build I find the most effective. I haven't attempted any scourge since it simply hasn't seemed enjoyable to play with the changes. Playing some core Necro mainly. Either blood magic (spvp meta build) or death magic seem viable. Anyways here a rusty video. Let me know what y'all think and any comments you have.

All this misguided fear about nerfs. Anet certainly isn't balancing around small scale roaming in WvW. And builds are like encryption, the only way you know it's good is by telling as many people as possible and seeing if anyone can break it/improve it. Example would be after anet buffed deathly chill. Clearly 3 bleeds per chill application was too strong and needed a Nerf. And yet it wasn't nerfed until after PoF launched. Those builds weren't secret and yet they survived a long time. I've roamed necro a long time. And I don't think I've ever seen a nerf that was directed related to any necro roaming build. Closest would be the signet changes destroying boon corrupt hybrid, but those changes were supposedly to make signets more useful in pve (laughable). And as was mentioned above, any build (that isn't a hard support) can pull off 1v3 in WvW. In fact necro is exceptional at this due to it's high amounts of aoe and area denial. So I wouldn't suddenly think this build deserves a Nerf.

Thanks lad. Recently been looking at your Scourge videos and it has definitely got me interested as you play it very very well. Will most likely give scourge another stab. Not sure if i can handle being full Marshall like you tho especially without support so may add some trailblazer/dire pieces or try the full Cele version thats been floating around on metabattle for awhile haha. Cheers! Hit me up if you think of any improvements or changes so I copy them. I've swapped more TB into the build now anyways. Need duration to get people off mounts. Trying out viper/TB now instead of Marshal's. The other build we've got floating around is a tb/rabid mix that's pretty effective. My Marshal's set was moreso to show that the stat could be really effective despite not seeing too much use on necro.

Good to see you guys back. Always enjoyed your (and Fox's) videos.

Nimons right. In some ways it's even a buff since now cleanses from others will affect it. I swapped from antitoxin cause I've been seeing less condi issues overall. And if I play a bit better I shouldn't need them. Balthazar is definitely a good choice since it's both the proc from F1 and the Scourge GM. Though I have been meaning to try a few others as well.

New video is out. Build is linked in description now.

If you're really looking for sneaky good condi builds for small group that's "off meta"ish I'd go condi rev. Either hybrid or full dire/TB works and you can go herald (slower with less gap closing), core (shiro or jallis with mallyx) or renegade (shiro/mallyx for gap close). I'd link what I'd use for each case, but I'm on my phone atm so can't. Just shoot me a message if you want them.

Haha tbh considering I went down to 2hp that fight I definitely shouldnt have been able to turn that around. We were all laughing after saying my scourge belongs in the show "I shouldn't be alive." Thanks I appreciate it. Helps that scourge is in a really nice spot right now it seems (imo). Unfortunately you wouldn't have much to watch tbh. I only play on Sundays and most of the guild is taking a break currently playing other games.

New video. Solo to 3 man roaming.

thanks angel! Not gonna lie, I was probably a bit too confident in that 1v1, a few missed reads and it'd have crashed down on me quickly. Even not kiting at the start was probably a poor move unless I'm sure he's gonna lead with a stun. Scourge has it's sneaky good matchups, it can just get punished really quickly if you waste stunbreaks or dodges. Thankfully I have a lot of experience dueling warriors from dueling agriope which usually gives me an edge against them. Appreciate the kind words!

After taking a few month break from gw2, I'm back(ish) with another scourge roaming video. Hopefully people enjoy. And any feedback/questions/whatever is welcome as always.

Lol. One day it'll be a thing I swear. Thanks! Appreciate you always taking the time to comment :)

I know I've got a little scourge in it, but the vast majority is power revenant. Build is the in description. Let me know y'all's thoughts.

Also wasn't Hobo's Condi Hybrid Rev build core as well? Shhh :#

Boon corrupts are the reason that Necro will always be used in metas (unless anet gives them to another class *like spellbreaker). I wouldn't say that corrupts are condi focused even. I typically take cboon with all my power reaper builds so you can chain corrupts/stripes with spiteful proc/active and overcome the boon spam. Back when I played power reaper a few months ago, fbs and holos get melted by the boon hate aspect of even power builds. Scrappers make it more difficult to keep conditions up, but usually we avoid this by picking at targets that are slightly separated and focussing them. And eventually the cleanse won't be enough. It isn't always about your abilities directly killing the target but also about the chip dmg you do via condis overtime wearing down enemy comps. Me and loyal (soulbeast in a lot of my videos) get around the cleanse problem by communicating when I'll elite and he'll binding roots. Even scrappers and fbs have difficulties cleansing quickly enough and it let's us swing fights. A reaper scourge combo could probably find the shout elite and breach together would have a similar effect. Reaper vs scourge have almost opposite issued imo. Reaper is solid single target until someone is down and then you have great cleave. Scourge has horrible single target but great aoe access but can have difficulties dishing out enough dmg once they're down (outside of elite). Corrupts aren't really a detriment to Necro dmg, but a key part of it. And with how easy boons are to get now in wvw it's even more important to use the corrupts mainly when you know yourself or an ally has a dmg follow-up ready.

Cele is probably better if you play with larger groups more. Since your dmg becomes more power focused the more fbs/cleanse the opponent takes. And you want a bit of toughness so revs don't 1 shot you. Personally I think Marshal's is better if you're the main aoe dps in the group. You want more condi dmg and you don't really care about ferocity so much. In general the gear is pretty flexible depending on how you/your group plays. If you're gonna have more support on yourself you can get away with grieving gear probably. Less support Marshal's or plaguedoctor is better. Cele is a nice compromise between the different choices and isn't a bad choice overall. Gotcha. Thanks for the feedback. Currently running in mostly small groups, but we attract huge zergs. (Well.. let me rephrase that. quickcry attracts huge zergs we're just there for giggles.) I noticed you mentioned plaguedoctors. I've not given plaguedoctors too much of a chance yet. The barriers that come from healing power and herald shroud are just too damned good with healing power. I tried going back to pure trailblazer, and it has its place for small or solo roam, but I find in a group the barrier just too damned good. :P Again. thanks for the feedback. Nice to see non meta scourge builds out there.Yeah I haven't really tested plaguedoctors either. I think it'd be better than trailblazers overall regardless of scale tbh. But being me, I'd rather just be a snowflake and go builds without a lot of defensive stats.

Cele is probably better if you play with larger groups more. Since your dmg becomes more power focused the more fbs/cleanse the opponent takes. And you want a bit of toughness so revs don't 1 shot you. Personally I think Marshal's is better if you're the main aoe dps in the group. You want more condi dmg and you don't really care about ferocity so much. In general the gear is pretty flexible depending on how you/your group plays. If you're gonna have more support on yourself you can get away with grieving gear probably. Less support Marshal's or plaguedoctor is better. Cele is a nice compromise between the different choices and isn't a bad choice overall.

New video. Build is in description. No changes to build. Only change is I swap between harbringers and normal shroud depending on my group size.

Hmm. I'll have to take a look at the build, but imo dura might be a waste since you already have so much hp and toughness. I'm loving the antitoxin plus abrasive grit cleanses especially while kiting. As far as handling focus I doubt my build would be better. In group fights it's more about positioning yourself so you force the enemy to overcommit onto you if they want to focus you or you have allies who know when to peel and help you kite. I've roamed with the same group of people in vT for over four years, so they are used to how I play and how I position which helps me a lot. Harbringers does help with being trained though since it gives so much barrier to yourself and corrupts boons on enemies who are on top of you which is much better than just conversion to torment. Sorry I can't be more help haha. Anet seems to prefer Necro being forced to have a babysitter as the fights get larger unlike every other class. That's a great point! I never thought of anti toxin with abrasive grit.No wonder you could handle condi foes in your fights too!I always thought it was just barrier OP XD I hesitated to try Harbingers Shroud because you guys were saying it doesn't work on the shade if you cast it after but seems like there are still merits to it.Thanks!Antitoxin makes a huge difference getting cleanses on soft cc roo which helps when kiting. Harbringers isn't so bad. I bounce between it and normal shroud and the middle trait. If I'm in larger groups and need elite more often and have a support I go normal shroud. Otherwise I actually really like the extra barrier for smaller. And the corrupts means more.

Hmm. I'll have to take a look at the build, but imo dura might be a waste since you already have so much hp and toughness. I'm loving the antitoxin plus abrasive grit cleanses especially while kiting. As far as handling focus I doubt my build would be better. In group fights it's more about positioning yourself so you force the enemy to overcommit onto you if they want to focus you or you have allies who know when to peel and help you kite. I've roamed with the same group of people in vT for over four years, so they are used to how I play and how I position which helps me a lot. Harbringers does help with being trained though since it gives so much barrier to yourself and corrupts boons on enemies who are on top of you which is much better than just conversion to torment. Sorry I can't be more help haha. Anet seems to prefer Necro being forced to have a babysitter as the fights get larger unlike every other class.

Sure it's intentionally, else this would be a very good trait in some situations.You could bomb people on purpose. And God forbid we get the chance to do that with scourge.

It will not go off if you place it after the delay for the start of the cast. So placing it early before the charge up will work but anytime after that won't. So no it doesn't work still and I'm willing it bet it's intentional sadly :(

Thanks! It has some side benefits that are somewhat build specific too. Additional barrier (which also goes to allies so more sustain for everyone), boon corrupts, and for whatever reason it has 2/3 the cost of normal desert shroud, which is huge for a low HP build imo for longer fights. It's also bugged and abrasive grit doesn't proc on the second barrier application so it should be a bit better tbh. I've found it better for peeling/counter bursting someone who's chasing you since all the pressure applies at once so you can studder step someone into getting bombed easily. You're right though, the trade-off might not be worth it, but I've had more success with it than the other so far with the Marshal's set.

New video. I'll put the build in the description later. However there were no changes to the build so the previous videos have it.