Archwizard.1603

Is there any other option to fix this. If I put my shaders any higher it makes my characters look like they got hit with the ugly stick. But if I don't then the water looks like it's glitching out.

So after trying out the weapons I think I managed make some good combinations. Sword/Warhorn on Tempest has some good overlap as both sword and overloads need to be in melee range with a nice mixture of fields, leaps and blasts. Hammer feels so much more natural on Weaver than it did on Catalyst (mostly because not using it in tandem with f5). Using hammer 3 (which while all functionally the same dual skills does streamline them for easy use) with Primordial Stance and Weaver Elite is quite fun with this playstyle. Also playing Sword/Dagger on Catalyst works really well. Using other weapons period on Catalyst makes for a much easier time to make use of the aura trait lines when there is more access to fields and aura skills that allow them trigger. Yes Hammer has leaps and whirls but are completely dependent on spheres/other people to make work. There is a few bugs though. For Jade spheres the trait for air (in both beta/non characters) still says the boon is quickness but the actual skill and boon effect is fury. Elemental Celerity also does not remove the recharge for sword.

Well, looks like I am back to playing weaver. R.I.P. Catalyst.

I agree. The component are all there it just needs a whole lot tuning and smoothing out the clunky stuff.

After more time playing with this spec I got comments as ele is my main class. A lot of the mechanics do not synergize well with each out. For Jade Sphere I do not understand why they put an energy mechanic here. This skill should either of been on cooldown or energy but not both and honestly the cooldown would be way simpler then the energy. Building energy takes so long with Hammer for both Air and Fire autos are single target which are the power dps elements and at range. No fields on Hammer hurt cause it has to rely on long build up, cd and stationary long field and if you remove it then it loses all energy and is on cd. Also the only way this is useful is if this follows you around like Scrapper since it already feels like an underpowered version of it. Also do not like that Persisting Flames trait is useless if you use hammer cause there is no fire fields on weapon skills. The trait Elemental Epitome is the only reliable way to get Elemental Empowerment buff but without the easy and consistent aura access like Tempest there is little in the way of solo getting to max buff. Entire trait lines are dependent on auras like the top row are dependent on auras but lacks tempest access and weavers combo potential (Sword 2 each element either leap, blast or field). Hammer only has longer cd weapon skills with the combo potential where other weapons like staff, (sword or warhorn too but no access). Hammer 3 is very hard to time where you only get a few seconds but most skill2 abilities have long cast times. I feel like this was designed based on traits that the longer you are in combat the better you are but there is not enough sustain to even get to that point. I do not like that all the utilities and healing skills rely on the jade sphere to get the effect with the one specific element. Because in it takes so long to build up energy you have to plan around the sphere and hope no one else moves away to get full effect. It's very hard with the healing as it is one of the few ways to get condi cleanse with new skills but you have to be in water with sphere and in f5 to get it. I don't get the point if the whole spec as does not work between the traits, weapon, F5 or utilities in combination. As it stands Catalyst is extremely poor in solo PvE and I only imagine it's worse in PvP/WvW against real people who can just move out of the Jade Sphere. If it follows you always get the buff even in air and fire which are ranged it is more vital with the boon applications then the damage output aways. There is not enough sustain to justify the long ramp up. At this current stage it is not nearly as good as Tempest or Weaver.

I think the reason it says it's tied to the weapon skill fire fields and since the jade sphere is not a weapon skill it does not effect the trait. Which basically makes this trait useless if you run hammer since the weapon skills generate no fire fields.

The Jade Sphere is Energy management is definitely off. Takes a very long time till you can use it. I don't know why it degens but it stops at 10/30 energy out of combat. I think the it would be better if it was like scrappers gyro and it follows you around summoning instead of placing it. It the only way to proper get the use out of the combo feels would be to follow you around but if you place it enemies and players just walk out, you get knocked out and as soon as you unsummon it goes on cooldown and you have no energy and you are back to core ele again basically. Also the utility skills feel week unless you are in the right element and in the jade sphere just feels very situational.

Virtues: F1 feels too short ranged and is clunky in use. Animation of fist could be quicker and 600 range would make it feel much better. Willbender Flames, idk I feels like they could be combo fields the f2 flames looks like ele dagger 3 or staff 4 on fire, seeing it on ground makes me think they are fire fields even though they aren't. Indomitable Courage should grant the stability with the stun break at the start of skill use. I use F3 and got stunned before it landed I feel it having the stability at start would make it better. Healing: Reversal of Fortune needs work. You can get CC'ed out and get none of the heal making it useless cause do will be taking damage. It does not work if Aegis is up cause it just blocks. Protector's Restoration Trait only works if skill goes through full cast time if you are attacked it does not spawn a symbol even though the skill is used. Because Guardian has quite of few blind and aegis application don't get much out of this skill especially in open world PvE. Utility: Roiling Light is good but Quick Retribution is clunky, does not always go where you want to go and short range. It appears there is some core traits that don't interact to well with Willbender which I think are virtues like the grandmaster virtue traits and healing causes many traits interact with those mechanics. Overall I had fun testing it out, but it needs a little more TLC.

Yeah Indomitable Courage gives the stab and stun break. You're right with the Battle Presence, I just can't see with Permeating Wrath. Hard to tell me f1 skill is active now and applying burns to see the effects.

Do the grandmaster traits for Virtues work on Willbender? the toptip only lists Indomitable Courage has showing up on f3 but Permeating Wrath and Battle Presence do not appear to do anything on f1 and f2.

Ha now I am just picturing Lifeguards at the beach. Time to get out the lifejackets everyone.

Honestly at first glance I thought they named it Willshaper. Has someone at Arenanet been reading the Stormlight Archive? 🤨

Aside from Caithe I dont believe Aurene made any other minions. Don’t know if any in the new crystal bloom faction had undergone any branding, I believe she only is taking individuals who are willing to be branded

The death of any more elder dragons will throw the magical balance of the world and destroy it. The other gods knew that their actions would potentially cause more harm then good from the magical fallout of the dragon's deaths. Balthazar though does not care what happens to Tyria, the elder dragons are a means to an end to build back up with magic that was taken by the other six because of him being a warmonger. What happened with Jormag and Primordus at the end of Flashpoint was kinda an accident as Balthazar was going to kill both together till PC stopped him and Omadd's Machine breaking just put the two dragons in a coma. But killing Kralk before his replacement in the elders dragons was ready would doom the world. He even risked Aurene in an attempt to kill Kralk and she was the last replacement for any of the dragons as far as we know.

Yeah I just tried doing this mission twice and having the same issue and getting dced after the boss. I am not doing it a third time.

I been experiencing the same issues as well Both times I have done this it was on the new Phalanx enemies in the Frost Citadel meta.

Omg so hard to choose just one, can we do a top 10 instead. =) But if I had to pick one I think I would go with Tomb of Primeval Kings from Path of Fire soundtrack. Completely stopped what I was doing the first time I heard it in Desert Highlands and was in awe with all the great uses of the woodwinds, cello and haunting choir musical textures, it is just so captivating.

Anet said both LS5 and build templates were coming down the line but no where did they suggest that an expansion was coming right now. Sure maybe after the next season there could be an expac but they been stating for months now that Season 5 was their next priority so nothing new here.Just find it funny how much expectations have snowballed out of control.