Support Willbender is unspoken S-tier support build

[Riba.3271]

Support willbender is actually superior to firebrand in:

• Healing
• Cleansing
• Multi-stack stability
• Self-survivability

 

It loses however in

• CC
• Quickness application
• AoE stunbreaks (Only slightly)
• Simplicity

 

Reason being, it has such low virtue cooldowns and high personal alacrity upkeep in blob fights. In addition to alacrity for weapon skills there is also trait in willbender that reduces them considerably. Obviously you wouldn't run this build in party with renegade or chronomancer (other alac sources).

 

Have fun

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PWwAYl7lZw6wwYnYKbtHvA-zVJYjRNfhEUCkZJ0bE47hIA7h3S7bWA-w  (Renewed focus also viable)

How to play? Simple, whenever you use staff symbol, purging flames or are about to hit multiple enemies, use Flowing Resolve (F2) to stack up perma alacrity. F3 will stunbreak allies and grant AoE stability around landing area.  Bringing this build is superior test if your commander is narrowminded fool!

Edited July 4, 2022 by Threather.9354

[Jey.2349]

Interesting, but I got some questions before I replace my hfb:

• Can it compete in the overall stability uptime with a hfb?
• F3 has 3/4s cast time and is a mobility skill (requires target ground selection). Isn't that too slow for breaking stuns?
• Do we need another source for resistance then?
• How did you measure/estimate the superiority in healing?

Edited July 4, 2022 by Jey.2349

[Riba.3271]

13 hours ago, Jey.2349 said:

Can it compete in the overall stability uptime with a hfb?

With decent amount of alacrity (80% of time), both "Stand Your Ground" and Crashing Courage will be on less than 22 second cooldown. That is 2 sources of 600 radius multi-stack stability on short cooldown. Firebrand does start with 3 stacks on elite mantra but 1 stack stability is very unreliable.

 

If you also run Renewed focus in this build and you will not have any problems with 100% upkeep on stability for first 35s of the fight. Issue is not amount of stability but lack of initial stunbreaks from having no elite mantra stacks.

 

13 hours ago, Jey.2349 said:

F3 has 3/4s cast time and is a mobility skill (requires target ground selection). Isn't that too slow for breaking stuns?

The stunbreak is instant, AoE stability however has that 3/4s delay.  Biggest thing to note here is that it is party stunbreak due to 600 radius compared to firebrand elite mantra that has more control  saving people outside party

 

13 hours ago, Jey.2349 said:

Do we need another source for resistance then?

For yourself, you have less need for resistance since Flowing Resolve F2 removes immobilize upon cast and F3 can be used to reposition while immobilized. Having so many repositioning tools and evades means you can always survive deadly spots and start immediately saving allies. Skills like purging flames are a good pseudoresistance tool. Dura runes have also been rearing their head in the meta again making resistance upon first engage less important. Fears are the bigger issue but as condition cleanse work against it, other classes in party can help with it.

13 hours ago, Jey.2349 said:

•  
• How did you measure/estimate the superiority in healing?

Firebrand traitline itself isn't superior to healing than willbender (150 Healing power with quickness vs 120 healing power always) so it just comes down to Alacrity + Weapon skill cooldown reduction + Regen upkeep  vs Healing tome and extra aegis applications.

Since Mace 3, Shield 4, Shield 5, Staff 2, Staff 4 and "Receive The Light!" all heal decent amounts with short cooldowns, having extra usages on them will beat 40s cooldown tome and 2 aegis on 60s cooldown in healing. Willbender also has 1200 radius regen (F2) on very short cooldown.  Of course the mobility helps with healing as well~

Final words: I am not saying willbender is better than firebrand, I am thinking it is somewhat equal as neither gives the feeling that they are bad at something they should do. But it is definitely more fun to play and absolute unkillable menace for the enemies

Edited July 4, 2022 by Threather.9354

[Littlekenny.4196]

1 hour ago, Threather.9354 said:

With decent amount of alacrity (80% of time), both "Stand Your Ground" and Crashing Courage will be on less than 22 second cooldown. That is 2 sources of 600 radius multi-stack stability on short cooldown. Firebrand does start with 3 stacks on elite mantra but 1 stack stability is very unreliable.

 

If you also run Renewed focus in this build and you will not have any problems with 100% upkeep on stability for first 35s of the fight. Issue is not amount of stability but lack of initial stunbreaks from having no elite mantra stacks.

 

The stunbreak is instant, AoE stability however has that 3/4s delay.  Biggest thing to note here is that it is party stunbreak due to 600 radius compared to firebrand elite mantra that has more control  saving people outside party

 

For yourself, you have less need for resistance since Flowing Resolve F2 removes immobilize upon cast and F3 can be used to reposition while immobilized. Having so many repositioning tools and evades means you can always survive deadly spots and start immediately saving allies. Skills like purging flames are a good pseudoresistance tool. Dura runes have also been rearing their head in the meta again making resistance upon first engage less important. Fears are the bigger issue but as condition cleanse work against it, other classes in party can help with it.

Firebrand traitline itself isn't superior to healing than willbender (150 Healing power with quickness vs 120 healing power always) so it just comes down to Alacrity + Weapon skill cooldown reduction + Regen upkeep  vs Healing tome and extra aegis applications.

Since Mace 3, Shield 4, Shield 5, Staff 2, Staff 4 and "Receive The Light!" all heal decent amounts with short cooldowns, having extra usages on them will beat 40s cooldown tome and 2 aegis on 60s cooldown in healing. Willbender also has 1200 radius regen (F2) on very short cooldown.  Of course the mobility helps with healing as well~

Final words: I am not saying willbender is better than firebrand, I am thinking it is somewhat equal as neither gives the feeling that they are bad at something they should do. But it is definitely more fun to play and absolute unkillable menace for the enemies

The trait giving crashing courage stab has a 30s icd doesn't it? Also the mantra stunbreak is essential because stability is going to get stripped. Also aegis mantra helps with cc since the cc skill can be blocked by it.

Still looks nice though.

[Bizgurk.5639]

That looks fairly interesting. How's protection uptime with this healbender build?

[Riba.3271]

34 minutes ago, Bizgurk.5639 said:

That looks fairly interesting. How's protection uptime with this healbender build?

Very high because F3, Mace 3 and Shield 4 are all on very low cooldown due to alac and weapon recharge reduction from procing virtues. "Hold the Line" is also good optional utility to take for bit of extra cleanse, prot and heals. Also both elite signet and renewed focus give protection upkeep as well.

Edited July 4, 2022 by Threather.9354

[Riba.3271]

1 hour ago, Littlekenny.4196 said:

he trait giving crashing courage stab has a 30s icd doesn't it

No, that 30s is for other guardian specs how often they get passive aegis.

1 hour ago, Littlekenny.4196 said:

Also the mantra stunbreak is essential because stability is going to get stripped. Also aegis mantra helps with cc since the cc skill can be blocked by it.

Still looks nice though.

"Receive The Light!" is 13k AoE heal so it can compete with heal mantra. It was even meta over mantra before recent patch. Losing elite mantra is definitely the hardest hit but thankfully revives and other stunbreaks can cover up for it a bit.

Edited July 4, 2022 by Threather.9354

[RisenHowl.2419]

Tried this out for a bit this morning with okay results, definitely felt the missing elite stun break and resistance the most. Healing output and stab/boon rotation felt good but if your stab gets stripped and you get CC'd you and your party are done. Healing output comes in at 20-30% lower than minstrel scrapper, bit better than fb does there.

 

Also gave it a go with advance and trooper runes, gets far more cleansing out without too much healing loss. Still only ~60-70% of what a scrapper cleanses