Condi, Power or Hybrid Herald?

[Gibson.4036]

I spend most of my time playing solo or with one other player. I’ve mostly run selfish, survival oriented builds.

Lately, I’ve been trying out “offense support” builds and really enjoying the ability to support the other player I run with, or the blob at metas.

I’m currently looking to start a herald, but see builds for power, condi, and celestial herald. I assume power and condi are going to output more damage, but it looks like celestial can support just fine with some of the comfort that I’ve come to enjoy on my Tempest.

So, any recommendation on which direction to go for a player like me?

I know, “any build is fine for open world”, but I’d like advice on which of the three might be more enjoyable, more survivable, provide better support, clear OW trash mobs quicker, etc.

Stat acquisition is no problem. I’ve got a good cache of stat selectable gear ready to go.

One last weird question. Do any of the builds spend more time in staff? It looks like staff is mostly dipped into for cc, but the bulk of time is spent on sword or mace. For character concept it’d be nice to find a build that uses staff more.

Edited March 13, 2023 by Gibson.4036

[draxynnic.3719]

If you want to use staff more, celestial might be worth considering. Staff is normally associated with healing, so running celestial means you'll have a bit of healing power to back up the healing. Celestial is also a preferred gearset for running condition builds in open world - until the torment rune nerf, in fact, celestial condi herald was regarded as one of the most unkillable builds out there. It's still fairly durable, it's just not top dog any more.

If you're not going for healing power but still want to use staff for more than CC, though, you'd probably want to go with power, since staff has no damaging condition application. It doesn't even have Abyssal Chill synergy (I think it used to on skill 2, but lost it in a rework, but don't quote me on that). It's still a DPS loss on a power build, but a smaller one, and the self-defence and self-sustain makes it worthwhile.

That said, herald is one spec where, as long as you're not actively taking antisynergistic choices, anything genuinely does work fairly well. So if there's a core legend you particularly like, you won't go too far wrong if you take a build that uses that core legend.

[MysteryDude.1572]

 Yes celestial is the middle ground , the other 2 deal more power and CDPs accordingly.  Also with cele you would be able to heal for more without loosing significant dps. You can heal even with power builds through specific traits and salvation line but cele has a bit more heal power in it. Power and condi builds also have passive selfish sustain in them not as much as cele in raw number cause heal power stats. 

Edited March 13, 2023 by MysteryDude.1572

[Esufer.8762]

never not power

[draxynnic.3719]

One thing that struck my mind that might also be relevant to your decision:

Hammer, the one truly long-range weapon that herald has access to, is pretty much pure power (it has chill on skill 3 for Abyssal Chill procs, but that doesn't go very far). Now, you can go a fair way on condi herald using the 400 range fire field on mace, offensive Glint aspects, Banish Enchantment spamming with Abyssal Chill, and so on, but if you end up needing a bit more range than that offers, hammer is going to work a lot better with more power-oriented builds.

[MysteryDude.1572]

Quote

 

If he prefers ranged weapons then cele renegade with swortbow would be better. Shortbow is more hybrid dmg than hammer . Herald is mellee orientated . The whole hammer 3 for chill/ torment procs is less consistent compared to shortbow dps output.

Edited March 13, 2023 by MysteryDude.1572

[Jobber.6348]

Cele openworld Renegade for sure. Unfortunately you won't be using Staff alot. 

[draxynnic.3719]

On 3/14/2023 at 5:13 AM, MysteryDude.1572 said:

If he prefers ranged weapons then cele renegade with swortbow would be better. Shortbow is more hybrid dmg than hammer . Herald is mellee orientated . The whole hammer 3 for chill/ torment procs is less consistent compared to shortbow dps output.

Don't know if that's a response to me, but my comment was 1) within the constraints of the OP wanting advice regarding a herald specifically and 2) in a context where the OP hadn't expressed a preference for ranged, but if the OP is likely to be in a situation where they only have herald unlocked and only having one set of gear, then having the option to switch to hammer may be a consideration. 

Edited March 15, 2023 by draxynnic.3719

[Buran.3796]

   The offensive support build in Herald is usually power, and is centered around spamming Glint skills to share quickness. The stats of choice are usually Diviner, albeit with the latest buffs you don't need a full set of that to achieve permanent quickness.

 Celestial can perfectly work in terms of  sharing quickness (specially paired with Leathership of Fireworks runes) and other boons, but will hurt your damage. Now, an hybrid celestial Herald is way tankier than a power diviner Herald, which would work better at soloing things, no only because the sustain but due power Herald builds have mediocre AoE damage, whereas condi based ones have strong cleave features.

   Celestial  is also useful in Renegade and Vindicator. The offensive Renegade spec provides Alacrity and in that case celestial is arguably stronger than ritualist or diviner stats since beats both in damage while having the same boon duration as ritualist (but less than divinber). Celestial Vindicator is not a support build and doesn't fit any role in a conformed PvE group, but is arguably the strongest solo tank in the game at the moment (or ever).

   The staff is used for breaking defiance bars or when, for reasons, you feel the need to throw your dps down the toilet (I'm kidding, you run hammer when you have that urge!).

[MysteryDude.1572]

diviner ? what? they guy wants openfield builds tho

not instanced ones

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by MysteryDude.1572

[MysteryDude.1572]

here my dude , the most all around build you can find

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAkeZlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgjqkX7E-zxIY1o7/UqUR1pQoXRQNTANMAA-e

same cele build , different weaponsets : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmABk6xflpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgjqkX7E-zxIY14/UqUR1pQoXRQNTANMAA-e

same cele stats , diferent rune for more torment ticks : http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAkeZlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgjqkX7E-zxIY1o7/UiUIUpiqXRQNTANMAA-e

same cele stats , more self sustain : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAkeZlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgDzkW7E-zxIY1o7/UqUR1pQoXRQNTANMAA-e

same cele stats , more GROUP sustain : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAkeZlpQJMLiidRTMMqiJShsCagnskZzE-zxIY1o7/UiUIUpiqXRQNTANMAA-e

same cele stats more power orientated : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAweZlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgJ/la7E-zxIY1o7vYaKBqMo6ME6NCqoAsdAA-e

a more touhness based power build if youre not into condis : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAwyZlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgJ9lb7E-zRZYBR3KAMs5g8PlmkA9pAyUE0rQQjDAA-e

same power stats but with retribution line for regen on upkeep : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAwyZlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgl+ke7E-zRZYBR3KAMs5g8PlmkA9pAyUE0rQQjDAA-e

and again same power stats , salvation line : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAwyZlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgntke7E-zRZYBR3KAMs5g8PlmkA9pAyUE0rQQjDAA-e

cele stats , renegade for alacrity on your friends : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmgAUZltQIsNKipRSsMCiNSgMDSgjqk5rH-zxIY1o6/UqUS1pIoXhQNLANMAA-e

 

if sigils/runes are expensive for you , try scavenging runes for condi stats , infiltration for power stats, both are dirt cheap

tbf tho , even power herald can self sustain , here, this is what i run on open world : http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAwyZlpQMMLyjdRdMMijJSksCigJ9lb7E-zRIYR09XKNlA9VAZGC9GB2eACoHAA-e

diference is : on power i can facetank a set number of mobs before sweating , cele just doesnt sweat , cele just facetanks am army.

 

there are so MANY traits for self sustain,  heal power isnt even nessesary , its just more convenient on cele stats.

example : you can run elavated compasion istead of dragonic echo . that means no quickness/less boons , but more heal ticks for your allies , a glorified regen to be exact , but still works ow.

ALL THE ABOVE tho are for open word , i run meta builds for raids/fractals

have fun my dude 😉

Edited March 15, 2023 by MysteryDude.1572

[MysteryDude.1572]

here , another build including hammer for ranged option 🙂 http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PmwAkeJlpQIMLKidRSMMCiJSgsCSgjqkX7E-zxIY1o7vQqsp6MCqIE0YAA-e

 

 

[Gibson.4036]

Thanks so much, everyone, for the feedback.

I've got a condi renegade I've been playing for a quite a while, so this new character is to branch out into herald. Based on feedback, i think I'll drop the concept that featured staff and take the character in a different direction. Looks like I might try cele herald so I can get some of the support/sustain benefit without the damage loss of a full support build.

Thanks, again.

Edited March 15, 2023 by Gibson.4036