How can I find an Elementalist trainer?

[Darkenergy.8536]

I'm having a tough time finding information about this game. In trying to find a Elementalist trainer the search lists I Come across list an NPC name and where they are but when I look around I can't find them anywhere. I've targeted practically every NPC in a number of cities - nothing. I'm missing some kind of information about how to go about this. How do you go about locating trainers? The most common ones show up clustered in the cities but I can't find this one anywhere. Help please.

[Shuzuru.3651]

Hum, there is no reason why you would need to interact with an NPC "Elementalist trainer", why do you need that exactly?

[DeanBB.4268]

Are you looking at some ancient guide? There were such NPCs a decade ago, but no longer.

[AliamRationem.5172]

You don't have to visit an NPC to unlock skills.  Just open your character panel and skills are one of the icons on the sidebar.

[Darkenergy.8536]

Thanks for the responses. My problem is that I started 3 weeks ago and am still getting used to terms, mechanics, etc. I have an unused skill set (if that is the correct term) so I searched on PROFESSION after looking at one of the startup pages on the web. I 've been thinking of starting a new character as an Elementalist to see what that 's all about and got everything confused. It didn't help at all when I got to the page listing elementalist trainer on wiki.guildwars2.com. That provided the information I was following when I couldn't find anything. Then I noticed that just about every page said that this was outdated information. That's when I went to the forum. Thanks to you that responded I need to look at a different set of SKILLS (if I'm using that term right) like Chef or Hunter.

Thanks again for putting me on the right track.

[Randulf.7614]

When you level naturally 1-80, the game will explain everything you need to know. How to assign skills, traits, crafting etc. It will do this at different levels so as not to flood you with pop up information at one go.

Some useful terms for as a new player to differentiate things. They don't always line up with correspondong terms in other games, but here's what GW2 refers to them as;

- PROFESSION (often called a "class" in other games) - These are what you play as, ie Elemenatlist, Warrior, Guardian etc

- ELITE SPECIALISATION - These are level 80 variations on your profession. For example Catalyst, Tempest and Weaver for Elemenatlist. They provide new ways of playing and an exclusive trait line (and previously an exclusive weapon, but that changed with Secrets of the Obscure)

- TRAITS- These you access from the trait wheel and unlock passive skills for your profession/elite specialisation. These are unlocked with hero points (sometimes called skilled points) which you find in maps.

- SKILLS - Weapon skills and Utility skills which are the skills you actively use down the bottom

- MASTERIES - Extra skills and features you can earn like auto looting, mounts, gliding, jade tech skills, fishing, boats. These are a bit more complicated to explain and would require a separate post if you need help with them.

- DISCIPLINE - These are your crafts like Chef, Armourer, Weaponsmith etc

- PROFESSION MECHANIC - These are usually assigned to F1-5 keys. For example Elementalist can switch between Fire (F1), Water (F2), Air (F3) and Earth (F4) weapon skills giving it 20 skills it can cycle between rather than just 5. Elite Specialisations use these in more advanced ways. For example, Catalyst will have an F5 to lay down an area effect based on which elemental attunement you are are

Elementalists are a superb class in my mind. But they are one of the trickier to play. When played right, they are a lot of fun. When played wrong, well they're still fun but you die a lot. I know this from 11 years experience 😉

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Randulf.7614

[Teknomancer.4895]

5 minutes ago, Randulf.7614 said:

When you level naturally 1-80, the game will explain everything you need to know. How to assign skills, traits, crafting etc. It will do this at different levels so as not to flood you with pop up information at one go.

Yep, this is why when starting a new toon I will generally play through (and recommend) the Personal Story up through at least Zhaitan. That gives plenty of time to practice with the skills, traits, weapons and so on with some pretty low-pressure content (esp compared with later additions).