Advice for surviveability

[ForgottenReality.7964]

So, I've been playing a Sw/D weaver in berserker gear and I really like it. It's such a fun class to play all around and the damage output is amazing. But, I've noticed that my surviveability is very low, moreso than the other classes I've played (Thief, Necro, Revenant, warrior). It only takes a few hits before I hit the dirt and it's incredibly off-putting. Does anyone here have any advice on how I can feel less like a piece of wet tissue paper?

[pyramid.3146]

I too would love to hear some ideas, I just started playing Sw/D Weaver. I switched my gear from berserker to gear with toughness and it helped some. I think the idea is you get barriers and such from skills and traits. Those are supposed to help. You might also need to switch out traits and gear to survive better. Water and Earth favor survivability. Earth/Water 3 helps. Being pure DPS isn't supposed to survive. Maybe bring a friend.

Anyone have more suggestions?

[Mr Godlike.6098]

I would say that sword is more a pvp weapon then pve. But we have good survivability even on maurder so maybe try it? Probably some raid expert would say it's a bad idea but for doing open map stuff should be fine. You know about water 2 combo right? You use twits of faith?

[pyramid.3146]

What is the water 2 combo? Is it cast water 2 and switch attunements? Are you suggesting another weapon?

[fuzzyp.6295]

You're playing PvE correct? So... for me, personally, I find running zerkers with sword in PvE doesn't really make any sense. I think that the best weapon for running zerk in PvE for weaver is staff. You can stay at range and kill multiple things really, really quickly. It takes some time to get used to it, but once you master it, PvE Zerker Staff Weaver is, imo, the best power build for Weaver bar none.

The honest to goodness best way to increase your survivability if you're playing Sword is to just drop Dagger and run Focus. Focus offers some of the best defensive skills in the game and can add some much needed survivability. If you insist on running Sword/Dagger, maybe consider dropping the zerker gear and run a more tanky condition spec. Weaver can pump out a decent amount of condition through Primordial Stance. Molten Armor gives you a nice barrier buff as well as pulsing bleed and burning. Honestly, bleeding is kinda untapped for Weaver, I've gotten 50 stacks of bleeding with Sword/Dagger before.

If you still insist on running zerk power sword/dagger in PvE , I feel it will just take time. The longer you play Weaver the more you will get used to the attunement cool downs. You will begin to learn what you can and can't take. Here a few tips:

As was mentioned earlier, your Ripetide (water 2) is incredible. It's a nearly 2 second evade that ends in a water field. Use this when you find yourself low on HP and need to get out of a tough spot. If possible, attune to water about 4 seconds before you really have to use it, then while you are casting Ripetide attune to Earth. When the skill ends, you can Earthen Vortex (earth 2) into the water field for a blast finisher, healing yourself. Perhaps you should consider running Arcane along with Weaver to help your attunement cool downs. If you run arcane, maybe consider using Arcane Shield as a way to deal more damage and to soak up a few tough hits thrown your way. Twist of Fate is an amazing stunbreak that can help you get out of a tough spot. Some basic tips running dagger offand if you're not aware, your Air 5 is also a 1 second evade so if you see a telegraphed move incoming you may have time to use it to evade the attack. Obviously Frost Aura reduces damage on you by 10% so try and use that in tough spots. You may need to trait out one of your higher DPS traitlines for a more sustainy traitline. What trait lines do you run currently? Are you afull dps Fire/Air/Weaver? If so, you may need to swap one of them over to Arcane or Water to help out with your sustain.

[lunarminx.3624]

In pve you should hardly ever die. I play a simple staff power build, fire-1-1-2, arcane-2-2-3, air-3-1-1. Everything is berserker but 2acc, 1 amulet and a sentinel staff for POF zones but i have a berserker staff too. Sig are force and Bloodlust, runes are strength. I rarely die and I solo. I can take on average 2-4 mobs easy and up to 6 with no problem, depending on the mobs. Use 4 if the mob melee just watch where you are when using it. I hardly ever leave fire either. Use level 60 sharpening stones and orrian steak fritters. Good luck.