How to fight Fresh Air?

[Shroud.2307]

Ele and Mesmer are two classes I've played almost nothing of in my several years with GW2. Meaning, getting in the heads of these players is a lot harder because I don't recognize certain skills or know niche combo's like I do with other things.
Obviously you could just say "well then play Ele", and maybe some time I will, but for now, I'm looking for some advice.

Fresh Air, or basically builds like this in general, that are extremely bursty I don't know how to handle. I know to interrupt Ether Renewal if I can, I know Arcane Shield is 3 blocks, and I know these builds are generally weak to Conditions, but that's about all. The damage comes seemingly instantly, and again because I'm unfamiliar, I can't even tell exactly what's doing the damage. 

This isn't a complaint or nerf thread so please don't go on a spiel about "getting gud", that's why I'm asking for tips. This is one of a handful of builds I really struggle against because I don't know much about it, and every time I fight it I don't have much time to learn because typically one of us dies in >10 seconds. 

[Zhaid Zhem.6508]

You have all the tools.

Fresh air weaver is a very strong dualist, because of superspeed, many super combos, even some skills  he can cast behind him, 900-1200 range CC, ...Fresh air counters every others elem builds for example. (Except traiblazer guys ... but are they human anyway ?)

But is dead when outnumbered ; no multi-target, no instant cleanse, 1 or 2 BS without stab, no bulkiness. So just don't go alone against a fresh air weaver.

 

Impairing condition is a good start. Fresh air is a bit less vulnerable to Chill than others elem but it's still really annoying; it also impacts attunement swaps. 

CC.  You can totally facetank Arcane shield most of the time. Damage is ridiculous, at least compared to any dual attacks with damage modificator/vulnerability; so better pressure even against arcane shield than kite and let him prepare a combo. A SpB, a DH, Reaperor whatever can put melee pressure with gap closers/cripple to cancel superspeed mobility  and 2hKO him.

Weakness (for example thief can spam weakness for ages).

Don't waste breakstun/stab for nothing.  For Example Gale and Comet (focus, 1200 range); wait and see if he's in range, if he casts Dragon's tooth or any Air/# dual attacks  (900 range) before any action. Or be certain he's in bad position and you want to keep pressure. Because he will have more spammable cc than you have breakstun.

You can even bait him if we want to humiliate you with dragon's tooth + phoenix at melee, you play the dead, BOOM you breakstun right before the hit, he can't swap to air, you kill him.

 

 

But guy; there is not a lot of fresh air weaver on the field. Just avoid them.

Edited May 25, 2021 by Zhaid Zhem.6508

[AliamRationem.5172]

They are certainly a threat, but so flimsy and weak to condi. A fire weaver with fire signet can kill them just by waiting for them to cleanse and then hitting them with signet. Surviving isn't usually a problem either with evade chains and barrier/heals.  But that burst though...

[Sunshine.5014]

Spam Weakness on them. Weakness 100% kills FreshAir build.

[Razor.6392]

Earthen synergy (20s cd) has a sound cue, listen to it and dodge.

 

Save a stunbreak for updraft (32s cd).

 

that's it, you solved how to beat FA. Their sustained damage is bad and you can just dodge roll their highest damage abilities as they're delayed and rather harmless if they aren't preceded by CC (phoenix, dragon's tooth, plasma beam, shatterstone can all be dodged on reaction).

 

Back then you'd have to also keep track of arcane spells as they can nuke you for 3-4k damage while rooting you in earth, but they got nerfed to oblivion and personally I don't even use them anymore.