User:Aspectacle/FoW Spider Farmer

This is PvE specific purpose build to help figure out a formatting template for different build types. It isn't meant to be a complete description of the build and what's here is based on my personal variant of the build.

Overview[edit]

Advantages[edit]

Takes very little damage from NPCs which do only physical damage
Able to use a speed boost to avoid or minimise fatal damage

Disadvantages[edit]

Very weak to elemental and armour-ignoring damage
Success often dependant on spawn points of Ancient Skales
Energy can become a problem
Not particularly fast, but is the best way to solo farm the area.

Skill overview[edit]

Core skills[edit]

Variants[edit]

The Axe attack skills from this build may be substituted with Sword sttack skills, particularly Hundred Blades.

Prophecies

Cleave is a suggested prophecies elite
Dolyak Signet can be used to replace Physical Resistance but it is has significantly less utility
Endure Pain can be added to provide emergency defense over the damage of Executioner's Strike

Factions

Penetrating Chop instead of its duplicate Penetrating Blow
Triple Chop is a nice elite for this build

Nightfall

Signet of Stamina can be added to provide emergency defense over the damage of Executioner's Strike.

Build details[edit]

Profession[edit]

This build is always run as a Warrior primary due to the importance of the high armour to the success of the build. The most common variant is to run a mesmer secondary for Physical Resistance. The build may also be run as a pure warrior build.

Attributes[edit]

High Axe (with head gear)
High Tactics
Moderate Strength
remainder to inspiration magic

Equipment[edit]

Weapons[edit]

A zealous Axe, preferably 50% always but not required.
While in a stance offhand
A long range bow for pulling

Runes[edit]

Sup Absorbtion rune if possible
Sup Vigor if possible
it is possible to run multiple health reducing sup runes with this build, but it depends on user experience.

armour[edit]

Gladiator's for extra energy or Knight's for damage reduction.

The farming run[edit]

Keep Physical Resistance up at all times when taking damage from spiders or driftwood, make sure that you have enough energy to put it up when it runs out. When in a large group of enemies spam cyclone axe (and triple crop) continuously - the zealous weapon will ensure that you will not run out of energy. Use adrenaline skills as soon as they are charged. In smaller groups consider switching to a non-Zealous, non-Elemental damage weapon to aid energy regeneration and use energy attacks relitively infrequently to assist with e-management.

The run has three distinct parts; the initial dash past foes the build can't handle, picking your way through Ancient Scales killing the snarling Driftwood and working your way through the Spiders in the Spider Cave.

The Dash[edit]

As you load hit your speed boost and head immediately to the right, sticking fairly close to the wall and avoiding as best you can the Shadow Army groups. Get clear of the dude at the start quickly so that he doesn't end up getting aggro and dying which ends your farming run. Pause and heal if required part way up the small incline, as the groups arrives from the beach direction run through them and hit sprint to get to the hill thingo. Stand behind that and avoid the three groups which start to come from the beach direction. Run to where those groups were coming from, you should see the first group of Driftwood.

The Dance[edit]

Kill off the first group of driftwood, move down and get the dryder, taking care to time skill use to avoid damage from Wastrel's Worry. Watch for the Shadow Army groups from behind. Use your speed boost to avoid the Scales to get to safe places to pull and kill the Driftwood through the next area (need a map to show a good route and possible safe spots?). Always keep an eye out for the Scales wandering around. Driftwood in groups greater than 3 display anti-farming behaviour, leaving the group to heal for a time.

Make your way through this area until you reach the waterfall marking the entrance of the cave.

The Deaths[edit]

Pull the Dryders without standing too close to the river. kill them off. Trigger the spiders - Wait for them to arrive, and pull them to a position where you can hit as many of them as once as possible. Then run into them and start bashing. It is essential you keep physical resistance up at all times and heal yourself when you start to get to 1/3 to 1/2 health. Make sure you use "Watch Yourself!" prior to using heal sig to counter balance armour lost while using the skill. Work your way back through the cave taking out the dryders and then the spiders which spawn with them.