aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/blocking
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'blocking')
-rw-r--r--blocking/blocking.tex108
1 files changed, 73 insertions, 35 deletions
diff --git a/blocking/blocking.tex b/blocking/blocking.tex
index 51cb6cf..df0d317 100644
--- a/blocking/blocking.tex
+++ b/blocking/blocking.tex
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
\newcommand{\skill}[3]{\emph{#3} (#1 #2)}
+\newcommand{\uskill}[1]{\emph{#1}}
+\newcommand{\trait}[1]{\emph{#1}}
+\newcommand{\gwtskills}{(Picture source: \url{http://en.gw2skills.net})}
% Metadata
\title{Triple Trouble Eggblocking Guide}
@@ -139,9 +142,9 @@ The best thing to do here is to place the skill at the wurm's base, which is the
Some very easy to use skills are:
\begin{itemize}
- \item Mesmer's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Feedback}{Feedback}: It is ranged, meaning you can put it down from a safe distance. It is a dome with a big radius, which makes it easy to intercept all projectiles. And it lasts for 6 seconds, which makes the timing very easy.
- \item Revenant's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Protective_Solace}{Protective Solace}: For the same reasons as Mesmer's Feedback.
- \item Elementalist's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Swirling_Winds}{Swirling Winds}: It has a long duration and covers a big radius, but has to be casted close-range, as it is not a ground-targetted skill.
+ \item Mesmer's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Feedback}{\uskill{Feedback}}: It is ranged, meaning you can put it down from a safe distance. It is a dome with a big radius, which makes it easy to intercept all projectiles. And it lasts for 6 seconds, which makes the timing very easy.
+ \item Revenant's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Protective_Solace}{\uskill{Protective Solace}}: For the same reasons as Mesmer's Feedback.
+ \item Elementalist's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Swirling_Winds}{\uskill{Swirling Winds}}: It has a long duration and covers a big radius, but has to be casted close-range, as it is not a ground-targetted skill.
\end{itemize}
Generally, if you are just starting out, AoE reflects are easier to use than directional \enquote{walls}.
@@ -181,7 +184,7 @@ That way, the other blocker will have their reflect ready in case the wrong spit
Depending on your class, some of your skills might require you to be in close proximity of the wurm, which means you will be in range for the spits.
Make sure that you have some dodges ready.
-Some classes also have some evades or blocks in their kits (like the Mesmer's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Frenzy}{Blurred Frenzy}), which can help in avoiding any wurm attacks.
+Some classes also have some evades or blocks in their kits (like the Mesmer's \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Frenzy}{\uskill{Blurred Frenzy}}), which can help in avoiding any wurm attacks.
Keep in mind that you can use \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Aegis}{Aegis} to negate the effect of a spin, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Stability}{Stability} to prevent the knock-back or \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Protection}{Protection} to negate at least some of the damage.
@@ -258,14 +261,49 @@ Keep in mind though that your main job as a blocker is to block eggs/husks - don
\section{Class Guides}
+In this section, we will take a look at some different classes that can be used for blocking.
+If you do not want to read every one, here is a small (biased) ranking:
+
+\begin{itemize}
+ \item Easiest to block with: Revenant (Section \ref{s:revenant-class-guide}) and Mesmer (Section \ref{s:mesmer-class-guide}.
+ \item Most reliable full blockers: Mesmer (Section \ref{s:mesmer-class-guide}) and Elementalist (Section \ref{s:ele-class-guide}).
+ \item Advanced fun for fans of the class: Base Elementalist (Section \ref{s:ele-class-guide}) and Scrapper (Section \ref{s:engi-class-guide}).
+\end{itemize}
+
+
+\subsection{Revenant}
+\label{s:revenant-class-guide}
+
+The advantage of Revenant blocking is its sheer simplicity, but the biggest disadvantage is that you are limited to only blocking eggs.
+The profession just doesn't provide any skills which could be used for anything more.
+
+That being said, egg blocking as Revenant works as follows:
+Make sure to bring \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Legendary_Centaur_Stance}{\uskill{Legendary Centaur Stance}} (Ventari) and place your tablet inside the wurm (the closer to the Sweet Spot, the better).
+Your blocking skill is \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Protective_Solace}{\uskill{Protective Solace}}, which is a reflect until you deactivate it again.
+
+The only thing that you have to keep in mind is that \uskill{Protective Solace} will go on a 5 second cooldown if you deactivate it, which means you might not have enough time to re-activate it when you get a double spit (husk spit immediately followed by an egg spit).
+As such, it can be worth just leaving it up.
+Assuming that you start with 100 Energy when you activate it, you can leave it up for 100 seconds, as it will drain 1 Energy per second (the skill itself drains 6 Energy per second, but you regenerate 5 Energy per second).
+
+You can use the new base-Revenant profession skill, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Ancient_Echo}{\uskill{Ancient Echo}} to regenerate some Energy, but \uskill{Protective Solace} is still hard-limited to 100 seconds.
+
+When in doubt, leave the reflection up until you either blocked an egg spit or you get a burn phase.
+If you deactivate it after an egg spit, it will have plenty of time to come off-cooldown and regenerate all your Energy again until the next egg spit.
+
+As for your weapon choices or second legend choice, it doesn't really matter.
+As Revenant, you can rely on dodges for evading the spins, as changing your position doesn't affect the tablet's position.
+If you want, you can bring a \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Staff#Revenant}{Staff}, which gives you access to \skill{Staff}{3}{\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Warding_Rift}{Warding Rift}}, a two second long block.
+
+
\subsection{Mesmer}
+\label{s:mesmer-class-guide}
Mesmers are the undisputed kings of blocking at Triple Trouble, as they are able to block every egg, husk and AoE spit on their own.
-They have access to one of the best reflect skills in the game, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Feedback}{Feedback}, while also having access to one of the best invulnerability skills, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Distortion}{Distortion}.
-\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Mimic}{Mimic} allows them to use Feedback twice, which is perfect for egg blocking, while \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_Illusions}{Signet of Illusions} allows them to use Distortion twice, which is perfect for husk blocking.
-In addition, the trait \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Inscriptions}{Blurred Inscriptions} gives them access to a lot of short duration invulnerabilities, which can be used to either check a spit, or to block AoEs.
+They have access to one of the best reflect skills in the game, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Feedback}{\uskill{Feedback}}, while also having access to one of the best invulnerability skills, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Distortion}{\uskill{Distortion}}.
+\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Mimic}{\uskill{Mimic}} allows them to use Feedback twice, which is perfect for egg blocking, while \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_Illusions}{\uskill{Signet of Illusions}} allows them to use Distortion twice, which is perfect for husk blocking.
+In addition, the trait \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Inscriptions}{\uskill{Blurred Inscriptions}} gives them access to a lot of short duration invulnerabilities, which can be used to either check a spit, or to block AoEs.
-And if that wasn't enough, they also have a high amount of blocks and evades by taking a sword main-hand for \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Frenzy}{Blurred Frenzy} and a shield offhand for \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Echo_of_Memory}{Shield of Memory} (requires the Chronomancer elite).
+And if that wasn't enough, they also have a high amount of blocks and evades by taking a sword main-hand for \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Frenzy}{\uskill{Blurred Frenzy}} and a shield offhand for \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Echo_of_Memory}{\uskill{Shield of Memory}} (requires the Chronomancer elite specialization).
Alternatively, you can also use the Mirage elite specialization, which allows you to dodge without moving from the sweet spot.
@@ -273,10 +311,10 @@ Alternatively, you can also use the Mirage elite specialization, which allows yo
\label{sss:mesmer-basic-eggblocking}
With the very basic Mesmer eggblocking, you will be able to block every egg spit.
-The only two important skills are Mimic and Feedback.
-If there is a spit happening, and you can't be sure that it is husks or eggs, use Mimic followed by Feedback.
+The only two important skills are \uskill{Mimic} and \uskill{Feedback}.
+If there is a spit happening, and you can't be sure that it is husks or eggs, use \uskill{Mimic} followed by \uskill{Feedback}.
If the spit was an egg spit, you have successfully blocked it.
-If it was a husk spit, you will have Feedback ready for the next spit.
+If it was a husk spit, you will have \uskill{Feedback} ready for the next spit.
Keep in mind the cooldowns of the spits - 45 seconds for the egg spit, 90 seconds for the husk spit.
This means that the usual spit sequence is \texttt{E/H - E/H - E - E/H - E/H - E - ...}, as every second egg spit can line up with a husk spit.
@@ -304,29 +342,29 @@ Echo of Memory is a long channeled block, and if you successfully block an attac
For the second weaponset, we're going to take a \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Focus#Mesmer}{Focus} off-hand.
The reason for this is the skill \skill{Focus}{4}{\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Temporal_Curtain}{Temporal Curtain}}.
-On its own, this skill is not very useful for blocking, but we will combine it with the trait \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Warden%27s_Feedback}{Warden's Feedback} (Inspiration, middle column up).
-This trait will turn Temporal Curtain into a 5 second reflect.
+On its own, this skill is not very useful for blocking, but we will combine it with the trait \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Warden%27s_Feedback}{\trait{Warden's Feedback}} (Inspiration, middle column up).
+ This trait will turn \uskill{Temporal Curtain} into a 5 second reflect.
You will usually not need this, but it is good to keep in mind:
-If you mess up somewhere, swap to Focus and use Temporal Curtain as a reflect!
+If you mess up somewhere, swap to Focus and use \uskill{Temporal Curtain} as a reflect!
Now we can take a look at the utility skills.
-We already know that Mimic and Feedback are set, which leaves us with a healing skill, a single utility skill and the elite skill.
+We already know that \uskill{Mimic} and \uskill{Feedback} are set, which leaves us with a healing skill, a single utility skill and the elite skill.
For the elite, we don't need that for blocking.
-You can bring \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Time_Warp}{Time Warp} in order to help out with Quickness during burn phases, but it doesn't affect your blocking.
+You can bring \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Time_Warp}{\uskill{Time Warp}} in order to help out with Quickness during burn phases, but it doesn't affect your blocking.
For the healing and utility slots, we want a \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet#Mesmer}{Signet}.
-The reason for this is the synergy with the \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Inscriptions}{Blurred Inscriptions} trait (Inspiration, last column down).
+The reason for this is the synergy with the \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Blurred_Inscriptions}{\trait{Blurred Inscriptions}} trait (Inspiration, last column down).
This trait will give us one second of invulnerability whenever we use a Signet.
This is very useful to block spins, especially as it will also block the AoEs that are being released after a small spin.
-As such, you want to choose \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_the_Ether}{Signet of the Ether} as your healing skill, and \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_Midnight}{Signet of Midnight} as your utility skill.
-The reason why we choose Signet of Midnight over the other signets is that is has no cast time.
-As such, timing the Signet of Midnight is way easier than timing the other signets.
+As such, you want to choose \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_the_Ether}{\uskill{Signet of the Ether}} as your healing skill, and \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_Midnight}{\uskill{Signet of Midnight}} as your utility skill.
+The reason why we choose \uskill{Signet of Midnight} over the other signets is that is has no cast time.
+As such, timing the \uskill{Signet of Midnight} is way easier than timing the other signets.
In addition, it has the second-lowest cooldown, which means it is available every 30 seconds.
This means we've chosen Inspiration and Chronomancer as our traitlines now, which leaves us with a third one to pick.
-For this build, Dueling offers some utility through \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Fencer%27s_Finesse}{Fencer's Finesse} (Dueling, middle column down).
-This trait reduces your sword skill cooldowns (such as Blurred Frenzy) by 20\%, which means you can use it more often to evade.
+For this build, Dueling offers some utility through \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Fencer%27s_Finesse}{\trait{Fencer's Finesse}} (Dueling, middle column down).
+ This trait reduces your sword skill cooldowns (such as \uskill{Blurred Frenzy}) by 20\%, which means you can use it more often to evade.
As for the actual blocking, it is \emph{exactly the same} as the base Mesmer egg blocking described in Section \ref{sss:mesmer-basic-eggblocking}.
All we've done so far is to add some utility, which can help you stay in place (on the Sweet Spot) and block some AoEs through the use of Signets.
@@ -334,13 +372,13 @@ All we've done so far is to add some utility, which can help you stay in place (
\begin{figure}[ht]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{images/mesmer-traits.png}
- \caption{Traitlines for Mesmer blocking, with important traits selected.}
+ \caption{Traitlines for Mesmer blocking, with important traits selected. \gwtskills}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[ht]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{images/mesmer-skills.png}
- \caption{Utility skills for Mesmer blocking.}
+ \caption{Utility skills for Mesmer blocking. \gwtskills}
\end{figure}
@@ -348,29 +386,29 @@ All we've done so far is to add some utility, which can help you stay in place (
In order to full block on a Chronomancer, we're going to take the same build as in the previous section, but we're gonna modify it slightly.
-This build relies on the invulnerability that you get from using Distortion (F4) in order to block husks.
+This build relies on the invulnerability that you get from using \uskill{Distortion} (F4) in order to block husks.
Since the invulnerability lasts longer the more clones you have up, you want to keep generating clones with your \skill{Sword}{3}{Illusionary Leap}.
-In addition, we want to take the trait \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Illusionary_Reversion}{Illusionary Reversion} (Chronomancer, middle column middle).
-This trait will automatically generate a new clone if you shatter 3 of them at the same time, which means you will start with 1 clone instead of 0 after you've used Distortion.
+In addition, we want to take the trait \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Illusionary_Reversion}{\trait{Illusionary Reversion}} (Chronomancer, middle column middle).
+This trait will automatically generate a new clone if you shatter 3 of them at the same time, which means you will start with 1 clone instead of 0 after you've used \uskill{Distortion}.
-As for the skills, we're going to swap out Feedback for \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_Illusions}{Signet of Illusions}.
-This Signet allows you to recharge your Distortion.
+As for the skills, we're going to swap out Feedback for \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Signet_of_Illusions}{\uskill{Signet of Illusions}}.
+This Signet allows you to recharge your \uskill{Distortion}.
The idea behind this build is the following:
-If you don't know if a spit is a husk or an egg spit, you use your Distortion.
-If the spit was a husk spit, you have successfully blocked it, and you can use Feedback on the next egg spit.
-If the spit was an egg spit, you can use Signet of Illusions to recharge Distort, and you can Distort the next spit again.
+If you don't know if a spit is a husk or an egg spit, you use your \uskill{Distortion}.
+If the spit was a husk spit, you have successfully blocked it, and you can use \uskill{Feedback} on the next egg spit.
+If the spit was an egg spit, you can use \uskill{Signet of Illusions} to recharge \uskill{Distort}, and you can \uskill{Distort} the next spit again.
In the second case, you should generate some clones fast, as you will need them for the increased invulnerability duration.
-However, Illusionary Reversion and Signet of Illuisions (due to Blurred Inscriptions) will give you one clone each, so you can generate the third one by just using Illusionary Leap once.
+However, \trait{Illusionary Reversion} and \uskill{Signet of Illuisions} (due to \trait{Blurred Inscriptions}) will give you one clone each, so you can generate the third one by just using \uskill{Illusionary Leap} once.
This method of blocking requires you to be on the Sweet Spot, so make sure to use your evading tools and your invulnerability from Signets to avoid moving too much.
-You should be able to block every big spin with either \skill{Sword}{2}{Blurred Frenzy} or \skill{Shield}{4}{Echo of Memory}, and every small spin with either Signet of the Ether or Signet of Midnight.
+You should be able to block every big spin with either \skill{Sword}{2}{Blurred Frenzy} or \skill{Shield}{4}{Echo of Memory}, and every small spin with either \uskill{Signet of the Ether} or \uskill{Signet of Midnight}.
\begin{figure}[ht]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{images/chrono-skills.png}
- \caption{Utility skills for Chronomancer blocking.}
+ \caption{Utility skills for Chronomancer blocking. \gwtskills}
\end{figure}
\end{document}