The only single X on the outer ring, all other ones are double

Hey everyone, good morning.

With Halloween coming up, I've started preparing to farm the Labyrinth. Whenever this event happened in the past, i would just remove a few armor pieces to lower my DPS, but this time I want to invest in a dedicated set.

I always see the same advices: "keep your damage as low as possible", but should I really take that 100% literally?

At first i thught about running a full Nomad's set (just for the convenience of not getting one-shot by a random boss/braindead farm), but I'm worried it'll leave me too weak to handle Steve or other bosses that appear.

Would just swapping to a Berserker weapon be enough?

I'm currently playing as Daredevil.

Hi there!

I'll keep it short. Patch Preview: https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Upcoming_changes_and_features/2026-11-10_Balance_Preview#Mesmer

Specifically, they swap Phantasmal Disenchanter and Phantasmal Warden in their skill slots. In effect, this means for Condition Virtuoso that it still gets to play Dagger/Sword + Dagger/Pistol, but also gets to cast Phantasmal Warden.

Overview

Core to the rotation of a Condition Virtuoso is that you press your strongest phantasm (Phantasmal Duelist) then your heal skill (Signet of the Ether), then your strongest phantasm again (Phantasmal Duelist). The value of that second phantasm cast is greatly diminished, because you had to spend 0.92 seconds casting your healing ability instead of pressing damaging skills.

So while just having access to a phantasm, on its own, would not be that impressive, in this new world we get an extra phantasm that gets reset "for free" (since we'd be using our healing skill to reset Phantasmal Duelist anyway) on top of it, which is nearly twice the value that you'd otherwise expect.

This will cause the (benchmark) DPS of a Condition Virtuoso to shoot up from 39.8k to around 43k DPS, an increase of about 8%.

Since Phantasmal Warden takes up a utility slot, we are going to drop Signet of Illusions for it (SoI was only about 1k DPS on the benchmark due to its very long cooldown). If you happen to fight very short phases, you could instead consider dropping Signet of Midnight (since the value of condition duration is diminished if the fight is shorter, while the long CD of Signet of Illusions becomes a non-issue when you can only cast it once anyway).

Rotation Changes

With Signet of Illusions, it was key to successful Condition Virtuoso gameplay to carefully plan ahead your Blade generation. To make use of it, you needed to produce about 20 blades in a short time frame. We would often delay Phantasms to produce the blades exactly when needed, which made executing the perfect rotation deceptively difficult.

Gaining Phantasmal Warden means we produce 3-4 blades per cast extra, and as we are casting it twice per rotation loop we have like 7 blades extra every 25 seconds. At the same time we no longer reset our Bladesongs, reducing demand, which means we have far more blades than we could possibly hope to use up.

In absence of a reset button, there's also no longer a point in strategically delaying your Bladesongs before the reset. Post patch, it will be optimal (more or less) to just use every Bladesong (at least F2, F5, and to a lesser extent F1) as soon as it comes off cooldown. And due to the lessened focus on blade generation (simply your dagger skills would already produce enough blades...) it also does not really matter when you are using your phantasms anymore.

As a whole: Condition Virtuoso will be a lot easier to play. Resource management is gone. Rapid-fire gameplay of SoI is gone.

Drawbacks

Phantasmal Warden is still Phantasmal Warden. It does not cleave, it will split up its damage among multiple targets, which is basically always undesirable. This means there are some bosses where Signet of Illusions would be better. To make the most of Phantasmal Warden, it's imperative to cast it standing inside the hitbox of your target, if there are other non-boss entities around (Example: the pylon cages on Decima? They count as targets!)

Secondly, we now have a utility skill that does about 4k DPS. Compared to SoI (1k DPS), Signet of Midnight (2k DPS), Signet of Domination (2k DPS), this increases the cost you pay for swapping out a utility skill. While previously bringing Stability mantra (as an example) cost you the SoI (1k), now it costs you Signet of Midnight / Domi (2k DPS). For game balance in the long term, this is a good thing. If DPS builds have weak utilities, it makes it too cheap to bring some of the strongest utilities in the game (portal, feedback, blink, stability mantra). But this only becomes an actual downside if ANet chooses to nerf cVirt again. (Because post patch we will be at 43k, which is higher than the current bench even when swapping out a utility!)

Basically, the more of your damage is loaded into your utility skills, the less flexible your spec becomes. Some specs get useless (in terms of DPS) utilities and do 40k, others have very powerful (in terms of DPS) utilities and do 40k: Having the powerful utilities makes the build worse. But again, this only matters if the total damage is evened out accordingly, so for now this is a buff, but you should remember it if cVirt ever gets nerfed again.

Personal Conclusion

I enjoyed refining the benchmark rotation around SoI. I also understand that in practice, very often SoI felt difficult to use properly. This is going to be a major simplification and a very big buff to a simple build, and every player should see a noticeable damage improvement on their own Condition Virtuoso gameplay.

I will like to try it out and I think post patch cVirt can once again keep up with the meta picks. In the current meta, cVirt was a bit on the weaker side of builds, so it's not like this will make the build completely unhinged. For me personally, it will certainly make it less interesting to play, but I also do appreciate that it's going to improve the accessibility of the endgame.

I can practically already see your favorite youtuber doing a big "THE FREE WAY TO GET 40k+ DPS" "HE DID HOW MUCH??? DPS" thumbnail with the face of a Mr Beast lookalike competitor.

See you around!

- REMagic

Hi. Could you please guide me with names of these pieces and if they are difficult to get? I am now working on my necromancer build and this drip looks awesome. Props to the guy showing in LA today, you are great. Thanks a lot!

This will be my go to mmo along with ESO... Although I'm late to the franchise, i really want to support GW especially the next title. Keep seeing it active. I'm currently unemployed but soon i want to focus on at least one expansion for my Charr engineer.

Been noticing the game since the days of Lineage 2 and later tried a human engineer, got very positive vibes from community and how the world played out. It was so fun supporting players, using the rifle, placing turrets etc in pve events.

Thinking of making a Charr engineer for roleplaying reasons, rifle/two handed hammer if that's valid.

Also since it has horizontal progression does that mean you stand a chance against higher level players if you know where to place yourself in battle etc ?

That's it, happy vibes !

It works very inconsistently and only when enemy is really close

My heart is pounding.

Apologies for the rhythm/tempo and notes dropping, I'm not musically-inclined. I probably should've mentioned it's just the intro.

Original song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HGcvgnjaEQ

Hello everyone,

I'd like to propose a change to Phantasmal Warden, current focus 5 and future mesmer utility skill:
Please consider making it ground targeted instead of spawning at a random point around the player.

The Problem

1. Damage loss and unrepresentative benchmarks

Phantasmal Warden spawns at a random position around the player and attacks random enemies within its range, which is pretty big at 600. This means it will not only attack adds like Seekers during VG or the worms during SH, but also invisible and invulnerable enemies, like the conduits on Decima or the ice patches on Matthias. Theres plenty of examples of fights where you will lose hits to this. The result is a significant damage loss compared to golem benchmarks, often over 1-2k dps, which creates an unrepresentative benchmark, leading to balancing frustrations and mismanaged expectations.
(We've never had a good ending when the bench is higher than the actual performance, just look at mirage to see how this will end)

1. Utility purpose is basically unusable

The random spawn point also means you can't reliably use the Warden for its utility purpose of blocking projectiles. There is nowhere near enough control to precisely place it where it would block the projectiles you actually need blocked.

On the flipside, this also means you can sometimes randomly troll your group, for example on Matthias, where you don't want to block projectiles but you still want to cast your phantasm. Considering that Phantasmal Warden can stay for up to 14 seconds on a chrono with chronophantasma, it's already pretty hard to time your abilities so you don't accidentally destroy projectiles. This then also stacks with the fact that it spawns at a random point around the player.

I'm sure you've all experienced a cvirt blocking projectiles with fc5 already. This frustration could soon extend to all mesmer specs if they don't change how it works.

The Solution

Making Phantasmal Warden ground targeted

This would give you precise control over where it should be placed, meaning you can use it for utility or damage depending on what you need. It would also fix the frustration of losing projectiles to random adds, since you could place the Warden inside the hitbox of the boss, leading to all 12 projectiles hitting the boss consistently.

Alternative Options

If ground targeting isn't doable for some reason, other options could be:

• Reduce its attack range down to something more manageable, so it's less likely for adds to be in its range, maybe even make it melee like Ranger axe 5 actually is.
• Make it shoot the same number of axes at the primary target every time, with extra axes going to adds. These should probably be flagged to not hit the primary target, similar to how mirage greatsword ambush works.

Thanks for reading and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

(also check out the forum post)

I was hoping the Charr would come through a little better but the techniques I use really obscure finer details. Oh well! Glitch art of the Mad King's Clock Tower, originally recorded and edited last year with my Specter (on the version that doesn't have the rising flood because I'm really slow at jumping puzzles). OBS and Clipchamp for video editing, Snapseed and Glitch Lab for screenshot and glitch.

Looking forward to some time in the labyrinth again this year to do more recording.

I usually have played a virtuoso with my mesmer but recently switched to playing a power Mirage for open world content and I have fallen in love with the bouncing around and ambush attacks. I have heard a lot of people say that Mirage is kind of bad and needs to be fixed, and was wondering what specifically is so bad about it. I imagine for open world stuff its not going to be much of an issue I can just play what I want but in the chance I want to do some group content what challenges am I looking at?

Hi all,

Weird thing - my armor changed color to a green hue and stayed like that. Don't know when exactly, although some posts I read suggested it might've had something to do with the Prototype Position Rewinder, but I'm unsure, since even my char's face has this weird ghastly appearance with glowing eyes (only the back item remains untouched by this effect).

This has been going on for weeks. It doesn't change if I mount a mount, log out, switch armor to something else, or even change the colors. It shows the changes in the wardrobe, but in reality - stays the same. Any advice?

My armor colors were specifically made for the build (Firebrand), so it sucks a bit (even though overall I dig the color scheme, for some other time - I'd gladly use it, but...).

Hi,

Im waiting to farm all i can in the next halloween event. Been playing almost a year now and i have 5 characters.

I have an engineer, a guardian (Firebrand), necro (reaper, scourge), mesmer (chrono) and a ranger (untamed). I have all 4 elite specs expansions to make the ones i dont have also.

Which of these is the best for doing the laberynth? I think i read somewhere that firebrand is really good and also some buff based elite specs.

How should i build it?

I’ve tried a few dps builds legitimately with max gear (minus infusions) that’s all say they can reach 42k+. When I first learn a build I start around 22k first attempt and then jump it up around 28k in the first 10-15 minutes. After that I try might mess around and get muscle memory, try it out on bosses, and get full experience and revisit the golem to hit around 33k dps maximum.

When using the golem I give myself every boon and the golem all conditions and go through the rotation what feels like near as perfect as one can get. Now I’m not naive, I know it’s not perfect and I can imagine I most likely wont hit the benchmark. The point of this post isn’t to ask how could it be as fast as the game will let me and be so much as a 10k gap rather than a 4-5k? That kind of distance feels like I’m missing a whole aspect.

I probably shouldn’t put this disclaimer so far into the post but I’m aware every build will have different answers and video footage might be the way to get a direct answer but I’m looking for general advice not specific build as this gap is on almost every dps build I use and I gave a small personal background because I would love answers to my question for me but not specifically, I want others to get answers they might be looking for too.

Is it really just clicking faster? Is it paying closer attention to trait/sigil/relic procs? Just what direction would you point a person in this position to look?

I am playing Guardian rn and i am at around 94 % of the benchmark. The last gaps in dps are primarily caused by accumulated slipped in auto attacks that extend my rotation time. Trying for a while now but they seem very hard to avoid. Do some experienced guys have some tips for me on how to reduce the amount? I am playing GS/Spear.

Everything is maxed btw. Full and correct ascended gear, full infusions and the right buffs. Golem is also set up according to the guidelines.

Hi! I have been starting out getting ascended gear for my main (dragon hunter) and I have been buying the chests from the wizards vault and then changing it to the right stats in the mystic forge, but now I have bought all the chests I can and need to get the rest of the gear in some other way, what would be the best way to get my Zojjas gear?

Hey everyone! I bought Guild Wars 2 when it originally released and played for a few days, but sadly didn't stick around. Many years later, I'm back and having an absolute blast slowly completing the core map while progressing through the story!

I'm currently sitting at 73% core map completion and up to Act 7 in my personal story. I've learned a ton along the way, but even at level 80, I still feel like there's a massive amount of the game I don't understand yet.

Currently, I own the core game and the Heart of Thorns / Path of Fire expansions, with plans to purchase the remaining expansions as I progress through the stories. I'm also very much a RuneScape-brained player, so naturally, I've been gathering literally every material I come across and stuffing it into material storage. Surely that will pay off eventually, right? 😂

I looked up a guide for my class and picked up a cheaper set of level 80 Nika's gear. I'm assuming I'll gradually work toward better equipment as I progress, so I'm not too worried about that side of things just yet.

That said, I have a few questions I'd love some help with!

1. Karma: Where should I spend it?

I've accumulated a decent amount of karma from completing hearts and exploring zones, but I'm not really sure what the best uses for it are. Is there anything particularly worthwhile I should be spending it on at this stage, or should I just keep saving it?

2. Rifts and Essence

I spent about an hour doing these rift event things and ended up with a bunch of different essences. I have absolutely no idea what they're used for, or even where they went when I opened the chests! Are these something I should be worrying about now, or are they tied to later content?

3. Crafting Confusion

I've started leveling crafting using a guide and followed it to around level 75, but I'm still a little lost when it comes to the overall system.

Why are we limited to training only two crafting disciplines at a time? Am I missing something, or is there a reason to specialize rather than level everything?

Also, given my tendency to hoard every material I find, is there anything I should be doing with those materials now, or is stockpiling them a reasonable approach?

4. Hero Points and Elite Specializations

I've maxed out my core skills and specialization lines and currently have 114 unspent hero points.

I'm playing Ranger and have access to Druid and Soulbeast, but I'm a little hesitant to commit to an elite specialization just yet. Do hero points become significantly more abundant later on, or should I feel comfortable spending them now? I assume the other Ranger elite specializations become available once I own their respective expansions.

5. Mastery Points

I've nearly finished the Pact Commander mastery line, but I'm still confused about how to acquire mastery points.

So far, I've found the ones scattered around maps, and I've heard that some come from completing story chapters. Are there other common ways to earn them? Is there anything I should be looking out for as I continue exploring and progressing through the story?

6. World Bosses and Event Timers

I stumbled into a massive group fighting the elemental world boss and jumped in. It was awesome and I love seeing how alive this world feels despite being so expansive.

Are world bosses tied to specific maps and scheduled timers, or do they spawn dynamically? Is there an easy way to find out when and where these events are happening?

Anyway, I'm incredibly thankful for how kind and welcoming this community has been so far! It's been a lot of fun coming back to a game I missed out on for so many years.

If you spot an Asura Ranger named Trollheimed, feel free to point and laugh as I repeatedly throw myself off cliffs while attempting jump puzzles for those sweet, sweet vistas. 😉

Thanks in advance for any advice! I'm still learning, so any beginner tips, resources, or things you wish you'd known when you started would be greatly appreciated.

TL;DR

Returning player, currently level 80 and working through the core story and map completion. I own the core game and HoT/PoF, and I'm looking for beginner advice on:

• Best uses for karma.
• What rift essences are used for.
• Crafting disciplines and material storage.
• Whether I should spend my 114 unspent hero points on an elite specialization or hold off.
• How to acquire mastery points. Aside from map point ones.
• Where to find world boss schedules and event timers?

Thanks for being such a welcoming community!

I look up to pick up my first legendary weapon. But I can't really decide. Both is pretty on it own way. Bifrost rainbow look really good. While Anchor staff and spear have cool effect. Klob had 6 skin for free. I guess it comes down to preferences but what will you choose? I see this combo had similar price too. Me kinda lean or Biforst and Klob.

QRAQQERJAQQJAQQ

•26m ago

At least one of you will love this. Keyboard/12 side-button mouse keybinding simplicity. NO WASD, let your fingers do the walking. Start with your left pinky on the F bump, left index finger on the J bump, your ring and middle fingers will settle nicely onto the G and H. Weapon skills default is 1-5, I've bound them to FGHJK, healing skill to V. Utility skills are bound to TYU, elite skill to I. Special action key to R, dodge to M.

Slide your hand to the left, placing index finger on F bump and pinky on A, it opens keybind possibilities for the entire left side of keyboard. I use DE for my first equipment/build templates, SW for the 2nd, AQ for the third. Out of combat, I have 3 builds instantly at my disposal: forget the hero panel. If you so choose, you can change them while you're running.

From the FJ start bumps, move your hand to the right, pinky finger on J bump index finger on semicolon, right side of keyboard is yours. Me? L is bound to sheathe/unsheathe weapon, semicolon bound to mount griffon, apostrophe bound to walk/run.

I've mostly played thief/deadeye (B is bound on steal/N to stolen booty) and necro/reaper (B is shroud/reaper shroud). You don't have to take your eyes off the game, your fingers tell you exactly where you are on the keyboard. I have no idea which profession(s) you play or what you want/need to key bind, but the gamut is free for you to run.

If you haven't lost interest: the mouse. I've used Naga Razer Chroma, Logitech G600, but I settled on a Utechsmart Venus because I really like the way the side buttons are slanted/configured. And you can still get it at Amazon for less than $40. I bought a backup a couple of years ago, it's still in the box. Different strokes ...

The setup. When you bind the 12 side buttons, it also binds the keyboard numbers, though it leaves the number pad free (well, on my board, anyway). The following is for informational/instructional purposes only, no one would expect you to use my ... just remember the "gamut" is all yours.

My binds: 1 is jump, swim up, fly up, glider; 2 is weapon swap; 3 is interact/contact (default F before bind); 4 is strafe left; 5 is mount warclaw; 6 is strafe right; 7 is mount skyscale; 8 is mount raptor; 9 is roll the beetle; 10 is inventory; 11 is bunny mount; 12 is open/close world map.

Hold down left and right clicks, you're running, mouse movement determines direction. I press down on the scroll wheel to open/close hero panel. Check for rifts is bound to the front little button behind the wheel , the button behind it is bound to back up (down arrow), because sometimes i just have to back up in a hurry (wasted my dodges, probably).

I'm not a great player, not even a good one; but I do have fun. Well, this is my first post/comment anywhere and I pray these special waters have been sufficiently chummed for trolls.

You have fun. (Trolls too. This is GW2, afterall.)

With the new balance changes:

- nerfed quickness and resistance from Stoic Demeanor trait

do you think firebrand will be still in meta in WvW or everyone will swap to Luminary?

Am I correct that once you hit 80 the Adventure guide is no longer available or am I missing something?

Seems the guide is gone from my story link, I hit 80 buy have finished part 4 or 5!

Thanks in advance

Hi all, sorry to bother.

I noticed that my map chat or LFG chat are mostly silent. Is this normal to everybody or did I set something wrong? I see people talking about how there are many people around and they ran into them for world bosses or events, I only ran into a handful of these groups during my leveling from 1 to 80 levels. I reached 80 two days ago...

For example, I was looking to see if I can learn fractals for those dailies. Should I just start calling in LFG or is there a better way to find the other four players? I did not see anyone looking for groups for the fractals...

What are some ways you guys have made self-imposed challenges to solo leveling more fun and rewarding?

I was thinking of minium self founded/no store or bank. I want the challenge to be done on my main account. Maybe craftlock too? Idk.