User:Dark Defender Dex/Guide for Making your Own Solo Dervish
Making your own[edit]
Making a working UW solo build isn't hard, if you know how UW works. In case you don't, here's a small guide.
Generally, the build you're going to make is going to look like this:
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The rest of your skills vary from build to build, but those are the most important pieces of the build.
Here's a list of must-have's and other useful skills for a UW solo farmer:
Armor Increase[edit]
Being only 10 AL above squishie, and with hard hitting Smite Crawlers roaming in UW, you'll need some armor boost to survive.
Dervish[edit]
Avatar of Balthazar - A popular choice, as it not only increases your AL by 40, but also increases your movement speed and changes your damage type to Holy Damage, which increases the damage against Graspings.
Conviction - Another popular choice, especially if either the elite or the secondary profession is used for something else. Note that it only increases your armor by 24, and only if you're enchanted.
Mesmer[edit]
Physical Resistance - Often used in builds where the secondary profession isn't needed, and Avatar of Balthazar isn't used, mainly because of the large armor increase (+40), but also because of the minimal attribute spending required to maintain.
Deldrimor[edit]
Great Dwarf Armor - Good if you either need your Elite, or your stance for something else.
Increased Movement Speed (IMS)[edit]
An IMS is very important when farming in UW, and not killing Aatxe. This is because you need to be able to not only get past Aatxe to get to the Smites, but also because you need to aggro and kill Graspings (and only Graspings) to open the gates to the Ice Wastes. And Graspings have an annoying habit of staying in conversation range of the Aatxe. Fortunately for us, Aatxe break aggro quickly when under the effects of an IMS, and Graspings don't. Meaning they can be separated.
Dervish[edit]
- Avatar of Balthazar - As mentioned above, Avatar of Balthazar serves the dual purpose of armor and speed boost, and as such is perfect for pulling Graspings and performing the run to the Ice Wastes.
Pious Haste - Being maintainable even at low levels of Mysticism, this is perfect for non-Balthazar builds. Note that this skill removes an enchantment upon ending, so cover with a short recharge enchantment when pulling if you're using bonds.
Attack Skills[edit]
The majority of your damage output is going to come from your attack skills. Which skills you choose to bring should depend on what build you're using.
Dervish[edit]
Victorious Sweep - High damage, semi spammable attack skill that doubles as self healing.
Mystic Sweep - Fast attack speed means increased DPS. Augmented by many enchants.
Eremite's Attack - Same as above, but augmented by many foes.
Farmer's Scythe - Very spammable high damage. Note, will most likely be interrupted alot by Graspings, meaning low DPS against them, unless you use an IAS.
Reap Impurities - Self healing when using conditions. Note the high energy cost.
Self Healing[edit]
For obvious reasons, you'll need self healing to survive in UW.
Dervish[edit]
Mystic Vigor - As Dervish usually have an abundance of enchantments on them, and have spent a good part of their attributes in Mysticism, Mystic Vigor is often the best and only choice of self heal. Especially true for builds with a +40 AL skill.
Mystic Regeneration - Often used by newer players in need of an extra layer of self protection, as Mystic Vigor is more than enough for more experienced players.
Avatar of Dwayna - Again, this is commonly used by inexperienced players needing more survivability, as you shouldn't face any hexes while farming (unless you aggro Coldfires).
Vital Boon - Generally unnecessary, but some players might like the delayed healing and the synergy with Victorious Sweep.
- Victorious Sweep - Doubling as an attack skill, Victorious Sweep is almost guaranteed to keep you alive once you get a bit more health than your opponents.
- Reap Impurities - Useful if you're using conditions. Note the high energy cost.
Monk[edit]
Live Vicariously - Can be used to augment your healing-on-hit rate, especially when combined with Mystic Vigor.
Vigorous Spirit - Same as above.
Shield of Judgment Countermeasures[edit]
The bane of many melee farming builds is the Smite Crawlers' elite skill, Shield of Judgment, which not only deals hefty damage, but also knocks you down and thus renders your healing-on-hit useless.
Dervish[edit]
Rending Aura - Removes enchantments when hit, so it's perfect for dealing with Shield of Judgment.
Mesmer[edit]
Sympathetic Visage/
Ancestor's Visage - Drains energy and adrenaline when hit, so not only good for dealing with smites, but also prevents Graspings from interrupting and draining your energy.
Other skills[edit]
Dervish[edit]
Heart of Fury - As an IAS, it not only increases your damage output, but also your energy gain from Zealous weapons, and healing from Mystic Vigor.
Eternal Aura - Recharges all your Dervish skills. A must when using Avatars.
Aura of Holy Might - Even at low rank, this skill increases your damage greatly. Though not in the skill description, this also changes your damage type to Holy, meaning more damage against Graspings.
Armor of Sanctity - Useful when using conditions.
Wounding Strike - As Krowman once said, "DW synergizes with anything that isn't dead yet." This is true for UW as well, as it not only allows for quicker killing against both Graspings and Smites (killed in 10 seconds with this, usually), but also acts as a form of self protection, as the Smites will spend more time removing conditions than they will attacking you.
Vow of Strength - Increases your damage by quite a bit, especially when combined with Aura of Holy Might. Allows for use of more non-attack skills.
Monk[edit]
Strength of Honor - Damage boosts are always nice.
Balthazar's Spirit - Good for energy management. When using this you don't need a Zealous weapon.
Warrior[edit]
Flail - A free, maintainable IAS. If using this, your armor increase has to come from either Avatar of Balthazar or Great Dwarf Armor, as this skill both locks your secondary, and is a stance.
Elite Skills[edit]
Can be anything, really. Some elites are going to be better than others, but you can farm UW without any elite skill. They just make it easier. If you want, you can bring Spiteful Spirit to deal more damage, or Shield of Judgment to get payback for all those times Smites have killed you, etc.
Notes[edit]
Although it might be tempting to bring blocking skills to increase survivability, your anti-SoJ skills rely on the enemy hitting you.
