User:Thor79/Builds/Spirit Spammer for Norn Tourney

'''NOTE: This build's effectiveness is significantly reduced in the full version of Eye of the North as the opponents no longer wait for you to approach them and will come after you preventing you from spamming your spirits. However, it is still possible to beat some of them. You're better off finding a better build that doesn't rely on spirits.'''

This build is designed to take on all opponents in The Norn Fighting Tournament, including Magni the Bison. It uses several spirits from the Ritualist profession combined with Painful bond to deal a large amount of damage in a short time.

Background on the Build
I adapted it from a Ritualist who posted the template code for his Primary Rit Build in Local chat while trying to figure out a build for my Ranger. I did not originally come up with the build...I just adapted it to be used as a secondary profession.

Attributes and Skills

 * If you are a Ranger or Elementalist put attribute points into the attributes noted above otherwise max out Communing.

Equipment

 * Any Ranged Weapon to direct attacks of the spirits.
 * Optionally, a staff can be used to add a bit more energy to use. This can be particualrly useful for low energy Primary Professions.
 * Any armor can be used, as long as it has maximum AL. Radiant Insignias and Runes of Attunement.
 * Special Note: This Build Works the best on High Energy Professions or Ranger which can lower the energy requirements of this build. This doesn't mean it can't be used on low energy professions but I wouldn't recommend trying it on characters with less than 40-50 energy.

After GW:EN Release Notes
Much more difficult to use this build and outright impossible with some foes. With melee foes your spirits can keep the foe away from you for a bit as they will run away from spirits damaging them.
 * Alesia - Have not faced her since release.
 * Cynn - Very Hard/Impossible - High damage and melee damage is difficult to overcome.
 * Devona - Have not faced her since release.
 * Danika - Have not faced her since release.
 * Eve - Have not faced her since release.
 * Ghostly Hero - Have not faced him since release.
 * Gwen - Hard - She is a good damage dealer for a mesmer. Out damaging her is the key strategy.
 * Kahmu - Have not faced him since release.
 * Kilroy - Have not faced him since release.
 * Kisai - Medium - Get your spirits up early and hit her with painful bond and you should be able to overcome her damage.
 * Koss - Have not faced him since release.
 * Little Thom - Medium - His Firestorm can be a problem but it is still possible to out damage him. If your spirits die put them up again while running around the arena.
 * Lo Sha - Have not faced him since release.
 * Lukas - Medium - Out-damaging him is the key. Keep up your spirits if he kills them.
 * Magni - Very Difficult/Impossible - Comes after you and kills your spirits too quickly to deal enough damage to kill him.
 * Melonni - Have not faced her since release.
 * Mhenlo - Have not faced him since release.
 * Morghan - Have not faced him since release.
 * Nika - Have not faced her since release.
 * Norgu - Medium - He's not a major threat, he's only difficult due to his healing. Just get up most of your spirits then make sure Painful Bond stays on him and you should be able to overcome his healing.
 * Old Mac - Have not faced him since release.
 * Orion - Medium - Out-damaging him is the key.
 * Panaku - Have not faced him since release.
 * Razah - Easy - Same tactic as before the preview...go just outside agro range, setup your spirits and hit him with painful bond. He stays put spamming his spirits allowing you to setup your's.
 * Sologon - Medium - Out-damage him.
 * Talon Silverwing - Have not faced him since release.
 * The Great Zehtuka - Have not faced him since release.
 * Vekk - Hard - He has good amount of damage and it can be difficult to overcome.
 * Warmaster Tydus - Have not faced him since release.
 * Xandra - Have not faced her since release.
 * Zho - Have not faced her since release.


 * Enemies that this build has not been tested on:
 * Argo
 * Headmaster Vhang
 * Palawa Joko

Preview Event Notes

 * Position your self *JUST* outside agro range. Cast all spirits.
 * Move to the right or left to avoid damage to your spirits from AOE.
 * Cast Painful Bond on your foe and follow up with attacks. They should be dead shortly.


 * Build is to confirmed to work on:
 * Alesia - Medium - Healing Hands can slow it down a bit but just keep at it and recast any spirits that die.
 * Cynn - Easy - Just watch out for the Firestorm as you're waiting for the next match.
 * Devona - Easy
 * Danika - Medium - Target only Danika...ignore her Wallows. Can be a little slow due to her healing.
 * Eve - Easy
 * Ghostly Hero - Easy - Done with Wanderlust in the Optional Slot. Credit Goes to Leandriell Illaran
 * Gwen - Easy
 * Kahmu - Easy
 * Kilroy - Medium - Healing Hands can slow it down a bit but just keep at it and recast any spirits that die.
 * Kisai - Easy
 * Koss - Easy
 * Little Thom - Easy
 * Lo Sha - Easy
 * Lukas - Easy
 * Magni - Medium/Hard - Cast all spirits then hit him with Painful Bond. He'll come after you and then the spirits if you move away. Let him attack the spirits and recast spirits as they become available. Shadowsong should take priority since it will prevent damage to you and your spirits. It's not really possible to interrupt his Bear Form with this build as he casts it too quickly.
 * Melonni - Medium - Due to her Avatar of Dwayna healing and other healing skills.
 * Mhenlo - Very Easy - One attack from your spirits will end the fight.
 * Morghan - Easy
 * Nika - Easy
 * Norgu - Easy
 * Old Mac - Easy - According to Speedywest, the spirits focus on Joe first and kill him easily, followed by killing Old Mac easily.
 * Orion - Easy
 * Panaku - Easy
 * Razah - Easy/Medium - Make sure you are just outside agro range. Also make sure Razah is within your spirits' attack range (which is just beyond agro range). If he get up his spirits it can be difficult to kill him.
 * Sologon - Easy
 * Talon Silverwing - Easy
 * The Great Zehtuka - Easy
 * Vekk - Easy
 * Warmaster Tydus - Easy
 * Xandra - Easy
 * Zho - Easy/Medium - Be careful not to get too close when setting up your spirits as her pet may walk into agro range.


 * Enemies that this build has not been tested on:
 * Argo - I've heard bad things but I'm still confident that this can take him out.
 * Headmaster Vhang
 * Palawa Joko

Counters

 * Strong Healing and skills such as Healing Hands.
 * Razah - If he gets up his spirits he can be difficult to kill.
 * Magni - If he kills your spirits before he is damaged enough it's nearly impossible to get enough spirits up again to take his health down.

Variants

 * Nightmare Weapon is a good skill to fill in the Optional Slot allowing you to do a bit more damage by stealing health.
 * Offering of Spirit for energy management. Can use this in combination with energy giving weapons to make this build usable on Low Energy Primary professions. Credit for this goes to Yamagawa.
 * Wanderlust can be used for knocking down enemies. Credit goes to Leandriell Illaran.
 * Any other damage dealing spirits are useful.
 * Skills that reduce energy requirements, grant extra energy, or mitigate damage are useful.