User:Rastamon/buildarchive/Build:Me/N Depravity

This support build centers around Depravity to drain opposing casters clean out of energy. With its short cooldown and the mesmer's Inspiration Magic attribute for additional energy, you can spread this across multiple opponents. Depravity has a minimal AoE effect as well. Appropriate cover hexes are used to make sure Depravity is not stripped quickly.

Equipment

 * Survivor's Insignia on head, hands, and feet
 * Radiant Insignia on chest and legs
 * 1 Rune of Vitae
 * 1 Rune of Recovery
 * Curses staff with the inscription of "Hale and Hearty", and equipped with both a Hale Staff Head and Staff Wrapping of Fortitude.

Usage

 * Find your target caster and use Depravity on them. If your target is a monk and/or you expect hex removal, be sure to cover it with one of your other hexes. Ether Phantom works well, but if you can interrupt the next spell, Web of Disruption also provides an ample cover hex. If you feel your target has an elite that will hinder you or your team, use Signet of Humility. Otherwise, find a more practical target to disable their elite. You can now feel free to move onto other enemy casters and use Depravity on them when you see fit. Don't forget to reapply it on opposing monks. Reckless Haste and Spirit of Failure provide relief against physical attackers, and Spirit of Failure will provide you with energy. Ether Feast of course is for healing.

Counters

 * Anti-spam spells, i.e. Diversion
 * Extensive hex removal
 * Interrupts

Variants

 * Reckless Haste can be replaced with Malaise if you want to focus more on debilitating casters.
 * Signet of Humility can be replaced with Drain Delusions for more e-denial/energy return or a second interrupt in conjunction with Web of Disruption. You can also cycle through Ether Phantom and Drain Delusions for more e-denial, and it basically costs nothing because of your Inspiration Magic level at the breakpoint for those two skills.
 * Ether Feast can be replaced with Parasitic Bond for an additional cheap cover hex at the cost of indirect self-healing.