User:Dark Defender Dex/Guide for making your own solo dervish

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:

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
Being only 10 AL above squishie, and with hard hitting Smite Crawlers roaming in UW, you'll need some armor boost to survive.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - 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.


 * - 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.

[[Image:Mesmer-icon-small.png]] Mesmer

 * - 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.

Any Deldrimor

 * - Good if you either need your Elite, or your stance for something else.

Increased Movement Speed (IMS)
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.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - 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.


 * - 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
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.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - High damage, semi spammable attack skill that doubles as self healing.


 * - Fast attack speed means increased DPS. Augmented by many enchants.


 * - Same as above, but augmented by many foes.


 * - Very spammable high damage. Note, will most likely be interrupted alot by Graspings, meaning low DPS against them, unless you use an IAS.


 * - Self healing when using conditions. Note the high energy cost.

Self Healing
For obvious reasons, you'll need self healing to survive in UW.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - 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.


 * - 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.


 * - Again, this is commonly used by inexperienced players needing more survivability, as you shouldn't face any hexes while farming (unless you aggro Coldfires).


 * - Generally unnecessary, but some players might like the delayed healing and the synergy with 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.


 * - Useful if you're using conditions. Note the high energy cost.

[[Image:Monk-icon-small.png]] Monk

 * - Can be used to augment your healing-on-hit rate, especially when combined with Mystic Vigor.


 * - Same as above.

Shield of Judgment Countermeasures
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.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - Removes enchantments when hit, so it's perfect for dealing with Shield of Judgment.

[[Image:Mesmer-icon-small.png]] Mesmer

 * / - Drains energy and adrenaline when hit, so not only good for dealing with smites, but also prevents Graspings from interrupting and draining your energy.

[[Image:Dervish-icon-small.png]] Dervish

 * - As an IAS, it not only increases your damage output, but also your energy gain from Zealous weapons, and healing from Mystic Vigor.


 * - Recharges all your Dervish skills. A must when using Avatars.


 * - 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.


 * - Useful when using conditions.


 * - 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.


 * - Increases your damage by quite a bit, especially when combined with Aura of Holy Might. Allows for use of more non-attack skills.

[[Image:Monk-icon-small.png]] Monk

 * - Damage boosts are always nice.


 * - Good for energy management. When using this you don't need a Zealous weapon.

Elite Skills
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.